ABOUT THAT MOSQUE...

This is America. The same America to which our forefathers fled to avoid religious persecution. An America where ALL are created equal. It is an America that doesn’t, or at least, shouldn’t pick religious favorites in its zest for safety and security.

Just to set the record straight, the idea of separation of Church and State is NOT addressed in The Constitution. Look it up. However, that idea was addressed by our forefathers elsewhere and often. It is a very basic concept within the vast (thankfully!) scope of American freedom and choice.

The folks who attacked us on September 11, 2001 were evil people. Yes, they were Muslims. Bad Muslims. But they are not representative of the whole of the Muslim community, either in America or elsewhere around the world. Just as Timothy McVeigh, a devout Christian, was a bad Christian. Responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing, he certainly did not represent the views of other Christians, in America or elsewhere around the world.

The Americans that died in both of these tragedies were of every faith. I’m sure there were also many like myself who died... hardworking Americans who were not associated with any traditional religion.

Terrorists, no matter where they are from, don’t care.

I don’t care what religion you are. You have a right to build a church, a mosque, a temple, or a deli any frickin place you want in America.

Done.

RETURN OF THE NUTSHEL REPORT!!!

I'm baaaaaaaack! Yep, I've decided since the end of my book coincided with the amazing uptake of all things political as of late, I'm going to start my blog again. If you were entertained by this blog just prior to the 2008 election and for a few days after, stay tuned. The only problem is there is almost too much going on in politics... locally, California statewide (Can you say budget, marijuana, and gay rights all in the same sentence? Oh, and that dreaded Meg Whitman.), and nationally (upcoming election, BP disaster, immigration, and lest we forget...the economy). It will take a real effort on my part to stick to one controversy at a time. Probably won't happen.

I will be posting a head's-up on Facebook whenever I publish something new. So fasten your seatbelts, peeps, its going to be a wild ride.

ON HIATUS!!!!

With politics being what they are these days and with the economy being what it is these days and with the news being what it is these days....everything seems so damn boring. Same-o, same-0, day in, day out. I spend much of my time stretching dollars and looking ever harder for a reason to laugh every day (still managing that, by the way, as sometimes all you can do is laugh!). I have decided to take a hiatus from this blog for awhile.....

Aha!!!!!

I found a great idea regarding the bailout of the auto industry. Its so simple and so sweet. I wish I could say that I thought of it but I actually saw it as an incoming viewer email on the Rick Sanchez broadcast on CNN this afternoon. Mr. Sanchez didn't mention it as it rolled by and neither did anyone else. But, yet, it is the first wonderful idea I've heard since the whole auto industry begging party has started. Why not let the phat-cat oil corporations bail out the auto industry? Think about it. It makes alot of sense and they can certainly afford it alot more than you and I can. Now anyone got the hotline number to those congressional hearings?

ON PROP. 8

I voted against Prop. 8. This is still America and I believe that all men and women ARE created equal. That gay men and lesbians are every bit the American citizen that straight men and women are and, therefore, should be afforded every right that straights are afforded. Including the right to marry whom they choose. Thus marry whom they love. Having said that.......

I have some issues with the gay community right now. I realize that it may be through a lack of understanding that I have these issues. Hence the problem that California is encountering right now regarding Prop. 8. Rather than screaming and shouting and having what amounts to a public tantrum, I think the gay community would be better served by seeking what they want through peaceful means. By trying to understand the hearts of the people that voted FOR Prop. 8. By exercising even more patience (I know, I know) while they further pursue, in a court of law, their inalienable rights while at the same time educating those that voted against them. Pissing all those people off even further serves no one. But teaching everyone that anyone can have their own personal beliefs and follow their own religious values and still allow all others to follow theirs would serve everyone. We all, regardless of our beliefs, can find a way to share the same spaces. Boycotting and/or firing people from their jobs because of their beliefs, whichever side of the fence you reside, is wrong. Spray painting graffiti as an expression of any view is also wrong. I have heard many gays and lesbians on television putting partial blame on the black and Latino communities for voting for Prop. 8 in such large numbers. For voting THEIR beliefs. As a result, some gays have been comparing their lack of civil rights to the black fight for equality. And that, in itself, is a huge and somewhat sanctimonious stretch. Enough said about that. I would be mad as hell, though, if I were gay and managed to finally gain the right to marry, only to have it yanked out from under me. I get that. But it was yanked because of a lack of understanding. Period. The gay community, for the most part, admits that they were out-organized, out-funded and that they made the big mistake of assuming that, in California, their marriage rights would be upheld by the majority. They, point blank, bottom line, didn't do their homework. Right now THEY need to understand that they need to do it all again and do it right this time. Educate straight people, especially those that hold a strong religious belief against homosexuality. Raise enough cash to do it. Part of the problem is that gays are still isolating themselves as a result of past oppression. They have their own neighborhoods, nightclubs, restaurants and most other places of business. I say the faster we all mix it up, the better off we will all be. Gays AND straights, I know its a little scary, but not as scary as it used to be. Mix it up and the sooner the better. Gays and lesbians, get out there in the straight community and show them that you are no different and that your dreams are valued dreams. Invite the straight community into your community and show them that your lifestyle is not at all different from theirs. In other words, show us who you are, who you have been all along. Take the time and money and understanding it takes to do THAT and I think you will find that you don't really have a problem at all.

MONEY IN THE BANK?

Is it any surprise that one week AFTER the election, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (is it just me or does this guy look like the perverbial used car salesman?) announced that the rules have changed regarding the ever-growing bank bailout? Suddenly, instead of buying up troubled mortgage assets, we are giving billions and billions of OUR hard earned cash to banks with no strings attached and thusfar, no oversight of any kind. They are not required to divulge to anyone exactly how they are using OUR hard-earned money. Yes, its OUR hard-earned money.......remember, its all taxpayer dollars. CBS News contacted 9 of the biggest recipient banks and asked them what was up and they all responded that they don't have to reveal how they use OUR hard earned cashola. hmmmm...... Whether or not they are required to tell is one thing....but, if it was all on the up and up, wouldn't they want to tell? The banks told CBS that it doesn't matter how they use OUR hard-earned money, just the mere fact that they received it boosts confidence in the economy. This coming from the same banking institutions that got us into this mess in the first place by means of dishonesty and greed. I know I feel more confident. And I can tell by the way the market took another stinky dump yesterday, that everyone else is as confident as I am.

REPUBLICANS NEED TO GET REAL

Are Republicans re-evaluating their conservative platform since America overwhelmingly elected Barack Obama as President? I think not. They are too busy pointing fingers at each other for the campaign failure. Some upper management peeps are pointing at Sarah Palin, saying some pretty rotten things in the process. Of course, those responsible remain mostly chicken shit and 'un-named'. Other upper eschelon Republicans are blaming the Bush administration's goofs and lies of the last 8 years. Still others are lingering at the 'voter fraud' trough. I would say they are all wrong. I would say that, per usual, they just don't get it.

On November 6th, RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said that America's core beliefs are still center-right, implying that it was the bad economy and Prez Bush's reputation as an idiot that caused them to lose the election and that no Republican could have won this election because of it. Oh, really. Lest we forget, it was the Republicans who elected Prez Bush.....twice! And, dare I say it, the Republican campaign bottomed out long before the economy did.

A Rasmussen poll released on Sunday indicated that 64% of Republican voters listed Sarah Palin as their choice for the 2012 presidential nominee. Huh? You've got to be freakin kidding me. It is yet another indication that Republicans (64% of them anyway) don't live in the same reality that we do. You would think that Republicans might consider the possibility that McCain and Palin's "our way or the highway" form of politics might be, in large part, to blame for their loss. Their god awful (pun intended) 'we are smarter and better than they are' attitude might have had something to do with it. Their old-fashioned policy of 'do or say anything to get elected' comes to mind, too. The negativity of it all was downright disgusting and should have been an embarrassment to the entire Republican party early on.

Obama's agenda and campaign, on the other hand, was an all inclusive 'lets get together as proud Americans to get things right again' approach and inspired us all. Obama's positivity and obvious belief in the honesty and hard work of everyday people in America insured his victory.

I really do hope that Sarah Palin is the nominee in 2012. She will make things soooo easy for us. And, as an added bonus, SNL will get back to being funny again.