Texas: A Big State But So Few Options

This is just...so damn wrong.

An 18-year-old who has profound mental disabilities was sentenced to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges in a sexual abuse case involving his 6-year-old neighbor. The teenager, Aaron Hart, was arrested and charged after a neighbor found him fondling her stepson in September. He pleaded guilty to five counts, including aggravated sexual assault and indecency by contact, and a jury decided his punishment. Judge Eric Clifford in Lamar County said neither he nor jurors liked the idea of prison for Mr. Hart but felt there was no other option. “In the state of Texas, there isn’t a whole lot you can do with somebody like him,” Judge Clifford said. Mr. Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He cannot read or write and speaks unsteadily.

"No other option." Let's look on the bright side: at least they didn't go with the death penalty.

Stay classy, Texas!

(I still can't believe this story is for real!)

The Traditional Marriages We Never Hear About

The "Safe Space" Conumdrum

Efforts are underway at Shakesville to improve upon the "safe space" and the list of requirements is starting to make airport security look like a trip to the supermarket.

While it may be a noble effort, I suspect it will meet the same end as previous attempts. That's unfortunate. But so is reality. As I mentioned on my Facebook page recently, you can't have a blog addressing controversial topics with a full-frontal headbutt, with 12,000 daily visitors no less, and expect everyone to be on the same wavelength, minding their manners and their "fuck yous" or occasional slip-ups in how wording is phrased, or whether the imagery of those words might cause someone discomfort.

Good luck with that effort. Let me put it in perspective. I've been seeking my own personal "safe space" since high school. What worked best for me there was simply being a loner, and even that wasn't terribly effective since I was subjected to frequent ridicule from one or two students because I was perceived as weird.

In college, I joined a Green Party group on campus which was comprised of about 12-15 students. Sounds like an ideal safe-space, right? I was out of there after about two weeks when I realized even a dozen like-minded people still can't agree on a damn thing. The bickering was just too much and I felt I had to leave. So pardon me if I'm a pessimist in refusing to believe it's even worth the effort to create such a space in a group of thousands. Although 95% of them might be intelligent and conscientious, and respectful in general, it doesn't take much in a crowded utopia to tip a glass over and that group is in no mood for a carpet clean-up.

Perhaps this is why I enjoy blogging about politics now because I'm not physically in the room with people listening to them argue and disagree. It's bad enough in a comment thread! And I'm not the least bit concerned that I am preaching to the choir, nor am I concerned that the choir might number about 4o or 50 as opposed to thousands. I blog to get things out of my system. I blog to vent. And I like putting it out there. I don't really give a shit about accolades, awards, or how many thumbs up I get. If I put out a bowl of food on the patio, something is going to eat it and enjoy it, even though I might never see it.

If that were my blog, and if I were in the same mental place as Melissa, I'd probably shut down blog comments on all posts except the most benign general interest humor pieces. I would link my posts to my Facebook page and my friends and like-minded acquaintances could comment. It might even work better that way as people, I believe, tend to think about the impact of what they are going to say when dealing with real names, and faces, as opposed to the anonymity of a blog thread with fake names.

But that's just me and how I would approach it. However, that would destroy the "community" feel. And ironically that takes us right back to square one.

Shakesville, or more accurately it was the precursor, Shakespeare's Sister, was one of two blogs I visited on a regular basis when I first started blogging in 2006. That blog spawned many virtual friendships (not to mention an education) which live on to this day on Facebook, and I am eternally grateful for having that wonderful experience and introduction back then to the people I know now. However virtual they may be (I've met a couple), I still consider them friends.

I wish nothing but the best for those Facebook friends of mine who also weather the storm over at Shakesville, moderating what is sometimes irrational madness. I admire their efforts and their determination. I feel that if Melissa shuts down the blog, and doesn't write another word, that would be a sad loss for the planet as she is one of the best, most articulate and interesting writers I've run across in the blogosphere. I would hope she would choose to continue writing somewhere.

As for Shakesville, the blog, even the tension which is evident in the comment thread today makes me uncomfortable to read. As with air travel, I'd have to say I'm "All Out" when it comes to mingling in the community. I'd prefer to watch from afar, in my own "safe space." I already have been for six months.

53 Miles

Since May 18, as of today I'm up to 53 miles in my walking regimen. That puts me about halfway to Waco!

Now wouldn't it just suck if I had a change of heart right now and decided to walk to Mexico? LOL.

Friday Pussy Blog: The Totopotamus Edition

This is one large cat loaf! One of his mid-afternoon rituals is to sit there in the hallway entrance and observe all things. He can basically track our every move from that one spot.

TGIF! What a week!

Ramming It Through

New Hampshire is finally on-board as the 6th state allowing same-sex marriages. The law takes effect on January 1, 2010. However, it required a bit of clever maneuvering to reach the desk of Governor John Lynch, who promptly signed it.

Thanks, Gov!

Republicans have called the committee’s work tainted because the Senate president, Sylvia B. Larsen, a Democrat, replaced one of its Republican members when that legislator would not sign off on last week’s compromise. Under legislative rules, the committee’s decision needed to be unanimous.

[...]

Kevin Smith, director of the Cornerstone Policy Research, a group opposing the bill, said lawmakers “rammed this legislation through” in a way that “reeks of backroom deals and a subversion of the legislative process.”

If we were talking about some controversial piece of legislation, a questionable tax increase or decrease for example, I might have some issues with how this legislation finally wound up on the governor's desk. But given the fact that we're dealing with a long-overdue civil rights issue, and heinous attempts by Republicans and some conservative Democrats to prevent marriage equality, I can only praise these tactics.

How different is this from the Proposition 8 situation in California last year when Republicans and conservatives mounted a fear-based campaign against same-sex marriage, bombarding church-goers with lies and distortions, with the result being 52% of voters passing the measure to strip gay and lesbians of a fundamental civil right, and the constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Moreover, this was not exactly a "will of the people" given that 1 in 5 registered voters didn't bother to cast a ballot. With only 52% of voters in support of Prop 8, who is to say what the true will of the people might have been. Regardless of whether it might have been 51/49 or 50.1/49.9, civil rights and equality must never be put up for a vote by the people, particularly when the people are so heavily courted by the will of conservatives, who pumped millions of dollars into California from elsewhere to pass the measure by ramming fear and lies down people's throats and preying on religious beliefs. And thus, many people flocked to the polls to support Prop 8 believing society would otherwise collapse.

There's some subversion for you.

If we need to do our own ramming to achieve equality in the remaining states, let's get on with it. If we're expecting to play nice and wait for equality and civil rights to be handed to us without a fight, we might be in for a long wait.

A Bug in the System

For the past two days I've been hearing a scratching noise behind the bathroom ventilation fan on the ceiling. I figured it was a bird building a nest although I've never heard of birds picking such an odd location. I turned on the fan and it sounded like it was brushing against twigs.

Earlier today I turned on the fan and something was completely blocking it from spinning. Then later when I tried it just started whirring away. But I could never drive the critter away, whatever it ultimately was. That should have been my first clue it probably wasn't a bird -- unless it was trapped as opposed to building a nest. And that is what we decided it was -- a trapped bird. And then I was feeling all kinds of guilt for turning on the fan and hoping I hadn't injured it.

I began removing the plastic cover of the fan and light and realized that was no help at all. It was FILTHY up in there but the fan was a tall cylinder which extended up into the box in the attic rather than a fan with several flat blades.

My next step was to go up into the attic. This required removing a few dozen boxes from the closet before I could access the panel into the attic. (I now have to also go try and fit them back in perfectly. Joy.)

Once I was up there I could hear the critter scratching but it was clearly inside the ventilation box which was connected to a long air duct out to the roof. So, a waste of time.

And that pole you see hanging down is a rake. I decided I needed that to reach over and rake the insulation off the fan box which fortunately was only about 2 feet from the top of the ladder.

The fan box was under there...somewhere.

The only way to get in there was to unscrew the fan and remove it. This was pretty scary as I had no idea if the critter was going to fly out, fall out, or slither out. I got the fan removed but could see nothing. Yet I could still hear scratching. We knew it had to be close by because we'd seen it moving the fan before we removed it.

We closed the bathroom door and waited for something to emerge. After about 15 minutes I went to check and voila! Poor thing!

That is one of the biggest bugs I've ever seen in my life.

It fell to the floor and Sheldon gathered it up in a bag and took it outside.

It seemed a little dazed by the outdoor light.

The head on that thing was rather menacing!

What a hassle! But at least that problem is solved and we can easily clean the fan before installing it. That's been on my to-do list for a long time but I never wanted to tackle that project.

Yuck. That is probably a 20-year dirt accumulation.

Friday Pussy Blog: Vintage Jezebel Edition

I don't suppose I'll ever have another Memorial Day without thinking about my dear Jezebel. I buried her on Memorial Day, 2004 which if I recall was May 30 or 31st of that year. It is so hard for me to believe it has been five years since she strutted through our house, tail in the air, chatting with me, and occasionally sleeping on my bed.

Honey, you are forever missed.

23 Miles

On Monday, May 18 I began a regular walking regimen of between one and three miles per day. I usually do one mile in the morning and an additional one, sometimes two, miles in the afternoon.

I want to see how long it takes me to virtually get out of Texas.

After 23 miles, I'm not even out of Austin yet!

From time to time I'll post a map of my progress. Anybody want to place bets on where along the way I'll need a new pair of shoes?

700,000 Signatures Needed

I fully expected the California Supreme Court to uphold Proposition 8. And yet I was infuriated at the decision when it was announced. And yet, I can even agree with their rationale.

In a 136-page majority ruling written by Chief Justice Ronald George, the justices said it was not their job to address whether the ban was wise public policy, but only to decide whether it was constitutionally valid, while "setting aside our own personal beliefs and values."

At the same time, I can agree with the New York Times editorial today which states that the California Supreme Court "got it terribly wrong."

In addition to denying basic fairness to gay people, the court’s 6-to-1 ruling sets an unfortunate legal precedent that could allow the existing rights of any targeted minority to be diminished using the Election Day initiative process.

[...]

The case turned on a reading of California’s rules for changing its Constitution. Essentially, the majority decided that Proposition 8 is an ordinary constitutional amendment, requiring approval only by a bare majority of voters, rather than a more far-reaching “revision.”

Revisions require a more deliberative two-step process: either a constitutional convention or a two-thirds vote of the State Legislature followed by a referendum.

So, even if we got screwed on a legal technicality, I can't allow myself to go on an anti-California crusade nor can I start bashing the California Supreme Court. The problem lies with the California constitution, outside special interest groups who poured millions of advertising dollars into the effort to pass Prop 8, gullible voters who are essentially brainwashed, and even apathy among registered voters who might be our allies but didn't bother to show up at the polls.

The idea that a minority of registered voters can control a civil rights issue and create a 2nd class tier of citizens while calling it "the will of the majority" simply fills me with rage.

We've just got to pick up the pieces and start again. We can start gathering signatures to repeal it, or hope for a US Supreme Court intervention.

Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, two prominent litigators who opposed each other in the Bush v. Gore election challenge in 2000, are challenging Proposition 8 on those grounds in federal court.

The pair filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of two gay men and two gay women, arguing that the marriage ban violates the U.S. constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

Olson, a former U.S. solicitor general, said he hopes the case will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

"This is a federal question," he said. "This is about the rights of individuals to be treated equally and not be stigmatized."

Meanwhile, gay rights groups are starting work gathering the 700,000 signatures required to place a repeal of Proposition 8 before voters in November 2010.

Frankly, both options scare me. Regardless of the economic climate, the opposition seems to have a bottomless well of cash for their operations. But one would hope this issue has received enough attention now to diminish the impact of those who oppose same-sex marriage.

As for a SCOTUS ruling on the matter, let's just say I believe it would be a 5-4 decision, which ever way it goes.

But let's look for the silver lining. In addition to the 18,000 existing same-sex marriages being allowed to stand, there are still civil unions (better than nothing!) until we can correct this horrible wrong which has been imposed on the state.

The court’s opinion, written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George for a 6-to-1 majority, noted that same-sex couples still had a right to civil unions. Such unions, the opinion said, gives those couples the ability to “choose one’s life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially recognized and protected family relationship that enjoys all of the constitutionally based incidents of marriage.”

It's going to be long, slow and agonizing. Such is life.

Stand tall and march.

Photo credit: Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Sonia Sotomayor Picked for SCOTUS

Sotomayor is Obama's SCOTUS pick!

Now the fun part begins.

Judge Sotomayor is Mr. Obama’s first selection to the Supreme Court, and her nomination could trigger a struggle with Senate Republicans who have indicated they may oppose the nomination. But Democrats are within reach of the 60 votes necessary to choke off a filibuster, and Republicans concede that they have little hope of blocking confirmation barring unforeseen revelations.

Initial reaction to the selection reflected party divisions and signaled that Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee would be spirited.

Spirited indeed. Let the Republicans have their rants, their meltdowns, whatever. Go ahead and continue to alienate women and Hispanics in one double whammy.

This should be an interesting evening for tequila, "Hardball," and "Countdown" since a California Prop 8 ruling is also forthcoming shortly.

Memorial Day 2009

Borrowed from The Dark Wraith.

Just to Clarify, Yet Again.

How can "conservatives" govern effectively when they can't even grasp the basic fundamental fact that "liberals" do not control Congress. Democrats control Congress. Big difference. And many of those Democrats are conservatives.

Get the facts right, people.

A Plate Too Full to Embrace Equality?

I am just baffled as to why President Obama can't just come out and say it. Even if he doesn't have time to push for it at the moment. (That's also a bullshit excuse, IMHO.) And it's beginning to get on my nerves.

Frank Rich, in the Sunday New York Times, writes:

Obama has long been, as he says, a fierce advocate for gay equality. The Windy City Times has reported that he initially endorsed legalizing same-sex marriage when running for the Illinois State Senate in 1996. The most common rationale for his current passivity is that his plate is too full. But the president has so far shown an impressive inclination both to multitask and to argue passionately for bedrock American principles when he wants to. Relegating fundamental constitutional rights to the bottom of the pile until some to-be-determined future seems like a shell game.

As Wolfson reminds us in his book “Why Marriage Matters,” Dr. King addressed such dawdling in 1963. “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait,’ ” King wrote. “It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ ”

The gay civil rights movement has fewer obstacles in its path than did Dr. King’s Herculean mission to overthrow the singular legacy of slavery. That makes it all the more shameful that it has fewer courageous allies in Washington than King did. If “American Idol” can sing out for change on Fox in prime time, it ill becomes Obama, of all presidents, to remain mute in the White House.

Clocks are ticking.

Three Years Blogging

Three years ago today I started this saucy, brassy blog. I decided to commemorate the occasion by grabbing an old photo of txrad's non-functioning trumpet and jazz up the three valves a bit.

2,396 Blog Posts

111,027 Visitors

In many ways it's hard to believe it's only been three years. Anyway, moving on to #4.

Friday Pussy Blog: The Indoor Kitties Edition

Kick a leg off the bed why don'cha!

The Tot, in all his bulky glory. Cat Loaf.

The Joy of Sex Teabagging Konagod

I happened to click on a link to Eschaton today, a blog I haven't visited in well over a year I'm guessing. Aside from a comment thread party, I guess I haven't missed much.

You know, I got somethin'. I haven't said this in awhile, but I truly enjoy all of you who do visit and comment, even if you visit and don't comment (yes, I'm a SiteMeter whore), you are still appreciated.

And I'm glad I've reached a point in my blog history where I don't give a shit if I've got nothing to say. I simply don't post until I do. And it may be shallow and superficial adolescent humor. But it's me and it's what makes me happy for a moment, just to share something with a few folks.

So.... thanks.

Oh my God.... I just went back and there's a new post...zero comments!

Tiding me over. Just what I need. I resisted the obvious temptation to comment "First!" or "Frist!"

What I need is a tequila shot.

Mike Masterson: Colossal Asshole Award

Mike Masterson, the opinion editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Northwest edition, i.e. the most heavily Republican district of the state, got me all wound up this morning with this piece in today's paper.

Ahh, the joys of being a white, heterosexual IDIOT.

I really hope the link works -- it could be subscription only which I have by virtue of piggy-backing on my mother's print copy subscription. In any event, you'll get the gist of it...

By the way, just like Prejean, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton and nearly 70 percent of my fellow Americans, I, too, am a Christian, one who believes that institution of marriage is between one man and one woman. The people of other major religions believe likewise.

As with most of that vast majority, I also couldn’t care less what consenting adults do in their own bedrooms. But to destroy the holy and sacred institution of marriage based on the behavioral preferences of one group representing a fraction of our population would be a drastic mistake.

The colossal asshole got it all wrong. This is not about what consenting adults (and make note of his use of "consenting") do in their bedrooms; it's about what rights consenting heterosexual adults have in a relationship recognized by the state which non-heterosexual consenting adults do NOT have. And it matters fuck-all whether we are 7/10ths of 1%, or 6%, or 42%. We are tax-paying, hard-working Americans with ethics and moral values as well. And I'm fucking fed the hell up with "opinion editors" and anyone else trotting out these tired old arguments, and using the most insulting phrases like "behavioral preferences" only adds fuel to my fire.

Mr. Masterson, a "behavioral preference" would be, for instance, one in which a man prefers to pee sitting down to avoid splatter. My own "behavioral preferences" include things like having the toilet paper flap on the top vs. the underside, and always squeezing the toothpaste tube from the bottom. But when it comes to fucking in the privacy of my bedroom my sexual orientation, this is not a preference or a behavioral choice. My route is what is natural for me as a gay man.

But wait, Masterson's reasoning gets even more embarrassing for him.

It would be like cracking an egg that, once broken, would open the marriage door to all forms of sexual behaviors and predilections. Try to visualize pedophiles marrying children, a husband with multiple wives, humans marrying animals. Don’t laugh. Once we fallible human animals choose to erase a moral boundary established by a much higher force than convenient political popularity, where can any meaningful lines ever be drawn in our society?

Trust me, I'm not laughing. Yes, try to visualize pedophiles and sex with animals, you sick twisted fuck. Spread that fear to your readership and continue distorting reality to suit your own theocratic jerk-off fantasy.

Apparently at this point in the scribe, he lost sight of a word he used earlier: consenting.

You see, children are not consenting adults; we already have laws in place to prevent pedophiles from marrying children, and without those we'd already have heterosexual pedophiles marrying children. As it stands now, we have a lot of heterosexual pedophiles simply raping children outside the institution of marriage, as opposed to within it. And this has abso-fucking-lutely NOTHING to do with same-sex marriage. And Masterson has got to know this; if he doesn't he has no business being paid to write opinion pieces for a major statewide newspaper; he should be submitting them as a reader to an editor who actually has some common sense.

But it sure works great as as humor piece scare tactic when you have absolutely nothing else to hang your (ass)hat on.

As if this just simply isn't too over-the-top to fathom, he has to toss in the obligatory visual of humans marrying animals. Again, animals can't consent. And seriously, while we're on the subject of "fractions of our population," how many people would go that route, even if it were legal? (It's a rhetorical question, don't answer it. I have no doubt somebody somewhere, probably one or two of his newpaper's subscribers, would give it a whirl.)

And then Masterson continues with the granddaddy of them all: speak out while you still have the basic right, because Carrie Prejean is living proof that we're about to lose that right.

Even a beauty queen with no ax to grind with anyone is not exempt from personal attacks today for simply giving an honest opinion shared by most Americans. Carrie Prejean and her grandfather are right. It is time for everyone who believes in values and freedom to get off their duffs and be counted-while they still can be.

Mr. Masterson, am I included in your definition of "everyone who believes in values and freedom?" Only to a certain extent? We would like to "get off our duffs and be counted." That's the fucking point of our Gay Agenda. Only people such as yourself just keep shitting all over it with your asinine propaganda and fear-mongering.

If I wasn't such a proponent of free speech, I'd be tempted to tell you to shut the fuck up. But I will not take that low road. You go ahead and make a colossal asshole out of yourself in the statewide press as often as you want. Eventually, you will be on the losing end of this battle. Even in Arkansas.

Eggs are gonna get cracked. And there ain't no demons, pedophiles, or animal fuckers lurking within. Just basic civil rights, and that's some scary shit for many people, apparently.

More on Mike Masterson.

Small Wang Contentment

I despise spam. Really. But once in awhile I'll get one with a subject line that cracks me up. Today was such a day.

Seriously? Why would I want that? That's so... 1950s.

I'm content with a small Wang, but thanks for the huge offer.

Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy on Olbermann

We saw Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy a few months ago being interviewed on MSNBC and last night he was invited to appear on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. For me to have nothing but great things to say about a Baptist minister from the Deep South is surreal to say the least.

I don't know who plucked this guy from an obscure pulpit; maybe he did it himself to get a rational message out there.

Bravo.

Last night I was thinking he is the only minister I might actually enjoy hearing speak from a pulpit in a church. And I did not know until this morning that his church is the Northminster (Baptist) Church in Monroe, Louisiana, a town I pass through when I go visit my mother in Arkansas. In fact, Monroe is only 90 minutes from my mom's house.

I really like this quote from 2003 pertaining to the dangers of mixing religion with politics:

...what we've seen happen is our democracy, I think, is being crippled in its ability to practice healthy debate because of escalating every issue to a kind of transcendent religious moral substantive subject. When you do that you shut down the debate that makes democracy work, honest debate where there is an exchange of ideas and people refine their thinking and together our differences of opinion help us discover a better way.

This man is clearly adept at uncloaking bullshit for everyone to see and smell. I find him mesmerizing to watch, and such a refreshing voice of absolute reason in these frightening times when theocrats are clamoring for the national stage and power.