Rep. Ron Paul (R, TX) appeared on the Bill Maher show this past weekend (May 25,2007). He and Bill discussed why it is that Americans are hated by so many people around the world, specifically the radical Muslims in the Middle East. He mentioned the culpability of the current administration's foreign policy. He also commented,
"We don't have to be in this mess. Logic tells us that we could make a better world in a much easier way than causing war."
Kind of shocking to see such wise words from a person from Texas, not to mention a Republican….
Westborough Baptist Church has produced a lovely remake of "We are the World," which was written in 1985 by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson to help with famine relief in Ethiopia. For those of you unfamiliar with the WBC, it is led by Fred Phelps and the congregation consists mostly of his family members. They are the "church" that got their fame protesting the funeral of Matthew Shepard, and now protest high schools that have Gay/Straight Alliances, the funerals of soldiers, the funeral of Jerry Falwell, MTV, and issue almost incoherent tirades against anything they deem to be a product of the anti-christ; like dalmations, the color pink, and Sweden (no, really, check out godhatesweden.com if you can handle it...and no, i'm not going to actually link to it).
The highlights of the video (beyond the lyrics which are, thankfully, under the video...too bad there's no bouncing ball) are the cheerful group swaying happily to the song near the end of the video, and this smile two of the young women share when singing the lyric "you will all stand together and fall".
Yesterday, Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform proposed four plans to give Coloradoans almost universal health care coverage by 2010. It's good to see that Colorado is finally acknowledging the reality that health care has been unaffordable and inaccessible for many people, and that the number of people who can't access health care is increasing. In Colorado almost 770,000 people are without healthcare, which is a little over 17% of our total population. Additionally, 20% of that 770,000 are children under that age of 18, which is ludicrous. I am also one of 770,000.
Here's a little update for those of you who just can't stand the suspense on what happened this year in the Colorado Legislature. (Hint: You can also pick up a newspaper. Yes, those things still exist...).
It was a productive session for the General Assembly in 2007. This year there was significantly less discussion about ethics violations, which created a much less contentious atmosphere in the Capitol. 2007 being an off year for most elections also contributed to the greater feeling of civility among State legislators. Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the 66th General Assembly was that for the first time in four decades the Senate, House, and the Governor’s office were all in Democratic control.
The session brought more environmentally conscious legislation than perhaps any other year. Bills in both chambers and by both parties were introduced, with over 10 different pieces of some quality energy and enviro friendly legislation introduced; at least 5 passed through the General Assembly and were signed by the Governor. The 66th General Assembly was definitely the greenest in Colorado’s history.
We all heard President Bush pledge his support for reversing global climate change during his State of the Union speech. He used all the right words: human impact, renewable energy, solar, biofuels, and emissions. He threw the word "nucular" in there as well, but that's a conversation for a different day.
Now, I never expected the White House to really play an active role in curbing global warming, but I thought maybe, just maybe, Bush was starting to realize that it is bad PR to keep denying that humans are causing global climate change. I thought we had a chance that the US would begin to stop being the roadblock that it has been in the international community for the past thirty years. Maybe Bush would just stop talking about it and then he could take credit for all the good energy policies the Democratically controlled Congress enacts. Makes political sense to me.
It's official. The legislation you've been hearing us go on and on about has finally passed! The Colorado Senate passed HCR 1002, which will place a question on the 2008 ballot to lower the age requirement to run for state office, on Tuesday. See the Colorado Daily's coverage here.
What does this mean? Personally, I think this is a lot bigger than just the issue of age requirements. Yes, it is a matter of principle--if you are able to go to war for your country at 18 years old, you should be allowed to run for office at that age as well. Are our trigger fingers more important than our opinions?? I don't think so.
But, to me, this means a lot more. It means that young people have proven that they can be a political force. That they can play the political game just like anyone else--they just have never really been asked to. Until now. I think we're really going to blow their popsicle stand in 2008!
In case you were under the impression that the KKK was a despicable hate group, you would be wrong, according to Ward Connerly, the man who has filed the language for a ballot initiative in Colorado to end affirmative action programs based on race and gender (along with Linda Chavez and Valerie Orr) on April 16 of this year.
You might be wondering where I am going with this. I figured for my first post, I'd give you some glitz and glam to make you say "Hmmm?" (Yes, like the C &C Music Factory Song). However, both of my previous statements, albeit inflammatory, are true. To see the KKK's love for the pink-suited Marilyn click here (some or all of the material may offend you, your mom, and everyone else).
Ward Connerly, whose businesses earned over $1.1 million in minority contracts from the state of California between 1989 and 1995, is also the "mastermind" proponent behind Proposition 209 and Proposal 2, the ballot initiatives that banned affirmative action in California and Michigan respectively. Proposal 2, in Michigan, had no support among prominent civil rights groups, and very little support from businesses, organizations, and schools. However one group that did come out in support of Proposition 2 was the Ku Klux Klan. This is what Ward Connerly had to say about this endorsement.
"If the Ku Klux Klan thinks that equality is right, God bless them. Thank them for finally reaching the point where logic and reason are being applied, instead of hate."
Here's the video put out by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, that has Ward Connerly, on video, saying this:
So, what would make 58% of voters in Michigan support an initiative that had the support of delusional radicals who are bestowing God's blessings on the KKK? Misinformation about affirmative action, and a false sense of fear. The rest of my post will debunk the myths of affirmative action and explain what affirmative action actually is in Colorado, and why losing it will be devastating to our state, our workforce, our economy and young people.
Westborough Baptist Church has produced a lovely remake of "We are the World," which was written in 1985 by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson to help with famine relief in Ethiopia. For those of you unfamiliar with the WBC, it is led by Fred Phelps and the congregation consists mostly of his family members. They are the "church" that got their fame protesting the funeral of Matthew Shepard, and now protest high schools that have Gay/Straight Alliances, the funerals of soldiers, the funeral of Jerry Falwell, MTV, and issue almost incoherent tirades against anything they deem to be a product of the anti-christ; like dalmations, the color pink, and Sweden (no, really, check out godhatesweden.com if you can handle it...and no, i'm not going to actually link to it).
It was a productive session for the General Assembly in 2007. This year there was significantly less discussion about ethics violations, which created a much less contentious atmosphere in the Capitol. 2007 being an off year for most elections also contributed to the greater feeling of civility among State legislators. Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the 66th General Assembly was that for the first time in four decades the Senate, House, and the Governor’s office were all in Democratic control. 
