Whine & Cheese

Prop 8: The Musical

This video is making the rounds, but still thought it was funny (actually Funny or Die) to share... Prop 8: The Musical conceived and written by Hairspray's Marc Shaiman. It is pretty hilarious... particularly for those of us who make up that fairly large overlapping part of the gay/musical theater lover Venn diagram.

As the video screen above notes, the cast is really quite star-studded.

California Gays and The People That Love Them: Jordan Ballard, Margaret Cho, Barrett Foa, J.B. Ghuman, John Hill, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Parker

Proposition 8'ers and The People That Follow Them: John C. Reilly, Allison Janney, Kathy Najimy, Jenifer Lewis, Craig Robinson, Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke, Katharine "Kooks" Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise "Esi!" Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor

Also... Jack Black, Neil Patrick Harris and, as the Piano Player, Marc "Marc" Shaiman

This & That

You may (or not?!) have noticed there wasn't a blog entry yesterday.  I said awhile back that I wasn't going to push/force writing here, but I have to say it still feels a bit weird to let the day go by without writing at least a little something out.  That said, just a little this and that stream of consciousness today...

But alas, even if there is no entry here you can usually see a twitter or two (or three or four) in the upper left hand corner or elsewhere (like... ummm... Twitter perhaps?!).  I have to admit that status updates are cannibalizing my blog entries (as I suspect they have for many, many others).   I guess some things can (or should) be said in 140 characters or less... or else it's just blogging for the lazy... "I would have written more, but gosh darnit... out of characters!"   I don't know if this is a good thing or bad thing.  A big part of me thinks it is just adding/increasing the attention-deficit of our nation, but it is still a nice little outlet.

***********************************************************

The Twilight craze is fully underway, with the movie primed for a midnight opening tonight.  Just in case, you have been living under a rock, the Twilight series (written by local - and Mormon! - author Stephenie Meyer) is the latest publishing phenomenon (quickly filling the Harry Potter vacuum) about a high school girl and her first love, who just happens to be a 180-year old vampire (though if the movie version is accurate, can pass for Zac Efron's cousin).  I will admit - out of curiosity and this odd attraction to the vampire genre - to reading the first novel,  even though if today's newspaper is to be be believed I am in a minority since this is only something for daughters and their moms. 

As you may recall, I wasn't terribly impressed with the book... and re-iterated to Todd this morning that I wish, given all the hysteria, that it was a better written book.  Alas, he reminded me to stop being a snob.. and again, I will say that whatever gets people, especially young folk, reading is a very good thing.  I pretty much had the same reaction to Harry Potter... reading the first book and pretty much wondering what all the fuss was about (and you can see how my opinion affected future sales in that series!).   That said, I may give the 2nd book in the series a try ... and once we finish watching True Blood, the first book in Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series as well... like I said, I'm a sucker (ha!) for vampires!

***********************************************************

It's been interesting watching all this post-election/cabinet post stuff with Obama.  In particular, I have been amused by all the criticism about stuff like Joe Lieberman keeping his chairmanships in the Senate or the consideration of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.  Given what we already know about Obama and now having finished reading The Audacity of Hope, these kind of things are soooooo Obama.  As you may recall, I didn't get on the Obama train to fairly late... all that hope, change, "red state - blue state, no the United States" stuff didn't penetrate into my cynical bones.  But once I let that go... drank the kool-aid (I'll give you that)... you either have to be stratospherically cynical that Obama has been planning all this each and every day for the last decade or more... or else come around to thinking this guy is incredibly sincere and really believes/intends to govern in a post-partisan environment. 

I have found the whole Clinton/Secretary of State thing pretty interesting.  I expected there would be some kind of offer... again, this is typical Obama (though this "team of rivals" knee-jerks are getting out of hand), but I didn't expect interest on Clinton's part... and apparently she does, otherwise I don't think it would be buzzing for these many days.  Now, if she would have been the very first female SoS, I think she would have jumped at it... but it's pretty amazing to think - and just in the past two administrations - that she would be the third woman (and continue the decade+ trend of a non-white man) to fill the post.  But given how long this has dragged on, I suspect she will head the State Department.

And likely by the time this entry gets posted, we will have lost our Democratic Governor here in Arizona as it appears that Janet Napolitano will be the Secretary-Elect of Homeland Security.  Napolitano was also rumored to be under consideration for Attorney General, but that fell through earlier this week. 

While I have no real basis/logic for this thought, I kinda sorta would have been okay letting Janet go for the AG slot... but Homeland Security, well... just seems like a disaster waiting to happen... literally!   But the more troubling aspect is that her departure would leave AZ totally Republican run... with the current Secretary of State Jan Brewer moving to the top spot (the third woman to do so in AZ's recent/20-ish year history - though this time at least with the governor not leaving in disgrace)... so while I am happy for Napolitano, it still leaves me a little sad that our little (but important!) bit of "blue" is leaving our red state.

Letter To The Editor

I haven't kept to my promise of keeping it less political this week ... and while I thought I would counter this post with a Photo Friday entry later today, I just checked and today's challenge is "Autumn" ... and sadly enough, I do not have anything in my 950+ photos on Flickr the approaches anything close to "Autumn"... ah, life in summer/"not summer" Phoenix! 

Anyhow, the bad thing about the morning paper is that one tends to read it... well, first thing in the morning and before being sufficiently caffeinated.   This particular letter in today's AZ Republic had my head spinning!  I will protect the innocent/guilty by not posting this man's name and only hope that he was sending this letter to be "edited" vs. expressing a cogent argument/opinion.  Likewise, I am not sure why this particular letter was published other than to illustrate the lack of logic we are up against.   We join this letter already in progress...

I voted for Proposition 102, but I have no objection to gay people having all the rights and benefits of those who are married.  I just can't accept two people of the same sex being married like a man and a woman.

Whether people admit it or not, this country was built on the foundation and principles of the Bible.  It was also built on the principal that government not control what a religion wanted to follow, if any at all.  No matter how much people want to take God out of these United States, we cannot let it happen.

Whether a person worships God, Allah, Buddha, or some other supreme being, or none at all, for this country to survive, the ability to allow that worship or non-worship must continue.  No major religion that I am aware of allows the union in holy matrimony of same-sex couples.

Oy, I don't know where to start!  I am mightily confused how non-worshipers or those allowed to follow no religion at all reconcile the fact that the country was built and who apparent survival rests on the principles of the Bible... which thus kinda sorta leaves out those who are worshiping Allah, Buddha or the uber-mysterious "other supreme being."  And again, I am baffled by this continued belief that marriage is only something one does within religious confines.  That church, synagouge, temple ceremony does not mean a whole lot without the piece of paper issued by the government.

Actually, "holy matrimony" sounds something that is sanctify-worthy and worth of being saved ... so I suggest those caught up on the whole "marriage" semanatics now be required get "holy matrimonied" (and we'll get started on the whole constitutional amendment banning divorce of those united in holy matrimony for the next election cycle)... the "holy" part satisfies all that Bible, keeping founding God principles/save the country stuff... and you'll have all the same rights and benefits of those of us who are married.  Nothing wrong with that, right?

Prop 8 Zingers

Ok, still not quite off the political horse... but this post is kinda fun.  While I know the protests over the passage of California's Prop 8 (and the other anti-gay measures that passed on election day) are a serious matter, can I still be at least amused by some of the protest signs?  I always say don't piss off the gays... as wit/humor is often our biggest weapon!

Here are some of my favorites lines from the protest signs, many from the NYC protest pictures that I saw on various websites this morning.  In some cases, I am sure my very smart readers can figure out whether a man or woman was holding up a particular sign.

Chickens 1, Gays 0

Britney Spears, 55 Hours!  Me, Never?

My gay friends deserve to be unhappy too!

So... when can I vote on your marriage?

Keep your magic undies off my civil rights!

God created the rainbow so I could catwalk to heaven

Gay is the new black

You have 2 wives, I want 1 husband

Oh well, I wasn't using my civil rights anyways

My rights are not granted by your God

Protect Marriage:  Ban the Electric Slide

My mom is a little bit country, my other mom is a little bit rock 'n roll

I love my gay Mormon husband

I'm too old for this shit!  Equal rights now!

Focus on your own family

I didn't ask her to "civil union" me

Did you cast a ballot or a stone?

Would you rather I married your daughter?

Isn't It Ironic...

Don't you think?

I know I vowed to try to get away from the political stuff, but I couldn't just pass this one by. 

Last week, I was just geeking out and seeing how "red" and "blue" different states were ... and have determined that places where lots of people tend to live together are blue... and by a total accident, I hovered over and stumbled upon Maverick County in Texas.  And what Mavericks they were!  Voting overwhelmingly against the team of Mavericks ... but I guess no surprise, since they are basically in Mexico!

And while I planned to cool it on the gay marriage stuff here (for my own mental well-being), I could not not post this You Tube that is pretty much on every gay-oriented blog this morning... Keith Olbermann's passionate response to the passage of California's Prop 8.

As with civil rights issues of the past, I do not believe gay community we can not make progress without voices other than our own... and while a host on a liberally biased news network may be as effective as the Hollywood crowd, it is this very kind argument from our straight allies that might start chipping away and allowing that wall to crumble.

I just finished a book where the character was told of the Chinese proverb/philosophy of "learning to see the good in the bad and the bad in the good" and while it is certainly no comfort to our California friends, perhaps this setback will lead to the greater good.  If Prop 8 was defeated, it might have just been shrugged off as typical/wacky California and the steamroller would have just marched on to more easy targets like Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas. 

Obamania Week Continues

No worries, I will eventually shut up about the Obama, the election, politics.  I sense I am over the hump and things are slowly going to return back to normal here and I'll be devoting full posts to being happy over La Lucci finally getting the boot on Dancing With The Stars... but still got a bit left in the tank, so bear with me for a bit more!

First, thanks for communications (emails, comments, messages) about the whole Prop 102 and marriage amendment thing.  I was a bit taken aback by how down I was yesterday given that I fully expected to be giddily bouncing off the walls over an Obama victory.  Over the course of the day, I see I was not alone in feeling that way.  "Gay" was not synonymous with "happy" yesterday that was for sure!   I think it was the cumulative effect of all these propositions that had me in such a funk.  While I fully expected and was prepared for our AZ proposition to pass, the Prop 8 result honestly threw me.  I was well aware it was a very tight race, but I certainly got a lesson about the California political scene.  Here I was thinking CA was a pure bastion of liberalism, but looking at the Prop 8 Yes/No county map show that the Golden State is not that different from our country - "blue" on the coasts and major population center and more "red" inland and covering a lot more land mass.

Back here in AZ, there is some concern that we will lose our Democratic governor Janet Napolitano to the Obama administration... which would thus ascend our Republican (and also female!) Secretary of State to the top office.  Napolitano was an early supporter of Obama and now is part of the transition team and the buzz is that she would be considered for Attorney General or head of Homeland Security.  But rumors also have her not seeking re-election in two years to instead run for McCain's Senate seat.  So who knows!

Okay, onto more important things!

Just so you think I am not capable of critical thinking when it comes to the Obamas, put me in the NOT a fan camp re: Michelle Obama's victory speech/Grant Park dress.  I have been a fan of her no-nonsense, sensible, un-pretentious fashion/style ... and while the above dress is all that... she just lost me on the whole "what the heck is going on with the black fabric criss-crossing the front of it?!?" thingy. 

Actually I was thrilled to see what the First Lady-Elect wore to the polls on election day...

It seemed to be a very much throw on some clothes, pull the hair back, maybe put on a bit of make-up, get the kids in the car an head to the polls... pretty refreshing, and it's not like she didn't think cameras were going to be there... and a bit of contrast compared to Cindy McCain's Aspen ski-bunny get-up (which actually is pretty subdued/tame as well).

Next up, we know the Obamas are going to be getting a puppy when or before they head to the White House.  May I recommend a purely American breed of dog... the Boston Terrier: 

Here is the latest picture of our own Barocky Obama.  I think this is probably the only dog/breed that could out-cute little Sasha Obama.

But rumor has it the Obamas are going to ... in their typical elitist, "we're oh so perfect" way... going to get a rescue dog.  Ugh.

Figures... next thing we'll know they'll be announcing plans to replace all the lightbulbs in the White House with compact flourescent ones... and recycle wine bottles used at state dinners!

The Times They Are A-Changin' (And Not)

The cover of my old "hometown" paper (even though I am from NJ, I grew up with the NY Daily News as our daily newspaper):

While I was pretty optimistic about the outcome of the election, it was still very surprising and moving when the moment happened.  Truthfully, I never thought something like this would happen in my lifetime... first, voting for a viable woman candidate for the Presidency in the primaries, then voting for the bi-racial/African American man that will become the 44th President of the United States.

I just hope that we are truly headed down the path of a government who gets things done responsibly and with less divisiveness...though I am not holding my breath... and I already sense the world's view of our country has changed overnight (my little personal window of foreign reaction saw folks really pulling/hoping for Obama - and I couldn't imagine the reverse, with Americans being that invested in a foreign election).

But, as expected, the night and this morning definitely ha been bittersweet... with all 4 anti-gay (or pro-"family") propositions passing... marriage amendments here is AZ, in FL (where the prop needed, and received, over 60% of the vote), and while it hasn't been officially called, it looks like it will be very tough haul for CA's Prop 8 to be defeated... and I have to admit, that I was aware of Arkansas now voter-approved ban on "unmarried sexual partners" from adopting children or serving as foster parents.

So on a night where we witnessed just how far our country has come, it was personally very discouraging to feel one's own civil rights being pushed back taken several painful steps.  I remember a couple of years back when AZ defeated the first stab at this "sanctity of marriage" crap or when states started making strides towards marriage equality, that just maybe this would be something that would be realized in my lifetime. 

Now I am not so sure...

So if two perfect strangers (as long as they are a man and woman), decide they want to get married they can with nary a question (and certainly not a public vote)... and this couple could have more legal rights re: other than I have in my 14+ year relationship... or other folks can get married over and over again (and we all know some), hoping the current one is the last one.  But as long as folks seemingly can't discern the difference between the legal "piece of paper" aspect and a religious ceremony... with the latter meaning nothing without the former... it's going to be a struggle for our cause.

I think it will happen... someday.  But I am not so sure I will be blessed (or cursed?!) with the lifespan of Ann Nixon Cooper, the 106 year old that Obama so effectively highlighted in last nights victory speech, someone who has seen and experienced so many unimaginable events and changes in our country.  And again, even in such a moment of discouragement, I was inspired by Obama's words:

"That while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can"

Yes I Did

It seems silly to say much of anything else other than this today...

Took us about an hour at our polling place from start to finish, but that was mostly due to the initial back-up when the polls opened at 6 a.m.  But all went smoothly for us (tho 3 people ahead of us all had to do provisional ballots for one reason or another) and now we wait until tonight.  I plan on turning off most of any news/political stuff/talking heads until the polls start closing back East and even head out on some errands a bit later just to get my mind off it.   Todd mentioned yesterday he felt like an expectant parent -- and there definitely is that odd mix of excitement, nervousness, hope, fear, relief and anticipation.

One Day More

I stumbled onto this You Tube video back in September, but I thought it was worth re-sharing since it is now alas "One Day More" until the election... and it seems silly to try to blog about anything else other than politics and the election for the next few days...  so I share, once again, Les Misbarack!

And since you know how much I love throwing my hat into the prediction ring... and while I am a tad more confident about my Dancing With The Stars finalists picks... here is my guess at the final electoral college map.

I'll admit to pretty much trusting the polls (and a lot of electoral college history) and really just taking my own stab at the toss-up states... and I like to think I am being a tad conservative (about a liberal, ha!) as I think there might/hopefully be a bit more blue on the map. 

If you are as equally nerdy inclined, I welcome your final EC tally predictions in the comments!

I went to this RealClearPolitics map and just did some clickin' and flippin' to get my numbers.

Election Fatigue

I have to admit that I am ready to vote and get the election over with already.  I had a good laugh at The Daily Show the other night when relatively new "correspondent" Wyatt Cenac likened it to having a drug-induced erection for 3 hours and 58 minutes and having to wait to the 4 hour mark to "contact your doctor" moment.

Watched the Oba-mercial last night and have to say I was pretty moved by it... which means it was "mission accomplished" (well at least to "the base").   I will admit I was slow to coming around to Obama, but I do find him to be very inspiring and the "transformative" political figure that I think is exactly what this country needs right now. 

While I remember being stoked about Clinton ("Don't Stop (Thinkin' About Tomorrow)" and all that good stuff)... things are different this time around... I was 25 years old when Clinton was sworn-in and now a tad north of 40... the world is certainly a different place... and I am definitely more in tune with politics these days (thanks to - or blame! - the Internet for that)... so I was saying to Todd last night after the Oba-mercial that this is what people must have felt about JFK... and here, I will also be Debbie Downer and add that I fear Obama may meet the same fate/end... but alas Todd reminded me he has to become President first...

... which I think he will do.  Sure I am probably setting myself up for another election night where my hopes and dreams are pulverized to bits in thinking the person I voted for was going to win. 

Funny enough, when this election cycle began (which seems way back to when I was 25 years old!) I thought it wouldn't be the 'end of the world' if McCain won.  But I was talking about the "old" McCain and I can not respect much of what he has done/turned into over the course of this campaign.  And heck, I might have still felt the same if he had a running mate other than Palin - which again is something I think the "old" McCain would not have done.  Again, I am not saying I would be "happy" or even remotely have the thought of "crossing party lines" - but again it wouldn't be the "end of the world" (and okay, even if it does happen, it won't be either)

While I know this is coming from left-leaning, liberal biased comedy shows, my mouth has hit the floor hearing what people are saying at McCain or Palin rallies (again, I know this isn't everybody!)... but it was scary how sincere people were in thinking if Obama wins that there will be a terrorist or Muslim in the White House (with some thinking those two are synonymous)... one woman feared that she would have to wear a burka... "he will put a turban on and we will all be shot"... "I am scared to death of him"... "there will be no America left"... "he's not living in a realistic world with his Islamic view."  The fact that these thoughts are honestly out there is scary to me and makes me fear for Obama.  Again, I am not asking for people to be happy or non-skeptical or wary... but I wish there was more "it won't be the end of the world" if Obama is elected.

Switching gears, I suspect that election night will end with mixed feelings... again, while I am fairly confident I will be voting for the ultimate winner (well, not necessarily thanks to electoral votes from my state) in this race, I (once again!) have little confidence that our state will reject the "define marriage" constitutional amendment.  I have to admit that I have been a bit jealous over all the attention/money/etc that California's Prop 8 has been getting... but, at the end of the day, I do realize that if California (of all states!) loses this battle... the negative ramifications/impact to our cause will be enormous.  While even if the improbable happens here in AZ and Prop 102 is rejected, nothing will change as gay marriage is still against state law... but there is a lot more to lose in CA.  Again, good thoughts and hopes to our neighbor to the west!

A few years back, when the gay marriage debate was really raging (not that isn't now... obviously!)... I discovered this quote from Thomas Jefferson (actually a version of it on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC) and I think it is worth repeating:

"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects.

But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times.

We might as well require a man to wear still the same coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Again, while I am ready for this all to be over with... let me take a moment to raise a glass... in a hopeful, non-cynical, naive (and rare, for me!) way... to the "progress of the human mind!"