2007 - The Year of Teh Gays

I will always remember 2007 as the year I got married in Vancouver, British Columbia, a country that values all its citizens, not just those who follow the moral code of West Texas dry drunk fundamentalists. However, history may see 2007 as the year the hinges were blown off the closet once and for all. There was the Obama/Donnie McClurkin dust-up in which gays were unafraid to stand up and be counted and Democrats (hopefully) learned that they can't take our votes and money for granted.

Then came the parade of sanctimonious bastards from Florida to Idaho found out the hard way that the days of closet queens demonizing homos were over. The mainstream press finally seems to be getting that gay does not equal shame and that if they're going to provide wall-to-wall coverage of stained Gap dresses then maybe secret gay lovin' is no longer the sex scandal that dare not speak its name. In the past, reporters would camp out in Gary Hart's bushes hoping for a Donna Rice sighting but look away if a male Senator tricked with college boys. This provided convenient cover for closeted Republicans to screw gays literally by night and figuratively by day. Now that tearoom tapping has made the CBS Evening News, those days are over and the hypocracy is out in the open for all to see.

If I were a closeted Republican, I'd be calling Wayne Besen for a mea culpa ASAP.

New Year's Eve's Man

Andrew Sullivan

My Christmas Eve post was one for my husband and this is one for me. The older I get the more I find myself attracted to hairy-beary guys and Mr. Sullivan fills the bill nicely. I read his blog daily and disagree with him as much as I agree, but it's always intelligently written. I enjoy good writing that challenges my perceptions.

He was cuter than cute as a younger guy, but this man ages well.

Christmas Eve's Man

My husband and I were at a restaurant last night and the flat screens over the bar were filled with the handsome mug of Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo. My husband promptly forgot that I was there. Uh, honey? Remember me? The guy you came with? The guy you married? Focus here. That guy on TV is not going to take you away from all this.

Romo's so darn cute and all-American though, that I can't really blame my man for his massive crush.

West Side Story Reunion

The Original cast of West Side Story, my favorite Broadway show of all time, reunited to raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Follow the link and watch the ageless Chita Rivera put the kids to shame. Click here and have a Merry Christmas!

Loathed and Loved Christmas Songs

It turns out that I wasn't the only one who got the idea of compiling a list of the worst Christmas songs. Who knew? I thought I was so fresh and original. It seems that Edison Media Research actually talked to people who listen to the radio, instead of using my method which was to talk to no one and pull the whole thing out of my hind quarters.

Here's their most-loathed list, which isn't nearly as God-awful as my list. It's also not in order:

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy Shropshire.
OK, I've got to agree, it's pretty bad. It gives the good ol' boys a chuckle, but that cornpone, Hee Haw routine gets old fast.

Jingle Bells by Barbra Streisand
What? Barbra made a worst song list? What sort of blasphemy is this? This whole thing is apparently a hetero conspiracy.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town by the Jackson 5
I like the Jackson 5. Leave them alone.

O Holy Night by Eric Cartman from South Park
People, relax. It's a joke. I really don't think it's supposed to be taken so seriously.

And the Number 1 most loathed Christmas song according to some media research company you've never heard of:
Jingle Bells by the Singing Dogs
Actually, I think the Singing Dogs are kinda cute.

The same media company compiled a list of the most loved Christmas songs, based on the same methodology they used for the most loathed. Here it is, and they apparently only chose 3:

White Christmas by Bing Crosby
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.


What, no Wham! Christmas? I stand by my method.

SAG Noms!

The Awards Season juggernaut keeps gaining steam with the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Woot! Woot! Get excited people!

The actors always say "the SAG award is the one I most want because it's voted on by the actors." This is, of course, a total lie. Anything short of Oscar is second place and like Val Kilmer said in Top Gun, "the plaque for second place is downstairs in the ladies room."

There's a lot of overlap with the Golden Globes, so I won't go into that much insane detail again. I'll just make a few comments.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney for Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood
Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl
Emile Hirsch for Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises

All these guys got Globe noms except Emile Hirsch, who was actually pretty hot in Into the Wild, except when he starved to death. Speaking of hot, NO JAMES MCAVOY NOMINATION!?! I may have to boycott. In solidarity with the writers and all.
I still say Viggo's going to win.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
"Female Actor." These people are so hip and today.

Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth, Part Deux
Julie Christie for Away from Her
Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page for Juno

I think Cate Blanchett was overblown and lapsed into self-parody in the Revenge of Elizabeth. I would have nominated Amy Adams or Helena Bonham Carter or maybe Keira Knightley, but nobody asked me. I still believe Julie Christie will win.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Whew. Whatever happened to simply "best supporting actor?"

Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by whoever...
Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook for Into the Wild
Tommy Lee Jones for No Country for Old Men
Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton

Tommy Lee and Hal were snubbed by the Globes and deserve these nods. I'm excited about Holbrook's nomination, and not just because he'll show up with Dixie Carter. He was amazing, deserving and is overdue for recognition. I predict he'll win.

All that being said, Casey Affleck is the hottest little guy on earth, isn't he?

Outstanding Performance by an Female Actor in a Supporting Role
I supposed in this world of Artistes, nobody can be "best," only "outstanding."

Cate Blanchett for I'm not there
Ruby Dee for American Gangster
Catherine Keener for Into the Wild
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton

Ruby and Catherine were snubbed by the Globes in favor of Julia Roberts and that Atonement girl. I love Catherine Keener and she was very Catherine Keenery in Into the Wild. Ruby Dee is way, way overdue for recognition and I'd love to see her win. In fact, I'm going to just put it out there: Ruby Dee will win.
(Actually, I think Cate Blanchett will win, but I just wanted to say "Ruby Dee will win.")

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
This is all about the Actors, you see, so they can't give an award to a producer, so they honor the ensembles. This is how someone like Zac Efron could actually get a SAG award.

3:10 to Yuma
American Gangster
Hairspray
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men

3:10 and Into the Wild were snubbed by the Globes in favor of God knows what. 3:10 to Yuma's Oscar stock just went way up. In fact, it just might win. I'll just say it - 3:10 to Yuma will win. Or, at least it'll give me fantasies about Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.

That's it boys and girls. Tune in to TBS or whatever basic cable channel broadcasts this, unless the writers strike is still on, in which case tune in to watch Sandra Oh yell "Scabs!" at the red carpet.

Mitt Had A Dream

Mitt Romney responded to critics of the Morman Church's racist past by holding up his family's commitment to civil rights, especially that of his father, former Michigan governor and presidential candidate George Romney. Mitt went so far as to say "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." It's a wonderful, inspiring story of an honorable man and roll-model for young Mitt. My eyes are misty just thinking about it.

Too bad it's not true. It turns out the story was based on a 1967 book on the Republican party by David Broder that recounted a march in Grosse Pointe, Michigan in which Dr. King was joined by then-governor Romney. Never mind that marching in Grosse Pointe is like marching in Beverly Hills, it turns out the march never happened. According to the Grosse Pointe Historical Society, Dr. King visited the city one time, to speak at the high school in 1968, after the Broder book was published. There was no march and Governor Romney was not there.

Today, a Mitt spokesbot cleared it all up. He said that George Romney and Dr. King did actually march together in 1963, only, err, not actually at the same time or in the same city. They were together, you see, but they weren't exactly "together." Dr. King led a march in Detroit in June, and several days later, George Romney made a "surprise appearance" at another march in Grosse Pointe. The Mitt campaign wants the public to believe that Romney and King were marching together because the two marches were part of the same "series of events."

Examine what Mitt said: "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King." King and the elder Romney were never in the same city at the same time and never marched in the same march. This is called a lie.

The sad thing about this episode is George Romney had a solid record on civil rights and his reputation for integrity is being abused to prop up his integrity-free son's sagging campaign.

Update: Mitt's campaign just issued a statement that his "recollections of watching his father, an ardent civil rights supporter, march with King were meant to be figurative."
Andrew Sullivan is on it: "He really is an almost fathomless bullshit artist."

5 Worst Holiday Records of All Time

'Tis the season for 24-hour holiday music channels on satellite radio and two things are apparent: 1) they are afraid of religious music and play mostly secular pap and 2) it takes a lot of crap to fill 24 hours. So, what are the worst? What are the songs that make me immediately flip to Martha Stewart Radio or OutQ?

5. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee.
This silly, derivative little puffball is played incessantly. Brenda Lee and I both come from the same place, so I guess I should give props to my homegirl, or whatever the kids are saying these days (do really really white boys like me have homegirls?) but this song needs to die.


4. The Little Drummer Boy by anybody.
This was Richard Nixon's favorite Christmas carol. Need I say more?



3. Jingle Bell Rock by Brenda Lee
Brenda, love the hair, hate the music.



2. Wham! Christmas
I know that's not actually the title, but I so don't care. Can anybody even hum this mess? I bet Andrew Ridgeley doesn't even like it. I even liked Wham! back in the day and wondered if that cute George Michael might be gay. This song actually makes me think he's straight and that whole trolling in parks thing is a front.


And the Number One Worst Holiday Song of All Time:


1. That Stupid Dan Fogelberg Song About Meeting An Ex in the Grocery Store, Buying a Six-Pack, and Whining About How Much Life Sucks
OK, don't hit me or anything, I know he just died and he went before his time and God bless him. But really, who decided this was a holiday song? It was literally the first song I heard this year when I tuned in to Sirius Holiday. I know he meets the girlfriend on Christmas eve, blah, blah blah, but it's NOT A HOLIDAY SONG. It's a dated 70's folkey song about angst. Can't they just play Joy to the World?

I Am Mike Huckabee and Jesus Approved This Message

Mike Huckabee has released this TV commercial, just in time for the blessed celebration of the birth of Christ, because Mike Huckabee is a really big Christian and Mitt Romney worships Beelzebub or something and Huckabee would never use his sacred religion to score some cheap political points. Note the cross behind him, the halo around his head and the prominent mention of "Christ." Mike Huckabee truly is the natural successor to George W. Bush.

Now, go to Andrew Sullivan's site and watch Ron Paul's response. He casually tosses in the F-word Watch the Fox News bot struggle to explain. Do you think that tool could even define "fascist?" Then they pan to former Miss America Gretchen Carlson who is about to drop her tiara. Fun Times!

Rudy in Free Fall

Rudy Giuliani is pulling resources out of New Hampshire to concentrate on Florida, where he is also fading fast. He's currently polling third in the Sunshine state, behind the Huckster and Mitt-don't-know-shit. The somnambulant Fred Thompson, the former Great White Hope of the GOP, is too busy checking the mail for a Golden Globe nomination to actually campaign or whatever.

WHAT, you say? Rudi is faltering? But he was in New York on 9/11! You remember 9/11, don't you? Rudi was totally there. On 9/11. In New York. Walking around and stuff. On Tee Vee and everything. On 9/11.

New Jersey is Pro Live

New Jersey Governor John Corzine signed into law a bill that abolishes the death penalty in the Garden State. He had these comments: "This is a day of progress for us and for the millions of people across our nation and around the globe who reject the death penalty as a moral or practical response to the grievous, even heinous, crime of murder."

New Jersey gets more attractive all the time. First civil unions, now this. I have been opposed to the death penalty since my 2-year stint as a criminal prosecutor in the late 80s. I didn't handle a capitol case, but assisted on some murder cases and came to the conclusion that if a person does not have the right to take a human life, then the state, which is, after all, merely the representation of the people, does not have the right. I also became aware that our criminal justice system is far from flawless and mistakes happen. When an innocent person is jailed, he can be released and compensated. When an innocent person is put to death, there's no turning back. That particular wrong cannot be made right.

Monday's Man

Readers of my Golden Globes post won't be too surprised that I chose Scottish cutie James McAvoy as this Monday's Man. I guess I've had him on the brain lately. I saw Atonement over the weekend, hoping he would get naked like he did in The Last King of Scotland. Alas, it was not to be, but that didn't stop me from swooning at the sight of James in uniform. Enjoy.

Election '08: The Past vs. The Future

This Sunday’s New York Times Magazine cover story is a rather fawning piece on Mike Huckabee that glosses over some of his most troubling problems (the brief mention of the Wayne Dumond affair only says that Huckabee “favored parole” and never digs deeper) yet yields some interesting insights. Huckabee describes being a klutzy kid who was picked last for sports. He vividly recalls the pain inflicted by a seventh grade gym teacher who put him on a team of misfits and made them play basketball while the other kids watched and laughed. Frankly, that sounds like my own experiences from seventh grade and I believe that kids who were bullied either develop compassion for the underdog or grow up to be bullies themselves. Considering Huckabee’s cavalier comments about gays and people with AIDS, and his apparent dismissal of pleas from Wayne Dumond’s rape victims, I think I know how he internalized his junior high torture.

Then there is this passage revealing Huckabee’s complete ignorance of and disinterest in foreign affairs:

"At lunch, when I asked him who influences his thinking on foreign affairs, he mentioned Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, and Frank Gaffney, a neoconservative and the founder of a research group called the Center for Security Policy. This is like taking travel advice from Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, but the governor seemed unaware of the incongruity."

A presidential candidate who cares nothing for foreign affairs but loves Jesus better than anybody. Where have we seen that before? America elected one Christian Soldier who was ignorant of the world, and he’s become history’s most unpopular President. The American people are not going to elect another one. Not this time. No wonder, as Adam Nagourney pointed out in his column in today's Times, the Republican rank and file is less than enthusuastic about this year's field of candidates.

The Republicans truly have become the party of the past. The GOP candidates seem completely unaware that Americans are seeking change. They’re protecting the family from the dreaded homosexual agenda at a time when Americans are becoming so comfortable with teh gays that they’re bored with us. Americans overwhelmingly support stem cell research and want to deal with global climate change, yet the Republicans are still fighting the Scopes Monkey Trial. Americans are tired of the moralists telling us how to act, yet the Republicans are debating whether or not Mormons believe Jesus and Beelzebub are brothers. In 2007. Republicans are debating why the war in Iraq started and Americans just want it to end.

The Democrats can be petty and tin-eared, too, or at least Hillary can as demonstrated by her recent comments about Obama’s drug use and his kindergarten ambitions, but maybe Hillary is not quite the change agent America wants, either. But, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, and all of the Democrats are debating real world issues like what to do about Iraq, how to combat climate change, how to extend rights to gay people, how to engage Iran. While the Republicans compete to prove who loves Jesus the most because it worked for Dubya in 2000, the Democrats are responding to what Americans want now. That’s why a Democrat will win in 2008 and the Republicans will be delivered a thumpin' that will make 2006 seem like, well, seventh grade gym class.

Merry Christmas Darling

It wouldn't be Christmas without Karen Carpenter. Have a great weekend.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Caroline Kennedy is turning 50 and is AARP Magazine's cover girl. She looks amazing and has obviously inherited her mother's flawless taste.

Hat tip, Kenneth in the 212.

Globe Noms!

The Golden Globe Nominations are out. That's right, the 3 or 4 old guys who make up the Hollywood Foreign Press have counted up all the "gifts" they've gotten from studios and announced their nominations for these prestigious awards! Just kidding, of course! It's really 5 old guys.
They have about 800 categories so I'm only going to hit the high points, and Ryan Reynolds announcing nominations was definitely a high point. Here are my predictions.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

American Gangster...haven't seen it. Looked violent in the trailer and I don't like violent movies.
Atonement...Just came out, I'm planning to see it in case James McAvoy shows his cute butt like he did in Last King of Scotland.
Eastern Promises...Haven't see it. Again, violent. I think you see Viggo's butt though, so it might be worthwhile.
The Great Debaters...Not out yet. I wonder if they show Denzel's butt? Probably not in an Oprah movie.
Michael Clayton...Not out yet. I don't really want to see Clooney's butt.
No Country For Old Men...Violent. I don't do violent. Love Bardem. Don't think there's a butt shot.
There Will Be Blood...Haven't seen it. What's up with all the violence?

My prediction - Atonement. Big sweeping drama, hot stars (Knightley and McAvoy). This prediction may not be completely reliable since I haven't actually seen any of the nominated films, but do you really think the voters have?

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth The Golden Age
Good, not great. She'll add glamor to the red carpet, but won't win.
Julie Christie for Away From Her
Unforgettable performance. The best in years. If you haven't seen it, go.
Jodie Foster for The Brave One
Think she'll take her girlfriend to the Globes? To watch her loose?
Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart
Terrific performance, but she didn't really connect with the other actors. This is Christie's strongest competition.
Keira Knightley for Atonement
They love giving awards to hot babes, so she has a chance.
My prediction: Julie Christie. Just see the movie and you'll know why.


Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

George Clooney for Michael Clayton
I'm kinda over him.
Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood
I've loved him since he yelled "STAY ALIVE, I'LL FIND YOU!" He said it directly to ME.
James McAvoy for Atonement
He should win a special award for cutest actor in a leading role. I wonder if he gets naked like he did in Last King of Scotland? I might have to ponder that for a while. Talk among yourselves.
Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises
Serious lust object.
Denzel Washington for American Ganster
What I said about Viggo? Ditto for Denzel.
My prediction - Viggo Mortensen. I haven't seen any of the movies and I'm only going on hotness, so I may not be completely accurate.

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy

Across the Universe
Big flop that got bad reviews. They always have to beef up this category with filler.
Charlie Wilson's War
I really don't think this is a comedy.
Hairspray
I really liked it, despite the presence of Ravolta.
Juno
It's getting all kinds of buzz, but mixed reviews. I predict it'll be a disappointment.
Sweeney Todd
Hasn't opened here yet, but I saw it on stage with Angela Lansbury when I was a budding young homosexual. I think Angela pushed me over the hetero-homo tipping point and for that I am eternally grateful.
My prediction - Sweeney Todd. Advance buzz is huge, Helena Bonham Carter should be perfect for the role, Johnny Depp is hot and this is the show that made me gay. So there.

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy

Amy Adams for Enchanted
She was enchanting.
Nikki Blonsky for Hairspray
Cute and spot on, but there's too much competition for her to win.
Helena Bonham Carter for Sweeney Todd
She's just twisted enough to shine in this role. She's a contender.
Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose
Powerful, brave performance. She ripped my heart out. She blows the socks off the competition in this category.
Ellen Page for Juno
I'm sure she's cute and all, but she can't compete here.
My prediction...Marion Cotillard. Searing performance, plus, she's French and after all, this is the Foreign Press. Cotillard and Christie gave the strongest performances of the year, bar none. SEE THEIR MOVIES.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical or Comedy

Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd
He should be terrific. And hot.
Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl
Love him. He's effortlessly sexy. Didn't see the film. Sorry.
Tom Hanks for Charlie Wilson's War
Again, I really don't think this is a comedy.
Philip Seymour Hoffman for the Savages
Hasn't opened here, but has he ever given a bad performance?
John C. Reilly for Walk Hard
This is supposed to be a really funny movie and he deserved a win for Chicago.
My prediction: Johnny Depp. How many actors could pull off singing, dancing, slitting throats and eating human flesh?

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There
This is the one she could win for. These awards shows love gender bending.
Saoirse Ronan for Atonement
Nobody can pronounce her name, so they won't vote for her.
Julia Roberts for Charlie Wilson's War
She could win for best bikini shot for a woman who's had twins.
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone
Tough, uncompromising performance. She dared the audience to hate her. The breakthrough of the year.
Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton
Love her in everything.
My Prediction...Cate Blanchett. That steam train is already barreling down the tracks to Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor

Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
He plays Robert Ford. The title character. How is this supporting? He was amazing and amazingly sexy in Gone Baby Gone, but I haven't seen this one.
Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men
This man is seriously sexy.
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilson's War
See my best actor comments above. Ditto.
John Travolta for Hairspray
Are you fucking kidding me? I saw Fierstein on Broadway. Travolta is an abomination. I think he's in Leviticus.
Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton
Great actor, haven't seen the film. Don't really care.
My Prediction...Javier Bardem. I don't really have any idea who will win here, I just want to hear his sexy accent in his acceptance speech.


Whew, I'm exhausted. And that's just the major movie awards. They do this whole television thing, too, but I can't go on.

Merry Christmas From the Huckabees!

Thank God they weren't living that dangerous gay lifestyle.

via Wonkette.

In Other News, Lightening Strikes Vatican

The Pope now says same-sex marriage is an obstacle to peace.

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14597

Car of the Week: 1963 Buick Riviera

I'm continuing my newish Car of the Week feature because I've got a car fetish, especially for cars my mother drove when I was growing up. No, I'm not taking this up with my therapist. Mom drove a series of really cool cars and I got a lifetime case of the car bug. Mom loved having something new and fresh that nobody else had, and the 1963 Riviera was a prime example. This was the first year for the model and, in my opinion, the best. Check out the clean, simple, classic lines. It still holds up, especially when compared to some other cars of the era. See what I mean? Other '63's seem gaudy and dated in comparison.

The '63 Riviera was called "America's Bid for a Great New International Classic Car" and was originally intended to be a Cadillac LaSalle. Prices started at $4,330 with a long options list, and production was limited to 40,000 cars, of which virtually all were sold.
My father ordered a Riviera for Mom with the intention of literally having the first one in town. Then a local mobster showed up at the dealership with plenty of money to spread around, and Mom had to settle for having the second one. At least, that's the story they always told. I was just a tiny tot at the time, and don't actually remember this car, but Mom didn't drive it long. It was never long before Dad got the car bug and something new appeared in the driveway. About a year and a half later, there was something else new and hot on the road. More on that next week.

This Jerk's Getting Tiresome

The hits just keep on coming from Mike Huckabee. His views on Don't Ask/Don't Tell, as expressed in his 1992 Senate campaign, surfaced today:

"I believe to try to legitimize that which is inherently illegitimate would be a disgraceful act of government. I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk."

I'd compare my military service to Pastor Huck's but he doesn't have any.

He would never say anything hurtful, you know.

GOPathetic

Let's look at the GOP front runners, shall we? What moral giants has God's Own Party produced?

First, there's Rudy, the Mayor of 9/11 who's qualified to be president because he was on TV on 9/11. Did you know he was in New York on 9/11? He's currently in a circle-jerk with Romney to see who would torture the hardest.

Speaking of Mitt, he's a Northeastern elite Rockefeller Republican who boasted that he would always protect a woman's right to choose and would be a better friend to gays than Ted Kennedy. Somewhere along the road to the White House, he consulted some magic stones and decided Gays-Bad, Abortion-Bad, Torture-Good. He'd torture the evil-doers personally but his hairdresser won't let him. Maybe Tagg will do it.

Now there's Huckabee, anointed by the press as Mr. Nice Guy. This is the guy who's willing to release a rapist but thinks people with AIDS (read FAGS) should be quarantined as "plague carriers."

Rove's legacy. Wallow in it, assholes.

Life Lessons From Rudy!

That moral giant Rudy Guliani, America's Mayor, was asked by Tim Russert about Huckabee's comments that homosexuality is an aberrant lifestyle, blah blah blah. Rudy is famous, of course, for living with a gay couple after one of his wives kicked him out when she found out about one of his mistresses. Rudy advocated full marriage equality and even told his gay friends that he would personally perform their marriage when it became legal. What a guy. Surely he will answer Russert with brave, soaring prose reflecting his belief in the essential goodness of humanity.

Err, maybe not. Here's the exchange:

Russert: But You don't think homosexuality is aberrant, unnatural, or sinful.

Giuliani: No, no, no. No, I don't believe it's sinful. My moral views on this come from the, you know, from the Catholic Church. And I, I believe that, um, homosexuality, heterosexuality as a, as a way somebody leads their life is not, isn't sinful. It's the acts, the various acts that people perform that are sinful, not the orientation that they have.

Love the sinner, hate the sin. Trotting out that old chestnut was the best he could do? Honestly, I think his whole campaign is flying by the seat of his pants.

I just love lessons in morality from a thrice married (once to his cousin), serial adulterer who used City funds to squire his mistress and profited from 9/11.

Lying for Jesus

So, Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee wants to be President. Too bad about that ugly past of yours, preacher man. First up were the allegations that he pressured the Arkansas parole board to release a convicted rapist for partisan political reasons. The rapist went on to rape and murder at least one other woman. The Huckster denies any wrongdoing today, of course, but Huffington Post has the whole ugly story. It's worth a read.

Next up is Huckabee's compassionate conservatism towards people with AIDS. In 1992, the good parson said that people with AIDS should be "isolated from the general population" and that homosexuality is an abhorrent lifestyle that poses a "significant danger" to society. When confronted with those statements this weekend, he lied. Badly. He told Chris Wallace on Fox News that there was a lot of panic about AIDS in 1992 and little was known about the disease. Even Wallace called him out and said that by 1992 it was well accepted that AIDS couldn't be transmitted by casual contact. When Fox News thinks you've gone too far, you really are over the cliff. Hell, this was 5 years after even Ronald Reagan mentioned the word AIDS and said publicly that the fears surrounding AIDS were unfounded. Huckabee can't even muster the compassion of Ronald Reagan.

In other words, when Mike Huckabee attributed his 1992 statements to panic and lack of knowlege about AIDS, he was lying. That was an untruth. He bore false witness. He wanted to round up the homos and shore up the hillbilly vote, but Huckabee is too weak to admit the truth.

Huckabee also thought the US was spending "way too much" on AIDS research in '92. After all, it was only fags dying. WWJD?

Then,today when it was clear that even the far-right pundits weren't buying his bullshit, the Huckster, presumably guided by the hand of God, said that he stands by his statement, even though he would "state it differently today." Huck also denied that he ever said people with AIDS should be quarantined, although how else you accomplish isolation from the general population is beyond me. Another lie.

Wasn't there something in the Bible about Jesus ministering to the sick and the outcasts? Wasn't there something in the Bible about lying? Must not teach that at Southwestern Theological Seminary where Huckabee did all his Bible larnin'.

Monday's Man

Darryl Stephens, star of Noah's Arc, Boy Culture, and Another Gay Movie. The shot above came from his sexy photo shoot in the latest issue of Out.

I saw Boy Culture over the weekend and Darryl plays a man who's roommate is hopelessly in love with him. Talk about typecasting.

It's Christmas Charlie Brown!

I'm getting the Christmas tree this weekend, and this is what I'll be humming. Have a great weekend!

True Believers

My husband recently spent an evening with some old friends in Atlanta. They spent most of the night sitting outside in their bone dry backyard, surrounded by dead landscaping in the midst of a historic drought, trying to convince him that global warming is "junk science" and a big hoax. These are people who apparently don't understand irony.

I don't understand why people fight against the overwhelming evidence of global climate change. Is it because it's so frightening to consider? Is it because they're so invested in the Republicans they've elected (and these folks are very Republican and very religious) that they can't accept that they've been lied to and used by all those pious politicians?

I certainly understand why Republicans like Sen. James Inhofe, Dubya and so many others deny global climate change. Just follow the money. Inhofe and Bush have both received huge sums from the oil and gas industries. In fact, the bulk of Inhofe's campaign contributions have come from big oil, and the Bush family's close connections to the oil industry and the Saudi royal family have been well documented. Thus, even though scientists are ringing giant clanging alarm bells that the time to act is now and America, the world's largest carbon emitter, is stuck in reverse, it will remain that way for the next 13 months until Bush and Cheney are dragged kicking and screaming out of the White House.

In fact, as we reach the bitter end of BushCo, who knows what fresh horrors they will inflict on America and the world. Executive orders to mow down the sequoias, drill for oil in the Everglades, and lop off all the mountaintops in Wild Wonderful West Virginia? Maybe stash spare nukes in a U-Stor-It in Vegas and throw in a recess appointment of Bob Jones as civil rights czar, with special assistant for gay rights James Dobson. It's really hard to parody these people.

Folks, we have got to elect a Democrat to the White House next year. It almost doesn't matter which one, just someone who can restore some dignity and sanity to the White House. It may be the world's best hope. It may be the world's last hope.

Jack Bauer Locked Up

Keifer Sutherland has gone to jail for 48 days for a drunk driving conviction. On September 25, was pulled by the cops for making an illegal U-turn while on probation for a 2004 DUI conviction.

I give it 30 days until the porn version comes out.