California Supreme Court Rules Ban on Gay Marriage is Unconstitutional

California Court Voids Gay Marriage Ban
By LISA LEFF, AP
Posted: 2008-05-15 14:22:05
Filed Under: Nation News, Politics News
SAN FRANCISCO (May 15) - In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.

Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in .

What is not clear yet is if the marriages conducted in SF in 2004 are now valid? I was married to my partner Feb 15. 2004. Some news say our marriage is no longer null and void and some say the marriages conducted back then are now valid.

Hillary Needs to Make a Graceful Exit

Sad to say but it is time for Hillary Clinton to make a graceful exit from the Democratic primary scene. I heard one news report saying Obama is suggesting that his campaign is willing to pay off Hillary's campaign debt, a great idea in my book and a generous offer, although of course, the purpose being to get Hillary off the main stage and to help Obama keeping votes on his side of the party ledger. I would like to see Hillary give her full support to Obama by campaigning for him. I think Hillary if she plays her cards right will be a major figure in politics for a long time to come. I doubt she will be offered the Vice-Presidency though I would not be against that idea but, of course, that is a delicate issue and not something I really have any business even considering in my blog as that decision is for the major players to decide although I am sure whether such a decision would help gaining votes from possible defectors is obvious. Ted Kennedy seems to be against that idea stating Obama needed "real leadership", a real slam at Hillary. Too bad Ted Kennedy has to put Hillary in such a bad light. I don't think it is really deserved. This makes Ted Kennedy look small in my book.

I am grieiving the fact that the first woman President will not become a reality anytime soon. I am grieving the fact that my candidate did not make it although she tried her hardest and was very effective. She was just up against a new tide of voting enthusiasts for Obama who seem to represent a new crop of idealism especially among the more youthful voters. I hope their faith in Obama is justified. I am glad the racism is not ruling. I am sorry that it appears that Hillary and her surrogates pulled the race card and are still at it, although Hillary just stating that white working class non college educated voters like her more than Obama is rather a gray area. Is it racism or is it just stating a fact. The fact, however, may have a racist aspect to it but I don't think the race aspect is a overwhelming issue for this group but I could be wrong. I certainly hope that this blue collar class doesn't just have race on its mind and that many would just rather have any white person, woman or not, rather than have a half person of color representing them.

As soon as Hillary gets out of the race, I will fully put all my support behind Obama. I guess I am already supporting him. We need a Democrat in the White House. Obama has shown he is a master campaigner and I hope his experience running against Hillary and the others will help him to beat McCain handily. Obama is no longer running against Hillary. He is aiming his speeches against McCain and McCain no longer mentions Hillary either. I hate to be a non loyalist, down to the bitter end but I truly believe the longer Hillary stays in the race the more it hurts the Democratic Party. It sounds like Hillary will hear the calls to stop running against the tide soon. I know Hillary has done this country a great service by running for President. She will gain in stature and is already viewed as an important role model for billions around the world. I wish her well and hope Obama will ask for her help and use her great intellect and talent in a way Hillary would approve. Obama needs Hillary more than she will need him.

I thought this was funny; on the lighter side

Go to http://www.teambio.org/2008/04/09/lesbians-for-hillary/

The Election: Are the Dems Being Unraveled?

All of a sudden neither Dem candidate seems happy. Most of the pundits think Rev. Wright to be the cause of the Barack Obama's possible demise as the frontrunner though the figures haven't changed that much. Even Hillary seems concerned that McCain is the only one gaining from the debacle surrounding Rev. Wright and Barack Obama. I never doubted how many folks in this country are racist and ignorant of African American perspectives and religious life. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Obama is not Rev. Wright. Clinton and Obama have both been weakened by the long struggle for number one. Hillary might catch up but at what cost to her integrity and the country.
Does she have to walk over Obama's still breathing body on her way to losing to McCain?

The future is almost here and it seems unseemly. I supported Hillary and still wish her well ( I sent her money last week) but I am concerned. It is as if both candidates will arrive at the barn door bloodied and panting with no clothes on left for us to look at. If Obama can't make it to the barn will his supporters vote for Hillary. Many won't and will blame her and especially Bill for the mess created not Rev. Wright or any defects Barack himself may have brought to the race in the first place. This is a gloomy assessment and I hope I am wrong. This racism issue is big and it will affect both Democratic candidates. Hillary must reach out to African Americans in a big way if she want to mend fences.If there is any hint of her appealing to white racists she has to end it.

I knew all this white goody goody stuff around Obama was too good to be true. Prick just a little way under the skin and so called new liberal folds like the stuffed shirt he or she is. What a shame. I thought we all could be better. But the reality I know is not an apparition. What is left is a long road ahead that this new generation must walk. It is called working to end racism, classism, and sexism and homophobia.
It will be a long road ahead. Whatever the outcome of the race, we have a long road to yet to go.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Dynamic Speech Before the Detroit NAACP Dinner Points Out Differences Not Deficiencies

I was lucky enough via CNN to hear Rev. Dr. Wright's dynamic speech given before a major Detroit NAACP Dinner. He was introduced and given a rousing welcome by the President of the Detroit NAACP Rev. Wendell Anthony. Thousands attended the event. Many political pundits including Barack Obama's own people have suggested that Wright should not have resurfaced so soon after the media lambasted him to the extent that Barack Obama was forced to repudiate and distance himself from some of the statements that were quoted from speeches and sermons that Wright had made over the past 30 or more years.

In one remark, he was quoted as saying "God Damn America" not "Bless America". He also had made some positive remarks about the work of Farrakhan, rather old news in my book. Most people know that Farrakhan was known to make anti-Semitic remarks including Rev. Wright who always seems to include Jewish clergy in many of his causes and inter-faith groups. Obviously, Wright is not allowed to differentiate the good works of Farrakhan from the bad ideas about Jews which I also deplore along with Rev. Wright. It might be true that Wright is not most up to date on his wording when it comes to Jewish Black relations but I don't really know the whole story on this part.

This speech was very entertaining and showed Wright's Renaissance man kind of appeal as it is apparent he knows how to be very humorous while at the same time making very serious points using his musical prowess as well as his linguistic and extraordinary speaking ability. Wright pointed out the double standard concerning Black children's
speech patterns and dialect when it is clear especially the way Wright communicates it that no American speaks English but everyone uses a form of American dialect from President John Kennedy to Lyndon Johnson and Ted Kennedy. Rev. Wright received lots of positive reaction from the crowd when he asks (referring to John Kennedy when pronouncing the famous words in his Bostonian accent "EeAsk not meaning in plain American "Ask Not...,) what does Eeask mean? He also pointed out Lyndon Johnson Texan dialect when pronouncing the word American as Amoricans. He asks what is an Amoricon? I think the O is as funny as the emphasis on the long A from what I remember. In spite of these truths, it was Black children not white Presidents and whites in general who were picked on for their normal linguistic peculiarities.

Wright also analyzed the different ways Africans and African American children learn in comparison to their European and European American counterparts treading on perilous territory that could easily be taken out of context and used by racists to reinforce their views that "Blacks are inferior intellectually to Caucasians". On the other hand, Wright kept reinforcing the emphasis that "Different does not mean Deficient" and he made his points in a humorous and enlightening way giving many examples from the musical world that appear to highlight these differences. There certainly are cultural differences among groups in terms of learning cultures; however, Wright attributed these differences to dominant right vs. dominant left
brain theorizing, which I am not certain has ever been substantiated by scholars in the scientific community who study how the brain works, although it certainly has been pointed to as the cause of the difference between male and female brains in humans when learning math vs. more humanistic pursuits.

My thinking is that there may be a culture of learning that is different but I doubt it goes to basic biological schism in the brain but I could be wrong. Certainly, there could be a tendency to prefer one side of the brain that could be reinforced by inbreeding but first of all this does not affect all individuals or even most based on race since race has been shown to be such an illusory and racist notion in the first place.

Did Rev. Wright hurt or help Barack Obama by making himself so visible so soon after the pot had been stirred concerning his spiritual role in Obama's life and spilling over into Obama's political existence? Obama has to be careful to not alientate the Black community that like and respects Rev. Wright and at the same time must keep assuring his more conservative (not necessarily just Republican: Dems can be conservative too on race) white audiences that he is not someone to be feared as some seem to fear someone who "Tells Truth to Power" an expression I dearly love to hear but these folks probably do not understand or like to hear.

Actually, I think Hillary can help herself more than Obama can if she would only speak in a way that would convey her deep respect for Rev. Wright. But does she have the courage or deep feeling or need to do it? If she doesn't embrace the African American community and she just continues to sit on her laurels in that respect Hillary will slide down a notch or two in my opinion of her. If she completely loses touch with Black people in America, she is a goner. The Dems need the African American voter and I think the Black voter needs both Hillary and Barack Obama to move closer to where they are rather than the other way around. The remark Hillary made about what she would do to Iran, if Iran nuclear attacked Israel must have made her very popular in the institutional mainstream Jewish community in America. As a Jew, it did not make me happy but I took it with a grain of salt hoping against hope that she meant it as a deterrent. Now it is up to her to make a bold statement that puts her front and center in the African American community.

Hillary Wins Pennsylvania by ten point margin

Hillary comes through in Pennsylvania. I have to give it to her, she has perseverance and lots of fight left in her. Her speech to the Pennsylvanians and America tonight was a high point of the race. Yes, I did waiver, although I was still supporting Clinton and hoping she will ultimately have a final victory. But I still wonder what will happen to the Dems as a result. It looks like Hillary and Bill will leave it up to the superdelegates to pick the real winner. Mathematically she cannot win by counting delegates and as for the popular vote, that will likely also be very close or in Obama's favor. What she can argue if she succeeds is to say she has the large and most populous states and that the momentum in on her side. She also has to prove that Obama is unelectable against McCain.

As a person over the age of 65, I think Hillary is more in my camp than Obama can be given the youth of his most passionate supporters. I do not think the youth of America are considering those of us who are presently in the old age group. The place I get stuck is on foreigh affairs. Some in the media are shocked that Hillary said she would bomb Iran if Iran attacked Israel with nuclear bombs. Actually no one seems shocked about the nuclear bomb on Israel part only the obliterate Iran part. Of course, I do not like that kind of talk but the hypocrisy on the part of the media and others does kind of get to me. And then there is the race card. In some ways, Hillary's strong draw with her blue collar union supporters and nearly or out of work crowd may have that race card thinking in their brains somewhere. This makes me queasy. I hope I am wrong that there is not a subtle message out of there. Vote for the "white girl".

Bottomline is Hillary is the first woman running for President who can get elected and is for a fact also not right wing or Republican and that is a plus for me. I would never vote for a Republican woman over a Democratic man. Where am I now? If Obama is the nominee I will support him strongly. Right now, I hope Hillary can make a case for herself, get a new infusion of funds and keep on going winning her most likely states with big margins. If Hillary is to be the nominee she still has to contend with
the biased media which folks seems to be ignoring to a large degree at least definitely so in Pennsylvania.

I heard her nemesis Chris Matthews say the Clintons think they own the Democratic Party, that they are the Democratic Party so they can make the superdelegates and the direction of the Party go any way they want which I think was a very uncalled for and unfair set of remarks. I'd say it was a bitter remark if it wasn't so ironic. Chris is bitter and has to let his anger go somewhere. I see no evidence that the Clinton are getting their way with the Dems. Everytime I turn on the tube, I see some new major Dem Superdelegate who is supporting Obama. Lots of mainline Dems are for Obama. If the Clintons are so powerful re The Dem Party as Mattthews suggests these delegates would be sticking with the Clintons. What do you say to that, Mr. Matthews??

The Clinton-Obama Race: My Opinion Now

New Comment: Just saw partial rerun of Obama-Clinton debate on television. I was disturbed by Hillary and the questioners questions of Obama trying to paint him in a corner by guilt of association with radicals (the former Weatherman with whom Obama served on same Foundation Board) and others deemed non patriotic past or present. It smacked of McCarthyism. Hillary Clinton must be desperate to use those tactics. She did cover herself at one point by saying Obama was a good man but that the Republicans would use these issues to their advantage. But this attitude reinforces the sense that no one can run for President who has rubbed shoulders with people who are not considered to be seen by whomever and (I emphasize those whomevers) as squeaky clean and all American whatever that means. This business that was also brought by the host journalist of the debate about Obama not wearing an American flag lapel pin is also ridiculous and should not have been worthy of discussion. It is also part of the McCarthy like tactics being used against Obama. Gosh, I wonder what would have happened if Dennis Kucinich was still running for President as a main contender! He would have been "boiled in oil" by these boobs. 4/17/08

Sharon Raphael

Original article below:

As the race drags on and we hear more and more from the two Democratic candidates running for the top job, I am more and more thinking less of both of them. Maybe we know too much about so much of their lives-the in and outs, up and downs of their careers and even their personal relationships. Now that I know The Clintons are worth 100 million dollars I can't but help think of the "greed factor". Obama's claim to higher office revolves around his field organizing job in Chicago after he graduated from Harvard Law School. Since then, he seems the supreme opportunist leveraging the acquisition of a big house using his connections with a shady housing development mogul and supporter in Chicago. Of late, Hillary is playing the "Annie Oakley" of her generation to cater to gun owners and hunters. Obama continues to parrot everything everyone says and put his own stamp on it, a repetitious and irritating way of dealing with his opponents that drives me crazy. "He says, she says but I say meaning obama says blah blah blah. Obama says small town folks cling to religion and guns because they are bitter. Then what does Obama make of himself clinging to his own version of religion in the Black Church. On the other hand, I find Hillary exploitation of Obama's blunder pandering to forces who should be alien to her sensibilities instead she is trying to be one of them, beer swiggling, bowling buddy and liquered up. Well, maybe that is an exaggeration.

I think my problem is burn out. I want the race over already. Several pundits say this election process has not been too long or too vicious. Some say it is quite tame and that it is good to have a long competitive race. It is good for the Dems and the country. Maybe so. But I for one am finding the more I know the less I like. As a result of the major contest going on between the masses who support racial politics thus Obama and those who identify with gender issues thus Hillary has worn me out totally. Not to say I don't still support Hillary but will, of course, support Obama if he is declared the nominee. I don't plan on walking away from the Dems if Hillary loses as I have heard a few (hopefully a few) Hillary fans say they will do. I find the idea of these hopefully mythical people voting for McCain if Hillary loses quite disgusting. Disgusting because McCain stands for more War, more of the same economics-favoring the rich and anti Gay and anti people of color politics.

Sometimes I think Hillary doesn't have a chance in hell of winning the nomination and then the next minute she seems to be the only choice that can happen. She just makes sense and seems Presidential. Then I suddenly see Obama as the likely victor and come to the conclusion he must be President because if he is not, what will happen to all the good people who support him and desperately want him to win. Then I get angry and think look how long women have been waiting to see a woman President even the ones who aren't voting for Hillary are waiting. Women should not be made to wait another ten minutes. Yes, this is crazy making. What is a person to do? I should send more money to Hillary. She needs it now. It is urgent. Then I realize she will win more states coming up than Obama. She will be all right or will she? Both Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama seem to have Achilles heels. They can say the wrong things and seem out of touch. Michelle seems classist, too used to being part of the professional class. Bill in a parallel way seems insensitive occasionally on race issues in terms of how he explains what is happening in the contest for the gold ring. I should be more above fray, more loyal, more on an even keel. But this contest makes me feel off center and always looking over my shoulder to see who is running after me. Did I make a mistake, is my perception off or are both candidates opposite mirror images of themselves-each forced to be something else I never asked for, never wanted. The Emperors Hillary and Obama appear to have no clothes or they are in the wrong clothes. It will be such a relief when these two put their right clothes on again and can be themselves whoever that may be.


Sharon