“No public health insurance option anywhere in the country will ever be created under [a] trigger…”

“Group marches for ‘white civil rights’ after Limbaugh hyped bus beating a hate crime against whites.”

I’m reminded of what John Cole wrote: “We had a good run as a country.”

He may have been joking around, but seriously? WTF?

“Right To Secretly Create Legal Discrimination Preserved”

This is the story that is not being reported on.

If the injunction barring release of petitioner’s signatures stands, we will have absolutely no idea who wanted to change state law by signing this petition. As a bill moves through the Legislature, recorded votes are public record. Put another way, what would happen if a law was passed and nobody knew who voted on it?

Washington state voters sign lots of petitions. Their signatures have long been public record. It’s not like releasing signatures is anything new. Not until R-71 have the petitioners wanted to hide themselves from the record.

This is dangerous. Even if we win R-71, this is bad precedent. If we lose R-71, this is absolute bullshit.

Postscript:

Isn’t it pathetic that the issue isn’t even marriage for all people? If we win, the enhanced Domestic Partnerships are still second class.

Do not be surprised if we lose this fight. A majority of Washington voters support Domestic Partnerships and their families, but the same majority won’t take the time to vote. Meanwhile, every single “values” voter will vote.

How can we stop this? Please take the time to remind everyone that this vote is extremely important, and every ballot will make a difference. Approve R-71!

Counter tops: When… ”wingnuts try… to discredit anyone who says something they don’t like, using completely irrelevant and often false information.”

Take the pledge!

“I am an American conservative shithead”

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy.

I then took a shower in the clean water provided by a municipal water utility.

After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC-regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like, using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

I watched this while eating my breakfast of US Department of Agriculture-inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time, as regulated by the US Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory, I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-approved automobile and set out to work on the roads build by the local, state, and federal Departments of Transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank.

On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.

After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and Fire Marshal’s inspection, and which has not been plundered of all its valuables thanks to the local police department.

And then I log on to the internet — which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration — and post on Freerepublic.com and Fox News forums about how socialism in medicine is bad because the government can’t do anything right.

“What's behind the anti-Obama outcry?”

You know what to do. Hint: It’s obviously not the whole socialism thing, because it’s been with us for over a couple generations.

“Americans Outraged at Sudden Realization Interstate Highways Are Government-Run”

The Ultimate Productivity Blog

This is a great blog, full of ideas on how to be… more productive.

We’ve now reached a point where you simply can’t make this shit up.

Republicans: “They don’t like ‘big government’, except when they’re the ones benefitting from it.”

Enough said.

“…But this country is a democracy, and you didn’t lose your country, you just lost an election. You had your chance for eight years.”

“…You blew it, and you lost.”

“…That concern and regard for the plight of others… It is not a Republican or a Democratic feeling. It, too, is part of the American character.”

It feels like he’s campaigning again.

I’d like to be excited about this Obama quote. But until he actually works with Congress on gay rights, he’s still dead to me.

One wonders what other laws they'll be allowed to break without repercussions before the ballots are counted.

This whole article is summed in that sentence. I’m calling shenanigans.

APPROVE REFERENDUM 71

“Language to avoid at all costs: ‘Ban same-sex marriage.’”

“Our base loves this wording. So do supporters of SSM. They know it causes us to lose about ten percentage points in polls.”

And what can I say? My life, my love; it’s all about polling numbers.

Oh, and can you make a donation… WTF?

“…BECAUSE THEY ARE CRAZY PEOPLE.”

“We had a good run as a country”

APPROVE REFERENDUM 71!

Washington voters must vote to approve much needed changes to our Domestic Partnerships in November! Gay families can not win without the help of our straight and religious allies!

Please make sure you are registered to vote.

What to do

If you have previously registered to vote in Washington, but have moved...
...within your county, you'll need to update your address.
...to another county, you'll need to re-register.

If you have never registered to vote in Washington you'll need to...
...complete the registration online.
...register in person (at your county's elections office).

You have until Monday, October 5, 2009 to register or update your information (Monday, October 26, 2009 for first time, in person registrations at your county's elections office).

Questions

Below are ways to contact your county's elections office.

Larger counties
Clark: 360-397-2345
King: 206-296-VOTE
Kitsap: 360-337-7128
Pierce: 253-798-7427
Snohomish: 425-388-3444
Spokane: 509-477-2320
Thurston: 360-786-5408

All counties
Full list of county elections officials

Why vote?

There has been some confusion about how to vote. You must vote approve to support and protect Washington families.

A note to those considering rejecting Referendum 71

If you vote against this, you are rejecting basic human rights - plain and simple. You are a bigot. "Deeply held beliefs" will not get you off the hook. This law does not change marriage in Washington state, nor have anything to do with teaching children about anybody's relationships. In fact, this law strengthens families with and without children throughout our state.

APPROVE REFERENDUM 71!

Please find out how you can help protect Washington's families.

0.18%

(HT: Pam’s House Blend)

Gary Randall is fixated on actively persecuting 0.18% of the population — the tiniest of minorities. Estimates are that this campaign will cost both sides in the millions of dollars.

These are some of the reasons we have to make sure that Referendum 71 is approved.

• So that 0.18% of the population is able to use sick leave to care for a seriously ill partner.

• So that 0.18% of the population can provide a partner with a pension they’ve already paid for (should one partner die).

• So that 0.18% of the population can be notified (if one partner is the victim of a crime).

• So that 0.18% of the population is provided death benefits to a partner (if one partner is a police officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty).

These are basic human rights. No argument or deeply held belief will get you off the hook. If you reject this, you are against basic human rights — plain and simple.

Register to vote. You have until October 4 to register online.

If you have registered to vote, please ensure your voter registration status is active.

Please vote to approve Referendum 71.