tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239023462011-07-13T21:58:13.897-04:00BTL focuses on liberal political news, as well as minority rights and freedoms.Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.comBlogger3511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1165274894709752232006-12-04T18:27:00.000-05:002006-12-04T18:29:55.413-05:00

I've switched over to beta - the new site can be found at: http://simplyliberal.blogspot.com

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159447387760572172006-09-28T08:41:00.000-04:002006-09-28T08:45:55.730-04:00

• Reading the Times article about competitive Senate aces across the country leaves me some hope, though it’s a tainted hope. There are competitive races shaping up all across the country, but I’m still worried that Democrats won’t take control of anything this November. Perhaps the country will wake up a bit more in the next month-ish, but I’m losing faith fast. Still, this article is a good

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159407823777360392006-09-27T21:43:00.000-04:002006-09-27T21:43:43.780-04:00

Because I’m like mildly retarded, or something, I’ve been redesigning the site without realizing that Google has released a Blogger Beta with a lot of the features that I’ve been patching together.Eventually, I assume my blog will be given the option to move over to the Beta, which would make things a lot easier. I have no idea how long it will take for Google to move existing blogs over, but I

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159407441893452682006-09-27T21:37:00.000-04:002006-09-27T21:37:21.913-04:00

More information about Bush’s shitty Iraq handling has been released. (h/t Americablog)WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An intelligence report showing an upsurge in Islamic militancy put the White House on the defensive on Wednesday in an election-year debate over whether President George W. Bush has made America safer.In a second blow to the president, a new U.N. report said the Iraq war was providing al

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159401182005972612006-09-27T19:52:00.000-04:002006-09-27T19:53:02.026-04:00

Now that a majority of Iraqis favor a US pullout within a year, what is our motivation to stay? The majority of respondents to the University of Maryland poll said that "they would like the Iraqi government to ask for U.S.-led forces to be withdrawn from Iraq within a year or less," according to the survey's summary."Given four options, 37 percent take the position that they would like U.S.-led

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159363313066304362006-09-27T09:20:00.000-04:002006-09-27T09:21:53.090-04:00

• Yes, even our intelligence agencies have some liberal bias (sorry about the link - really… see, I take the bullet by reading the loonies and highlighting the looniest here. All so you don’t have to.).Putting aside how the outdated portions still refers to Zarqawi in the present tense, the big thing that strikes me about the key judgements is that they reflect a dhimmi, historically ignorant

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159301269798495542006-09-26T16:07:00.000-04:002006-09-26T16:07:49.953-04:00

The weirdest thing about Bush’s news conference wasn’t him announcing the release of portions of that Iraq intelligence report - he really doesn’t have any other choice, now - , but was the following statement -"Somebody has taken it upon themselves to leak classified information for political purposes," Bush said.Well, no shit. But don’t overlook the fact that you kept this important

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159279047895201482006-09-26T09:56:00.000-04:002006-09-26T09:57:27.916-04:00

• Dana Milbank highlights a bad move by Democrats - Perhaps. But Democrats, while celebrating Batiste's criticism of the administration, exercised some selective listening at the hearing when Batiste and his colleagues offered their solution: more troops, more money and more time in Iraq."We must mobilize our country for a protracted challenge," Batiste warned."We better be planning for at least

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159233313537779012006-09-25T21:14:00.000-04:002006-09-25T21:15:13.560-04:00

We already knew that George Allen was some weird southern hick stereotype thingy with racist tendencies, but now we are finally getting confirmation that his racist tendencies are more, like, an entire lifestyle choice.WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 — Two acquaintances of Senator George Allen of Virginia said today that he had used racially inflammatory language in the 1970’s and 1980’s, compounding

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159219314644608142006-09-25T17:20:00.000-04:002006-09-25T17:21:54.676-04:00

It’s interesting that I take a few weeks off… and then come back to Specter still pretending he’s going to stand up to Bush.eading the charge was Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who is planning an effort to delete that provision from the bill, expected to be considered in both the Senate and the House this week.Specter refused to commit to voting for the bill should his

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1159192966679661542006-09-25T09:57:00.000-04:002006-09-25T10:02:46.716-04:00

I know it looks like I died... or something, but that isn't the case. I got slammed with 100004 things at once and, unfortunately this blog fell to the bottom of the list of important things. It's weird, but usually I have no obligations. I guess things work out in cycles, or some shit.Currently I'm working on ways to improve the blog. My, like, advanced computing skills are nonexistant, and

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1157205171997161292006-09-02T09:48:00.000-04:002006-09-02T09:53:06.903-04:00

So Jerry Falwell said something nice about a Democrat. While assuring his interviewer that he disagrees with Jim Webb on "social issues", he nonetheless gave Webb a thumbs up. Apparently hedging his bets - Webb has edged ahead of Allen in the latter's bid for re-election to the Senate, Falwell doesn't want to alienate a pol that might have some pull. Or perhaps he just wants to convince people

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1156080415920840192006-08-20T09:08:00.000-04:002006-08-20T09:26:56.033-04:00

Over here we read about the evolving evangelical position on contraception, at least within marriage (the whole question of pre-marital, or perhaps non-marital, sex, is a post for another time). It seems that evangelicals are remembering that sex is a gift of a good God, and see contraception as part of the stewardship Christians are to practice. The writer, from the Wall Street Journal, notes

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1155869686667734442006-08-17T22:44:00.000-04:002006-08-17T22:54:46.683-04:00

If you go to my blog and click on the link, "Poplar Grove United Methodist Church", then click the link there that says "UMC Website", you will read a story about a United Methodist lay person, harassed by our government, seeking sanctuary inside a Chicago church (personal note: my wife is a pastor in the same UM Conference, and is a good friend of the Chicago Northwest District Superintendent).

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1155686046887927172006-08-15T19:44:00.000-04:002006-08-15T19:54:06.906-04:00

If you go here, you will find something that frustrates me more than Sen. Inhofe of Oklahoma or Sam Brownback of Kansas, that is, a news report that gives a larger, mainstream platform to Pat Robertson. Why? I think it safe to say that, outside the audience for his television program (in truth, I have no idea what that is, and I am quite sure it is impossible to guage with any accuracy; for the

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1155477774437456882006-08-13T09:57:00.000-04:002006-08-13T10:02:54.463-04:00

As an antidote to the insanity of the world, may I recommend, for your listening pleasure, Rachmaninoff's "Vespers"? I am currently listening, and find them able to remove me, for a moment or two, from the chaos within which we currently find ourselves. There are many editions; mine is from the Musical Heritage Society, and is highly recommended.You do not have to be a Christian, or even

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1155395160297958032006-08-12T10:53:00.000-04:002006-08-12T11:06:00.320-04:00

The folks over here repeat a report from the Center for American Progress on the workings of various groups of conservative Christians. They act like Capt. Renault in Casablanca, "shocked, shocked" that politicized Christian groups would lie to further certain political ends. They mourn the lack of integrity, what they call "sloppy research" (in fact, it was "research" only in the sense that the

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1155058987877843622006-08-08T13:31:00.000-04:002006-08-08T13:43:07.943-04:00

The letter was sent to my blog on a thread concerning an outrageous column by Alan Dershowitz that said, in essence, criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism. I criticized Dershowitz' position, and the very idea that an American cannot criticize Israel's actions, unless such criticism is rooted in hatred of Jews. Such an idea is illogical, let alone not based in anything close to reality.The letter

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154799543835942672006-08-05T13:34:00.000-04:002006-08-05T13:39:03.850-04:00

If you go to my blog and scroll down to the thread entitled "I hate writing about Israel", and open the comment box, you will see the copy of a letter sent to the head of the UCC was posted there. Apparently, either ignorant or apathetic to what I wrote at the head of the thread concerning the equation of anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel, this letter writer wanted to call me names.I find it

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154739652930834212006-08-04T20:55:00.000-04:002006-08-04T21:00:52.943-04:00

Dateline, Ogle County, Illinois. This rural northern Illinois county recently paid for and received a statue for county property. It decided to name the statue "Demeter". Immediately, local residents wre up in arms because . . . the county was promoting pagan Greek religion by naming the statue after Demeter!After an uproar in the local papers, and several furious county board meetings, the

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154445913276478102006-08-01T11:24:00.000-04:002006-08-01T11:25:13.303-04:00

So just how nutty is the right side of the blogosphere?Apparently nutty enough to, once again, tell lies about their political enemies to further their weird claims that, like, the entire world hates Jews, except them (you know, the political games to get people to vote Republican based on lies, simply because the truth about the Republican platform pisses off America).Tags: Republican Lies•The

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154443865597456962006-08-01T10:50:00.000-04:002006-08-01T11:50:09.683-04:00

(Updated Below)Holy shit, I think Democrats finally got my emails.After months of struggling to forge a unified stance on the Iraq war, top congressional Democrats joined voices yesterday to call on President Bush to begin withdrawing U.S. troops by the end of the year and to "transition to a more limited mission" in the war-torn nation.With the midterm elections three months away, and Democrats

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154092203835052532006-07-28T09:08:00.000-04:002006-07-28T09:10:03.856-04:00

• Alright, so reading the WaPo article about the fear that American troops and officials could be charged for detainee abuse leads me to one conclusion. We do, in fact, abuse detainees (or, at least, used to).An obscure law approved by a Republican-controlled Congress a decade ago has made the Bush administration nervous that officials and troops involved in handling detainee matters might be

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154059378621457612006-07-28T00:01:00.000-04:002006-07-28T00:03:45.206-04:00

• Another day, another alleged mass murder of Iraqis by American troops.For more than a month after the killings, Sgt. Lemuel Lemus stuck to his story.“Proper escalation of force was used,” he told an investigator, describing how members of his unit shot and killed three Iraqi prisoners who had lashed out at their captors and tried to escape after a raid northwest of Baghdad on May 9. Then, on

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154037019321141782006-07-27T17:49:00.000-04:002006-07-27T17:50:19.343-04:00

Chris Matthews has devoted most of an hour of Hardball to Ann Coulter’s nasty ass. Watch the repeat on MSNBC if you have the chance, it’s some funny stuff (she actually takes questions from an audience... of people that kind of hate her).The bitch is smart; too bad she uses her intelligence for eeeeevilllll.Tags: Ann Coulter•Hardball

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154019368234210952006-07-27T12:54:00.000-04:002006-07-27T12:56:08.263-04:00

• According to a new NYT/CBS News poll, a majority of Americans (56 percent) support an Iraq timetable.A majority of respondents, 56 percent, said they supported a timetable for a reduction in United States forces in Iraq, a question the two parties have been sparring over, with the White House and most Republicans in Congress taking the position that setting a timetable would send the wrong

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154011640124775662006-07-27T10:46:00.000-04:002006-07-27T10:47:20.150-04:00

After Joshua Partlow’s Washington Post article about American troop morale in Iraq, perhaps Conservative pundits and the Bush administration will stop painting a picture that troops are happy with this Iraq war, know what they’re fighting for, are fully behind the cause, and are, like, dancing through the fields singing motherfucking show tunes. Some excerpts - "It sucks. Honestly, it just

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1154003524350527702006-07-27T08:30:00.000-04:002006-07-27T08:32:04.370-04:00

• The WaPo is reporting that Senior Justice Department and intelligence officials went before Congress and argued to legalize these NSA spying programs.Senior Justice Department and intelligence officials urged Congress yesterday to approve new laws to accommodate the government's controversial warrantless eavesdropping program.Arguing that the 1978 law governing surveillance of terrorists is out

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153849021890249072006-07-25T13:35:00.000-04:002006-07-25T13:37:01.906-04:00

Now that Bush has shown himself to be nothing but the Far-Right’s bitch, through his stem cell veto, it’s good to see that more normal people are allowing this important science to prosper. As important as this research is, it’s sad to see that the only funding is coming from a few select states as America faces a complete brain drain. Republicans face a hard choice. They can either show

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153837611569093302006-07-25T10:26:00.000-04:002006-07-25T10:26:51.593-04:00

Exactly how much does it suck to be a Republican? Apparently, a lot. It's all fairly standard Democratic boilerplate -- except the candidate is a Republican . And he's getting all kinds of cooperation from the White House, the Republican National Committee and GOP congressional leaders.Not that he necessarily wants it. "Well, you know, I don't know," the candidate said when asked if he wanted

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153835511427628162006-07-25T09:50:00.000-04:002006-07-25T09:51:51.443-04:00

So, what exactly do you get when the entire Republican Party is facing a great November exodus from Congress? Apparently the dumbest immigration bill. ever.In an attempt to strike a pre-election Republican compromise on immigration, two conservative lawmakers will unveil a plan today that would allow most of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States a chance to work here legally,

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153577725469878602006-07-22T10:15:00.000-04:002006-07-22T10:15:25.496-04:00

Okay, so it’s time for a few site related items - aren’t you all happy!• I’d like to welcome our new advertiser (found in the upper left corner under the monetized heading. You should check out their stuff. I especially like the evolution category!• Apparently my content didn’t make Google happy and I’ve been dropped from adsense. Quite frankly, they can eat a dick up, because I will never

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153500266266081292006-07-21T12:41:00.000-04:002006-07-21T12:44:26.286-04:00

Legislators in California and New York are trying to limit the “gay panic” defense. Lawmakers in California and New York are considering bills to deter the common courtroom strategy of making a victim's sexual orientation central to a criminal defense.Both measures would require judges to remind jurors that bias toward the victim cannot influence their deliberations.California's bill also would

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153483629783983772006-07-21T08:06:00.000-04:002006-07-21T08:07:09.796-04:00

I’m not really sure what the point of Dionne’s op-ed is in today’s WaPo, but it briefly touches on something that I’d like to take a bit further.Surely it was coincidence, but I couldn't help notice that in the same week Reed lost, Graham was celebrated in a front-page New York Times profile representative of his rise to national prominence. I chatted with Graham by phone on Tuesday (as it

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153428515605437952006-07-20T16:47:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:48:35.633-04:00

Well, isn’t this a big surprise?SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal judge rejected on Thursday a request from the head of U.S. intelligence and other government officials to dismiss a lawsuit against AT&T which alleges the firm illegally allowed the government to monitor phone conversations and e-mail communications.AT&T asked the court in late April to dismiss the case, and two weeks later the

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153427385110262312006-07-20T16:29:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:29:45.133-04:00

With midterm elections coming up, it’s no surprise that Republicans are sending a slightly different Iraq message.Republicans and some conservative Democrats who have backed the president's call to stay the course are finding it increasingly difficult to square their generally optimistic rhetoric with the grim situation on the ground in Baghdad and other cities."This escalating trend . . .

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153312697082538792006-07-19T08:37:00.000-04:002006-07-19T09:07:50.243-04:00

(updated below)USA Today has published a random presidential candidate blowjob. On the receiving end is Sam Brownback, a far right Republican who no one in the mainstream has ever heard of.Let me set the scene for you - an Iowa church basement (obviously not your usual church basement, where you study the bible and meet with friends and family… no, this is one of those political church basements

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153269841875897482006-07-18T20:43:00.000-04:002006-07-18T20:44:01.890-04:00

With all of the warring between Israel and Lebanon, Iraq has been all but forgotten by the 24 hour news stations, which should make the Bush administration quite happy as Iraq breaks into all out civil war.An AP count showed at least 696 Iraqis were killed in sectarian or war-related violence in the first 18 days of July. That's a sharp rise over the same period last year, when an AP count showed

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153223249524717632006-07-18T07:46:00.000-04:002006-07-18T21:54:22.536-04:00

(Updated Below -- Updated Again -- And Again)It must be the WaPo’s day to focus on the values war, or something, because they have a couple articles up on gay marriage and abortion. Hurray!• The article about gay marriage really has no point. I think it’s just the same piece they pull up whenever there is a gay marriage vote in Congress.To summarize, bigots are banning gay marriage in states,

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153221055188238102006-07-18T07:05:00.000-04:002006-07-18T07:10:55.190-04:00

I've tried to ignore the revolution that is Digg and Del.icio.us, but I've given in and added it to BTL. You'll have to register in order to add any stories from here. It's simple and easy, and with the way sites like these are going, you'll end up doing it later, anyway. Really. Next to the comments, you'll find two links. To add a story to Digg or De.Icio.Us, simply click on their

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153190903856956492006-07-17T22:47:00.000-04:002006-07-17T22:48:44.596-04:00

Nothing illustrates how politicians will cause a controversy for political points more than the recent Republican flare up about Democrats using flag draped coffins in ads. You all know the story - Republicans get upset for something their opponents do, even though they do it themselves (Bush 04).The American Prospect is reporting that during a recent interview, House Majority Leader John

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153152569894901492006-07-17T12:09:00.000-04:002006-07-17T12:09:29.920-04:00

This will be my one and only post regarding the whole Middle East conflict (unless something earth shattering happens) because, quite frankly, the whole mess is crazy as ape shit. These people have been fighting since the beginning of time and will continue to do so, probably forever, and it’s not like either side is innocent.The point of this post is that somehow Israel Vs. Lebanon has turned

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153140595614459422006-07-17T08:49:00.000-04:002006-07-17T08:49:55.626-04:00

After reading the front page WaPo article about Democracy Alliance, a liberal donor group, a few things need to be addressed.Democracy Alliance also has left some Washington political activists concerned about what they perceive as a distinctly liberal tilt to the group's funding decisions. Some activists said they worry that the alliance's new clout may lead to groups with a more centrist

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153103900611800602006-07-16T22:37:00.000-04:002006-07-16T22:38:20.630-04:00

Who should be this week’s Fuckwit of the Week?• The participants in the alleged Mahmoudiya rape case. If these charges turn out to be true, these soldiers may be some of the vilest people on earth.• House Conservatives for their online gambling legislation that may, or may not actually do anything. • Arlen Specter for his NSA Wiretapping legislation, which doesn’t really do anything but

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153063969810295562006-07-16T11:32:00.000-04:002006-07-16T11:33:00.940-04:00

Glenn Greenwald has a very good post up criticizing the lack of MSM coverage of the whacko rightwing blogs. The extremist and increasingly deranged rhetoric and tactics found in the right-wing blogosphere -- not only among obscure bloggers but promoted and disseminated by its most-read and influential bloggers -- is, indeed, "a very common disease." When it becomes commonplace to hurl accusations

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153059522922017602006-07-16T10:18:00.000-04:002006-07-16T10:18:42.940-04:00

I was 18 when 9/11 happened. I woke up - hung-over and pissed off because I had to go to work and had no weed to make my hangover go away - and watched the news for all of 5 minutes. 9/11 didn’t have an effect on me because I was young, and, quite frankly, didn’t give a shit. Five-ish years later and it still doesn’t have all that much power over me. I dare you to find any self-centered

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1153008524496992302006-07-15T20:08:00.000-04:002006-07-15T20:08:44.513-04:00

From Burning Rainbow Farm: How a Stoner Utopia Went Up in Smoke by Dean Kuipers - As I began to interview them, it became clear that something had changed in the greasy blue-collar boonies that were central to my own identity. Plain old cannabis had transcended its middle-finger status to become an organizing principle for a real, honest-to-god movement that blurred all political and even

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152973882322015112006-07-15T10:30:00.000-04:002006-07-15T10:31:22.336-04:00

Unlike the abortion debate, where I understand the Right’s reasoning but disagree with it, I really don’t get the objection to embryonic stem cell research. Still, it’s interesting to see that the extremist groups have no problem misrepresenting science to gain support from their followers.The letter to the journal focused on David A. Prentice, a scientist with the conservative Family Research

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152904453460027202006-07-14T15:13:00.000-04:002006-07-14T15:14:13.480-04:00

Not quite a Bush bump, but the end of a complete freefall. The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 adults conducted Monday through Wednesday found that President Bush has stopped his political freefall, with his approval rating of 36 percent basically unchanged from last month. Bush received slightly higher marks for his handling of the Iraq war and the fight against terrorism, weeks after his surprise trip

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152893475275459302006-07-14T12:10:00.000-04:002006-07-14T15:42:37.610-04:00

*** I know I’ve been somewhat absent the last couple days. There’s a family member that was in the hospital, but all is fine now.• I’m not really sure what will happen with the Wilson/Plame lawsuit. If anything, we should get some interesting depositions, but honestly, I don’t think they have a leg to stand on. Christy at FDL has a lot more.• The horrible Specter legislation, which would

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152822491610435512006-07-13T16:12:00.000-04:002006-07-13T16:28:11.630-04:00

There's this site, called Faith in Public Life.org, and they are trying to be something like a religious Huffington Post. They have a news section and a blog section, although their current roster of bloggers is slim to none, and they sometimes go for days without a new blog thread. Today's blog post comes from the Rev. Peter Laarman. I understand the point Laarman is trying to make; he is

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152786142816029432006-07-13T06:21:00.000-04:002006-07-13T06:22:22.836-04:00

Wow, this really must be the week for great Barney Frank quotes.The problem may be the House, which has taken a harder line and clashed repeatedly with the Senate over immigration legislation, McCain's torture ban, renewal of the USA Patriot Act and budget priorities. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) called House-Senate tension "the main dynamic of Congress this year.""The House thinks the Senate is

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152652687799922812006-07-11T17:17:00.000-04:002006-07-11T17:18:07.830-04:00

Now that the House has dealt a blow - kind of… but not really - to online gambling, maybe we won’t have to watch anymore online gambling sponsored Ben Affleck poker games on television.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House on Tuesday approved a Republican-written bill to crack down on Internet gambling, in what critics said was an election-year appeal to the party's conservative base.The House

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152639316522418942006-07-11T13:34:00.000-04:002006-07-11T13:35:16.540-04:00

Hill.ar.ious. - ARLINGTON, Texas - The school district here has expanded its dress codes to include mouths — and earlobes.Students may no longer wear mouth jewelry known as "grillz" — shiny teeth caps — or the earlobe-stretching practice known as "gauging."The funniest thing about this is that you know the AP had a staff meeting, debating just how to spell “grillz”.Writer 1: Well, it’s not even a

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152632850896855942006-07-11T11:45:00.000-04:002006-07-11T12:51:10.696-04:00

Come on, I haven’t done one in days. • Left Behinds has an interesting post about homosexuality and its cause. It’s an interesting read and a pretty sound argument, if you ask me. I would like to take it a bit further, though.Every time research gets published (and hijacked by the media, who often come to conclusions that the study actually doesn’t) that seems to point to a biological reason

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152627580414784142006-07-11T10:18:00.000-04:002006-07-11T10:19:40.436-04:00

As midterm elections approach, it seems that Congress is finally doing its job - or at least putting on a good show - .Five years after the attacks on the United States, the Bush administration faces the prospect of reworking key elements of its anti-terrorism effort in light of challenges from the courts, Congress and European allies crucial to counterterrorism operations.The Republican chairman

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152626968810238922006-07-11T09:42:00.000-04:002006-07-11T15:25:02.576-04:00

Note: I know I was asked to post once a week, but I saw this story, part of an on-going thing, and I couldn't resist. I guess I want to establish my bona fides as it were. I'll try to keep it short, too; I tend to write rather long.CBS News carried this story last night, and as it fits in well with a developing narrative from this discussion of Sen. Barack Obama I believe it is deserving of

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152623567964903312006-07-11T09:09:00.000-04:002006-07-11T10:28:37.026-04:00

I'm not a fan of IE, and I never use it when I'm on my main computer. I logged on to the site this morning using my laptop (and thus IE) and realized that the right sidebar doesn't look right when using Explorer. See why I hate IE?I think I have it fixed. If the site design looks sort of off to you - it should have two sidebars and a main post area in the middle - please let me know and tell

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152584309948157862006-07-10T22:18:00.000-04:002006-07-10T22:18:29.950-04:00

I would like to welcome Geoffrey Kruse-Safford as a contributor to Burn The Liberals. He is the editor of Progressive Christian - his site’s RSS syndication can be seen on the right sidebar - and should add a great Christian perspective to the site.Or at least act as a check to my craziness when I’m like drunk and throwing things at the blog walls.Welcome to the site.Tags: Christianity•Chrsitian

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152570736758186512006-07-10T18:16:00.000-04:002006-07-10T22:11:50.960-04:00

My name is Geoffrey and I have been invited by the owner of this site to contribute. My own blog is here and I urge, I implore, I beg you to go there once you have finished here. I have been asked to write on religious issues from a progressive perspective. I will admit that I often feel like a toad at several garden parties; as a devout Christian, I am sometimes uncomfortable around

Progressive Christianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852355805132276777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152566389429255542006-07-10T17:19:00.000-04:002006-07-10T17:19:49.450-04:00

A federal judge has ruled that the FBI raid on Jefferson’s office was legal. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said members of Congress are not above the law. He rejected requests from lawmakers and Democratic Rep. William Jefferson to return material seized by the FBI in a May 20-21 search of Jefferson's office.In a 28-page opinion, Hogan dismissed arguments that the first-ever raid on a

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152547147195035682006-07-10T11:57:00.000-04:002006-07-11T16:37:22.846-04:00

Reading the WaPo article about the Alliance Defense Fund really cements my belief in Christianists.Through the WaPo’s highlighting of certain cases the Alliance Defense Fund takes on and the selected quotes by its members, I get the strong impression that the ADF believes Christians possess the moral authority to dictate all US actions, even if that means the trampling of the Constitution. They

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152543352600591332006-07-10T10:55:00.000-04:002006-07-10T10:55:52.620-04:00

The names of the alleged Iraqi civilian rapists have been released.The military said that Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Spc. James P. Barker, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard were charged on Saturday in connection with their alleged participation in the rape and murder of an Iraqi female, and the murders of three other family members.It’s amazing that one place could draw this many fucked

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152541270717224462006-07-10T10:20:00.000-04:002006-07-10T10:21:10.733-04:00

So, who exactly are the biggest America haters? Caucus for America and Free RepublicAmerican Academic Alliance for IsraelAmerican Coptic UnionAmericans for a Safe IsraelBrownstone Republican ClubCongress of Racial EqualityThe Jerusalem ConnectionMarch Against Terror USA/National Sovereignty CommitteeMilitary Families Voice of VictoryNew York State Young Republican ClubsNew York Young Republican

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152536752190608422006-07-10T09:05:00.000-04:002006-07-10T09:05:52.210-04:00

The funny thing about being a political blogger - or probably any type of blogger, for that matter - is that you are, like, a decade ahead of the mainstream media, often times driving it.Take for example this WaPo article about YouTube.This is one of the 60,000 videos added each day to YouTube.com, a shoot-it-yourself Web site that has exploded in popularity over the past year. And while many of

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152483722225117932006-07-09T18:21:00.000-04:002006-07-09T18:22:02.250-04:00

I really haven’t talked much about the Lamont/Lieberman race because, well, I think I have all of two readers that could vote in it, and I really don’t want to be mistaken for part of the advertise liberally cult. That being said, this might just be the dumbest.thing.ever.A TV ad, with a message approved by Sen. Joe Lieberman, uses a phony Ned Lamont bumper sticker to falsely claim that all

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152463097565058652006-07-09T12:37:00.000-04:002006-07-09T12:38:17.576-04:00

It's Sunday, which means there's really nothing going on. I'm bored. Are there any stories happening that I should be aware of?

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152459821438483872006-07-09T11:43:00.000-04:002006-07-09T14:22:27.753-04:00

It appears that I’ve received my final email from Nedd Kareiva.RE: It was quite disgusting for you to post these people’s private information. It was quite disgusting for you and your other lefty friends to engage in attack mode rather than respectful conversation. But tell me, Brian, what did you ever do for the family? And for the record, the family moved to Wilmington, 2 hours north, back

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152457173353689182006-07-09T10:58:00.000-04:002006-07-09T11:03:10.313-04:00

4 soldiers, besides Steven Green, have been charged in the rape/murder of Iraqi citizens in Mahmoudiya. BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Four U.S. soldiers in Iraq are charged with participation in the "rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman and three members of her family," the U.S. military said Sunday.The soldiers are "accused of rape and murder," the military said in a news release.A fifth soldier is

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152454646816892722006-07-09T10:16:00.000-04:002006-07-09T11:22:03.450-04:00

It’s obvious that Republicans will play politics with anything, even the Constitution.In a sharply worded letter, the Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee has told President Bush that the administration is angering lawmakers, and possibly violating the law, by giving Congress too little information about domestic surveillance programs.Rep. Peter Hoekstra (Mich.) has been a

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152390114217563152006-07-08T16:21:00.000-04:002006-07-08T16:21:54.230-04:00

Eric Lipton has a really stupid article published in the NYT.WASHINGTON, July 8 — In Miami last month and now in New York, terror cases have unfolded in which suspects have been apprehended before they lined up the intended weapons and the necessary financing or figured out other central details necessary to carry out their plots. For officials in Washington, it is a demonstration of the

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152382338737037352006-07-08T14:12:00.000-04:002006-07-11T12:44:16.670-04:00

There’s a post on Redstate asking why the left isn’t speaking out about the supposed actions of some teacher who threatened a Conservative blogger and his children.I don’t speak for the blogosphere, but my personal reason is that I don’t know if any of it is true. I don’t know if you all are lying, or if you are purposely taking things out of context. The site where this happened is down, and

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152370357511079622006-07-08T10:52:00.000-04:002006-07-08T10:52:37.533-04:00

The ACLU is bringing an interesting lawsuit against top military officials - including Rummy and George Casey - on behalf of an American citizen detained in Iraq. In my opinion, he was detained for good reason (he had something that could be used as a bomb timer in his possession), but this part really worries me - Even though FBI agents cleared him of suspicion, he did not have access to an

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152366231281941042006-07-08T09:43:00.000-04:002006-07-08T09:43:51.296-04:00

If Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin ever got into a lesbian relationship with each other, I think their theme song (all uberbitch super couples have theme songs) would be, without a doubt, “Crazy”.Tags: Michelle Malkin•Ann Coulter•Gnarls Barkley•I Know You’re Craaaaaazy

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152364185364939692006-07-08T09:09:00.000-04:002006-07-08T09:09:45.386-04:00

I’ve wondered how our government would get around the criticisms of Guantanamo, stemming from the prisoner suicides. For awhile, it was looking like there would be a push to close the prison, but after reading this WaPo article, I think that the government may spin these suicides as a calculated effort of warfare, rather than suicides stemming from despair.Three suicides at the U.S. detention

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152321702581708972006-07-07T21:21:00.000-04:002006-07-07T21:21:42.603-04:00

Apparently more and more Americans are catching on to the fact that our current policies - Republican policies - on Iraq are not working.NEW YORK A new Gallup poll finds that roughly 2 in 3 Americans urge a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, with 31% wanting this to start immediately. Gallup's director, Frank Newport, sums up the results today: "Taken together, it is perhaps fair to say that a

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152320154114023032006-07-07T20:55:00.000-04:002006-07-09T14:21:46.716-04:00

I received another response from Mr. Karieva - You do what you feel you have to do, Brian, if you feel it builds your ego, OK? I'm not intimidated by your comments and I can't stop you. I have thick skin. You just make sure you are doing it legally because I have solid attorneys who will go after your butt if you do something illegalParaded the success off these people? I see why you are so

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152115769785740242006-07-05T12:09:00.000-04:002006-07-05T16:38:40.706-04:00

From some nut at Agape Press (h/t Wonkette) - What is the state of our Union's culture? Poor. In regards to Christian values, Jesus has not just been moved to the back of the bus, he has been thrown out the emergency exit door. Not only has talk of Jesus, and His Church, been evicted from public discourse, but Jesus has become a favorite target of a cultural elite who have grown intolerant of

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152110558653577462006-07-05T10:42:00.000-04:002006-07-05T10:42:46.346-04:00

Enron founder, Ken Lay, has died. Some are reporting heart attack. More when information is released.**If you would like to write for this blog, please check out BTL’s Contributor CallTags: Ken Lay•Enron

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152110034588974242006-07-05T10:33:00.000-04:002006-07-05T10:33:54.606-04:00

Steven Green, the former American soldier charged with raping and killing Iraqi citizens apparently had an anti-social personality disorder.MIDLAND, Texas - A former Army private accused in the horrific rape and killing of a young Iraqi woman and the execution-style slaying of her family had been discharged because of an "antisocial personality disorder," U.S. military officials told The

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152106981388962122006-07-05T09:42:00.000-04:002006-07-05T14:27:27.246-04:00

From a Salon blog - Back on Monday I blogged on a report from Jews on First about a Jewish family who had allegedly been forced to leave town after complaining about aggressive proselytising by the local Indian River School District in Delaware. One detail which was not included in that report, but which I picked up on via a commentator at Dispatches from the Culture Wars, was that an

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152103193495176642006-07-05T08:38:00.000-04:002006-07-05T08:39:53.510-04:00

When David Ignatius writesSo how to rebuild trust about intelligence, and the sense of shared responsibility that flows from it? Republicans may pick up votes by berating the New York Times. And the administration may even be tempted to bring a criminal case to enforce the rules against leaking or publishing communications secrets. But those politically divisive steps won't give anti-terrorism

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152022637980652582006-07-04T10:15:00.000-04:002006-07-04T10:17:17.980-04:00

The old layout for this blog looked like complete shit. It's taken me awhile, but I've finally gotten a layout that I'm happy with. If you notice any broken links... or things, please let me know.

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1152015722668329232006-07-04T08:21:00.000-04:002006-07-04T08:22:02.683-04:00

I’d like to take this time to wish you all a happy 4th Of July.Before everyone gets all liquored up, I’m sure they will take to their blogs and write something about patriotism and this great country. Me? I think I’ll simply leave you with E.J. Dionne’s words from today’s WaPo - Have you ever noticed a certain hesitant quality to the expressions of patriotism by progressives or left-wingers?The

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151962433689148432006-07-03T17:32:00.000-04:002006-07-03T19:28:15.476-04:00

• Well, today (comically taking place before Independence Day) America haters gathered outside the NYT building in DC to protest the first amendment. Malkin, of course, has pictures. • Former troop charged with rape and murder of Iraqis. - WASHINGTON (AFP) - Prosecutors charged a US Iraq war veteran with raping and murdering an Iraqi woman, after gunning down three members of her family,

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151958899110225272006-07-03T16:33:00.000-04:002006-07-03T16:34:59.133-04:00

Oh look, more Republicans making up Christian persecution charges. It’s almost like they have a largely far-right Christian base to whip up into a voting frenzy, or something.WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Christian-themed movie about a football coach's faith in God is finding an audience in Congress -- not so much for its inspirational message, but for the PG rating it received.House Majority Whip Roy

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151930785715202312006-07-03T08:46:00.000-04:002006-07-03T08:46:34.966-04:00

Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m behind on my Fuckwit of the Week stuffs - that’s what I get for venturing out into the real world. Last week’s Fuckwit of the Week, with 67 percent of your votes is Ann Coulter’s crazy ass. Her ability to take any issue and, like, use it to slander other people is truly amazing, but not anywhere near as amazing as her ability to plagiarize without being called out on

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151762508430531792006-07-01T10:01:00.000-04:002006-07-01T10:01:48.446-04:00

The way Republican politicians and pundits spin issues - and the way American citizens eat it up - still fuckin’ amazes me beyond belief.From the WaPo - Republicans yesterday looked to wrest a political victory from a legal defeat in the Supreme Court, serving notice to Democrats that they must back President Bush on how to try suspects at Guantanamo Bay or risk being branded as weak on

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151715995469256712006-06-30T21:05:00.000-04:002006-06-30T21:06:35.486-04:00

Recently, while partying backstage at a Capitol Offense concert (they totally rawk my socks), I stumbled across a journal that I’m pretty sure belongs to Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee.It’s filled with little doodles of stick figures (all of which have really large penises, for some reason) and some boring Republican strategy. There is one entry, though, that caught my eye.February 12th,

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151709386893790452006-06-30T19:15:00.000-04:002006-06-30T19:16:26.923-04:00

CNN has published the superduper secret gay agenda. For years, whispers of its existence have flown around the right side of the political debate, but finally, we have confirmation on what them gays are actually up to.But I would be lying if I said that we don't have an agenda -- we do, and this is it:1. A good job, where workers are respected for the work they do, are treated fairly and offered

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151703164588024852006-06-30T17:31:00.000-04:002006-06-30T17:32:44.606-04:00

The Washington Post details the effects Hamdan v. Rumsfeld may have on the Bush administration’s lack of respect for the balance of power in US government.For five years, President Bush waged war as he saw fit. If intelligence officers needed to eavesdrop on overseas telephone calls without warrants, he authorized it. If the military wanted to hold terrorism suspects without trial, he let it.Now

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151598543887094192006-06-29T12:28:00.000-04:002006-06-29T12:32:12.963-04:00

The Arkansas Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling that it is unconstitutional to ban homosexuals from becoming foster parents.The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's ruling that a policy banning homosexuals from becoming foster parents is unconstitutional. The high court said no connection exists between a foster child's well-being and the sexual orientation of

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151590641340348602006-06-29T11:31:00.000-04:002006-06-29T15:42:44.116-04:00

BREAKING - CNN is reporting that the Supreme Court, 5-3, has reversed the lower court’s ruling on the tribunals, ruling against the Bush administration. I’ll post more when a site picks it up.UPDATE1: MSNBC has the story up.Update2: Bush will have a press conference in about an hour. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he is asked about this. I don’t think Bush likes to be told he isn’t the

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151590227539990232006-06-29T10:10:00.000-04:002006-07-05T08:47:03.876-04:00

Contributor CallI would love to have contributors write for this blog. There are a lot of issues I would like to focus on, but quite frankly, I do not have a lot of time. In order to be a contributor, all you would have to do is setup a Blogger account. I would then add your account as a contributor, and you’d be able to post. Currently Looking For: Gay Rights Contributor - I’m looking for

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151588016652736572006-06-29T09:33:00.000-04:002006-06-29T09:33:36.670-04:00

The Washington Post has a new Kurtz column up, and it must be read."There will be a struggle. The establishment won't simply lay down their arms and run into the waiting arms of the netroots and ask for forgiveness. It is hard to get people out of a pattern they're used to. On the other hand, there will be a lot of pressure on the bloggers hired by campaigns to serve their new employers

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151550151906489342006-06-28T23:01:00.000-04:002006-06-28T23:02:31.923-04:00

As the left side of the blogosphere has been opining about Obama’s call to religion, I’ve sat back and really thought about my feelings toward the subject. As an atheist, I realize I probably come with a different perspective than most, but there are a few problems with Obama’s statement that should transcend all religious lines.First, there’s the whole evangelical comment. I’m very active in

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151547034854757332006-06-28T22:09:00.000-04:002006-06-28T22:10:34.883-04:00

Ugh, CNN has let retarded James Dobson from Focus on the Family write… well, I’m not quite sure what it is, probably while he strokes off his super secret, undercover boyfriend. (Come on, you all know he’s a closet case)COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- On June 7, the U.S. Senate voted for a second time on an amendment to define marriage in the U.S. Constitution as being exclusively between

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151539415041570732006-06-28T20:03:00.000-04:002006-06-28T20:03:35.066-04:00

• Republicans are starting to run away from their own Christianist pandering agenda. Hopefully, they are finally realizing that America is catching on to their games, and in order for them to win elections, they need to stop focusing on this strange agenda and start getting to the things that Americans actually care about.Perhaps they no longer want to be the do nothing Congress.• Froomkin asks

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151535980708943662006-06-28T19:05:00.000-04:002006-06-28T19:06:20.733-04:00

The WaPo writes an interesting article about the NYT situation and asks why only that newspaper is being attacked.I spent part of the day sitting on a New York tarmac yesterday -- trust me, you don't want to hear how long it took me to get there -- but I did get a chance to see the New York Post's mocking headline about the newspaper it dubbed New York Crimes .That was one of approximately 4,007

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23902346.post-1151495886924690242006-06-28T07:57:00.000-04:002006-06-28T07:58:06.943-04:00

Can you smell that? That’s the scent of the GOP waging a shit war against the press.House Republican leaders are expected to introduce a resolution today condemning The New York Times for publishing a story last week that exposed government monitoring of banking records.The resolution is expected to condemn the leak and publication of classified documents, said one Republican aide with knowledge

Brian Varitekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15361601966908913141noreply@blogger.com0