Headlines, Including Enlightening Comments From a Country Duo I *Used* to Like
++ Preteens opting for sexier costumes. Which, I'm not a prude, but the oversexualization of little girls kind of freaks me out.
++ Ha, now there's a War on Halloween.
++ US promised Blackwater guards immunity, officials say. Oh, HELL NO.
++ In his wife's campaign, Bill Clinton is a free agent.
++ Candidates widely split on Iran.
++ Fred Thompson quizzed on civil unions. Thompson called it a "judge-made controversy". *eyeroll*
++ Howard Fineman on What Obama must do in the MSNBC debate.
++ Memories of Obama in New York differ.
++ Watch Obama bust a move on "Ellen". See, that's why I can't stop loving Obama, no matter how often he fucks up.
++ Paul Krugman on Fearing fear itself.
++ There's a really interesting NYT story on the gayborhood becoming passé.
++ Why are more Democratic candidates than Republicans taking money from Big Pharma? Come on Hillary.
++ Giuliani still working at firm he promised to leave.
++ Warren Buffett sees "fairly significant" chance of US going into recession.
++ From Amanda: Rules for them, rules for us.
++ Okay, I just threw out my Big & Rich cd:
"I think if you legalize that, you've got to legalize some other things that are pretty unsavory. You can call me a radical, but how can you tell an aunt that she can't marry her nephew if they are really in love and sharing the bills? How can you tell them they can't get married, but something else that's unnatural can happen?"
- John Rich of the country group "Big & Rich", with deep thoughts on marriage equality
Note: he issued a wishy-washy clarification saying he's not a bigot or whatever, but still doesn't support gay marriage.
I knew these guys were Republicans, but I really expected more from a duo that claims to be "Country music without prejudice". SIGH.
Local News:
++ Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley calls for unity at start of special session on budget gap. I'm curious what Marylanders think of this situation - darthrami, bailunrui, do you support the proposed taxes & slots? I don't know how I feel about the slots - gambling brings a lot of baggage & often brings in more problems than it solves - but I'm definitely for the taxes on rich people and on cigarettes. As far as I'm concerned you can't tax cigarettes enough. They should be at least $10 a pack - which, they *are* they in parts of Manhattan - and I say that as a former smoker. The more cigs cost the less people smoke and the less they cost our health care system.
++ VA Governor jumping into Northern Virginia races.
++ Teen pregnancy & birth rates plummet across DC region.
++ Hey Viriginia peeps: THERE'S AN ELECTION IN 7 DAYS. You all know where to find your polling place right?
++ Ha, now there's a War on Halloween.
++ US promised Blackwater guards immunity, officials say. Oh, HELL NO.
++ In his wife's campaign, Bill Clinton is a free agent.
++ Candidates widely split on Iran.
++ Fred Thompson quizzed on civil unions. Thompson called it a "judge-made controversy". *eyeroll*
++ Howard Fineman on What Obama must do in the MSNBC debate.
++ Memories of Obama in New York differ.
++ Watch Obama bust a move on "Ellen". See, that's why I can't stop loving Obama, no matter how often he fucks up.
++ Paul Krugman on Fearing fear itself.
++ There's a really interesting NYT story on the gayborhood becoming passé.
++ Why are more Democratic candidates than Republicans taking money from Big Pharma? Come on Hillary.
++ Giuliani still working at firm he promised to leave.
++ Warren Buffett sees "fairly significant" chance of US going into recession.
++ From Amanda: Rules for them, rules for us.
++ Okay, I just threw out my Big & Rich cd:
"I think if you legalize that, you've got to legalize some other things that are pretty unsavory. You can call me a radical, but how can you tell an aunt that she can't marry her nephew if they are really in love and sharing the bills? How can you tell them they can't get married, but something else that's unnatural can happen?"
- John Rich of the country group "Big & Rich", with deep thoughts on marriage equality
Note: he issued a wishy-washy clarification saying he's not a bigot or whatever, but still doesn't support gay marriage.
I knew these guys were Republicans, but I really expected more from a duo that claims to be "Country music without prejudice". SIGH.
Local News:
++ Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley calls for unity at start of special session on budget gap. I'm curious what Marylanders think of this situation - darthrami, bailunrui, do you support the proposed taxes & slots? I don't know how I feel about the slots - gambling brings a lot of baggage & often brings in more problems than it solves - but I'm definitely for the taxes on rich people and on cigarettes. As far as I'm concerned you can't tax cigarettes enough. They should be at least $10 a pack - which, they *are* they in parts of Manhattan - and I say that as a former smoker. The more cigs cost the less people smoke and the less they cost our health care system.
++ VA Governor jumping into Northern Virginia races.
++ Teen pregnancy & birth rates plummet across DC region.
++ Hey Viriginia peeps: THERE'S AN ELECTION IN 7 DAYS. You all know where to find your polling place right?