October 21, 2005

Alert - Trace of sanity found in Kansas

The Kansas high court has ruled that juviniles convicted of underage same-sex "crimes" cannot be punished more harshly than if the offense were heterosexual. “Moral disapproval of a group cannot be a legitimate state interest," wrote the unanimous court, echoing language in the Massachusetts gay marriage decision as well as the SCOTUS Lawrence (2003) decision. As those Kansas fundamentalists would say, Glory Hallelujah!

October 18, 2005

Got PowerPoint Fatigue?

If you're like me, you've grown weary of "death by slide"-style talks. PowerPoint has indeed hurt the effectiveness of presentations while improving their visual quality. Well, this keynote address at a recent O'Reilly Conference the most original, compelling use of the software that I've ever seen. Influenced by something called the Lawrence Lessig flash-style of presentation, it holds your interest, makes you think, and entertains -- and what more could you ask for from a conference address?

All About Harriet

Here are Miers's responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire. Among the "highlights": looks like her only litigation experience with a constitutional issue is her defense of Dick Cheney's status as a resident of Wyoming, rather than of Texas, which made him eligible to be elected VP with a President from Texas. Well, good for her, but it's not likely that 12th Amendment issues like that one will soon come before the high court again. But one thing is curious: did she have no role in Bush v Gore (2000)?

October 14, 2005

The Rove/Dobson Call

Just released...the transcript of the conversation between Karl Rove and James Dobson during which the latter learned some things he "probably shouldn't know."

Rosie Gets Slammed, Doesn't Care

The NYT's Ben Brantley reviewed Rosie O'Donnell's "performance" in Broadway's revival of Fiddler on the Roof today. He compared her to a high school production stand-in, and had little positive to say. She had guts to post his review on her blog and to add her own reaction. I was a big fan of her talk show, but even then her success proved the point that in show business, enthusiasm goes a long way. Alas, that's true everywhere but on Broadway, where people still expect to see world class talent for their money.

October 13, 2005

I-Candy's Owner is Eye-Candy

My new favorite reality show isn't Martha and her apprentices, but "Open Bar" on the LOGO cable channel. It follows a 30-something, newly out (and beautiful!) gay entrepreneur as he builds and opens his dream business: a lounge/bar called I-Candy on West Hollywood's main street. The all-gay all-the-time channel launched on June 30 and is part of the MTV Network family. My cable provider, Comcast, offers the channel as part of its extended basic service and I've been watching more of it than I should.

October 12, 2005

Miers: Pro & Con

Need some crib notes on the Miers nomination for the next dinner party you attend? These should do.

October 10, 2005

What was W Thinking?

That's the response leading a web poll about the Miers nomination. The sponsoring web site is anti-Harriet Central. I think the drumbeats are getting louder....

October 07, 2005

$1900 per U.S. Household??

That's how much money Louisiana lawmakers have requested to re-build their devastated state. Well, perhaps re-build is a bit imprecise. More like pay for a trip to the pork barrel buffet. Sugarcane Research? Give us a break!

No Day But Today

If the soundtrack is an indication, the soon-to-be-released film adaptation of Rent will be very satisfying to Rentheads like me. I'm especially happy that Rosario Dawson--who replaced the pregnant (and thus un-available) original Mimi Daphne Ruben-Vega--delivers the goods vocally. Members of the original cast have held up well for the most part in the decade since the musical first opened off-Broadway. Time has been less kind to Jesse L. Martin, whose voice leaves something to be desired. In any event, I know where I"ll want to be the day before Thanksgiving.

Faith-Based Hypocrisy

E.J. Dionne calls the right-wing on its hypocrisy about the importance of a judicial nominee's religious faith. Krauthammer joins the chorus of voices pointing out that mediocrity has no place on the Supreme Court.

I have a suggestion for the Senator Judiciary Committee: Pull out your notes from the Roberts hearing, and ask Harriet Miers the exact same questions about landmark Court decisions and precidents. In fact, tell her in advance that's what you'll be doing. My expectation is that she'll finds some graceful way to get the President to withdraw her nomination and save herself the embarassment of admitting her inexperience in grappling with core constitutional issues.

October 05, 2005

Is there no limit...

..to what legislatures will try to get away with? Let's make this Exhibit 1 for why we need courts to protect the minority from the "democratic will" of the majority.

Will to Senate: Reject Miers

George Will argues that the Senate has an obligation to reject Harriet Miers - not because of her views of the proper role of a judge, but because there are good reasons not to trust a president who says "Trust me."

October 03, 2005

Unforced Error

Cronyism triumphs once again in the Bush White House. Looks like the right wing is having trouble swallowing ol' Harriet - and not necessarily because she's never been married. Is this woman even in the top 10 of American women qualified to be on the Supreme Court?