On Political Anger

In looking back at the disgusting NY State Senate vote killing marriage equality, I've noticed my anger was directed more at the Democrats who voted against it than the Republicans. Maybe it's because I've written off all Republicans from ever doing the right thing, and so why bother with anger at this point. Maybe I'm angry because we lost even with a Democratic majority, and at the fact that 8 Democratic traitors voted to ruin gay marriage for the foreseeable future. 8 out of 32. A full quarter of the Democratic caucus in what should be a progressive state! A troubling number, to be positive, but still a small minority.

My anger at Republicans has transformed into a numb resignation. They are totally incapable of coming up with viable solutions to almost every major problem. Dude -- they vote as a fucking bloc! My violent frustration is with the handful of Democrats -- those members of the only opposition party there is to the madness of Republicanism -- who would vote in such an abhorrent way. We kept assuring ourselves of a blissful future if only Democrats could re-take the majority in Congress in 2006. Well, we got what we wished for, only to be let down time and time again with vote after vote keeping the war in Iraq going indefinitely, enabling Bush to spy on Americans and basically kowtowing to every Republican filibuster threat. Clearly we didn't get a progressive majority by any stretch of the imagination.

Who or what are we angry at? Are we more upset at the 8 Democrats in the NY Senate that voted to continue 2nd-class status of gays, or at the 30 Republicans who we just KNOW won't give a shit about us gays? And why? Or are we upset that this even has to be an issue -- that in 5 other states (NH is set to be legal in January) gays can marry legally but in the state that has been the home and birthplace of much progressive change it still can't happen? "Those 8 traitor Democrats!" we scream. And what about the 30 Republicans, none of whom have been called out on their bigotry? Where is their day of reckoning?

I think maybe my anger is more and more becoming directed at the fact that the Republican party is being allowed to survive and especially be perceived as credible opposition. This anger is likely motivated by the fear that today's Republicans could ever be in the majority again and be able to wreak utter destruction the likes of which we have not seen.

8 NY Democrats Who Should Be Thrown To The Wolves

From a NY Times editorial today:

"Also succumbing to what Senator Thomas Duane, a Democrat of Manhattan, called “contagious lack of backbone” were eight Democrats: Joseph Addabbo Jr., Darrel Aubertine, Rubén Díaz Sr., Shirley Huntley, Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate, George Onorato and William Stachowski."

Let's list these names again:

Joseph Addabbo Jr.
Darrel Aubertine
Rubén Díaz Sr.
Shirley Huntley
Carl Kruger
Hiram Monserrate
George Onorato
William Stachowski

Shame on all of these fucking bigoted cowards.

Of Bigots and Liars

What is it about a rainy day in December? Nothing can seem to go right. Today the NY State Senate voted down Marriage Equality with a vote of 24-38. Thirty-eight bigots, liars and cowards. Every single Republican (fascist) voted against, even after some had signaled they would vote for. What a surprise. No, it's the eight Democrats that should be given special mention here, for it is they that need to be fed to the wolves next year. Hopefully, it happens in the primaries, but failing that I see no reason to ever lift a fingerto help them get re-elected. Fuck them. What good is our 1-seat majority if we get this shit?

Ruben Diaz -- he, of some sorry-ass section of the Bronx -- is the prime target as far as I'm concerned. This bigot actually has the gall to deny he is a bigot, and then by arguing so forcefully against giving married gay people the hundreds of rights and financial incentives straight couples get, actually ends up defining what a bigot is.

This is why I hate religion.