Author Archive
The Queen of Disco is Gone
Posted by: | CommentsSadly, Donna Summer passed away today at age 63. She will be remembered by many of us fondly forever — or at least those of us old enough to remember polyester shirts and platform shoes, like Tom Sullivan.
Now, here’s Miss Donna Summer with one of the greatest songs of all time, Hot Stuff from 1979:
A gay conservative speaks out on Amendment One
Posted by: | CommentsAn excellent post from my friend Chris Barron, co-founder of GOProud (Cross-posted from Pam’s House Blend):
My North Carolina ties are deep. I grew up in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I attended undergrad at UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina University and got my law degree from Wake Forest. Both of my brothers still live in North Carolina with their wives and children. I will always consider North Carolina home, which is why I am passionately urging every North Carolinian – whether liberal or conservative – to vote against Amendment 1.
I am lucky enough to be legally married to my partner of 10 years under the laws of the District of Columbia where we live. However, you don’t have to gay or in favor of gay marriage to oppose Amendment 1.
Amendment 1 not only bans gay marriage, it is also so broadly written that it bans civil unions, domestic partnerships and threatens to outlaw any benefits offered to same-sex couples. While I support marriage equality, I understand that the country is still debating this issue, and that different states are coming to different conclusions and that will continue. This debate is healthy, and reflects the best our democracy has to offer. There is simply no reason to end this debate for all time with a Constitutional amendment.
Payday lenders fund Rogers’ NC-11 campaign
Posted by: | Comments
We received the following press release this morning from 11th District congressional candidate and our friend Cecil Bothwell, reprinted in its entirety (I take responsibility for the funny picture over there on the right).
It’s fascinating stuff. Follow the money, as they say…
From Bothwell for Congress:
For immediate release: May 2, 2012
What: Payday lenders fund Rogers’ NC 11 campaign From: Bothwell for Congress
Contact: Cecil Bothwell
Phone: 828-713-8840
Website: http://bothwell2012.com
The Bothwell for Congress campaign will accept no money from corporations or corporate PACs. Our campaign is entirely funded by individuals. (The committee donation listed on our campaign finance reports is Bothwell for Buncombe, funded by individuals for Bothwell’s local races in 2008 and 2009). Our opponent has taken tens of thousands of dollars from lobbyists and PACs. The most questionable sources are payday lenders.
Hayden Rogers has accepted $17,500 from individuals, lobbyists and special interest groups associated with the Payday Loan Industry. All of these donors are from outside of North Carolina, hailing from places such as Las Vegas, Miami, and South Carolina.
They are all from out-of-state because North Carolina banned the Payday Loan Industry in 2001.
It took until 2006 to fully shut down the industry (which played a cat and mouse game exploiting loopholes, changing names, etc.). In a 2006 press release NC Attorney General Roy Cooper said: “We’ve fought payday lending at every turn and now we’re putting this industry out of business here in North Carolina. These payday lenders thought they’d found a way around North Carolina law. Now we’re showing them the way out of our state.”
Delicious Tort Reform
Posted by: | Comments
Shifting gears a little, I read this story yesterday and thought it was interesting despite the fact it had nothing to do with The Gays or the water system. I don’t fully understand it all but thought I would bring it forward for some discussion here in the public square. So many smart people on here — Shirley there’s a lawyer or two who read this blog.
From the Charlotte News & Observer:
Medical malpractice insurer cites new law for lower rates
A medical malpractice insurer has lowered its premiums and is crediting what is often called tort reform in this and other states. Mag Mutual Insurance Co., the second-largest such firm in the state, credits the new laws with almost half of its recent 7.4 percent average cut in insurance premiums for doctors.
The legislature last year overrode Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of a bill capping “non-economic” damages at $500,000. Trial lawyers counter that the cost of medical malpractice insurance is declining anyway.
The Triangle Business Journal first reported on the development earlier this month, and conservatives quickly pointed to it as proof that the reform they’ve been calling for was already paying off.
State Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger sent out this remark this week:
“We stood up to the trial lawyers’ interest groups and the governor to make sure doctors would be able to stay in our state without the fear of baseless, exorbitant lawsuits. The costs of those lawsuits were being passed along to patients, and in an already broken health care system, we had to act. Our bipartisan efforts are paying off, and North Carolinians are now seeing some initial benefits. There is more to do, but this is a start in providing more accessible and affordable health care.”
Sunday Morning Music
Posted by: | CommentsAnd now, for your Sunday Morning Music pleasure… here’s Councilman Gordon Smith (and the Barry Summers Trio) with that delightful Bossa Nova standard, Água de Beber.
Poll Dancing
Posted by: | CommentsThe latest polling numbers confirm what many of us already knew about Amendment One: it has overwhelming support here in North Carolina (57% strongly support, 6% somewhat support, 5% somewhat oppose and 24% strongly oppose). Civitas recently asked the question:
“Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that says: Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State?
Because I have nothing better to do, I made this little graph so folks can see what these numbers actually look like:
Interestingly enough, support for Amendment One has actually increased here in Western North Carolina over the last three months (as opposed to holding at a relatively steady level of 60% plus statewide). For the full results and all the cool crosstabs from Civitas, click here).
And I’ll bet that tonight’s passage of a resolution by City Council in opposition to Amendment One will not only solidify those numbers, but bump them up a few notches. But more on all that shadowy election-year strategery in an upcoming post — let’s just say that the best traps in politics are the ones that your opponents on both sides step willingly into.
Anyhoo, despite the overwhelming likelihood of its passage, several top conservative thinkers in the state have recently weighed in — not only opposing Amendment One, but casting doubt on both its longevity and its constitutionality. If you’re a Republican — not to mention fancy yourself a conservative — you may be surprised to hear what they have to say.
Jimmy Carter likes The Gays
Posted by: | Comments
Because we haven’t really been Gay around here enough lately (and with Gordon all busy with boring City Council stuff) I thought I’d post this tidbit from former President and devout Baptist Jimmy Carter:
“Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things -– he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies. I draw the line, maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people. I’m a Baptist, and I believe that each congregation is autonomous and can govern its own affairs. So if a local Baptist church wants to accept gay members on an equal basis, which my church does by the way, then that is fine. If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to.” — Jimmy Carter.
Where oh where are the Democratic candidates for County Commission on The Gays? I’ve asked the question but only Holly Jones, Brownie Newman, Ellen Frost, Terry Van Duyn and Aixa Wilson have bothered to answer me. Chairman Gantt? Tracey DeBruhl? Keith Young? Carol Weir Peterson? JoAnne Morgan? Randy Flack? Michelle Pace Wood? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?
Feel free to answer over here. But don’t take too long! We have Amendments to defeat! Thank you in advance for your answers.
MM
Wednesday Morning Music
Posted by: | CommentsI woke up this morning to a carpet of freshly bloomed purple phlox off my front porch — just in time for the first day of Spring. It’s wonderful here in Asheville in the Spring — spectacular, really. Full of hope, promise, and gratitude. And it made me think of this song…I hope you enjoy it and you enjoy the beautiful day. —MM
