Zakaria: My interview with President Obama – Global Public Square – CNN.com Blogs

I like Zakaria. He did a decent job on this interview with the President.

I mean, after all the hateful and racist BS thrown at him, it is hard to be critical without somehow siding with the secessionist inbreeders aligned against Obama and still sound educated and earnest, but he does it.

Contrary to GOP propaganda, the President is actually doing what this country needs and hopefully they’ll still be choking on their hate on their deathbeds knowing he was right in most instances. At least, more correct than their traitor queen Palin would have been in the job.

Seriously, how close to utter insipidness did we actually come?

More here for as long as they keep it online.

One Town’s War on Gay Teens | Politics News | Rolling Stone

On of the more jarring things I have learned upon moving to Minnesota is that there are pockets of this state that are virulently conservative. And no, not in the fiscal “I hate paying taxes” kind of way.

I mean in the let’s use the Bible to jusify hating anyone who doesn’t look or act like us kind of way. You know, things you expect in the Deep South. Or Orange County.

Scumbags like this are represented by Michele Bachmann. No, I am not kidding. The kind of folks who keep her in office and on some religious crusade to bully children who might even think they are not conventionally straight. Enough to the point that they attempt suicide over the harsh words, bullying, beatings, and the willingness for adults to purposely look the other way as their neighbor’s kids are abused.

Thankfully, and oh so slowly, these rotten people and their culture of fear are making national news.

This needs talked about. This needs to be stopped.

And, honestly, decent Christians need to call out these folks. This is exactly the face of religion that turn off so many from listening to what is otherwise a good message.

5 Important Lessons from the Komen/Planned Parenthood Fiasco (Don’t Mess With Women’s Health) | Activism | AlterNet

What I have learned this week – or at least have had reinforced aren’t on this list.

What I know is this: progressives can ignore a LOT of things in the hopes of keeping folks allied and working on the same goal. The Komen folks are sue-happy monsters who are led by some pretty staunch conservatives and can’t run their operation lean enough to be seen as a “good” charitable organization by nearly any measure.

But they were working on curing breast cancer, bringing awareness, and building a community. Which, of course, they have spent this week taking a steaming dump on.

And this leads to my other observation. When awoken to betrayal, progressives can teach religious zealots a thing or two about righteous indignation. By studiously ignoring some truly bad business practices, they woke up wondering how Komen got to be such horrible people. Well, they already WERE horrible people, they’d just been given a pass for too long.

And thus, when never getting their hand slapped the first dozen plus times for sneaking into the cookie jar, they, and everyone who wasn’t paying attention, were shocked at the reaction when they overreached the first time.

The lesson? Pay attention to the actions of people even when they are saying nice things to you. Eddie Haskell was probably stealing the Cleavers’ blind when they weren’t looking. You *knew* he was a snake. Why did they let him into the house in the first place?

Dining with Dara: Duluth becoming state’s premiere destination for beer tourism | Minnesota Public Radio News

I realize the ridiculousness of the the following statement, but Duluth is our new San Diego.

By that I mean that it is a little over four hours away, is on the water, a definite vacation spot with good food and neat things to do.

I have had some great work experiences up there in the past and have enjoyed my time there with the family.

If you ever end up there, go to Pizza Luce. There is at least one in the Twin Cities, but do yourself a favor and go to the one in Duluth.

And now, an ever expanding beer scene. Don’t get me wrong, this is already in existence. Beer culture is alive and well. Carmody’s is probably in my top five bars I have ever been to. Nothing special about it except that the beer is amazing, the atmosphere even more so and it is just a good – but tiny – place to hang out. And now they have their own beer.

I can’t wait to go give all the new stuff a try.

Komen Foundation makes major blunder in joining abortion fight | Jay Bookman

The big update today is that the Stingy Goon Komen for the Crass people are “giving in” to their plan to defund Planned Parenthood. First, they haven’t. They have decided they’ll still open their mail when they ask for money. Which is like me telling the Klan/GOP I won’t immediately burn their mail on receipt. In short, it means nothing.

Second, an outfit with huge admin costs who went all in for the Galtists/Talibangelicals just wants to sweep their hatred under the rug. Those a-holes have got another thing coming if they think any pink item ends up in our shopping carts. Screw them.

Third, this is another of those damned non-apologies. Stop pretending they are.

Fourth, they swear they won’t give money to outfits under criminal investigation. So how did Penn State get $70-odd million dollars? Hmmm.

Anyway, here is some earlier reporting, starting off with this critique of the politics of the decision.

MaddowBlog reporting from the beginning, yesterday, and this morning.

Here is that deleted retweet you may have heard of from Komen’s VP of Bigotry Karen Handel.

Last but not least is this Joan Walsh article on the practice or GOP religious bullying and bigotry across the board.