When it is a business model, and when it is deliberate, and when it is a thought-out strategy on how to take the value out of a company in a reckless way and hurt others—and you then become a proponent of that strategy, and talk about it as if it’s the soul of capitalism, and literally the soul of America—I think nothing could be more offensive.
– David Foster, lead negotiator for workers at GST Steel, a victim of Romney economics (via barackobama) Via Obama for America
- Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
- Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
- Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE)
- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D)
- House Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn (D-SC)
Our real first gay president
The new issue of Newsweek features a cover photo of President Obama topped by a rainbow-colored halo and captioned “The First Gay President.” The halo and caption strike me as cheap sensationalism. I realize airport travelers look at a magazine for 2.2 seconds before moving on to the next one. I grant that this cover will probably get Newsweek a 4.4 second glance. I also understand that Newsweek is desperate for sales. Nevertheless, I doubt that the Newsweek of old, before it was sold for a dollar, would have pandered as shallowly.
The caption is a superficial way to characterize an important development of thought that the president — along with the country — has been making over recent years. It is also entirely wrong. Like the mini-furor a couple of months back about the claim that Richard Nixon was our first gay president, the story simply ignores that the U.S. already had a gay president more than a century ago.
There can be no doubt that James Buchanan was gay, before, during and after his four years in the White House. Moreover, the nation knew it, too — he was not far into the closet.
Today, I know no historian who has studied the matter and thinks Buchanan was heterosexual. Fifteen years ago, historian John Howard, author of “Men Like That,” a pioneering study of queer culture in Mississippi, shared with me the key documents, including Buchanan’s May 13, 1844, letter to a Mrs. Roosevelt. Describing his deteriorating social life after his great love, William Rufus King, senator from Alabama, had moved to Paris to become our ambassador to France, Buchanan wrote:
I am now “solitary and alone,” having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection.
The rise of the filibuster in one graph
More here.
Chart of the day slash last three and a half years.
I respect this son right here.
much love
love this man.
well done.
I will never judge a person by the way they speak for the rest of the week. Seriously, though, we need more people like this in this world.
Respect for you man. You understand life.
Shit man. This dude has it figured out.
ALWAYS RE-BLOG. This is how all humans should act
(Source: dinuguan)
Via ॐ
About me
The personal photos, thoughts, meanderings ,anecdotes and experiences of a 37 year old self confessed geek living in Portland, Oregon with a dog, cat and epic fiancee.Feed may contain references to children, video games, pornography, pop culture and other commonly considered useless and ludicrous inanities and proclivities.
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