ELECTION 2008: New Mexico...

So, um, anyone else caught that the New Mexico primary is still out? Yes, at 2pm this afternoon, with 98% of the precincts counted, there were less than *200* votes separating Barack and Hillary.

Not that it matters, except it will make those nice colorful maps everyone uses more pleasant for Hillary. Because, that close of a race, they will get the exact same number of delegates.

But I'm going to ask the question that should be asked: How much do those maps matter? If you go to www.uselectionatlas.org ... even though Clinton is AHEAD, it is starting to look like Obama is because he grabbed those nice big western states. Maybe Hillary should be pushing for Montana -- because I'll bet you it's one of those states that candidates overlook. SCF, reporting from Macon, Georgia, and his girlfriend made a good point: Huckabee was the only Republican who really spent time in Georgia. And he won it.

Maybe the Montana's, Wyoming's, and Dakota's are not that much different. How much time DO candidates spin in these "small prize" states that make the map the right color???

OH, and PS, the conservatives are talking about running a third party candidate if McCain is the nominee. I'll say it now: go ahead. Ross Perot did such a good job for the first Clinton (And Nader so good for Gore).

PERSONAL: Depending on self

Somedays, do you feel like you are the only person you can rely on, or even depend on?

Sorry, I'm just bitchy right now :-).

ELECTION 2008: This could be very good...

Reading the blogs, especially this one on www.politico.com (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8326.html), I'm thinking that a prolonged nomination process is ultimately going to HELP the democrats. And why?

It is going to set up organizing efforts in stats that no one has ever gone to before, at least not extensively. Which states am I talking about?

1) Virginia -- a Democrat has not won here in a long time, and the fact that 33% of the vote is black could sway this largish state

2) Texas -- ditto -- Clinton's appeal to Latino's and Obama's appeal to blacks could bring this one our direction, and it's HUGE

3) Louisiana -- 46% of the electoral vote in 2004 was black -- coming after Katrina, plus a black nominee, plus an actual ATTEMPT... well, you tell me what could happen

4) Mississippi -- ditto here

5) Ohio -- Clinton says she's making plans in Ohio in the end of February; I'm sure Obama is too... bringing the Democratic party to this area of the world to campaign, and sway the hearts and minds of people (people care about Ohio only in the general election, some early leg work would help)

Those five take us out to mid-March. If it keeps going, well, there's North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Montana, and South Dakota beyond. If they are forced to organize and move in these states, it might actual start swinging those states towards the Democrats. Who cares if it seems like we have a Republican nominee now... guess what? His work isn't going to be half of what it's going to take to win the Democratic nomination, and they are going to have to talk to a LOT of people at this point.

This could be the winning plan for the Dems this year.

ELECTION 2008: I'm going to say this a month ahead of time...

Huckabee will win Texas.

Added later:
I really like how the yikes! blog (http://yikes101.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/super-tuesday-oh-what-a-night/) summed up the Republican race: "maverick" (or, my spin, "warhawk") vs "corporate" vs "evangelical."

I prefer the Democrat's decision based on leadership qualities to the Republicans decision based on ideology.

ELECTION 2008: Final post of the evening for Super Tuesday

CLINTON GOT CALIFORNIA!!! As did McCain!!!! :-) Regardless of everything, that's the big one. :-)

So the final break downs of things I've not covered:

Alaska -- Obama (unk on GOP)
Missouri -- looks like it's Obama and McCain (Missouri, btw, is a bellweather state, as is Delaware... grrrrr...)

I think everything else has been covered... the rest of them, I was right on. We're still waiting on New Mexico, which may turn out to be the real question of the night. That, and the 2000 vote difference for Obama/Clinton in Missouri.

So the new question: What IS the possibility of a Clinton-Obama ticket? I mean, really. It's beginning to look like an inevitability. AND it would bring the party back together in a nice tight package. Lord knows, we don't want to fight until the convention.

ELECTION 2008: PS

CNN just predicted Huckabee for Georgia.

Score one for QitC

I'm going to a quick updated prediction for the uncalled states:

Clinton wins: Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and California.
Obama wins: Utah, Idaho, and Colorado.

McCain wins: California, Missouri and Alaska.
Huckabee wins: Tennessee.
Romney wins: Montana and Colorado.

I'm 90% sure of these... the only ones I could really go bad on are the two Alaska's (again, no polls, so I'm looking at other people's predictions, which have been wrong in several key places for the Dems) and the Missouri GOP.

ELECTION 2008: Third Post of the Evening -- 2300

Ok, so I'm tired of reading over everything, I'm just going to do the "Corrects" and the "Incorrects" -- there are precious few Corrects :-(

Correct
Arkansas Dem -- Clinton WAS the First Lady of the state. Are you surprised?

Arkansas GOP -- Who'd a thunk anyone would care about Arkansas? Did you know that both Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee are from the same home town? Strange place this little state... smallest one that side of the Mississippi, btw.

Arizona GOP -- There was a brief moment where we wondered if McCain was going to win his home state, but, come on folks... it's his home state. If Hillary can still pull Arkansas, and Romney can pull his "three home states" (UT, MI, MA), then I think this one is a given.

Connecticut Dem -- I'm giving myself this one, because I guessed by <3%Connecticut GOP -- McCain pretty much swept New England this evening, didn't he?

Delaware GOP -- I'm giving myself this one... I said 7-10, it turned out about 12 points for McCain. I'm ok with a little bit of "touching up" of my original guesses.

Georgia Dem -- Is it annoying to any of my black readers how much emphasis they are placing on the "black vote???" In a discussion with SCF, we wondered how racially based politicking is somehow OK, especially in the media, but gender based politicking is pariah.

Illinois Dem -- Obama's home state, Clinton didn't have a chance

Illinois GOP -- And I was really good at predicting the GOP. Of course, I'm far more unbiased in that area.

Massachusetts Dem -- Even the Kennedy's couldn't swing a win for Obama in their home state... Clinton by >10% baby!

Massachusetts GOP -- I debated whether or not to give myself this one -- Romney by 10 while I guessed >10. It's not quite the landslide he was hoping for. Good for him, but it's not as much as I thought he would take it by.

New Jersey Dem -- Yea! Was only one point off on this Clinton victory by 7%

New Jersey GOP -- Apparently I was wrong earlier about Giuliani on the ticket and coming in second. But wouldn't that have been funny?

New York Dem -- Duh. Clinton took it.

New York GOP -- Was there any question after the Giuliani endorsement? And, good job for McCain -- it's a winner-take-all state.

North Dakota GOP -- I suppose the Mormon influence is as great as I expected out in the western states

Oklahoma Dem -- Apparently Arkansas's sphere of influence for Clinton goes east and west. Who knew?

Oklahoma GOP -- Mccain by 4 points. I totally called it :-)

Tennessee Dem -- Duh. Clinton took it, as well.

Utah GOP -- Jesus! Or, should I say, Joseph Smith! 86 points to 7!!!! I have family out there. I am totally going to call them and ask them about the Mormon utopia that IS Utah.

West Virginia GOP -- Huckabee. He did really well today, didn't he?

Incorrect
Alabama Dem -- Obama by 14 points??? I didn't think he'd win THAT big there.

Alabama GOP -- HA! Georgia and Alabama go for a black man and... Huckabee? Never thought I'd see the day the voters went completely insane.

Delaware Dem -- Obama by 10 points??? Again, how did that happen?

Kansas Dem -- I'm not going to eat any crow on this one as there were no polls to guide us. I think I overestimated Clinton's celebrity, and am surprised Obama pulled this one off by a greater than 10-point victory

Minnesota Dem -- I think the Obama victory here is a surprise for a lot of people, as most people guessed Clinton would pull this off with well over a ten point spread; Obama got greater than a 10-point spread

Minnesota GOP -- I think Minnesota gave us all a run for our money this evening. Neither one turned out like most people expected.

North Dakota Dem -- Like Kansas, I overestimated Clinton's celebrity. Obama won BIG.

--------------

So, I haven't done so bad yet. I think I'll also get the following correct: Idaho Dem, Missouri Dem, Arizona Dem, Georgia GOP, Colorado GOP, and California GOP. But it looks like I'm f*cked in: Utah Dem, Colorado Dem, and Montana GOP.

But here's some surprises:

1) Could Huckabee take MISSOURI? NO WAY! It's really close, and Huckabee's ahead.

2) Could Huckabee take TENNESSEE? This man is doing really well today.

3) And Montana's second place winner is going to be... Ron Paul. No, really.

Give me a couple of hours and I'll do my next (and probably last) of the evening.

ELECTION 2008: Second Result Post -- 2020

Correct
Illinois
Prediction: Obama >10%
Actual: They called it the moment the polls closed. Meaning: landslide.

Prediction: McCain by >10%
Actual: They called it the moment the polls closed. Meaning: landslide.

Connecticut
Prediction: McCain by >10%
Actual: They called it the moment the polls closed. Meaning: landslide.

Massachusetts
Prediction: Romney by >10%
Actual: They called it the moment the polls closed. Meaning: landslide. But, it's not looking like the 10% margin. It may be a little smaller, so we're still kinda waiting. But it's called for Romney.

New Jersey
Prediction: McCain by >10%
Actual: Well, when Giuliani is coming up as the second place, I think it's safe to say that Mr. McCain has it in the bag.

Oklahoma
Prediction: Clinton by >10%
Actual: They called it the moment the polls closed. Meaning: landslide.

We're waiting on Delaware for the Dems, whose polls closed at 8pm. Arizona closes in a few moments, and I'm leaving the library. Next update will be in a few hours.

ELECTION 2008: First Result Post -- 1930

We have the first results back, and I'm already wrong - HA! So, we'll see how the rest of the night goes!

CORRECT
Georgia
Prediction: Obama by >10%
Actual: Exit Polls showing him ahead 64-30

Incorrect
West Virginia
Prediction: I ain't no coal miner's daughter (no prediction)
Actual: Caucus has Huckabee 52-47 over Romney -- 1% McCain -- apparently, when it seemed like Romney would take a plurality over McCain, the McCain supporters threw their support after the first vote behind Huckabee. Interesting -- tit makes sense as the McCain-Romney fight is the real fight, with Huckabee going after a third, but I still thought McCain supporters would prefer Romney's rigid fiscalism to Huckabee's social conservatism.

We are not going to call the Georgia Republican race yet, as there are very few polls in and Huckabee (31%) is still fairly close to McCain (36%) and they've only counted like 2000 votes -- ie, still too close to call.

Next set comes in: 8pm with Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Alabama, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We should be able to call Mass, NJ, OK, AL, and IL at that point, but we'll be waiting on the rest.

GAY STUFF: Thank you, Michael Chank

Also, another little tidbit.

Thank you, darling, for being so concise and so wonderful. I was sure I would bitch about this particular subject come June or so, but you beat me to the punch.

I'm tired of being scooped by QCityNews on topics. (I love you, Sam.)

ELECTION 2008: I'm disappointed, btw...

...at our Democratic options.

Shame on both of you for not supporting gay marriage. I feel dirty that you are the two that I get to vote for... that, in 200+ years of our country, the first opportunity we get to vote for someone who ISN'T a white male, that you STILL don't get it when it comes to separate but equal. That you, Obama, a black man, would still hold dear to an outdated philosophy; and you, Clinton, for all the work you and your husband have done pandering to us, would still not step beyond civil unions.

Clinton guest blogged here.

"I want to be your President." Fine, if you want to be my President, then support me, and stop expecting us to send you money.

I expected this out of the Giuliani's and the McCain's of the race... and I expected worse out of the Romey's and the Huckabee's. But, really, do all I have left to vote for are two people who can't even make an acceptable reason to support their gay and lesbian constituency??? Hell, the Democratic Senator of SC (former), Fritz Hollings, even found a way to go against the Defense of Marriage Act -- and it was so simple: "Do you really want the Constitution to mess with marriage?" It was beautiful, and simple. And he never came out for or against the issue. That's all he had to do/say.

I wish I could just vote on gay issues -- after all, Mr. Gravel and Mr. Kucinich would be SO much better for what I want. But I can't... that would be short sighted. I just needed to vent and let you know, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama, that I'm disappointed.

ELECTION 2008: 50TH BLOG SPECTACULAR

Predictions for Super Tuesday:

PLEASE NOTE: When editing this post again and again and again, the HTML has gotten messed up somehow. I think I've fixed most of it... but, for example, I lost three predictions at one point. So, just stick with me and tell me what I've missed.

Alabama
D: Obama by 3-6%
R: McCain by 3-6% (Huckabee may pull a little closer)
delegates awarded proportionally on both sides

Alaska
D: I'm holding off saying either way, as there's an interesting catch here: Mike Gravel who is still on the ballot. There is a possibility that he may take his home state. I'm going to "say" that Gravel will take it in a landslide, but, if not, my next guess is that Clinton will win by 3-6%.
R: McCain by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally on both sides
there have been no polls done in Alaska

Arizona
D: Clinton by 3-6%
R: McCain by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Arkansas
D: Clinton by >10%
R: Huckabee by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally on both sides
there have been no polls done on either side since 12/14/07

California
D: Clinton but barely (<3%)>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes all" by Congressional District for the Republicans

Colorado
D: Obama but barely (<3%)>10%
delegates awarded proportionally on both sides

Connecticut
D: Obama but barely (<3%)>10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Delaware
D: Clinton by 3-6%
R: McCain by 7-10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Georgia
D: Obama by >10%
R: Huckabee but barely (<3%>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Idaho
D: Obama by >10% <--I'm calling this on absolutely nothing, as the last poll in 7/07 had Al Gore in it (and winning), which is a group that you would assume, naturally, would gravitate towards the Clintons, but I think he has become something of a superhero for the "younger set" and I think those who would choose him would gravitate towards the more liberal Obama... plus, the environment is a big issue out there, and Obama has the better environmental record (it's hard to tarnish your record in six years, isn't it?) delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

Illinois
D: Obama by >10%
R: McCain by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

Kansas
D: Obama but barely (<3%)>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats

Massachusetts
D: Clinton by >10%
R: Romney by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

Missouri
D: Clinton by 3-6%
R: McCain but barely (<3%>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Minnesota
D: Clinton 7-10%
R: McCain >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

Montana
R: Romney, but barely (close second: McCain) <--I'm calling this on nothing, as there have been no polls in Montana, and I'm assuming, like in Kansas with Obama, Romney will carry most of this area of the country delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

New Jersey
D: Clinton by 3-6%
R: McCain by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

New Mexico
D: Clinton but barely (<3%)>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats

New York
D: Clinton by >10%
R: McCain by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

North Dakota
D: Clinton by >10%
R: Romney by >10%
there have been no polls or news about anyone and North Dakota, so I'm just guessing here; McCain and Obama may take it
delegates awarded proportionally for both sides

Oklahoma
D: Clinton >10%
R: McCain by 3-6%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

Tennessee
D: Clinton by >10%
R: McCain but barely (<3%)>delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans, if there is a majority (proportional if there is a plurality)

Utah
D: Obama by >10% -- there is only one poll out there by "Dan Jones" in 1/08 that has Obama way ahead, by over 20 points, so we're basing this on that and that alone; it might be a mistake as Clinton was way ahead when there was still a full Democratic field ahead of us
R: Romney by >10%
delegates awarded proportionally for the Democrats
"Winner-takes-all" for the Republicans

BTW--> I have no idea if West Virginia has anything tomrow. I have so many sources saying so many things. If they have their Republican state convention tomrow, which is what CNN reports, then I'm giving it to McCain by a hefty margin. But, none of the poll sites are reporting anything will be decided tomrow. Oh, and, Obama went to go talk to the Democratic convention... today? I'm no coal miners daughter, so my attention is elsewhere.

So, I'll call this: by Wednesday, I think McCain will pretty much have the nomination locked up. Not perfectly, but he'll be so close it will almost be impossible to beat him. To the Blogging Caesar of http://www.electionprojection.com/ (another site I follow -- if you read this Caesar, I followed you REALLY close in 2004, but your move from "unbiased" to "conservative commentator" has made me stopped coming by as often) --> I take your challenge. Let's see whose edicts are right. And, btw, I so wanted to scoop you on the McCain-as-nominee edict. *Sigh* I failed. Because of the split delegates in most states with the Dems, the Obama-Clinton ticket will continue to be a big question. (And for those thinking of the "dream ticket" of Clinton-Obama in 2008 ... Roland Martin has an interesting analysis of that here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/04/roland.martin/index.html . . . do I agree? somewhat; I'm sure Mrs. Clinton will not want to be VP)

And, btw, I was wrong about the surprise endorsement (I really was expecting Bill Richardson to say something today), so god only knows how much of this is right.

CINCY GAY SCENE, A challenge

Alright, so I was perusing the Q-City News blog just now (work? what's work? the hospital is quiet tonight...), and I came across a couple of events that I had never heard of, and I would say that I am moderately to highly interested in being involved in my community. And what's interesting to me is... I know the people that run these events, and am on several local listservs and still didn't really know anything about them.

For example:
1) GLSEN at Bean Haus (Feb. 21 6:30p-8p) -- sounds a little like an annual meeting, but still could be fun in Covington's Mainstrasse (at, of all places, Bean Haus at 640 Main Street)

2) Nationwide HIV Update (Feb. 6 from 530-830) -- at STOP AIDS, call 513-421-AIDS

And, in all fairness, I would like to point out the one that passed: Laughing Out Loud, by HRC-Cincinnati, on Jan. 30.

So, how do people who are, like me, somewhat interested in their community get reached? How do you reach people that are not in daily contact with the gay world? When my life was homonormative (everyone I dealt with, at one point, was gay), keeping up was so easy. But now? I am missing events right and left.

How do we change that???

PS ---> Q City News Blog mentioned one of my older posts about bar closings, which is why my readership spiked. In fact, we are both apparently "competing" to post an analysis of the "Last Call" article I posted a few weeks ago. We're both moving REAL quick on that, aren't we?

PPS Check out http://www.julietandjuliette.com/ --> it's run by two fabulous local lesbians (one of my BFFs is Juliet and has shouted out to us a couple of times) and they are trying to get nominated by http://www.thelesbianlifestyle.com/ as Best Lesbian Blog of 2007. I think you should all go to Juliet & Juliette, find out just how fabulous they are, and then nominate them accordingly. Yes? Yes.

PPPS Apparently you aren't allowed to use an ampersand with blogspot?

BLOGGING: 6-50

I swear this is my last blog of the day:

1) Today is our 6 month anniversary here at Queer in the Cincy. We opened up for business on 8-4-07. I have to say, with the anniversary coming up, I don't think I have enough or have done enough to be considered for "Best Blog in the City," which is what I was secretly going for the whole time.

2) Only 48 blogs in six months? I think it's time to step shit up... I'm going to become involved in Technorati, btw. It will automatically seek out new stuff on my blog and let people know I've written something.

I think. Otherwise, I'm just signing up for more spam.

BLOGGING: Visible Vote 2008

BTW: I'm giving a disclaimer about one of my links on the side of my page.

Visible Vote 2008 is STRONGLY pro-Obama and anti-Clinton. I thought, when I posted it, it would be a lot more interesting and more GLBT-oriented, as it is a GLBT election site. However, it's turned into Clinton bashing and Obama loving.

I'll try to find an unbiased, or at least more specifically biased, GLBT-related election site. That one just ain't cutting it.

GENERAL STUFF: Super Bowl

This is all I'm saying about the Super Bowl.

Whoo-freakin'-hoo.

I still don't get it, but the commercials were kinda neat. And I have dreams that are inappropriate to print about the Manning's.

Oh, and btw, did anyone notice the disclaimer that you aren't even allowed to PRINT a description of the game without the NFL allowing it. So, watch your blogging, kids! The NFL is coming to get you!

OHIO/CINNKY: The Great Buck Howard

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20080203/ENT02/802030303/1059/SPT02
(You can always tell when I'm at work because I have to just stick in URL's because the computer here doesn't like pop-ups or new screens).

"The Great Buck Howard," a Colin Hanks-John Malkovich movie, coming out in July of 2008 is taking place in Cincinnati. Like all great movies, it isn't shot here, though they apparently are going to use some shots of the city from afar and "stock" photography.

And guess what? Like all great things, it doesn't portray Cincinnati as a cool place to be.

Thanks, Hollywood. We live out here.

ELECTION 2008: A couple of thoughts on Clinton...

...thirty hours before Super Tuesday begins.

There's always a lot of talk about "momentum" with the early primaries (IA/NH/NV/SC), but there were two possible courses that these primaries could have gone, and I suspect neither one of them would have been good for her:

a) She wins all four (or 3 of 4 -- I don't think she ever had a chance in SC). Because she then becomes the "super juggernaut" of the Democratic election, I think other people would have become more sympathetic towards Obama and would have thought "well, she's going to win anyways." Also we would have had "Clinton burnout" by the time we got to this point.

b) She wins one of four or two of four (which she did... actually, she's won four of six, but Michigan and Florida were stripped of their delegates due to moving their primaries up without permission... the GOP in both states did the same thing, but they were only penalized with half of their delegates). Clearly, this is the situation we are facing now. And she's slipped a bit in the polls. But let's point out the Super Tuesday states that she is probably gonna win: New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Tennessee (no really, I'm not joking).

And the ones Obama is almost guaranteed to win in: Georgia, Illinois.

That leaves a couple open, including California, which we were all sure would be definitively Clinton. But, Cali, with ALL of its delegates (370) is going to be an interesting call. Because since it now will be a close race, regardless, each candidate will likely get the SAME number of delegates, within 10 at least, so can we really call either side a "win?"

On that note, should we really be "calling" states in the primaries? With the grand majority of states splitting the delegate count... excepting a landslide, is it fair to say that "so-and-so won the state" when, most of the time, they are only getting a portion of the delegates. In reality, if you have a third person who gets no more than 4% of the vote in each state, and one person "wins" every state by less than 2%, the whole freaking system goes out the window.

What's really funny, btw, is the Kennedy situation. So, the Kennedy's endorsed Obama because he's got that whole "young, pretty" thing going for him -- they did it, I think, so that they could still hold some influence should he be the nominee. Schwarzenegger then endorsed McCain... his wife, Maria Shriver, is a Kennedy. I told TY last night that, I though, it was likely that he did this so that the Kennedy's would have some sort of influence either direction.

That is, until Maria Shriver endorsed Obama.

What?

Regardless of what happens, I'll be at work tomorrow for Super Tuesday, so I'll have access to a computer and I can tell you what happens.

But I'll post my predictions tonight, after the final polls are run tomorrow (Kansas, btw, hasn't had a Dem poll done since May 2007, but Zogby -- I think -- has one coming out tomorrow). But I will make one prediction for today (Monday): there will be a surprise endorsement today from someone. I can't guess on the Republican side, but John Edwards (whose part of the electorate could sway the entire thing) has not endorsed anyone, nor has Bill Richardson (who is Latino, is popular amongst that population, and... guess whom he watched the Super Bowl with today? Bill Clinton... and Hillary is behind in the polls in New Mexico)

CINCY GAY SCENE: Follow-Up on Previous Blog

1) Serpent, per a good friend, "has always been for sale," at the $1m price mark. So, in effect, it's not officially for sale. My house, too, would be for sale if someone offered me five times the amount it was worth.

2) Rumors of a new gay club opening? I can't seem to track this rumor anywhere.

3) Oh, goodness, the owner of Below Zero actually read the blog and responded. I have still yet to go, so I am retracting original statements regarding the crowd or the bar -- apparently, I am not speaking as much into the darkness as I thought (the more than triple traffic I have enjoyed since I last blogged is an indicator, too) -- and I will, in fact, make it my goal to visit Below Zero before gay pride and give it a fairer review.

4) Also, kuddos to Joe Penno on becoming the new president of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center -- darling, if you read this, I'm hearing rave reviews about you from all over town. Very, very impressive. And this whole schtick of trying to rebuilding relationships with agencies -- BEAUTIFUL! I think a reinvigorated gay pride committee meeting (I've heard) should be indicative of people's desire to invest time and effort. Maybe I'll even stop on by one day, to pay my respects, of course.

(Side note --> Community Center's board also expanded quite a bit. Well done. It was getting monotonous with only four or five people on it. The entire crew, truly, was always dedicated, but, after a few years, fresh blood needs to be brought in. Yes, Ms. Chanak, I even consider you "fresh," though I feel that it'll be the first time in years anyone has. :-) Much love)

5) Looking for some gossip on OUTReels, btw. If you have any...

6) Golden Lions, also, is not shutting down "at least not in the next year," per the bar owner. Again, I think, it seems that, like the Serpent, it's probably always "for sale," but it's a wonderful little hub there in Clifton. Would be sad to lose it. Although, as I pointed out to Shante Marcelle the other night -- the building itself is falling apart. And that's why we love it, right?

ELECTION 2008: Stupid Republicans

First of all, so so so so happy that McCain -- once near-dead -- is appearing to be the front-runner for the GOP endorsement. Huckabee is terrifying, as he tends to be more conservative than Bush, though his "rough and tumble" style of politics is entertaining and GSD (gets shit done) ... what he gets done, though is bothersome. It reminds me of my own home state's governor, Gov. Sanford, who took two pigs under his arms into the statehouse to protest the pork barrelling of the SC budget. And Romney... well, we thought KERRY was a flip-flopper. Didn't Romney once support abortion and gay rights? Or was that just in Massachusetts? Funny that he will likely not get his own state but will, instead, win Utah soundly makes me laugh.

Secondly, Edwards is out. Thank god. He's pretty, though.

Third, Clinton will win in a landslide in (most of) the 20 states for Super Tuesday. I'm sorry folks, she's hugely far ahead in a lot of those states... 20 points plus in most. I don't care if Obama has a little of momentum after winning two -- yes, only two of six, primaries. Clinton has won four of six, and she still dominates the rest of the field.

Fourth, haven't I always said that a McCain-Giuliani ticket would be the Republican choice? Haven't I also said you can't beat it?

My official predictions for the 2008 election come down to:
Republican ticket: McCain-Giuliani
Democratic ticket: Clinton-????
(I'm trying to limit my choices down to the following for VP: Obama, Richardson, Vilsak, and Bayh... I'm actually leaning towards Richardson, but, the way the primaries are shaking up, I'm thinking Obama as VP is not entirely unbelievable)

Fifth, Bill Clinton had no chance of doing anything right in this election. Leave the man alone. He's trying to help.

FINALLY:

If only the Republicans would get their shit together on gay rights, they would take the vote right from underneath the Democrats. Not joking. And I base it off a quote by Chrissy Nakonski, a transsexual seeking the Republican nom to her state legislative district: "I've voted Republican all my life...Republicans swear by not raising taxes, and raising taxes would hurt families in poverty, like mine." The gay community spends money and, by and large, is becoming increasingly suburban and middle class. Ideologically, I think the gay community is far more Republican and the only reason it's not universally so is that they don't support us. If they just became a little more libertarian, the years and years of "assuming they're with us" the Dems have been playing would be over.