Thousands Attend Same Sex Marriage Bill Hearings In Maine

I read another article on same sex marriages being legalized this time in Maine. In the article http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/printnews.asp?id, from the Feminist Daily News Wire on April 22, 2009, The Maine state Legislature Judiciary Committee was holding hearings on two gay rights bills, several thousand people attended and they gave a standing ovation to the state Senator Dennis Damon, who sponsored the bill to legalize same sex marriages in Maine. The bill "Damon's Bill", "repeals the provision that limits marriage to only man and woman,and replaces it with the authorization for marriage between any two persons that meet the requirements for marriage between any two persons that meet the requirements of Maine law" and also recognizes marriages performed outside the state. This is really a big step for the state of Maine, I think the last article I read dealt with legalizing gay marriage in Iowa, these are two states that are miles apart and both have decided to legalize gay marriage. In my opinion, eventually gay marriage will be legalized all across the United States. That will be a good thing for so many people. It is still unclear if the Maine Governor will actually even sign the bill if passed by legislature, but if the legislation is approved, Maine would be the fifth state to permit same sex marriages in the United States after Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. I think that everyone should have the freedom to choose who they want to marry, it is and should be a personal choice.

Will Obama Prosecute the Captured Somali 'Pirate' in a US Court?

It has been covered closely by the media and is is something that I am sure everone of us have heard about by now, and that is the capture and rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/136420, First Phillips was captured by Somali Pirates and was later rescued by the US Navy. Phillips was held on a small lifeboat in the Indian Ocean after an unsuccesful attempt to take control of the US-flagged vessel, the Maersk Alabamja, a ship owned by a Pentagon Contractor. Questions are emerging about the decision to use military force. It has been told that Obama gave the green light on Friday to use lethal force regardless of threats that were made by Somalians. After the death of three Somali men, the questions arise as to what will be the consequences of the killings and what will be done with the fourth Somalian who is in custody. On the issue of jursidiction to prosecute the fourth Somali 'pirate', according to Scott Horton, a military and constitutional law expert, "Pirates" can be tried anywhere that offers jurisdiction, but what will Obama do? That is the big question. Many things ahve been thrown in the air, including sending him to Guantanamo, which he is closing down, but if he doesn't it will be interesting to see if Obama elects to bring him to the U.S. or, as has been suggested by some, prosecute him in Kenya.
I personally think that President Obama will do what is morally right when it comes to the issue of the Somalian 'Pirate', but it could be a legal test of Obama's legal interpritation of the rights of prisoners taken by the U.S. in unusual circumstances. I personally don't think the 'Pirate' should have any rights once he hits U.S. soil. They weren't worried about Mr. Phillip's rights, so why should his be taken into consideration? I feel that being the kind of man that President Obama "seems" to be, that he will do what is right regardless of the circumstances.

C.I.A to Close Secret Prisons for Terror Suspects

The most controversial counter terrorism program of the Bush Administration is coming to an end. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/world/10detain.html? The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) announced on Thursday April 9th,2009 that it would decommission the secret overseas prisons where Al Quaeda prisoners have been kept and subjected to brutal interrogation methods since 2002 when the program was created. Waterboarding, one of the interrogation methods, which involved near-drowning has been declared torture by the agency's director, Leon E. Panetta and other Obama Administration officials, but according to Panetta the agency officers who worked in the program should not be investigated because under President George W. Bush the Justice Department declared their actions legal. During his first week in office President Obama banned coercive interrogations and ordered the CIA programs closed. Mr. Panetta said the secret detention facilities are no longer in operation, but at taxpayer's expense are still being kept under security and maintenance, and terminating security contracts will save at least $4million. Aviation records and news reports have placed the locations for the secret prisons in Afghanistan, Thailand, Poland, Romania, and Jordan among other countries. Even though the number of held prisoners is not very high, less than 100 since 2002 when the program was created, the number subjected to the "enhanced" interrogation techniques was almost half of the total number. The remaining 14 prisoners were transferred to Guantanamo Cuba in 2006. The techniques described by President Obama and Vice President Biden as torture also betrayed American Values, alienated allies, and became a recruiting tool for Al Quaeda. I realize that terrorism is an evil thing and terrorists need to be dealt with, but I am in total agreement that the practices supposedly used at the secret prisons do betray American Values and I honestly feel that two wrongs definitely do not make a right. Mr. Panetta said that the agency would cooperate, but made it clear that "fairness and wisdom" should dictate against a criminal investigation or other sanctions.

Gay Marriage in...Iowa?

Gay Marriage is now legal in Iowa, as discussed in http://www.thenation.com/state_of_change/424085/gay_marriage_in_iowa?rel=hp_pi, by Ari Berman. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot bar gay couples from seeking to marry. Gay marriage is legal in corn state but, in a state who's Republican Party has been overtaken by social conservatives this is predicted to have wide-ranging ramifications. Democrats have had success at the statewide level in recent years, and as Berman says this is due partly to the fact that the Republican party has been overtaken by social conservatives. The Republicans are sure to react with fury, and I think this is great anything to get their blood boiling! A February 2008 poll was listed in the Des Moines Register that showed six in ten Iowans believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but the same number supported civil unions for gay couples. This shows a pretty split opinion, but as we know the court's ruling is not based on just that poll. Some membersreacted to the ruling with caution, while others such as Iowa Senate Majority LeaderMike Gronstel and House Speaker Pat Murphy, both Democrats, reacted with joy, noting that "Iowa has always been a leader in the area of civil right. I think the decision is great, I myself am heterosexual, but I believe regardless of one's sexual orientation, one should have the right to marry who he/she chooses, this is a personal decision and doesn't even effect any one other than the parties involved. Will the cause cultural conflict in Iowa? Who knows, probably not though.

Obama Issues Ultimatum to Carmakers

President Obama has laid down the law to the struggling automobile industry and informed them that it is do-or-die this time. As shown in http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/business/31auto.html?_r=1&hp Sheryl Gay Stolberg she discusses Obama's perception that past "failure of leadership" is the reason for the automobile crisis at this time. Obama's administration announced a limited time offer for help with creditors, unions and other stakeholders, this is being done to fundamentally restructure, while justifying an investment of additional tax dollars. During the period they must produce plans that will bring confidence, and long-term prospects for success. Finally a President who knows how to get things in action and actually has a decent sounding plan of action. While speaking about the plan of action, President Obama tried to project optimism as he summoned images of Detroit's mighty past. Obama brings the picture into reality, but why not reduce the price of America's cars, instead of using money from the stimulus package to make more cars? Obama declares the "cars industry", "like no other, an emblam of American Spirit and wants to encourage people to buy more fuel efficient cars . Obama wants the automobile industry to shed it's old ways and remake itself. Is this a realistic idea? I don't want to eat my words, but I think with Obama anything is possible and I really hope that he knows what he is doing.

GOP Implosion: Will Tthe Republican Party Survive

Will the Republican Party survive? David Michael Green, a professor of political science at Hofstra University says its hard to say at this time, but analyzes the question in his article: ttp://www.alternet.org/democracy/129659/the_gop_implosion%3A_will_the_republican, I personally think that the Bush administration and the Republican party have really worked on the economy in such a negative way by showing their greed, and inconsideration for the lower classes that it would be a good a great thing if they were out of the picture. According to Green their are two things threatening the life of the Republican party. One being Barack Obama, who is probably the most skilled and era-appropriate politician in possibly over a decade. The second being the Republican party itself. Wow, why am I not surprised. There are also two political questions that Green says can only be told by the future actions of the two party. Those questions are, who will the Democrats (and especially Obama) be, and who will the Republicans be? In Green's opinion the disposition of either of the ideological battles is yet unknown, and feels that the outcomes are just as unknown to the leaders of each party. Unlike, the leaders of past parties, today's leaders may be more pressers, as other forces prove more influential in dictating the directions that their parties take in the upcoming months and years. From the falling economy that has occurred in the past 18 months or longer due to George W. Bush and his poor decisions. I hope the Republicans will stop being so greedy, and consider the loss of jobs, poverty, and poor health care, They need to realize that their poor decisions and greedy behavior are in turn eventually going to result in their own loss. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, and money makes the world go around. At least that is what I have been told. As Green feels that the Democrats have the ability to forge a popular consensus-based governing regime that will last at least a generation and possibly more. I totally agree that is possible, considering the past decisions of George W. Bush, (worst President, ever) and the Republican party, decisions that have showed their insistence on maintaining in the twenty-first century every ounce of the poverty, ignorance, prejudice and class apartheid that marked the eighteenth century. Green is not saying the Democratic party is the perfect party, and does recognize in his opinion that they are a shameful thing, but nevertheless look a lot better comparatively and longitudinally . Also mentioned is the difference in maturity between the two parties, or atleast Obamaand the GOP. Green says this is truein two respects. First, Obama is the most mature American politician we've seen in decades, and the fact that he is the first major politician ever who talks in living color. I have to absolutally agree with Green's thinking, I believe that Obama's intelligent, resurved maturity, and his wonderful family values, make him a perfect representation of what an American President should be. I have so much faith in President Obama, and feel its definatelly time for the Republican party to get what's coming to them, and time for a positive change for the U.S and our economy. I agree with Green's article one hundred percent, other than when he said that the Democratic Party is shameful. I am also glad that such an historical even as having the first African American elected as President of the United States has occured in my lifetime. I am curious to see what kind of future it will make for the United States, all good I hope

Loccked Out and Locked Up: Youth Missing in Action From Obama's Stimulus Plan

http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/127460, Though during this economic crisis much has been said about te conditions that enabled the free market to operate without accountability in the interests of the rich and the great suffering that it has created for millions of hard-working, decent human beings, but why is nothing being said regarding the ongoing insecurity and injustice that todays youth are facing? Arn't todays youth considered to be the future of tomorrow? Yet, the current concerns about the effects of poverty, homelessness, economic injustice, and galloping unemployment rates and Obama's plan to rectify them almost completely ignor the effects of these problems on young people in the United States, especially poor whites and youth of color. Henry A. Giroux addresses this in his article, Locked Out and Locked Up: Youth Missing in Action From Obama's Stimulus Plan. As Giroux states it, children seem to have no standing in the public sphere as citizens and as such are denied any sense of entitlement and agency. It is a fact that children have fewer rights than almost any other group, and fewer institutions protecting these rights. This has resulted in their voices and needs being almost completely absent from the debates, poolicies, and legislatve practices that are constructed in terms of their needs. The suffering and deprivation experienced by millions of children in the U.S. in 2008 that is bound to get worse during the current economic meltdown is a true testimony to a state of emergency and crisis regarding the health and welfare of many children. There is such a need for action against the present problem facing America's youth, and Obama's message of hope and responsibility will be meaningless unless he addressess the plight of poor white youth and youth of color. I definatelly feel that the focus needs to be shifted onto America's youth, how can we as American citizens ever expect to have a promising future if the health, safety and welfare of our youths is not brought into the spotlight.

Arkansas State Senate Approves Late-Term Abortion Ban

http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/printnews.asp?id=11538, From what I can see they are really starting to crack down on the practice of abortion. Arkansas state Senate passed a bill to ban partial abortion birth abortions by a 30 to 3 vote. The same bill was also passed in Arkansas state House of Representatives. A partial birth abortion is a medical procedure that is not restricted to a particular stage of pregnancy. The only exception in the bill made by the legislation is to save the life of the mother. Since passing the bill, doctors who perform the procedure under the proposed law can face felony charges. Democratic state Representative, Dawn Creekmore, who is the bill's sponsor, says that the law would only affect abortions after the first trimester. Dr. William Harrison critisized the bill saying that it is to vague, because after eight or nine weeks any abortion, potentially could be defined by the bill. The legislation is parallel to federal law that bans so-called partial birth abortions. In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold the federal Partial Abortion Act, which was passed by the Republican controlled Congress in 2003 and bans the same abortion procedure.
I am glad that Arkansas has passed a bill to ban this procedure because I feel that it is a gruesome act and flat out inhumane. I only hope that other states will follow Arkansas in the decision to ban partial birth abortions. I can agree with the procedure in order to save the mother's life, but is the only case that I see it being exceptable.

What Obama Means to the World

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090202/younge, Gary Younge looks back at the race struggles that have taken place throughout history. He begins by looking back at the wrongfull imprisonment of author and screenwriter Ronan Bennett, who was imprisoned by the British in the 70's, though Bennett had never met a black person the one book that was most influential to him during his prison stay was Soledad Brother, which was the prison letters of a black American militant George Jackson. Even though Bennett had never met a black person, black America loomed large in his life, because of the the struggles he had watched and viewed through the media and on television, he and his family had great sympothy for black Americans. Through the last centruy Younger discusses, the redemptive force and permanent dissidence against racism at home and abroad, and the reminder that no African has came to freedom at the shores of the New World. Younge article looks back at the struggle after struggle that black Americans have seemed to overcome and the influence they have had on other countries. He brings up Kwame Nkrumah who once in power in a newly independent Ghana, sent for black American intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois to edit the Encyclopedia Africana and Paul Robeson to take up the chair of music and drama at Accra University. Younge goes on to point out other greats such as Muhammad Ali, Malik Bowens, but the big event for truimph was the even that occurred on November 4, 2008, after years of struggle for blacks, there is a new black president and it showed to the world the greatness of the dream that finally came true. With America's new black president it has shown the rest of the world that it is time to move on, and the struggle that black Americans were able to overcome.
I truly agree that having a black president is truly a monumental thing and I am so glad that black Americans have been able to overcome their struggles from the past and I truly see this as a wonderful thing.

Republicans Choose First Black Party Chairman

The article from the New York Times, Republicans Choose First Black Party Chairman, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/us/politics/31repubs.html?ref=todayspaper, by Adam Nagourney, a new party chairman has been elected by the Republican party. What makes this elected chairman so unique is that he is the first African American to be elected to this position by the Republican party. After reading this article it seems that Mr. Steele's goal as the party chairman is to take on President Obama. It is predicted that Mr. Steele will be at the leading edge of his party, at least until the presidential race, when it makes its case against Obama. I don't get it, for years and years it was thought to be unheard of to have an African American in any type of political position and now we have an African American president. I am super excited about this, I think president Obama is going to make an excellent president, but there is something about this Mr. Steele that upsets me, he said his plans are to aggressively take on Obama. I can understand the opposition between the two parties, but to me it just seems that Mr. Steele is out to prove that he is the best, and is not going to let another African American out do him, instead of being more focused on the government and what his job is really about.