I'm hitting the hay early...it must be hormones...right Mr. Liddy? 
Today Joe Sudbay was up on Capitol Hill and he shot some video of Judy Shepard discussing the hate crimes bill.
First, the Hate Crimes bill will be on the Senate floor this week as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill. That's the same vehicle to which hate crimes was attached in September of 2007, when it broke a filibuster by receiving 60 votes. There will probably be another filibuster attempt, meaning we'll need 60 votes again -- but there should be even more yes-votes this time. DoD authorization is a must-pass bill, which is why Hate Crimes is being added to it.
Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, appeared with Majority Leader Harry Reid at a press briefing in the Capitol this afternoon to push for passage of the bill. She's been working on it for years. I had never met Judy before, but I really felt like I was in the presence of a hero.
Since the announcement of Judge Sonia Sotomayors nomination to the Supreme Court, some in the media have engaged in sexist and racist attacks against her. Attacks have been overt and blatant. Some have been the repetition of extreme far right commentary, often packaged as news and endlessly discussed in mainstream media outlets.Liddy's comment -- "Let's hope that the key conferences aren't when she's menstruating or something" is almost beyond belief.
If hormones and bad judgment are go hand-in-hand with being a woman for Liddy, how does he explain the bumper crop of men like John Ensign or Mark Sanford who show exceptional "judgment" based on their hormones?
UPDATE: Oh god. The right is really into the pigpen now, rolling in the filth. Look at this ad from a conservative judicial activist group called the Committee for Justice trying to tie Sotomayor to....drum roll please...BILL AYERS, as in supporting terrorism. I sh*t you not. Their logic? She served on the board of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF).
As Kyle at Right Wing Watch says, the title to the video might as well be "Obama Is Putting a Terrorist On The Bench!"
But as the Hispanic National Bar Association - which is mainstream by any standard - wrote last week on behalf of 26 prominent national Hispanic groups: "PRLDEF is a mainstream and respected civil rights organization that serves not only the Latino community, but the nation as a whole." You can read more about the bar association's letter and PRLDEF here.
Today Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked about a proposed amendment to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to suspend the discharge of gay and lesbian service members under DADT for 18 months. What is surprising is that he went further -- he wants the moratorium to be permanent. (Wash Blade): Reid declared his support for the amendment when asked about it by the Blade at a news conference Tuesday.Here's video:"I feel on this issue that we're having trouble, we're having trouble getting people into the military and I think that we shouldn't turn down anybody that's willing to fight for our country - certainly based on sexual orientation. I feel strongly that - I support the president. I support the members of the Joint Chiefs who have not spoken out publicly. If Kirsten offers this amendment I will support it, at least as far as I understand it. What you've just told me, it would basically change the current policy for 18 months, is that right? I would support that. My only difference I would have is I would make it permanent."
More detail on it, from The Advocate:
A "don't ask, don't tell" repeal bill has never been introduced in the U.S. Senate, which means there's no point of reference on support for repeal. Gillibrand's potential measure would be even more of a wild card because it does not amount to full repeal but rather a temporary cessation of the policy. On the one hand, it could attract the senators who are leaning toward full repeal but want more time to study the long-term implications. On the other, senators who want to overturn the policy entirely might view the measure as an inadequate fix.SLDN has proposed language that could accomplish this suspension of DADT investigations if attached to the DOD authorization legislation:But [Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey] Sarvis said it's one way to stop the discharges while a more thorough review process ensues.
"This would keep the pressure on Congress and the White House to vote on full repeal," Sarvis said.
"Directs the Secretary of Defense to instruct the Secretaries of each of the armed services that there may be no investigations of or inquiry into, of any administrative action relating to, conduct described in 10 U.S.C ? 654(b), 'Policy concerning homosexuality in the armed services,' until the end of the 111th Congress, provided that, this shall not limit the authority of the Secretaries of the armed services with respect to conduct that would violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice."(Note: Scott_NC also has a diary up)
When: Sunday August 16, 2009
12:30pm to 3:30pm
 Waterways Cruises and Events
2501 N. Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103
Price ***Free to Attend
For more Details visit www.SameLoveSameRights.com
Join us Sunday August 16, 2009 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm for an afternoon of elegance, fun, music & more at the Waterways Cruises and Events. The Same Love, Same Rights Wedding & Family Expo will spotlight over 40 gay-friendly businesses, including wedding businesses, travel services, gifts and more.
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