Finally, after months and months of depriving Minnesotans of two seats in the Senate, Al Franken has been declared the winner. Norm has become quite good at preventing progress, hell, he moved to the Republican party years ago to make it official.

Congratulations to the good people of the great state of Minnesota - two fine democratic senators. Now we just have to get rid of that chump Pawlenty.

Another fine Republican Christian that can't keep his dick in his pants. These are the same people that think marriage is too "sacred" for the gays, but they have no problem defiling their own beds.And then he has the nerve to ask the press to stay away from his family - too late for that, you reap what you sow, and so does your family. Boohoo.

That begs the question: Why are most adulterers Republican Christians?

Carrie Prejean finally had her crown taken away from her. It was not her opposition to same-sex marriage, nor her boob job, nor her nude underage photos (or lying about these photos). She simply did not fulfill the obligations of her contract. That is another sin, you know...breaking your word (otherwise known as lying). How the Christian right can embrace such a proud sinner I will never know, but they do.

Sheesh, have they no shame? (rhetorical question, dear readers)

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What the hell are they thinking? Banning expression of political beliefs on a U.S. college campus.

I bet they would be singing a different tune hymn if secular schools began banning Christian groups from campus. Base the ban on the excesses of Christian intolerance, hate and hypocrisy (all of which go against what most Americans believe).

Sheesh.

More...

Have the Palins no shame? It's bad enough that the abstinence party has a poster child in the baby-birthing, unwed, slutty daughter Bristol, but to go on the national stage and discuss how realistic abstinence is? Sheesh. That is like Cheney promoting civil rights.

Sarah needs to raise her children and pay attention to what is going on at home, judging HER family instead of the families of others.

Hypocrites abound in the Republican party...no wonder their numbers are dropping faster than Bristol's panties.

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What a difference a presidential election makes. To be able to watch the president speak, and know that he understands what he is saying, that he is intelligent and formulates rational opinions, dammit, that he can pronounce NUCLEAR!

We are already re-establishing ourselves as a leader in the world of public opinion, comprehensive national health care is going to become reality and human rights are not going to be subject to the whim of Republican US attorneys and torture-loving Vice Presidents.

Thank goodness for a return to sanity.

Not that I am surprised. No intelligent American ever believed the never-ending lies of Bush and Cheney. Denials of waterboarding, denials of torture. All lies.

The Bush administration authorized the most heinous torture techniques, then lied to the American people about it. NO ONE is above the law, including the former administration. It's time to arrest, imprison, try, convict and punish the traitorous Anti-American Bush regime. Fortunately, it's not too late.

If they don't think there is a problem with waterboarding, let's do it to Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney and see if their husbands still think it is no big deal. Sheesh!

Former Senator (and eternal egoist) Norm Coleman has filed another appeal in an attempt to steal his old seat from the winner of the election, Al Franken.

I have called Coleman's campaign office numerous times urging him to finally concede to the inevitable, and he will not give it up. This time it's to the State Supreme Court and Coleman says the big problem is that he wants to insure we "franchise" people. Huh? We already counted the votes, nothing else here to see...

What a dumb shit.

More details at Politico.

And, once again, I have waited until the last minute to complete my tax forms and file my returns. It isn't as if I am not prepared - I have had all of the tax forms on my desk for several months. It isn't like I forgot - since I think about those damn taxes everyday. I guess I just found plenty of other things I'd rather do, which leads me to tonight, the night I am FINALLY going to get them done. (uhuh).

Finally, a president that we can be proud of!

I just finished watching the joint press conference with President Obama and France's President Sarkozy and could not be prouder. Rejoining the ranks of civilized nations is long overdue, and the United States has just done that. We could have no stronger allies than those in Europe, and strong ties and allegiances are essential.

To see our reputation being repaired on the world stage is exactly what we need...AND it is damn exciting. I heard that they are even serving French Toast on Air Force one again (Bush changed it to American toast - how tacky).

Yeah...I know... I still have some of their music on my iPhone, and yeah, I love their music, and I still think they are totally cool. To listen to the entire album, use the widget on the right-hand side of the page. It isn't available in the U.S. until April 11. (Just click the song title to listen, there is also small controller after song 11 that allows you to pause the song and begin play.)

What do you think?

If you need even more, here is the Official Pet Shop Boys website.

It's about time that people be held accountable for their actions. Finally, Washington has asked General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner to resign as a condition of additional financial help from the government. (Incidentally, he has been CEO at GM for 8 years and with the company for 30).

"On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with Administration officials. In the course of that meeting, they requested that I 'step aside' as CEO of GM, and so I have," Wagoner said in a statement posted to the GM Web site.

Now if we could only make the same, simple choices about the heads of the banking industry.

More here.

Okay. Now I understand that there may be challenges when group singing on live TV. I also understand that the premise of a singing talent contest is to sing. What I do not understand is how Idol can throw a singing competition where the contestants are lip synching their group numbers.

The blogs have all kinds of ideas, from blaming it on Scott, to lack of quality rehearsal time, to just a flat-out lack of talent.

Whatever the reason, I think it sucks. What do you think?

Always arguing the wrong side of every argument, Tony Perkins and the FRC have a problem with a new study that links spanking and physical punishment to bad adult behavior. The Family Research Council thinks hitting bad kids is okay, as long as it is viewed "in its larger context".

To quote, "The key both to the effectiveness of parental discipline (including spanking) and its effect on the child (whether positive or negative) lies in how the discipline is undertaken in its larger context, not simply what disciplinary tool is used. Studies have actually shown that a disciplinary style that balances firm control (including spanking) with positive encouragement results in the best outcomes for children."

What studies? Can you name one?

Disgusting. Rationalize beating children any way you want, Tony Perkins. You are slime.

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This made me more than a little nauseous this morning. Experienced male-prostitute buyer, cheater and meth user Ted Haggard is actually going on Divorce Court (with his faghag wife) and speaking with Judge Lynn Toler. They claim the interview is all part of an effort to show how a marriage can survive even the worst of times...

But wait, there's more...

"This is part of Ted's journey," Gayle Haggard said. "It's made him a better man. I see what has happened as a divine rescue."

Divine rescue? OMG. This woman needs to get a clue and her husband needs to just go away. By the way, they are being paid an undisclosed amount of money for the interview. Sheesh.

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The revelers were out in full force over the noon hour today in downtown St. Paul. I managed to avoid most of the drunks, (although there were a lot of them). I just wish I was feeling the same alcohol-induced intoxication that I observed. I also wish I didn't have to wait until 5 to join them.

One last thing...we all know the cops are going to be out in full-force tonight, so keep your drinking at home OR just take a cab.

I have been waiting to see how this unfolds, and it does not look good. Despite the chiding Obama gave AIG, it appears that they are under no legal obligation to listen.

If the American people truly own 80% of this "company", how can our hands be tied? Let's just get this over with, declare bankruptcy, fire all the incompetents who did this, and start over.

There are a few petitions being circulated, please sign them and pass along the info.

This one at MoveOn says "Under no circumstances should the AIG executives who helped create the financial crisis receive bonuses. That's our money and you should do whatever it takes to get it back."

And here is the petition at FireDogLake that needs your signature.

Get writing!

UPDATE:
More links to relevant info:

Bailout King AIG Still to Pay Millions In Bonuses

AIG employees should return bonuses or face high tax

NY AG issues subpoena to AIG

As you may have already noticed, I made some substantial changes to OpenCitizen over the weekend. The whackjobs and heroes sections have been incorporated into the main page and I added sections on some of my favorite interested - legos and origami. I have also expanded the about me section to reveal a little bit more about your favorite blogger, Troy.

Please let me know what you think, I welcome all comments, suggestions and gripes.

We knew it was a lie from the start...Bristol and Levi are not getting married, despite the fact that as recently as last month the wedding was still on.

This is what happens when young loose girls get pregnant and moms tell them the only birth control they should rely on is abstinence. How did that work out for you, Bristol?

Stand up and accept responsibility for your actions, Mother Palin should have raised her kids right, obviously she was more concerned with her career than her family. Sheesh.

Full story...

President Obama signed the Stem Cell Executive Order and Scientific Integrity Presidential Memorandum today, simultaneously, the U.S. joined the ranks of the scientifically enlightened.

He said, "By doing this, we will ensure America's continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. That is essential not only for our economic prosperity, but for the progress of all humanity."

"That is why today, I am also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision making. To ensure that in this new Administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions."

WOW. All I can say is that it's about time.

Full statement on the White House website.