Dolphin’s Dock

I’ve nothing of worth to add, I just found this very intriguing.

On balance, Republicans view ‘libertarian’ negatively, Democrats are divided, while independents have a positive impression of the term.

I usually don’t get caught up in the abortion topic. I certainly have my views, but as hot button issues go, I don’t get as worked up over abortion as most (on either side). But I can’t help but think Focus on the Family is kinda accidentally running an ad for their opposition during this year’s Super Bowl.

Tim Tebow may go down in history as the greatest college football player who ever lived. And to think none of that would have happened if not for a decision his mother made nearly 23 years ago.

That is the message of a controversial new ad starring Tebow and his mother, Pam.

Isn’t Tebow’s very existence evidence that we DON’T need to criminalize abortion? Here we have a mother who, when given the choice, decided not to have an abortion. Is it just me or is that a shining example of how people can make (what one assumes FotF thinks is) the “right” choice without being compelled to do it against their will?

Republicans were in favor of “death panels” before they were against them.

There’s been some hoopla lately that the health care bill, making it’s way through Congress now, calls for “death panels” (a moniker coined by opponents of the bill) for Medicare recipients. Now, if a “death panel” were what it sounds like, I obviously understand the problem, but when you actually look at the provision opponents are referring to a “death panels,” I can’t help but think it’s a fantastic idea. The provision referred to actually sets up funding for optional consulting on end-of-life issues (like living wills and advanced care preparations) for Medicare recipients.

My parents have recently been through this with my grandfather. They were burning through money for in-home nurses, electric wheel chairs (and building ramps for them to get in the house), and other medical expenses. On top of it, they had to hire lawyers to work out alot of the end-of-life preparations that make a difficult time at least somewhat smoother to get through. Wouldn’t it have been nice if Medicare could have covered some of that?

The reality is that all of us will die one day. Our hearts will stop beating, our synapses will stop firing and our bodies will start to rot. It’s a fact. Any preparations made in advance for how things should be handled in our final days (or even hours) make things that much easier for us and our loved ones. If you want to call providing the option to protect yourself and your family during your final days a “death panel” then where do I sign up?

Ok fine, RNC Chair, Micheal Steele’s assertion that gay marriage will cost small business owners in the form of spousal benefits does blatantly ignore the billions that will be pumped into the economy by the addition of gay weddings. Fair enough, and I do certainly appreciate just how much of an ally to the gay community Olbermann has been lately. But if it’s even valid to argue the economics of human rights, Steele’s argument misses the mark in a big way and bothering to argue the other side only serves to validate the faulty framework Steele set up in the first place.

A few prominent members from John McCain’s family and campaign are stepping forward to try and persuade the Republican Party that hating gays is no longer a winning strategy.

Who knew the funniest (and most accurate?) thing I’d read all day would be related to Micheal Phelps smoking a bong.

In the meantime, I merely note that this broken wreck of a man’s failure to win any more than a pathetic fourteen Olympic gold medals (so far) is a terrifying warning of the horrific damage that cannabis can do to someone’s health—and a powerful reminder of just how sensible the drug laws really are.

I had Inauguration Day off this year as a company holiday. I took the opportunity to get my haircut during the work day when I knew they wouldn’t be busy. The following is (more or less) an actual conversation I had while out.

America welcomes the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama!

Ok, I’ll probably lose both my gay and liberal credentials with this post, but I just don’t understand the outrage over Rick Warren’s selection to give the invocation at the inauguration. I mean, I’m not happy about it, but it’s not really upsetting me either. He’s being asked to say one prayer folks, it’s not like it’s a cabinet position. And I don’t feel like I’m just shilling for Obama either; in fact, it may well be because I’ve never really looked at Obama as all that much different than any other politician as the reason this didn’t really catch me off guard as it seems to have for some.