What to make of things when those who spend their time harping about “follow the rules” decide to bend them?

The Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi demanded that a legislator’s gay partner be allowed to accompany Representative Baldwin to Europe. Why an issue? They were taking a military aircraft. As of now officially it is spouses allowed to travel together. A quick breakdown of where I stand:

Marriage is a religious ceremony. As of now my religious beliefs say marriage is between a man and a woman. I am fine with civil unions so that gay couples are able to see one another in emergency rooms, other basic rights. Do I include trips to Europe upon official Government property one of those rights? No.

DoD policy, like it or not does not support the use of its aircraft to carry friends, it is “spouses.” I mean she may very well “love” her partner however I love my friends, so do we start letting law makers take good friends, roommates, where does it stop? As of now it should stop here, President Clinton signed into law the DOMA which allows the Federal Government not to recognize marriages not recognized by the states (this situation falls in to that category). And as much as Barney Frank wants to think this is a Republican harsh treatment of the representative, last I checked (30 seconds ago) President Clinton is not a republican.

So what do we want, our federal government following its own rules… or just making it up as we go? It would sound as though the policy is like that of Space-A, meaning they could decline another passenger due to needing the seats. Since it is the left going on and on about our strained military resources, how about putting your money where your mouth is and saying “my partner will not go in order to cut down on any added strain”?

Now on the heels of the Obama and Clinton fibs, is Pelosi yapping about the “Hastert let them do it!” I thought that was the corrupt congress you were going to get away from Madam Speaker! However the Politico and AP are finding sources saying Hastert did nothing of the sort and only approved of the travel companion because the trip had already started.

“But that’s really as far as it goes,” Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell continued. “This should not be viewed as a precedent which would now permit all nonspouse travel. That said, Secretary Gates will, on a case-by-case basis, entertain the speaker’s future requests to make exceptions.”

We’re full circle back to this idea of exceptions, so much for that tight ship operation Pelosi was going to run! My favorite is that the Pelosi camp is trying to say that she is in NO WAY trying to micro-manage the use of military aircraft. Of course not, she only called SECDEF to tell him what to do, then sent him a letter of exemption. No, who could dare come to the conclusion she is trying to play CINC???

Do we need to remind her that she is THIRD in line to taking over the Executive Branch, and POTUS/VPOTUS are still very much alive and in power.

Politico Link to story

Cross Posted @ Conservative Intelligence Report

Jazz has an excellent question.

Ladies’ Logic has an interesting post about the goings-on in the Minnesota State Attorney General’s office, where some 50 assistant attorneys general have quit or been fired since Attorney General Lori Swanson took office last year. The reason Jazz asks his question is that there might have been some sort of union busting going on.

Ladies’ Logic asks,

How indeed do we proceed if the evidence shows that the state’s top prosecutor has been engaging in illegal activities?

A good question, which will be most difficult to answer.

cross-posted at Fausta’s blog

Thanks to Dave over at the AOL Political Machine. And to the folks at MyDD who posted this video. Folks on the Left, be they Obama or Clinton supporters, should know that like so many elections - the 2008 presidential sweepstakes will be about national security. Our country is still at war.

As long as the brave men and women of the US Armed Forces are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan - our nation will remain on a war footing.

And for those of us who choose to face the harsh reality of the world we live in, rather than play ostrich with our national security… this video will serve as a clarion call to the Voting Booth.

—Media Lizzy

I have a little post-script that bothers me… Pastor Wright refers to “Shanklin” instead of “Shanksville” - maybe he doesn’t remember, maybe he “misspoke” - but rest assured, the families of folks on United 93 know - along with millions of their fellow Americans.

Cross-posted @ Media Lizzy & Friends

Tonight on Progressive Vindication Radio we’re blowing open the doors to Hope for America! Frank and Shane spent this last weekend in Oregon attending Pastor Rick Waren’s three day retreat for men, “Awakening the Real Man Inside.” It was an incredible journey as we vanquished all the limiting beliefs that had blinded us to what our priorities must be today: peace, community and progress. As BTR’s newest progressive show our first mission will be to explain to conservatives just how wrong they have been, and invite them to join us, reborn moderate progressives, in the movement to save America from itself and its dark history. Let’s join hands and lift you above the cold, ideological parapets that have distorted your definition of true patriotism. What are you willing to do for this new America? Won’t you forsake your white entitlement for racial reconciliation? Give back your undeserved tax cuts to save a country paralyzed by economic and psychological depression? End the illegal and unjust war on Iraq and on LGBT Americans? We white people that have profited from prejudice and avarice must atone, but know from that repentance, springs the holy reparations of liberation and Hope. Frank and Shane were once conservatives like many of you, but we’ve been freed from the racial heirloom of colonialism and capitalism, and we’re here tonight to liberate all of our wayward brothers and sisters still deluded and alienated from real America!

There is no desperate argument we can’t defeat! Try us! Gather the courage to free yourself! The chatroom will be open 15 minutes prior to show time. Listen to Progressive Vindication Radio! at 6pm PST!