Last night I watched the San Francisco Ballet's production of the Little Mermaid on Great Performances.

I highly recommend the ballet. The SF Ballet's interpretation of the story is thought provoking, and the lighting, performances and score were very well done.

It's exciting that the president is in town! Wish I had a ticket to the graduation ceremony.







Air Force One arrives at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and President Obama steps off the plane Friday afternoon (Video)

http://www.11alive.com/video/1513816516001/1/President-Obama-arrives-in-Atlanta

The right is treating this entire issue as politically motivated, but how can this be since these groups aren't supposed to support one candidate or another?

Unless - gasp - the applicants and those who run these orgs are out for political gain.

So the GOP needs to be honest; admit that the applicants were perpetuating fraud by masquerading as social welfare orgs; and stop the obfuscation.

There is rampant disregard for the law by many 501(c)4s, and the IRS was just doing its job, IMHO, to apply scrutiny to the litany of filings.

All of the political bluster is to cover the GOP's abuse of 501(c)4s.

It makes me wonder if the GOP is trying to obfuscate the issue since there could be damning evidence lurking out there that proves that the biggest groups were directly involved and corroborating with political campaigns at all levels - reps, senators, and Romney's presidential bid.

Something smells rotten in Denmark.

And a tell that the GOP is mounting an obfuscation campaign is the sudden appearance of the concern troll storm over the weekend, and not to mention the coordinated talking points. DU old timers know exactly what I'm talking about and what's going on here.

I'm over people who are throwing in the towel about our country.

I don't get why they even bother to complain if all hope is lost for them.

There has never been a time in any civilization when there has not been a struggle - whether economic, political, social, or all three.

And it will always be thus.

And to all of the people who have resigned themselves to a life defined by woe and misery, you should thank people like Harvey Milk, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and millions of others who joined them every single day. Read and ruminate on their writings and speeches.

Without these people carrying the people who have given up on their backs, the human condition wouldn't have improved to the point it is today.

And it has improved for many. To not see it or admit it is a sign of being delusional or disingenuous or both.

What a waste of time and energy to endeavor to bring others down. Shame on you.


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The above was written by me as a reply to another thread. I'm finding myself articulating this sentiment so often that I figured I would give it it's own thread.

Check out the video for great footage of the president speaking outdoors in Miami. The weather is beautiful there.

The investment in infrastructure will provide good paying jobs to millions of Americans and pay dividends for generations.

Obama touts infrastructure in Florida trip focused on economy
By Jeff Mason | Reuters

MIAMI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama walked into the mouth of a giant tunnel in Miami on Friday to highlight proposals to boost investment in U.S. infrastructure, a move designed to show a leader still focused on the economy in the midst of broader policy battles in Washington.

Obama's tour of the Port of Miami tunnel project and a subsequent speech were aimed at convincing members of the U.S. Congress to back proposals that would leverage taxpayer dollars into funds to rebuild American roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

That's the nicest thing I can think of saying.

As a married gay man whose community was in the previous Pope's crosshairs, forgive me for being annoyed by the outpouring of ecstasy about this man who has said some pretty awful things.

But perhaps this leopard will change his spots. Millions of Americans have changed their attitudes about gay rights, but I have little hope that the institutional homophobia of the Catholic Church will change any time soon.

I would love to have to eat my words. Truly.

There are many good Catholic DUers and dems. If change does happen, it will be incited by people like them.

I wrote the note below as a reply in a General Discussions post here http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1102&pid=8094

I didn't intend for it to go the direction it did, but I wanted to share it with all of you. I've been waxing philosophical these days.

Here 'goes:

I believe America is fortunate to have President Obama, and I am in awe of how he is infusing a sense of progressive purpose. I would love to be back at college just to hear thoughtful discussions about the moment we are living in (thank goodness for DU).

And I don't have words to describe how I feel about lgbt liberation. The moment is here and I am living through it. Just wow as a man who was born in the 70's, grew up in the 80's and cast my first vote in the Clinton v. Bush election. I am married to my soulmate, who I have been with for 17 years. We're going to celebrate our third anniversary this year.

We've come so far as a society - despite historic proportions of republican obstruction.

Obama has given me an understanding the American dream; how I raised myself out of poverty because a ladder out of the small town where I grew up was extended for me to climb. Ladders are important and never forgotten.

I always look forward to heart giveaway time.

Does everyone need to be reminded that the GOP stole the election in 2000?

Our country was set on a collision course from which we may never fully recover.

So cry me a river over this perfectly legal recess appointment. There is no crisis. Don't fall for the sensationalist claptrap that repukes are peddling.

Stiffen your upper lip, shut down the concern trolls, and defend our president instead of handwringing.

Today millions of Americans are hearing about the Stonewall riots for the first time, and every mainstream media outlet in the country is covering it.

A grateful THANK YOU to all of the people who fought back in Greenwich Village in 1969. And also a solemn regret that many of them aren't alive today to see how they changed the world.