Um, Clinton Was Never Charged With Rape

Here in Florida, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just signed Darrell Russell, who's been suspended from the NFL twice for violating the league's drug policies -- and who was charged with rape and felony assault in 2002.

ESPN says: "Stemming from an incident on Jan. 31, 2002, during his suspension, Russell was charged as an accomplice in the drugging of a woman with the date-rape drug GHB and videotaping two of his friends allegedly sexually assaulting her. On Sept. 12, 2002, 25 counts of felony rape and sexual assault against the three were dropped for a lack of evidence."

What a nice young man!

Here's what Bucs GM Bruce Allen told the papers: "Bill Clinton did worse things than Darrell Russell, and he won Florida twice."

Wha-wha-what? Are you kidding, Mr. Allen?

Clinton may not be the world's best role model, but there's no question that he ranks higher on the human decency scale than a loathsome scumbag like Russell. Allen, in trying to excuse Russell's behavior, proves himself to be just as despicable as the person he's defending. And Allen's crude partisan swipe at President Clinton is just indefensible.

Survey

A recent survey says workers in Denver are the most miserable and unfulfilled workers in the United States.

The only reason my workplace didn't take the No. 1 ranking is that it's not incorporated as a city.

Stupid America

I am amazed that an overwhelming number of people in the United States still continue to stand by President Bush and his White House winged monkeys. There's clear evidence that Bush:

-- lied about WMDs
-- didn't take terrorism threats seriously before 9/11,
-- is forcing his evangelical Christian beliefs upon our secular government system

I am starting to understand that we are two Americas: Informed America and Stupid America. It's the Stupid America that scares me -- an throng of people who so abhor change that they're willing to stand by their prejudices instead of striving toward truth and equality. Stupid America is taking our country backward by corrupting all of the things that make our nation great: freedom, liberty, civil rights and fairness for everyone. And they claim to do these things in the name of religion, or to protect children, or to protect families.

The American Taliban is alive and well, and it's as strong as Stupid America is ignorant. Let us hope that education, and the promise of a truly great America, can lead our country back to it its senses.

Mass Appeal

The Massachusetts legislature signed off on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage -- but it still needs a second legislative approval and a public vote in 2006 to become law [cf].

I hope fervently that this step is too little and too late for the Christian Taliban -- that is, I mean to say, I hope that once gay marriage goes into effect in Massachusetts in May of this year, that it will be too late to roll back rights.

A few poignant quotes:

Arline Isaacson, co-leader of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, on the state legislature: "I believe many of them are going to feel very ashamed of what they've just done today."

Sen. Marian Walsh (D-Boston): Gay men and lesbians "are owed the hope and promise of America. ... It is not always easy or quick to be true to our destiny."

Sen. Walsh (again): "Gay Americans die for our country, adopt our children and we are silent. Yet we find our voice to take away their constitutional right to marry."

Matt Foreman, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director: "This fight is not over. It's just beginning."

Work This!

At my consulting firm, I'm often called upon to write reports, proposals, papers and the like. I'm a good writer -- not on a par with Ernest Hemingway or Jacqueline Susann, to be certain, but good nonetheless.

Today, I turned in a report. Then I waited for hours as one of my many bosses ripped it to pieces and reassembled it, a la Dr. Frankenstein, into a document that contained most of the information -- but none of the message -- of my original report. The reasons for the changes weren't explained. At the end of the day, I found myself arguing over semantic changes: I tried in vain to tweak some sentences and change some words.

Then I just gave up. I suddenly realized that my boss' goal -- either knowingly or subconsciously -- wasn't to rewrite my report to his liking. It was to prove to me that I have no control over my work. Winning an argument over some words would be a Pyrrhic victory.

Okay, I might be exaggerating about what happened at work. But I'm not exaggerating about my epiphany: I work in a place where workers can't do anything right because bosses (a) don't explain what they expect from their employees (b) don't give those employees enough control over their work to complete tasks successfully and (c) repress those employees through fear and confusion -- instead of inspiring them to do good work, and encouraging them to be creative.

My consulting firm could use some consultants. And common sense.

Dick Clarke's Rockin' New Year's Eve

So, let me get this straight. Team Bush and its puppets in Congress claim Richard Clarke is lying now because he didn't criticize the Bush administration's handling of 9/11 while he was still working in the White House [cf]. Why didn't he speak up in the months following 9/11, they charge.

Are these people nuts? They really think that Clarke would have spoken out THEN against the people signing his paychecks? After 9/11, he was working for the White House and the President. It was his job to toe the party line in public, regardless of what he may have said or done behind closed doors. This Republican argument, like nearly every other Republican argument, is plenty of hot air but no substance.

Clarke's response, as written up on Alternet.org, was this:

Asked by Fielding whether he lied during the briefing, Clarke seemed bemused. "I tried," he said, "to highlight the positive and downplay the negative." Asked whether that undermined his integrity, Clarke said: "I don't think of it as a question of integrity. I think it's a question of politics." As the spokesman for the White House, he said, he represented the administration's point of view, and ably so -- without lying.

Let the attacks on Richard Clarke continue! Let Condi Rice and the rest of Bush's jackanapes go hog wild on Fox News [cf]. I believe Richard Clarke will stand up to the ridicule and criticism with dignity, and that his attackers will be the ones defeated by the fray.

From The Pages Of The Onion

Bush Urges Iraqis To Pass Amendment Banning Gay Marriage

BAGHDAD -- In a private meeting with Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum, President Bush urged the Iraqi Governing Council president to amend the recently ratified Iraqi constitution to protect the sanctity of heterosexual marriage. "The Iraqi constitution, signed just a few short weeks ago, will usher in a new era of democratic freedom in Iraq," Bush said. "But there are some unlawful and unholy acts that the constitution's original drafters could not have possibly intended to protect." Bush then told al-Ulloum he must act quickly and decisively to preserve his country's most sacred tradition.

The Passion Of The Python

I'm sick of this whole "Passion of the Christ" thing -- and I'm happy to learn that John Cleese et al. are sick of it too [cf1] [cf2].

Always look on the bright side of life!

On The Subject Of Incompetent Bosses...

A Delaware Online columnist plainly puts into words what everybody (but my bosses) knows:

Academics long ago learned that companies and business leaders fared better when they created positive, confirming corporate cultures.

A confirming culture is one in which employees feel valued. If you say to me, "I just turned in my project," a confirming response might be: "That's great! You worked hard, and it must be a relief to be finished."

People who receive confirming responses tend to have better morale, work harder and longer, don't jump ship, take fewer sick days and are more productive.

But far too often, managers offer a "disconfirming" response: ignoring you, cutting you off in midsentence, changing the subject, going off on a tangent, being condescending, reacting ambiguously, etc. The subtext is that their time, their interests, their lives are more important than yours. Disconfirming responses can be toxic.

The full column is here.

That Marriage Amendment

Hey, here's a thought for Bush: If he really things that same-sex marriages will hurt his own union with his wife, then he needs a marriage counselor -- not a marriage amendment [cf]!

I Raq, You Raq, We All Raq

I don't know when Dick Clarke moved from "American Bandstand" to the White House, but I'm glad he's telling us what really happened in the Bush II Administration before and after 9/11 [cf1] [cf2].

What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?

No, really, what is so funny about peace, love and understanding? George W. Bush seems to think these three concepts are a joke, but I can't find the humor at all. He's turned America into the world's bully, he's deceived his country to build a case for war, and he's backing a bigoted and meanspirited movement to deny equal rights to gay men and lesbians. Bush is a man who sneers and laughs at peace, love and understanding.

At long last, we know what a "compassionate conservative" is. It's someone who lies, hates, fights and discriminates.

I shall alert Elvis Costello.

The Search Goes On

I would like to state, for the record, that I'm doing my part to help America in these times of crisis. I spent part of my morning searching for weapons of mass destruction. I looked everywhere -- even under the bed! -- and didn't find a single one.

Tomorrow, I'm going to look for weapons of mass distraction. I think I know where to start: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Passion Play

I haven't seen "The Passion of the Christ," and I don't plan to, but I have a few questions for folks who have seen the film:

-- Where's the official film novelization?
-- Is it true that the book is better than the movie?
-- Why did you bother to go, since you already know the ending? (The same question also applies to anyone that plunked down good money to see "Titanic.")
-- Do Matthew, Mark, Luke et al get screenwriting credits?
-- Will there be a sequel?
-- What's the best thing to buy from the snack bar when you're watching a film about the torture and death of a major religious figure? Milk Duds?
-- If an all-gay cast remakes the film, would it be called "The Passion Fruit"?

If anyone needs me, I'll be watching "Fiddler on the Roof."

... With A White-Hot Passion ...

I absolutely hate String Bean, my pointed-haired nemesis at work. I hate him with a white-hot passion that can not be quenched with all of the water in the Pacific Ocean.

Cho Your Support!

Margaret Cho on the gay marriage amendment:

"If you are not gay, it is still your issue, because if we are to lose this battle, who will be there to defend your rights? If the government is allowed to take freedoms away from a certain group of people, then how much longer will it be until they come for you? We are a much more formidable opponent than anyone would have known. We've never had a chance to grab the brass wedding ring, the symbol of equality, the real civil union -- not between us in place of marriage -- but the union we have with the rest of the citizens of this nation. How strong is your grip?"

Sign Margaret's petition at the Love Is Love Is Love Web site.

Well, Duh

Gay Republicans say they feel betrayed by President Bush's support for an amendment banning gay marriage (cf). Well, duh. You got to dance with them what brought you.