Obama Gains on Clinton in National Poll

A new Gallup poll, just released, shows that Senator Obama has finally closed the wide gap that separated him from Senator Clinton in all of the national polls. This is significant for Senator Obama, for he is only 4 percentage points away from an even race with Senator Clinton; and with the margin of error, it is virtually a tied contest.

                        Now            Jan. 20
Hillary Clinton         43%              48%
Barack Obama            39%              28%

(Source: Gallup, Jan. 28 - 30, 2008. Margin of error: +/- 3% pnts)

A Device for "Foot Drop"

Earlier this week, Good Morning America produced a segment on a new device to help those with certain physical disabilities. The device is called WalkAide and was developed to help a common symptom known as "Foot Drop". Foot Drop occurs when spinal cord injury or disease interrupts the nerve to muscle communication causing the foot to drag while walking. Foot Drop is common in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The WalkAide, nicknamed "Brain in a Box", costs about $4,500. For more information, link to the Good Morning America website to see the video segment by clicking here: Brain in a Box.

You can also link directly to the company's website here: WalkAide.com

Political Compatibility Tool

If you are still having trouble deciding on which Presidential candidate you'd like to support, you can always decide by how compatible you are with them on the issues. In November 2007, I wrote of a new fangled internet website specializing in matching voters with the most compatible candidate. You can check that out by clicking here: Political Compatibility Quiz.

A friend of mine recently alerted me to another website doing the same thing. By just scoring several issues on a scale (of agreement to disagreement or somewhere in between), the site will supply you with a list candidates and how closely in agreement they are with you.

Click on the link to check out Electoral Compass and give it a try. It might not make you personally feel any warmer about any of the candidates, but it should tell you how closely they stand with you on the issues.

Political Headline News Today - 1/30/08

Hillary Clinton won the Democratic Florida Primary election last night with 49% of the vote, while Barack Obama came in second place with 33%. It has been reported this morning that John Edwards will now drop out of the race.

John McCain is now considered the front-runner in the Republican race. McCain came in first place in the Florida Republican Primary with 36% of the vote. Mitt Romney came in second place with a close 31%. Mike Huckabee placed 4th behind Rudy Giuliani; the former Mayor of New York City has announced that he is dropping out of the Presidential race.

Although Hillary Clinton won in Florida, she will receive no Florida delegates. The state is being penalized for moving their Primary election to an unapproved date. John McCain will walk away with 57 Florida delegates.

Miami's Gay Community will get Legal Protections

Yesterday the City of Miami voted to amend the Miami Charter to include a Citizens' Bill of Rights. The amendment was proposed by City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. This Bill of Rights will guarantee many of the rights already included in the U.S. Constitution, but will also add a few extras. The amendment will protect rights related to religion and conscience, speech, assembly and press, unreasonable searches and seizures, nondiscrimination, environmental protection, natural resources and scenic beauty.

The key word for Miami's gay community is, nondiscrimination. The referendum was developed, in part, with the intention of passing a city ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The gay community in the City of Miami will soon have similar protections as those in the City of Miami Beach.

My partner and I registered as domestic partners with the City of Miami Beach several years ago; this basically provides for hospital and jail visitation while within city limits, whether you reside there or not. The new amendment in the City of Miami promises to go a step further.

It has also been reported that the new Bill of Rights will provide for civil unions, giving gays, lesbians and the transgendered the same rights as legally married couples.

Promises are sometimes broken, so time will tell how these rights finally shake out. There is no word yet on when we should expect to see these changes; none-the-less, this is an exciting step in the right direction.

Florida Gay-Rights Supporters Beware

As many of you know today is Primary election day in Florida. There are several groups out today, working the polling places. One group is attempting to get additional signatures for an anti-gay marriage amendment. If this group is successful, a proposed change in Florida's constitution will appear on the November 2008 ballot. If passed this amendment will forever write anti-gay rights discrimination into the state's constitution, prohibiting any form of gay union in the future. For more details please read my earlier post by clicking here: Gay Floridians Still in Harm's Way

A couple of other groups are working the polls today as well; these other groups are pro-gay rights. They are attempting to educate voters on what the proposed amendment will mean for our community as well as others in the state of Florida. They are asking voters not to sign the petition for the proposed amendment.

A friend of mine, just came from voting this morning and told me that he was asked to sign a petition to keep the proposed amendment off of the November ballot. He was confused and did not sign it. I am not aware of any pro-gay rights groups collecting signatures. This does not mean that they are not. It could be that my friend was confused or it could be that the person collecting signatures was misrepresenting herself. I'm not sure.

But I have a strong warning for those in Florida today -- please do not sign anything that you do not fully understand. Unless it very clearly states on the petition that you want to keep the measure off of the November ballot, I urge you not to sign it.

Please spread the word to all of your Floridian loved ones that want to support you and your gay-rights.

Another Kennedy Endorsement for Obama

Go Obama, go! Another Kennedy, this time Ted, will reportedly endorse Senator Obama today, just one day after Caroline Kennedy did the same. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) usually stays neutral during Primary season, but this year will change all of that.

This is a big coup for Senator Obama, not only because of the power and influence of the Kennedy family but also because of their close ties to the Clintons. Long ago were the days of yachting together on the Kennedy boat. Times have changed.

Although endorsements rarely change any one's mind when it comes time to vote, they can create a strong impression and boost a candidate's momentum; and, Senator Obama certainly has that. For those undecideds, Senator Obama's recent wins and endorsements show that he is not only viable but he also has a good chance of actually becoming our next President.

Updated Delegate Score by Candidate

In the end, the candidate with the majority of delegates collected from his/her respective party will win the candidacy. The scores below reflect the number of pledged delegates* picked up by each candidate as of January 27, 2008.

DEMOCRATS:
Barack Obama - 63
Hillary Clinton - 48
John Edwards - 26
(For the Democrats, the number of delegates needed is 2,025 out of a total of 4,049.)

REPUBLICANS:
Mitt Romney - 59
Mike Huckabee - 40
John McCain - 36
Ron Paul - 4
Rudy Giuliani - 1
(For the Republicans, the number of delegates needed is 1,191 out of a total of 2,380.)

Super Tuesday is February 5, 2008, where 22 states hold their Democratic Primary elections awarding 1,681 pledged delegates; on the Republican side, 21 states will vote on the same day awarding 975 pledged delegates. Super Tuesday can solidify or change a candidate's chances of winning his/her party's nomination.

*The delegate numbers above do not include super delegates which could significantly change the total number of delegates collected and the candidates' rankings.

Senator Obama Wins South Carolina

Senator Barack Obama won the South Carolina Primary election. And, as usual, he gave an amazingly inspirational speech. Have you listened to him speak? I mean, have you really listened to him speak? He offers us so much hope for our country's future. I think we are at a very low point in our history and we really need Senator Obama to help change the direction of our wayward path.

Caroline Kennedy Endorses Obama

In Sunday's New York Times, Caroline Kennedy will endorse Senator Barack Obama in an Op-Ed article entitled, A President Like My Father. It promises to be a powerful boost, for Senator Obama, on top of his big win in South Carolina.

Of Barack Obama she wrote, "I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

To read more, link to Caroline Kennedy's editorial in The New York Times by clicking here: A President Like My Father

Republicans try to Steal Democrats' Thunder

Just as the election results roll in for the Democratic Primary election in South Carolina, with Senator Barack Obama projected as the winner, Florida Governor Charlie Crist makes an announcement endorsing Senator John McCain.

Of course the cable networks broke away to cover the story. Can't the Republicans let the Democrats have a night of their own? And, don't even try to tell me that this wasn't a strategic move on the part of the Republicans.

Bravo for Senator McCain. Now let's get back to the media coverage of Senator Obama's big projected win in South Carolina.

Latest Postings This Week (Jan. 19 - Jan. 26)

New postings, so far, this week include:
1.) Al Gore Endorses Gay Marriage - A video blog from Al Gore advocating gay marriage. (Friday Jan 25, 2008)

2.) Political Headline News Today - A few highlights from recent activity in the Presidential Primary race. (Friday Jan 25, 2008)

3.) Some Gay Activists Unhappy with Candidates' Leadership - Some gay activists are unhappy with leadership, on gay rights issues, from the Presidential candidates. I give my take on why it's acceptable for the candidates to walk the fine line. (Friday Jan 25, 2008)

4.) Cher to come out of Retirement - It has been reported that Cher will come out of retirement to be one of the replacement acts for Celine Dion at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas. (Thursday Jan 24, 2008)

5.) 19th Annual GLAAD Awards - For 19 years GLAAD has given awards to those in the media and entertainment industry for positive portrayal of the gay community. I list some of the nominees for this year's ceremonies. (Thursday Jan 24, 2008)

6.) Heath Ledger (1979 - 2008) - Heath Ledger suddenly and unexpectedly passed away this week. Read this brief highlight of his life and career. (Wednesday Jan 23, 2008)

7.) A Blogger Honors Bayard Rustin - A fellow blogger honors a civil rights activist who once stood with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The blog's author pointed out that Dr. King's dream has yet to be realized, then one reader left an ignorant comment setting off a flurry of interesting responses. (Tuesday Jan 22, 2008)

8.) Florida Penalized this Primary Election - Florida Democrats and Republicans will be penalized for this year's Primary election after moving their voting day to an unapproved date. Democrats will have all of their delegates stripped away while the number of Republican delegates will be reduced. (Monday Jan 21, 2008)

9.) Gay Floridians Still in Harm's Way - The media has announced that a group behind an anti-gay marriage amendment in the state of Florida has failed to produce enough signatures to get their proposal on the November 2008 ballot. The truth is the group still has until February 1st to collect additional support. Gay advocacy organizations are recruiting volunteers to help educate voters on Primary day. (Monday Jan 21, 2008)

10.) 365 Days and Counting . . . - Monday marked the one year count down until the end of the Bush administration. (Monday Jan 21, 2008)

11.) God gives the SC Primary to McCain - Just a few months ago Mike Huckabee explained his sudden rise in the Presidential campaign as something other than human. Now that he lost the South Carolina Primary, a race in a heavily Evangelical region, I question how he might explain that. (Sunday Jan 20, 2008)

12.) Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008) - A tribute to the career of Suzanne Pleshette, after her passing of respiratory failure. (Sunday Jan 20, 2008)

13.) Defining Mike Huckabee - Always advocating his religious beliefs through his stance on social issues, Mike Huckabee's personal agenda for America is a scary prospect. Watch a video of the candidate from CNN, discussing his stand on gay marriage. (Saturday Jan 19, 2008)

14.) Maryland Supports Gay Unions - According to a new poll, the majority of Maryland residents, almost 60%, supports gay unions or gay marriage. (Saturday Jan 19, 2008)

15.) The Media is Questionable in Politics - Last Saturday, as the Nevada caucuses were only just getting underway, MSNBC and the Associated Press were already calling the winner. Regardless of their accuracy, this practice is beyond questionable. (Saturday Jan 19, 2008)

Please link to the above stories by clicking on their respective titles. Feel free to look around at other postings you might have missed before as well. And, don't forget to cast your vote for the January poll regarding the 2008 Presidential election. You have five more days until the poll closes.

Blog: http://www.purposequest.blogspot.com/

Al Gore Endorses Gay Marriage

Political Headline News Today

Hillary Clinton gets endorsement from The New York Times, so does John McCain while Rudy Giuliani gets snubbed by his home-town paper.

Dennis Kucinich drops out of the Presidential campaign.

South Carolina gears up for the Democratic Primary election tomorrow. Florida's election, for both parties, is on Tuesday, January 29th.

Some Gay Activists Unhappy with Candidates' Leadership

I read an interesting article this morning about how some gay activists are unhappy with the way the Presidential candidates are treating gay issues. Many expect the candidates to be more vocal and take the lead on gay rights. Ultimately I agree but in theory it doesn't make much sense at this time in American politics.

A New England gay newspaper out of Boston, Bay Windows, had been approached by some of the Democratic campaigns seeking the paper's endorsement. The editor chose instead to write a scathing column about how none of the candidates deserve gay dollars; the editor stated that none of them had shown enough courage on gay rights issues but instead had adopted a safe consensus to show progress had been made but hadn't gone too far, in order to still appeal to middle America.

Unfortunately, Presidential candidates have to appeal to middle America to be viable. The gay community's national governmental voice is the Democratic Party, like it or not. Should things be different? Yes, we should have better representation in our government. We should have a stronger voice. We should have equality protected by law. I fight for all of these things. But expecting our national candidates to be outspoken activists for the gay community is not practical; they would never be elected.

Civil rights happens in small steps. It feels entirely too slow for me, but that's the way it works, and middle America has to come along at its own pace. It's generational, and it will take time to get the buy-in from the younger generation.

By not playing the political game, candidates become the Kuciniches, and Gravels of politics; they disappear, and along with them goes our voice. The Barack Obamas and Hillary Clintons of the world do support the gay community and probably will help us take a step or two closer to our goals. Without them, what is the alternative? I hope you realize the answer to that.

The Bay Windows' editor had a wonderful suggestion which I support. She suggested giving our political donations to state and local candidates who support gay marriage, as opposed to giving at the national level. This is where the progress will be made at a quicker pace.

One more thing which I thought was brilliant strategy. The National Stonewall Democrats, a grass-roots organization, is working to increase the number of gay delegates. Therefore, in the future, Democratic candidates will have to appeal to them to get their votes. Whether this proves to backfire on us or not will only be a matter of time; but, if nothing else we will have a stronger voice. Let's hope middle America can tolerate it.

Cher to come out of Retirement

Cher, the gay icon and known by some, including my friend Jorge, as God, will reportedly come out of retirement to be one of the replacements for Celine Dion at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas. Cher is reportedly starting her show in May 2008 at The Colosseum. Other performers alternating performances, at the venue, will include Elton John and Bette Midler.

And rumor has it Cher is working on another album. Stay tuned.

Welcome back, Cher! You were gone long enough for us to almost miss you.

19th Annual GLAAD Awards

GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, announced their 2008 nominees and honorees earlier this week.

The GLAAD media ceremonies will be held in four major metropolitan areas including, New York, South Florida, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This year the ceremonies will be held between March 17th and May 10th. Broadcast dates have still yet to be announced. There will be 117 nominees in 25 English language categories and 55 Spanish language nominees in 15 categories.

Some of the competitive category nominees include:
Film - Wide Release
Across the Universe (Revolution Studios)
The Jane Austen Book Club (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stardust (Paramount Pictures)

Television Drama Series
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Degrassi: The Next Generation (The N)
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)
Greek (ABC Family)
The L Word (Showtime)

Television Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Exes and Ohs (Logo)
The Sarah Silverman Program (Comedy Central)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
The War at Home (Fox)

Individual Episode (in a series w/o a regular LGBT character)
"Boy Crazy" Cold Case (CBS)
"Do Tell" Boston Legal (ABC)
"Free to Be You and Me" Kyle XY (ABC Family)
"The Gangs of Camden County" My Name is Earl (NBC)
"Sin" Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

Documentary
Camp Out (Logo)
Cruel and Unusual: Transgender Women in Prison (WE tv)
For the Bible Tells Me So (First Run Features)
Freddie Mercury: Magic Remixed (VH1/Logo)
Small Town Gay Bar (Logo)

Reality Program
"Chase/Lane" Trading Spouses (Fox)
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
Project Runway (Bravo)
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? (SciFi Channel)
Work Out (Bravo)

Advertising – Electronic
"Change" Levis
"Goodbye" Orbitz
"Jewels" & "Time" Dolce & Gabbana
"Rejected" Chemistry.com
"Tu Pride - Jaime" MTV Tr3s

This year's honorees include: Rufus Wainwright, Janet Jackson, Brian Graden, Wilson Cruz, Ilene Chaiken, David Mixner, and Herb Ritts.

The GLAAD awards are extensive and inclusive in their recognition. Some of the other award categories include: talk show episode, TV journalism, newspaper article, newspaper columnist, magazine article, magazine overall coverage, music artist, comic book, Los Angeles theater, New York theater (on & off Broadway).

According to their website: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.

Heath Ledger (1979 - 2008)

As I'm sure you've heard already, actor and Brokeback Mountain cowboy, Heath Ledger has passed away at the age of 28.

He was found in his New York City apartment, by his housekeeper, yesterday afternoon. The police said that drugs may have been involved. Other reports claim that he was naked and had sleeping pills spread out around him, hinting at a possible suicide.

Heath Ledger was an Australian born actor, and came to the attention of mainstream America after co-starring in Brokeback Mountain, the movie about two cowboys who fall in love with each other.

Other film credits include 10 Things I Hate About You, Monster Ball, The Brothers Grimm, and Casanova. He finished production on a film yet to be released, where he plays the "Joker" in The Dark Knight, due out in July 2008.

He was separated from girlfriend, Michelle Williams, who he had met while filming Brokeback Mountain. They had a baby girl in 2005.

According to IMDB.com, Heath Ledger, has been quoted as saying "I'm not good at future planning. I don't plan at all. I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. I don't have a day planner and I don't have a diary. I completely live in the now, not in the past, not in the future."

A Blogger Honors Bayard Rustin

Yesterday, in recognition of Martin Luther King Day a fellow blogger, Dancing Bear, wrote a post to honor Bayard Rustin. He was a civil rights leader who worked closely with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unfortunately, he is almost anything but remembered in the history books, merely because he was homosexual. Dancing Bear wrote of Dr. King and Bayard Rustin, the struggle and how Dr. King's Dream has still yet to be realized.

One reader's ignorant comment spawned many replies and set off an interesting dialog. I also added my two cents. I think my comment is approximately number 36. I urge you to check it out, and I ask that you read as many of the comments as you can tolerate. The offensive comment is from "8gurl" and is only 2nd on the list.

Before you link to the post, I would like to highly recommend a movie. Don't walk, but run out and rent Crash, today. It is well written, well directed, and well acted. It's a touching story with a very important message for ALL of us. And if you're anything like me, you might shed a tear or two.

You can link to Dancing Bear's post here: A dream yet to be realized..............

Florida Penalized this Primary Election

Just like Michigan, Florida will be penalized this coming Primary election. In a move against Democratic Party rules, Florida moved its Primary election day to January 29th, before the official start of Primary season. The Republicans did as well. The result will mean that the winner of the Democratic Primary will receive zero delegates from the state; while Republicans will have their number of delegates reduced.

The bottom line is, regardless of which Democrat wins in Florida, the result will be nothing more than a popularity contest. The prize will be momentum, but no delegates will be gained.

As a matter of fact, each of the viable Democratic candidates have pledged not to campaign in Florida during this Primary season. I can't say that I blame them. Why waste money and effort on something that won't win them the party nomination?

Gay Floridians Still in Harm's Way

An anti-gay marriage amendment was almost certain to find its way onto Florida's November ballot; but it has been widely reported over the last several weeks that this discriminatory effort has failed. Link to my original post for background on this measure by clicking here: Attention Florida Voters: We Need Your Help. In reality, the measure could still end up on November's ballot.

The anti-gay marriage amendment could still be presented to Florida voters in November if its supporters can gather and submit a total of 611,009 signatures to the Division of Elections. Earlier in the year the group behind this proposal thought they had already achieved that goal; however, a "glitch" had caused an over count of 22,000 signatures.

Now the group has until February 1st to gather the additional support they need. It is suspected that they will take advantage of the January 29th Primary election to gain more signatures from the volumes of people that turn out to vote.

Fairness For All Families is recruiting volunteers to work the polls on election day in an effort to educate voters on the harmful effects of this potential amendment. If you will be in Florida on Primary day and want to volunteer please follow this link to sign up -- Fairness For All Families, 2008 Primary Day Volunteers.

365 Days and Counting . . .

Until the end of the Bush administration!

God gives the SC Primary to McCain

When Mike Huckabee fielded a question at Liberty University asking what he attributed the sudden rise and success of his campaign to, he said it could not be attributed to a human explanation. See the brief video from an earlier posting, by clicking here: Divine Providence?

Now that Huckabee lost the South Carolina Primary, does he now attribute his loss to an other worldly explanation? John McCain, one of the more moderate of the GOP candidates, won the Primary election last night in a heavily Evangelical region of the country.

Although the GOP Primary is still wide open to almost any of the candidates, all I can say is thank God for divine providence.

Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008)

Sadly Suzanne Pleshette, former co-star of the 1970s sitcom series The Bob Newhart Show, passed away last night of respiratory failure. She was only 70 years old. She had lung cancer and had undergone chemotherapy in 2006.

Suzanne Pleshette had a long career on stage and the big screen but will probably be best remembered for her role on The Bob Newhart Show, airing on CBS from 1972 - 1978. She played Emily Hartley, the wife of a Chicago psychiatrist (played by Bob Newhart).

As a child, I remember loving this show. It would air right after The Mary Tyler Moore Show on Saturday nights. It was a time that I got to stay up late and be with my family as we all watched TV together. My parents, in particular, would just howl at this well written comedy. I remember hearing some of the "adult" jokes and pretending not to understand, but much of the time I did. This block of television entertainment on Saturday nights was the "must-see" TV of the 1970s. It was truly a special time and will probably never be repeated.

To a younger generation, Suzanne Pleshette was known as Karen Walker's mother on Will & Grace. She guest-starred on three episodes of the hit sitcom.

Suzanne Pleshette was part of a comedy team that brought joy and laughter to thousands of people. That's what folks like her do, they entertain us and let us forget real life if only for a short time. Suzanne Pleshette will be sorely missed.

Defining Mike Huckabee

I know many people, in general, are hesitant to use the word bigot; I however, am not. I believe in speaking the truth.

According to the Reader's Digest Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, the term bigot is defined as: Noun. A person of strong conviction or prejudice, especially in matters of religion, race, or politics, who is intolerant of those who feel differently.

Did you see this Mike Huckabee interview yesterday on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer? (Once the video buffers, fast forward passed the beginning) To me, his arrogant conviction against same-sex marriage was frightening.

In this same interview, he enlightened us on the notion that the separation of church and state is a myth. And, that it was meant to protect religion from having to accept government's state sanctioned church, not to keep religion out of government.

He was arrogant in the expression of his beliefs; as he explained how marriage was meant for only one man and one woman, he reminded me of a former communist dictator from Germany's past. Hitler too had a similar view of superiority.

Huckabee was also interviewed by Beliefnet on Thursday and spoke on the same subject. He was quoted as saying, "Marriage has historically, as long as there’s been human history, meant a man and a woman in a relationship for life. Once we change that definition, then where does it go from there?"

When asked if he'd want to change the constitution to conform to the Bible, he likened the idea of same-sex marriage to bestiality. "Well, I don’t think that’s a radical view to say we’re going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal. Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again. I think the radical position is to make a change in what’s been historic."

What makes his opinion/belief superior to mine? And, what gives him the right to dictate that we, as gay Americans, should have no legal protection in our relationships, because of his religious belief?

The way I see it, he fits the definition of a bigot fairly well. How do you see it? I'm open to hearing from those with a differing opinion.

Maryland Supports Gay Unions

My buddies Sean & Stefan should be proud of their fellow Marylanders. According to a new poll, 39% of likely voters in Maryland support gay civil unions; while another 19% support gay marriage, for a total of nearly 60% believing that same-sex couples should have some form of legal protection.

The state's highest court recently ruled, however, that a ban on same-sex unions would not be unconstitutional. Now it would be up to the state's legislature to decide if gay couples should have legal protection.

According to The Washington Times, the House Speaker and the Senate President doubt the issue will come to a vote this term. Others, however, pledge to push the issue.

The Media is Questionable in Politics

It is 10:30 AM in Nevada, and the media is already calling Mitt Romney the projected winner of today's Republican caucus. Why is the media in the business of calling elections?

According to MSNBC and the Associated Press, Mitt Romney is the projected winner, even without having any exit polls.

CNN is restraining itself from calling a projected winner, although they are reporting the Associated Press' projection.

The Nevada Democratic caucus is set to begin shortly, today.

South Carolina is only holding the Republican Primary Election today. The polls close, for them, in just another five hours. I wonder how long it will be until the media starts calling that election.

Latest Postings This Week (Jan. 13 - Jan. 19)

New postings, so far, this week include:
1.) George Michael's Autobiography Promises Much - George Michael signed a deal with Harper Collins to publish his autobiography, due out in August of 2009. His career and, sometimes, turbulent life promise to make for a good read. (Friday Jan 18, 2008)

2.) Iowa Gay Marriage Still in Limbo - Christian conservatives descended upon Iowa's capital last week for a prayer session. Their arrival was meant to pressure the state's legislature into addressing an anti-gay marriage proposal. Meanwhile, Iowa's Supreme Court ponders the constitutionality of gay marriage after a judge ruled that it was legal last year. (Thursday Jan 17, 2008)

3.) Colombia Advances Gay Rights, I Think - As traditionally conservative as most Latin American countries are, slowly they are making advances toward gay rights legislation, leaving the United States embarrassingly behind. In June 2007, Colombia passed a gay unions law supported by the President. Unfortunately, a small conservative group pulled an underhanded move, ultimately killing the legislation. Still there are reports of gay rights advances coming from the country. I'm looking for further details and confirmation. (Wednesday Jan 16, 2008)

4.) Oprah Starts Her OWN - Oprah Winfrey entered into an agreement with Discovery Communications to convert Discovery Health Network into her new network, OWN. With Oprah's full editorial control, programming will focus on issues of personal improvement. (Wednesday Jan 16, 2008)

5.) Current Scores for the Primary Elections - Mitt Romney won the Michigan Republican Primary; Senator Hillary Clinton did as well, with 55% of the vote. Because the Michigan Democratic Party moved their Primary election to a date unapproved by the DNC, Senator Clinton will receive zero delegates. The current delegate score by each candidate is listed. (Wednesday Jan 16, 2008)

6.) Federal Disability Benefits Rejections - The CBS Evening News produced a two-part series on the Social Security disability benefits system. 66% of all claims are rejected, even after many have paid into the system for years. Some disabled people have been left in a lurch waiting for their cases to be reviewed, with no income or health insurance. (Tuesday Jan 15, 2008)

7.) Supreme Disappointment - The United States Supreme Court decided not to hear a case about the right of terminally ill patients to take unapproved experimental drugs. For this situation to change it would now be up to the United States Congress to pass legislation. (Tuesday Jan 15, 2008)

8.) Quest Milestone - 1,000th Visitor - My blog on politics, gay rights, and disability rights reached a milestone of 1000 hits, since I started tracking the number of visits. (Monday Jan 14, 2008)

9.) Mitt Romney's Contradiction - While watching a Michigan campaign rally for Mitt Romney, I picked up on a subtle but significant contradiction in his speech. Unfortunately, this contradiction has become synonymous with the Republican Party. Their principle of less government in its citizens' personal lives has long since disappeared. (Monday Jan 14, 2008)

10.) Sound-off: With Your Opinion - In a futile attempt to encourage participation on my blog here at Quest, I presented a current topic for discussion. This post asked for opinions on OJ Simpson and his current as well as his past troubles with the law. I had only one taker. Doesn't anyone have opinions any more, or was it just a lame topic? You can still weigh in. (Saturday Jan 12, 2008)

Please link to the above stories by clicking on their respective titles. Feel free to look around at other postings you might have missed before as well. And, don't forget to cast your vote for the January poll regarding the 2008 Presidential election.

Blog: http://www.purposequest.blogspot.com/

George Michael's Autobiography Promises Much

According to Rolling Stone magazine, former Wham! front-man, George Michael has entered into an agreement with Harper Collins to write his autobiography. The release date, as of now, is August 2009.

Other sources said that George Michael will write the entire book on his own and that he promises it will be a "no-holds-barred" account of his life. With all of the "drama" in his past, I'm sure this much anticipated book will not disappoint. He's had run-ins with the law in the U.S. as well as in the U.K., ranging from public sex offenses to drug possession, to being passed out drunk in his car, in traffic. He has claimed in the past that much of his troubles stem from the death of his boyfriend (who died of AIDS in the early 1990s).

Although his musical presence in main-stream America has waned a bit over the last decade or so, Michael is still rather popular in the U.K.; he has, in recent history, still produced hit music there.

Although, the publishing date remains more than 1 1/2 years away, I look forward to getting my hands on it. It promises to be very interesting, if nothing else.

Iowa Gay Marriage Still in Limbo

Do you remember the story from early September 2007 about the state of Iowa making gay marriage legal? Please see my earlier post, Same-Sex Marriage in Iowa is Legal. At that time, a judge ruled that the state's law banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and, in-turn, opened up the door for gay couples to get married.

Shortly after the ruling, however, the same judge stayed his own decision in order for the Iowa State Supreme Court to hear an appeal. In that short time, in between his original ruling and the stay, one gay couple managed to get married. This couple is legally married in the state of Iowa, at least until the state's Supreme Court announces its decision.

Yesterday, bus-loads of Christian conservatives, descended upon Iowa's capital to hold a prayer vigil in an attempt to pressure the state's law makers into acting upon a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage. 48 of the state's representatives are calling for the amendment. The Democrat controlled Iowa legislature says it is inappropriate to take up the proposed measure while the case is before the state's Supreme Court.

There is no word on when the Supreme Court's decision will be announced. Until then, one gay couple's marriage remains in limbo and the rights of many hang in the balance.

Colombia Advances Gay Rights, I Think

The world is leaving the United States far behind, and the smaller, conservative countries are leading the way. According to reports from many credible sources, the Latin American country of Colombia passed a law in June of 2007, giving gay couples the rights associated with gay unions. Colombia's lower house of Congress approved the measure with support from its President; however, shortly after that decision, the legislation had been derailed by a small conservative group in an underhanded move.

But once again, I've been reading reports, as current as October 2007, that Colombia does offer some protections to same-sex couples such as social security benefits, partner health care plan coverage and inheritance rights.

Although, I've searched for more current information on where these rights stand, I haven't been able to get clear confirmation. If anyone has a solid update (October 2007 or beyond), by a credible source, on Colombia's gay rights, please forward the information on to me. I'd certainly like to clear this up and update the information here at Quest.

You can leave your information by submitting it in the comments section below or you can email me at purposequest@hotmail.com. Thank you.

Oprah Starts Her OWN

Oprah is entering into a joint venture with Discovery Communications, the owner of the Discovery Channel and Discovery Health Network. The partnership will produce a new network called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). Oprah will be the chairperson and have full editorial control.

According to reports from the BBC and other sources, the Discovery Health Network will be relaunched as OWN. The new network's original programming will revolve around issues important to Oprah such as money, health, relationships and personal improvement.

E! News Online reports that the network's mission statement will be "helping people to live their best lives." This is right in line with Oprah's focus for her long-standing talk show and magazine.

Oprah will continue to host her television talk show, which will stay in syndication through mid-2011. At that point, according to E! News Online, her daily weekday show could potentially move to the OWN network.

Current Scores for the Primary Elections

The big story out of the Michigan Republican Primary race last night is: Mitt Romney wins. He won with 39% of the vote, compared to Senator John McCain's 30%. Each of these candidates picked up a number of delegates to add to their scorecard.

The Democratic race, in Michigan, went to Senator Hillary Clinton with 55% of the vote. Because of the controversy of Michigan Democrats moving their Primary date within an unapproved time frame, the DNC is not awarding any delegates to any of the candidates in this state. Senator Barack Obama and John Edwards purposely left their names off of the ballot. So although, Senator Clinton won big, she takes aways zero delegates from the state.

The Republicans had a similar situation, but decided to reduce the number of delegates awarded instead of eliminating them all together.

In the end, the candidates from each party, will win their party's nomination by receiving a majority of the total number of delegates [exclusive to each party] acquired from each of the states. The process for winning their party's respective delegates is slightly different for the Democrats and Republicans, but each must win the majority for their party.

The delegate scores for each candidate as of January 15, 2008 are:

Democrats
Barack Obama - 25
Hillary Clinton - 24
John Edwards - 18

Republicans
Mitt Romney - 36
John McCain - 19
Mike Huckabee - 18
Fred Thompson - 6
Ron Paul - 2
Duncan Hunter - 1

Federal Disability Benefits Rejections

Last night on the CBS Evening News I saw part one of a two part series on Social Security disability benefits. According to CBS News, many disabled people who've spent years paying into the system, are being denied their rightfully owed disability benefits.

Last night's segment, claims that 2 out of every 3 people that have applied for federal disability have been denied; that is 66% of the claims filed. Many cities in the United States have a backlog of cases to be reviewed. Some have to wait three years for a hearing. Nationally, people have to wait an average of 520 days for a hearing on their claims. The total backlog of cases in the nation is 750,000; this is an increase of 150% since 2000.

Another statistic sited by the CBS Evening News claims that in 2006 and 2007, 16,000 people died while waiting for a decision.

A denial of benefits not only means that these disabled individuals are being denied a monthly income, but they are also being denied the Medicare health insurance that goes along with it. Can you imagine being unable to work with no income and no health insurance? Just like these productive citizens, who once paid into the system, it can also happen to you.

Part two concludes the series tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric at 6:30 PM eastern time.

Supreme Disappointment

The United States Supreme Court decided not to hear an important case regarding experimental drugs for terminally ill patients yesterday. The case found its way to America's highest court after an advocacy group sued the FDA in 2003. The original case asked the court to allow terminally ill patients, who've run out of options, to have access to drugs that have undergone safety testing but have not yet been approved.

Last year a federal appeals court ruled in favor with the FDA, denying patients access to unapproved experimental drugs. The lower court had rejected the notion that patients had a constitutional right to take these unapproved medicines.

Now that the United States Supreme Court will not hear the case, it would be up to Congress to change the law. There is no word on whether that will be taken up by the Legislature.

I am disappointed by the lower court's decision, not to allow access to these investigational drugs; but, I am equally disappointed by the United States Supreme Court to have not taken the case.

If I were terminally ill, still had the will to live, and had run out of options, I know that I would want to take anything to improve my chances of survival even if those chances were slim. What would a terminally ill patient have to lose? The answer is nothing. There would only be the hope of something possible to gain.

I often question the priorities in our country and the authorities in power. It seems that if one were an unborn fetus, one might have more rights and protections than if one were a living, breathing adult in the United States.

Quest Milestone - 1,000th Visitor

Just moments ago, my blog here at Quest reached a major milestone; since I've been tracking visitors to my site, tonight marks the 1,000th hit. My average daily readership has gone up considerably since I first starting writing here, and just as importantly, the increase remains consistent each day.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog on politics, gay rights, disability rights and life issues. I encourage everyone to participate by leaving your opinions and comments, even those with differing view points.

Blog: Quest

Mitt Romney's Contradiction

Over the weekend, I caught a campaign rally in Michigan for Mitt Romney, on CNN. As I watched, I noticed a subtle yet significant contradiction in his speech; unfortunately, this contradiction has become synonymous with the Republican Party.

The crowd seemed enthusiastic, as Mitt Romney spoke to his audience. But what seemed to go right over the heads of most, stood-out to me like a sore thumb. In one breath, Mitt Romney spoke of how government should not interfere in its citizens' private lives by telling us how to live. And then, in his next breath, he lectured how every child deserves a mother and a father, and that women should get married before they have children.

His idea is not entirely a bad one, although I don't agree completely with the subtle implications of that statement. But my point is, Mitt Romney was promoting less government in our private lives but also telling us how we should live them, at the same time.

The Republican Party used to stand for the principle of less government interfering in private lives. Unfortunately, Republicans have come to be the party that now says and does the exact opposite.

As subtle of a comment as it was, Mitt Romney's choice of words spoke volumes. I am well aware that there are more important issues facing our country right now, such as the economy, the health care system, the war in Iraq, and national security. I propose, however, that the next President should be capable of handling all of those issues and should be able to promote an all inclusive, accepting, and socially open policy for its citizens. The Republicans just don't seem able to offer that anymore.

Sound-off: With Your Opinion

You've come all this way. Why not go a little further and participate? Your opinion is welcome on this and any topic here at Quest.

Today's topic of discussion: OJ Simpson. What do you think of his latest troubles in Las Vegas? Is he guilty or not guilty of his current charges? And, why? Or, do you think he got away with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman? What should become of him now?

To leave your opinion, click on the comments button below. As always, you'll have the option of being anonymous. To encourage participation, I'll go first.

Latest Postings This Week (Jan. 6 - Jan. 12)

New postings, so far, this week include:
1.) Bizarre Eye-Candy Friday - Tom Brady - Highlight of NFL star quarterback, Tom Brady. While researching Brady's background, I came across a bizarre report, which appeared credible, but turned out to be a hoax. I fell for it and it led to a good laugh. (Friday Jan 11, 2008)

2.) Bush's Vision of Peace - President Bush was in the Middle East this week promoting peace, leading to his induction into my Halls of Hypocrisy. (Friday Jan 11, 2008)

3.) Giuliani's Hypocrisy, in Spanish - Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani produced a Spanish language ad to appeal to Florida's Hispanic community; at the same time he has criticized the immigrant community of not learning English. (Thursday Jan 10, 2008)

4.) A Message of Personal Responsibility in an Unlikely Place - A blogger shares his experience of an underground sexual world, and how a younger generation is being careless. He draws the line and asks others to do the same. (Thursday Jan 10, 2008)

5.) New Hampshire Civil Unions Now Legal - New Hampshire joins the short-list of states which extend civil union benefits to same-sex couples. (Wednesday Jan 9, 2008)

6.) Hillary Clinton pulls off Upset Despite Media Bias - Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire Primary despite contradicting polls and a biased media. The press is out of control and they must stop their current election coverage practices. (Wednesday Jan 9, 2008)

7.) The Myth of Inexperience - As America struggles to right itself again during this turning-point in our history, Barack Obama brings the possibility of a new America. Many question his "inexperience"; a look back in recent history proves that an experienced President doesn't always guarantee a good President. (Tuesday Jan 8, 2008)

8.) Elizabeth Montgomery Gets her Long-Overdue Star - Elizabeth Montgomery, former star of the ABC sitcom Bewitched, is honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame thirteen years after her death. (Sunday Jan 6, 2008)

Please link to the above stories by clicking on their respective titles. Feel free to look around at other postings you might have missed before as well. And, don't forget to cast your vote for the January poll regarding the 2008 Presidential election.

Blog: http://www.purposequest.blogspot.com/

Bizarre Eye-Candy Friday - Tom Brady

Editorial note: Don't believe everything you read. Too funny! I guess it was 3/4 wishful thinking and admittedly, 1/4 naivety on my part. Found this "fact" on onion.com (I had never heard of them before). I guess I was a victim of their joke. At least, it made me laugh today. Read for fun.

Eye-Candy Friday makes a come back today with an all American slant. Today's feature is NFL's New England Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady. He's got it all going on for him, his good looks, his ability to get the girl (Bridget Moynahan until 2006), his athletic prowess, and of course his MVP status. Since his breakup with Moynahan, he's been reportedly dating super model Gisele Bündchen.

However, while I was researching Tom Brady facts, I came across an interesting tidbit; it was actually rather bizarre. Back in September of 2007, it was announced that after seizing and combing through hours of video footage of the New England Patriots, during an investigation into possible cheating, hundreds of hours of footage was discovered of Tom Brady showering in NFL affiliated facilities. The video footage apparently was taped by Patriots' head coach Belichick with Brady's consent. The video included painstakingly thorough footage of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the shower, sources within the NFL competition committee had confirmed.

Sports Illustrated football correspondent Paul Zimmerman said of the footage, "To hear Belichick narrating the whole thing, pointing out his quarterback's tendencies, identifying Brady's strong points and the areas where he needs work, hearing his voice as a counterpoint to the sound of the hot running water and seeing that familiar sweatshirt-clad arm cut through the mist to hand Brady his towels—you realize the man has a unique football mind." "If nothing else, the attention to every significant detail definitely makes an impression on the viewer."

Are you joking me? Am I the only one that finds this whole thing bizarre? Okay, I must admit, however, it is extremely homoerotic and a huge turn-on, but please. How in the heck did the coach justify this request to begin with and why did Tom Brady agree? Hmm, makes you wonder.

Bush's Vision of Peace

With hypocrisy running rampant, I might need to start a new blog and call it The Halls of Hypocrisy. If you've been following the news at all you might have heard that President Bush was just visiting Israel and also met with the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas. President Bush was in the region to promote peace between the two peoples.

President Bush spoke of his "vision" and mentioned the word about a dozen times. Mr. Bush reportedly said it was possible for the two sides to reach a peace agreement before the end of his term, at the close of 2008; although, he also disclosed that it was not in his power to solve the Middle East problem himself.

My question: Does anyone in the world take President Bush seriously? He was in that area to promote peace. The last time I checked, Mr. Bush has promoted anything but peace in that area. Hello? Remember Iraq? How about his push against Iran?

Giuliani's Hypocrisy, in Spanish

Have you gotten wind of this yet? Rudy Giuliani inadvertently expressed his hypocrisy in another language. The former New York City Mayor, and Presidential candidate, has been very clear on where he stands on the subject of immigrants learning to speak English. His stance: If an immigrant is going to move to America and stay here, he should learn English. I rather agree with his thought -- assimilate like they used to in the olden days, just like all of my immigrant grandparents did.

But if you're Rudy Giuliani and you want their votes in Florida, then what? It's very simple. Produce a television ad, and try to appeal to them in their native language. How do you say hypocrite in Spanish? Oh yeah, hipócrita.

A Message of Personal Responsibility in an Unlikely Place

There's a dark and dirty secret about some in the gay community, at least in the eyes of mainstream society; anonymous sex still flourishes, even at well organized events. But that's not the dirty secret. I'm going to let you in on it. Some men, many of the younger generation, seek to have anonymous sex without protection. Not just once in a while, which would be bad enough, but always from as many men as they can get.

One blogger shares his experience of partaking in the hedonism, but draws a very daring line. In this post, Farmboyz suggests that it is still possible to have wild, and uninhibited group sex while still protecting yourself as well as others. Read this well-written message of personal responsibility. It will enlighten you, turn your stomach, and give you hope all at the same time. Click here for the posting: What To Do

New Hampshire Civil Unions Now Legal

New Hampshire joined the short list of states which legalized same-sex civil unions. As of January 1, 2008 New Hampshire became the fourth state in America to recognize the legal rights of gays and lesbians.

On June 1st of last year Governor John Lynch signed the legislation calling for the recognition of same-sex couples. "Dating back to the abolitionist movement," Lynch said, "we in New Hampshire have had a long and a proud history in taking the lead in opposing discrimination. Today, that tradition continues."

The new law offers the same rights and responsibilities as marriage. The law also says any civil union or marriage legal in another state will be recognized as a civil union in New Hampshire.

The other states that allow civil unions are Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey. Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay marriage. Five other states recognize various levels of legal protection for same-sex couples.

Oregon was scheduled to put its new domestic partnership law into effect this year as well, but that approved legislation was temporarily placed on hold by a judge in late December. U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman set a February 1st court date to hear arguments from opponents challenging the state's methods for verifying signatures on a November 2008 referendum.

Hillary Clinton pulls off Upset Despite Media Bias

Senator Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire Primary last night in a major upset victory. As a famous Clinton has done before, Hillary has proven to be the come-back kid. All of the New Hampshire polls showed Hillary losing to Barack Obama, and in some instances by double digit numbers. In the end, she proved them all wrong.

The press is being highly criticized by many of the people I know. The pundits and political analyzers regularly declare winners and losers of a race before polling sites close. The press criticizes candidates and use the poll numbers as fact, and in many instances can influence the outcome of an election. The media is out of control and it must stop.

Chris Mathews and others from MSNBC had all but written Senator Hillary Clinton off, based on political surveys, large crowds at Obama events and exit polls. They love to hate her and if allowed the media can ruin a good candidate's chance at winning an election.

Remember Governor Howard Dean and his yeehaw moment? The media played that clip over and over again until they ruined Howard Dean, suggesting that he was crazy. In a similar fashion, they are trying to do the same to Senator Hillary Clinton; and, this is the so-called "liberal" media.

A few days ago in New Hampshire, Senator Hillary Clinton became slightly emotional when speaking with a voter during a Q & A. While answering the voter's question, Senator Hillary Clinton's voice gently cracked. She continued to answer the question and then pointed out differences between her and her opponents. She handled herself well and showed a human side (which many doubted she had).

Do you think the media would be satisfied with that? No. They analyzed that moment to death and tried to make more out of it than it was. Many suggested that Senator Hillary Clinton was weak for crying. The press is never satisfied. She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. First they criticized her for being cold and then tried to destroy her for being too weak. Well, as much as they'd like it, they can't have it both ways.

Last night after the MSNBC news team was stunned by Senator Hillary Clinton's upset victory, Tom Brokaw, suggested to his MSNBC colleagues that from here on out they should let the process unfold without interference. During Brokaw's suggestion Chris Mathews was, for once, completely silent. Shortly after that the segment was handed off to Joe Scarborough, who then defiantly suggested that Tom Brokaw's idea was alien. You'd think a veteran news person would be better respected than that.

I have hope that today, in the post-analysis meetings at MSNBC and other networks, the media will take Tom Brokaw's suggestion to heart and change their policies when covering elections. The sad reality is that, not only will their policies stay the same but their practices will only get worse. If Senator Hillary Clinton can survive the media's attacks and blatant bias, she deserves to be the next President of the United States.

The Myth of Inexperience

As the Primary election heats up to a fevered pitch, boosting Senator Barack Obama to new heights along with it, I keep hearing grumblings about his inexperience; this is understandable, after all, the job he is applying for is probably the single most important job the U.S. has to offer. Quite literally everything is riding on this election.

For Americans as a whole, be you Democrat or Republican, black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor, Evangelical or atheist, we are at a cross-roads at this time in our country's history. Although it is difficult to see at times, all of us are in this together. And here is where I will probably lose some of you, but President George W. Bush has run our country into the ground; our current President's impact on the U.S. economy, America's reputation in the world, our civil liberties, the value of the American dollar, and America's lack of safety due to the unjustified Iraq War has turned us up-side-down. Now that we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is time to turn the page.

To address the fears of some -- Senator Barack Obama's so-called inexperience, is simply political rhetoric. Keep in mind, experience does not guarantee us a good President. Many "experienced" Presidents have brought America to some of the lowest points in our nation's history. President George W. Bush, as an example, was "experienced" as the Governor of Texas and everyone knows how these past seven years have turned out. Also, need I mention the experience of President Richard Nixon, the former Vice-President for Dwight Eisenhower? For those of you not familiar with Watergate, look it up.

The experience Senator Barack Obama does bring to the table is eight years as a leader in the Illinois State Senate. And, now he represents Illinois as a Junior Senator in the U.S. Congress. Before that he was a civil rights attorney. But more importantly what Senator Barack Obama represents is a new generation, a fresh voice, a positive change in an old establishment. As a moderate, he brings the promise of hope and unity to a divided country. His inspiration and diplomacy can lead us to become a new America; and he can help us turn the page at a time when we are ready to move on as a country and start to heal.

An important point is, the U.S. President is the CEO and manager of our country. And, Presidents rarely, if ever, make a decision in a vacuum. Every U.S. President has a cabinet of expert advisers to guide them in difficult decisions every day. No matter what comes our way as a nation, even if that means another terrorist attack, any of the Presidential candidates would step up to the plate and do what is required, including Senator Barack Obama.

Illinois' Junior Senator is electable. In many of the national polls when up against any of the Republican candidates, Senator Barack Obama wins each contest. That can not be said of any other Democratic candidate.

America needs to make a positive change, and now is the time. At this critical turning-point, America needs to come together and work as a unified country. We must start to heal the division among Americans, our weakened relationships throughout the world, our struggling economy, and our health care system, just to mention a few. The election of Senator Barack Obama promises to do just that.

Elizabeth Montgomery Gets her Long-Overdue Star

Tell me, who wasn't in love with this beautiful witch? Anyone who knows me, knows that as a child I was obsessed with Elizabeth Montgomery and her character, Samantha, on Bewitched. My family couldn't pull me away from rerun after rerun of that magical show. Okay, so everyone who didn't know before now knows that I'm gay.

In a much needed break from politics, while the Presidential race is heating up in New Hampshire, I'll completely ignore the debates for today and focus on Elizabeth Montgomery finally getting her star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. On Friday January 4, 2008 Elizabeth Montgomery received the 2353rd star on a rain soaked day, almost 13 years after her death.

Elizabeth Montgomery starred in 21 made-for-TV movies and miniseries, but was probably best known for her portrayal of Samantha on Bewitched in which she received Emmy nominations for five consecutive years. Bewitched ran on ABC for eight years until it was canceled in 1972. Yes, I am old enough to have watched the show during its original run -- and I did.

The only thing that could have made this event any sweeter, would have been to have Elizabeth Montgomery alive and present to receive the honor. Who knows, maybe she's floating on a cloud somewhere flashing that magical smile.

Poll Results - Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The results are in for the Quest December poll on embryonic stem cell research. 80% of those who responded to the Quest poll are in favor of embryonic stem cell research, with only 10% saying they opposed it and 10% undecided.

Compare that to a national scientific research survey conducted by Charlton Research Company for Research!America in 2006 and the results are less skewed but similar. According to that survey, 60% of Americans strongly or somewhat favor embryonic stem cell research, while only 21% strongly oppose it.

The poll question and results, here at Quest, were:

Are You in Favor of EMBRYONIC Stem Cell Research?
Yes - 80%
No - 10%
Undecided - 10%

Thank you for participating in December. I hope you will vote in this month's poll, and encourage others to do the same. This month's question is once again regarding the 2008 Presidential election. One day after the Iowa caucuses, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee have strong momentum. Naturally, I'd like to know who you would support if these were the two candidates for the November election. Please look for it at the top right corner of this blog's home-page.