Fox Cuts Republican Debate to 8, Christie and Huckabee Out

Fox Business Network announced the debate has been narrowed to 8 candidates. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee have been moved to the lower tier of candidates. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. George Pataki are out of the debates completely.

The new Fox Business Network lineup is as follows:

Businessman Donald Trump

Dr. Ben Carson

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush

Businesswoman Carly Fiorina

Ohio Gov. John Kasich

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul

Surprisingly, many pundits thought both Lindsey Graham and George Pataki performed well in the last debate, while especially Donald Trump performed in a lackluster manner, followed by Dr. Ben Carson.  If those pundits are correct, winning the debate is not necessarily what determines the next front runner.Trump has been flailing in the polls all week, though some recent polls put him as the front runner once again.  

Marco Rubio takes the third seat, though he is far behind both Trump and Carson.  Former Gov. Jeb Bush says he is not dropping out and insists the country, or at least the Republican Party, will soon come to its senses, despite having little support.The next presidential election will likely be one of the most partisan elections for many years.  


The only Republican candidate who holds a candle for the immigrant population is Jeb Bush.  All of the candidates appear to lean to the conservative side on a range of social issues from gay marriages, abortion, marijuana legalization to hawkish dealings with other countries.  Trump says he is going to build a grand wall on the Southern border of the U.S. and force Mexico to pay for it.  Sen. Ted Cruz says liberal media should be banned from hosting a conservative Republican debate.



Based upon the refusal of the GOP media credentials committee, which would not admit the immigrant friendly radio program, Un Dia Sin Fronteras from 1150 AM radio, into the Boulder Colorado debate, the GOP is sending clear signals about how exclusive it plans to be should its candidate win the White House.



"When the GOP Credentials Committee would not communicate with us about refusing us credentials, I filed a discrimination complaint with the University of Colorado," said talk show host, Tim Paynter.  "The University at least answered us, saying too many reporters applied, but all races were represented."  Paynter says the GOP credentials committee has yet to answer him.

              

"The Interview" A Riot, But Was America Honeypotted?

Sony Pictures "The Interview" is an absolute, though perhaps, risque, riot.  The movie tells the story of a television talk show host who has an opportunity to boost his ratings by interviewing the reclusive leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un.

To every one's surprise, Kim Jon Un appears as an insecure but very personable human being unlike the god-like and unforgiving supreme being the talk show host and his producer have been led to believe they will meet.  Soon after arrival in North Korea, the audience is given the hope there might be a future left for humanity after all, if the two cultures could only understand one another.

The comedy team of Seth Rogen and James Franco pack in the laughs as they poke fun at more than just the "Supreme Leader" of an isolated nation with it's finger on the button which if pushed will result in mutual assured destruction through nuclear holocaust.  The comedy team takes square aim at gays, Jews, women, minorities, the CIA and human sexuality, all with equal abandon.

The film pens a term "honey potting" as a certain sucking up of the fairer sex to get what they want from an often naive male class.  The term is confused with "honey combing" and "honey dicking" for gay males who fall for the same basic tactic.

However, one must wonder, if perhaps it was the American public who got honey-potted.  The cyber attack against Sony Pictures brought defenders out of the woodwork including President Barack Obama and theater goers singing "God Bless America."  Even the F.B.I. got into the act, previewing the movie so they could learn how to manage cyber-criminals.  The movie has been a sellout everywhere it played and the home revenues are not yet tallied.  But no one has pinned the cyber attack which led Sony Pictures to initially cancel the airing of the film on North Korean hackers.  If it turns out the "cyber attack" on Sony Pictures was accomplished as an in-house event for publicity, it will go down as one of the most successful publicity stunts in the history of film.

</center>

The film opened on Christmas day in over 300 theaters, with an in-home release via Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft Xbox Video, with a possible deal with Netflix in the works.

Just in case Kim Jon Un is as crazy as they say, this is a movie all patriotic Americans should see.  If North Korea retaliates against such a scandalous portrayal of their God-like leader, at least a lot of people will have had a laugh at a truly sad situation, a basic lack of understanding between people who poop and pee just like everyone everywhere.  Sometimes the best diplomacy is accomplished through laughter and seeing each other as stuck on one planet where no one is perfect.

Marriage Equality For Homosexuals UCC and UUA Say YES!

Joint Letter of Support for Marriage Equality

United Church of Christ & Unitarian Universalist Association

Ellen Degeneras from her blog post in support of a proposition in California allowing gay marriages

DENVER (March 4, 2014) – 72 Colorado clergy, faith leaders, and members of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) released a joint letter of support for marriage equality for same-sex couples. About 20 faith leaders prayed together and presented their join letter.

Both the UCC and the UUA have been at the forefront in the struggle for justice and equality affirming that the inherent worth and dignity of every person applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Both UUA and UCC congregations and clergy have long recognized and celebrated same-sex marriages within their faith traditions.  For more than 30 years, both faith communities have worked for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons, consistently calling for an end to discrimination, equal protection under the law, deploring LGBTQ hate crimes and violence, supporting LGBTQ relationships and families, celebrating the gifts of LGBTQ persons for ministry and encouraging all settings of the church to be open and affirming of LGBT persons, welcoming them and encouraging their participation in every aspect of the mission and ministry of the church.

Across the nation and here in Colorado, the movement to grant full marriage equality to same-sex couples is rapidly growing.  As the debate surrounding marriage equality for all continues, those speaking on behalf of their religious beliefs have been among some of the most vocal opponents to same-sex marriage.  Those signing the letter believe it is important for the public to know that there is an equally committed group of religious leaders and faith communities firmly in support of marriage equality for all people.

To that end, clergy and members of UCC and UUA congregations across Colorado "affirm that the conventional values that are essential to the Gospel are central to how we understand marriage in this time.  We also recognize and affirm that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God and blessed by the Spirit of Love, including people of all sexual orientations.  We further believe that human sexuality is a sacred gift bestowed upon all people equally.  As such, we recognize and affirm full equality in marriage and that all people have the right to lead lives that express love, justice, mutuality, commitment, consent, and pleasure."

Interfaith Organizing Director

American Friends Service Committee

jpiper@afsc.org

0:  303.623.3464 ext. 5

C:  720-301-1858

901 W. 14th Ave. #7,

Denver, Colorado 80204

afsc.org/denver/

Story from press release 

March Forth

Ellen DeGeneres has a unique take on it.  She wrote a letter to the Supreme court and asked people to tweet it.  The response was very strong, to say the least.  Here is the letter she wrote:

California's Proposition 8 is headed to the Supreme Court. Hundreds of companies and families as well as Republicans are submitting briefs urging the 9 judges to allow gay people to marry. I thought that was ridiculous. Why would judges want all of that underwear? Then, after a quick talk with some people, I found out what a brief was.

I've never filed a brief to the Supreme Court, so I thought I would post mine here. I'm sure someone will tweet it to them.

Portia and I have been married for 4 years and they have been the happiest of my life. And in those 4 years, I don't think we hurt anyone else's marriage. I asked all of my neighbors and they say they're fine.

But even though Portia and I got married in the short period of time when it was legal in California, there are 1,138 federal rights for married couples that we don't have, including some that protect married people from losing their homes, or their savings or custody of their children.

The truth is, Portia and I aren't as different from you as you might think. We're just trying to find happiness in the bodies and minds we were given, like everyone else.

Coming out was one of the hardest things I ever did. I didn't intend to be on the cover of Time magazine saying, "Yep, I'm gay." The truth is, I don't even remember saying that. I mean, I definitely said the "I'm gay" part. It's the "yep" I don't remember. I'm not really a "yep" person. "Yes siree Bob" maybe. But not "yep."

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "We're here, we're queer, get over it." And there's another famous quote that says "A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members." I couldn't agree with that more. No one's really sure who said it first, so if anyone asks, tell them I said it.

I hope the Supreme Court will do the right thing, and let everyone enjoy the same rights. It's going to help keep families together. It's going to make kids feel better about who they are. And it is time.

*I was just told Benjamin Franklin did not say that first quote. I apologize and see that I have a lot to learn about stuff.

Above letter from Ellen DeGeneres

Many people oppose same sex marriage because they feel it reduces the sanctity of heterosexual relationships and violates religious principles.