Tesla Motors To Build New Electric Car In Bay Area

I've been watching Tesla Motors for a few years. Their all-electric cars have shaken the auto industry who have long claimed electric cars were slow, impractical and always something "just a few years away". Tesla created a hand built sports car with the power and performance even a Ferrari can't match. Their all electric 2008 Tesla Roadster is a hot car, but the $109,000 price tag makes it inaccessible for all but the ultra-rich.

Now Tesla has announced they are building a plant in the San Francisco Bay Area to produce a lower cost vehicle. Still not a bargain car by any means the $60,000 five-passenger electric sports sedan will put more of these zero emission vehicles on the streets.

Tesla announced plans for the new factory yesterday with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in attendance. The plant had been planned for New Mexico, but the state of California gave some hefty tax incentives to attract the new industry.

"We want these cutting edge companies not just to start in California and do their research and development here. We want them to build in California," siad Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Now if we can just get GM and Ford to put their electric vehicles back in production we might have a chance to reveve the sagging US car industry and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Obama On Patriotism - A Moving And Great Speech

I listened to the speech Barack Obama made in Independence, Missouri today. Once again he delivered a great piece of oratory. It was a great speech for the week of July 4th and an even better one for a candidate that has been wrongly accused of being unpatriotic because he didn't wear a cheezy flag lapel pin.

This is one of my favorite passages from the speech.

I believe those who attack America's flaws without acknowledging the singular greatness of our ideals, and their proven capacity to inspire a better world, do not truly understand America.

Of course, precisely because America isn't perfect, precisely because our ideals constantly demand more from us, patriotism can never be defined as loyalty to any particular leader or government or policy. As Mark Twain, that greatest of American satirists and proud son of Missouri, once wrote, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." We may hope that our leaders and our government stand up for our ideals, and there are many times in our history when that's occurred. But when our laws, our leaders or our government are out of alignment with our ideals, then the dissent of ordinary Americans may prove to be one of the truest expression of patriotism.

Read the entire speech here.

McCain's Lack Of Tech Savvy A Problem

In the 21st Century anyone who thinks a candidate for president can be computer illeterate and still govern our country needs a wake up call. Those are the phone calls hotels used to make instead of expecting you to be able to operate an alarm clock.

John McCain admits he is a "computer illiterate" and "aware of the internet". As a candidate trying to appeal to a country where even the most remote towns and burgs have internet access and Ma and Pa are making a few extra bucks selling antiques on Ebay it sounds like McCain is not exactly up to date.

If the GOP hopes to recapture the youth of America and not just fade away (something I wish they would do), they need to get McCain up to speed and online. Yeah, like that's going to happen!

Is John McCain The Manchurian Candidate?

If I was a sneaky bastard, like the folks spreading the rumors about Barack Obama, I’d make sure everyone saw the movie Manchurian Candidate. In it a former prisoner of war is psychologically programmed to commit an act of treason.

While John McCain was being tortured, was he being programmed? Is there any way to know for sure. We can only take his word for it and if he was programmed, well he would be trained to lie.

See how easy it is to start a rumor? Now it is up to the McCain forces to prove me wrong. Except, they can’t, McCain may be programmed to lie about it so how can you trust him?

So let’s just stop this rumor crap before it becomes a big problem for everyone. Remember, the American people are good, honest and hard working and gullible as can be! Didn’t they buy a war with Iraq and believe Sadaam was responsible for 9/11?

John McCain Home Tour - Elitist?

So, I guess having 10 to 13 homes across the country really doesn't make you an elitist. At least that's the reasoning of the GOP who has been throwing that term at Obama lately. Meanwhile, John McCain and his wife own prime properties in the most exclusive areas of the country.

The Jed Report made a nice Google Earth tour.

Baptist Scholar Says Wives Bring On Abuse Themselves

Sometimes I just have to marvel at the insipid interpretations of the Bible fundamentalists come up with. They claim they believe in "literal interpretation' of the Bible but when pressed on issues of conflicting stories in the bible, they resort to interpretive meanings.

Beyond that kind of minutia, are the just plain wacko fundamentalists who find verses and justifications in the Bible for anything they want. Take Reverend Bruce Ware of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

From the pulpit in Denton, Texas he gave men who abuse their wives a free pass. He puts the blame squarely on the wives for their abuse.

“And husbands on their parts, because they’re sinners, now respond to that threat to their authority either by being abusive, which is of course one of the ways men can respond when their authority is challenged - -or, more commonly, to become passive, acquiescent, and simply not asserting the leadership they ought to as men in their homes and in churches,”

Its good to know that Ware at least acknowledges these men are "sinners", though he gives them a free pass because their wives "made them" do it. Give me that Old Tyme Religion!

Note: I consider myself a liberal Christian. If you want more information of people who follow Jesus and are not intolerant or trying to live in the stone age, check out my church's denomination, the United Church of Christ.

McCain's Home In Default For 4 Years Of Unpaid Taxes

As the real John McCain becomes more and more evident, the maverick seems more like a scofflaw. Huffington Post has discovered that John McCain has been shirking taxes on his condo in La Jolla, California. He is four years behind in tax payments and the property has gone into default.

I guess it’s understandable that you could forget one home when you own seven of them. Not surprisingly, as Newsweek was about to release the story, McCain suddenly paid the back taxes.’

I guess if you are poor, you just lose your home, but if you are rich you can ignore the law and then jump in at the last minute and try to erase the evidence. In this time when so many people are losing their homes and mortgage companies going belly-up, it’s more than ironic that McCain and his wife are playing games with the real estate holdings. The problem is they have the money and could have kept the taxes current, they just chose not to. Now that’s a maverick!

McCain Pledges To Be More Anti-Gay!

I hate to belabor the point but the meeting between John McCain and the Log Closet Republicans last week apparently had an interesting effect. Today McCain met with a group of Ohio conservatives and promised to be more vocal on his opposition to gay marriage. In addition he told the group he would pick an anti-abortion running mate.

Yup, the LCRs are really having an effect on the GOP. They provide comic relief from the dour business of appeasing the religious right. Time for the people who are suffering the self-deception of being "gay Republicans" to get into counseling. There is a better way!

John McCain On Gay & Lesbian Americans

Stonewall Democrats, an organization I am proud to be part of cut together this little music video of John McCain's record on LGBT rights. Nice work!

Michelle Obama Addresses Gay & Lesbian Gala

While McCain meets in secret with the Log Closet Republicans, Michelle Obama is the Keynote speaker for the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council Gala Thursday night at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Other Democratic luminaries attending will be, Howard Dean, New York Gov. David Paterson's wife, Michelle and President of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors David Cicilline.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Handgun Ban

Here in the wild west of Texas having a gun has always been seen as just a fashion accessory. The problem with them is that they keep going off and killing people. Oh well, fashion knows no pain!

Now the Supreme Court has affirmed the right of individuals to own handguns for the first time since the second amendment was written. There is that pesky part about a "well-regulated militia", but who cares about that.

The ruling strikes down Washington, DC's 32-year-old handgun ban. Now I do have to ask if that ban has made DC any safer? Somehow I doubt it, yet I have to believe that should a sudden proliferation of handguns occur, many of them will find their way into the hands of criminals. Oh boy! More criminals with guns, too! Heck, in Texas that sounds like a party, just add some booze!

Cynicism aside, I believe the country has been made less safe by this ruling. I have owned guns in the past. That past tense is because my house was burglarized and the thief stole them, along with almost everything else. That was many years ago and I haven't had a gun since. I have a burglar alarm system now.

The ruling thankfully, did not prevent states from requiring permits to carry guns. Let's hope that small measure of sanity remains in place.

Bush Administration Wants To See You In Your Yard!

Not content with invading the privacy of Americans in just about every place but the toilet, now Big Brother Bush wants to use spy satellites to spy on Americans. Consider how much you can see just using the publicly available sources like Google Earth.

The picture above is of our house. The greenhouse in the back yard is clearly visible as well as the sun room where our hot tub is. Had we been in the tub, a more powerful lens could see more than just the bubbles.

Consider that when you decide to go for a skinny dip in your fenced in backyard pool. Consider it when you decide to visit your local adult video store or when you travel to work. You could be watched, and there would be nothing you could do about it. Disturbing?

Well I am not overly modest, but I don't want Bush or his henchmen watching me go about my daily activities. Personally, I don't even want to think about them watching...but if they get their way, privacy will be a thing of the past, at least outdoors. Next, expect the thermal imaging and Xray cameras in the streets to see inside your house as well.

So what are a few rights compared to the threat of terrorists! Heck maybe we would be safer if we all lived in barbed wire surrounded camps under the watchful protective eyes of garmed guards?

Ralph Nader - Still Crazy After All These Years

Ralph Nader is so 30 minutes ago! He hasn’t done anything worth talking about since his book “Unsafe at Any Speed”. His runs for president have worked only to assure a conservative gets in the White House and though I suspect this year he will get about as many votes as Pat Paulson, he is at it again.

This time he is bashing Barack Obama and using race as his bludgeon. He accused Obama of trying to “talk white” and went on to disparage his mixed race background. Seems Nader has drifted completely into the realm of crackpot and for someone who once actually made a difference that’s sad.

The Obama campaign has responded with, “We are obviously disappointed with these very backward-looking remarks.” That is a very polite and reserved way of saying Nader is a jerk. But anyone who would insist on running just to split what few votes he could from the Democratic Party without regard to the mess it could put the country in is running purely for his own ego. Nader has no chance of winning, yet he continues to run as though he will.

Time for a reality check, Ralph. It’s over for you and has been for years. Why not do something that will actually promote the causes you claim to represent and get involved in the solution instead of seeking personal fame and aggrandizement? Take a clue from Al Gore, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for President, was cheated out of the win by the Supreme Court and still went on to win a Nobel Prize. He is doing something to make a difference. Think about it!

Log Cabins Meet With McCain - What WIll The GOP Base Think?

People have asked me why I write about Log Cabin Republicans. The short answer is I find them strikingly amusing. To me, they are like those handful of African-Americans who actually supported George Wallace when he ran for president. They are a walking oxymoron at odds with their very existence,

Now comes the news that McCain secretly met with the Log Cabin folks earlier this week. McCain apparently has scraped the bottom of the barrel when it comes to support. He seeks support from a group his party ignores and whom he actively works to deny rights. What gives?

Personally, I think this offers a great opportunity to promote the meeting with the GOP base. They will be outraged that McCain even acknowledged that gay people even exist much less are worthy of being talked to. McCain can't have it both ways. He will either alienate the GOP base of bigots and home schoolers or he will pry open the closet of the Log Cabins and look like he is pandering for votes. Oh wait, I guess he already is!

Log Cabin Republicans And Other Strange Syndromes

Sometimes I have to wonder what makes a gay man or lesbian become a Republican. It must be some strange compelling mania that overtakes them when they are young. Perhaps they are tempted into the Republican lifestyle by offers or money or lurid promises of big fancy cars. Who knows?

All I know is that it must be some kind of sickness that has yet to be addressed by the medical community. We need a “Manhattan Project” to cure Gay’s of the Republican lifestyle!

Consider the strange Log Cabin Republicans. This group claims to be working from within the party to change it. I guess in Texas they have not had much success, ever!

Here is a very telling passage directly lifted from the state’s Republican Party Platform.

Homosexuality - We believe that the practice of sodomy tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases.

Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, recognition, or privileges including, but not limited to, marriage between persons of the same sex, custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.

Texas Sodomy Statutes - We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.

I will spare you the clause about marriage being between a “natural man and natural woman”.

So why are there such strange creatures as Log Cabin Republicans? The world may never know.

Tainted Beef in Ohio and Michigan Causes Illness

Deregulation and lax regulation has lead to another exciting benefit of free market economics. A big boost in health care costs.

Take the example in Ohio and Michigan this week. Beef tainted with e-coli has popped up. 19 cases of illness atributed to the contaminated beef have been identified in Ohio and Michigan.

According to Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Robert Boggs, "the department is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to perform a trace back investigation to find the source of this ground beef." Funny how it's always tracing backwards and not preventing in advance?

Lieberman Needs To Go!

Limbaugh Calls "Blacks And Gays...Kooks"

I am reminded of the joke, “what is the difference between Rush Limbaugh and the Hindenburg?”

“One is a Zeppelin and the other is a flaming Nazi gas bag!”

As further proof of that analogy, Limbaugh yesterday called all “blacks” and “gays”, “kooks”. Not only did he smear minorities, but he went on a rant explaining that the Democratic Party is full of “fringe based kooks” and… Oh heck, why not listen to it yourself!




How can this idiot keep spouting his hate-speech on radio without the station losing its license? I guarantee if he was African-American doing the same kind of thing against whites he'd be off the air in a heartbeat. I think it's time to start a campaign to get Limbaugh off the public airwaves.

Big Gay Smootch On Letterman?

Sorry, but this image was just too good not to pass on. Last night on Letterman, Will Smith appeared thumping his new movie. They greeted with a kiss...say what! Thanks to Towleroad for find it.

Broken Government By John Dean - A Must Read

I just finished reading John Dean’s latest book, “Broken Government, How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches”. It is not light reading, but it is enlightening.

Dean carefully details the long slow demolition of our government by the Republican Party. He starts with Regan and works carefully up to the current administration and the evidence is very startling. Though they may have moved at a glacial pace, the GOP has systematically dismantled the three branches of our government and molded them into something our founding fathers would scarcely recognize.

At least one quarter of the book is notes and appendices chocked full of facts that support Dean’s premise. Starting with the legislative branch, which he calls “broken but on the mend”, he shows how political rancor and ham handed politics has replaced the collegial attitudes that the legislature once had. The Republicans, once in control, shut out the democrats and any opposition to an extent that is shocking. Only now, with the Democrats back in the seat of power has some of the bipartisanship returned.

In the Executive branch, one that Dean lists as completely broken, the powers of the President have expanded enormously. The “unitary executive” theory has governed the GOP’s ideology for many years and steadily the executive branch has become primary in the governmental process. This is extra-constitutional and not at all the role you might have learned in school. The president, through use of signing statements and raw power grabs resembles more of a dictator than the second branch of our government.

Finally the Supreme Court and the judicial branch is in sore need of repair. The shift of judges especially on the Supreme Court toward a judicial fundamentalism has and will change the freedoms of our country. The next president will most likely be appointing one of two justices and their ideology, which was once not supposed to be an issue, could change everything. This alone is a strong argument against John McCain.

Dean’s book is not an easy read, but for anyone who has been following the process of our government, it is a must. He is scholarly yet readable. Unlike his previous books, this one has an earnestness of a man on a mission. His mission is to pull our country back from the brink of something very different from the democracy we grew up with. That alone should make you nervous and willing to devote a few days to reading his book.

Obscene? How About The Google Defense!

Anyone who has half a brain knows that lots of people regularly view and enjoy adult videos and photographic material. When I say "adult" I mean what most people would call porn. I try not to use that term and here is why.

Porn or pornography is connotative of something illicit or immoral. I have long contended that viewing such material is neither illicit or immoral as long as all the participants are conscenting and of legal age. Adult oriented videos and photos and stories are simply expressions of sexuality. They arouse, titillate and enhance sexual experiences for many people and in some cases are an alternative to unsafe sexual practices.

So now that you know where I am coming from you will see why this article in the New York Times is so interesting to me.

An adult web site operator in Pensacola Florida is using an unusual defense argument. Since the measuring stick for what is and is not pornographic in the eyes of the court is that vague "community standards" clause, the defense has expanded the scope of community. Thay are showing records of searches in Google from the area to present community standards. Seems the folks in Pensecola search for the term "orgy" many more times than they do "apple pie".

It will be very intersting to see if the defense works. Personally, I feel it is long overdue. America is far to closeted about sex. We seem obsessed with hiding the fact that we like adult films and photos, otherwise it would not be the billion dollar industry it is. As Stephen Colbert would say, "the invisible had of the market has spoken!"