The Chucksphere

RNC chairman Michael Steele trots out the newest excuse to deny gays the right to marry: it would cost too much money. Yes, he’s arguing that it would cost too much to small businesses if they had one of their gay employees get married such that they had to put their new man-spouse on the company healthcare plan. Of course, this has great implications. While gays are only 5-7% percent of the population, straights make up significantly more. So, if the government can save small business owners so much money by denying gays the right to marry, why not save them more by abolishing marriage altogether? We’d save so much more in health insurance costs! Enough to get us out of this depression, maybe! BAN MARRIAGE NOW!

Also in the news were the report covers delivered to our former President on war related issues. Apparently, the Department of Defense liked to spruce them up with still images of military things and Bible quotes. This brings forth two reactions:
1. Well, looks like we got ourselves into a Holy War, boys!
2. Why the hell did the Secretary of Defense have to “spice up” reports to the president on the war that he had started? Could they not capture his interest in any other way? Did he start to float away during briefings unless the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made pew-pew sounds when illustrating the newest offensive in Iraq? The man in charge of a country should be able to concentrate on something as vital as a national security document without it being “spruced up.” No wonder the man had “handlers.” (”What is he, a BEAR?” — Lewis Black)

Glenn Greenwald pats Keith Olbermann on the back for calling Obama out on his dangerous continuation of Bush-era policies vis-a-vis secrecy, security(-theater), and military tribunals.