Multiple Threads: The Gaying of America, Curb Your Spanking, Venezuela Plays "Hugo Says"
(1) The Coachella Valley is safely ensconced as one of the prime homosexual vacation destinations... yum, salivates the local chambers o' commerce, dreaming of double-income-no-kids tourists... and who can blame them?
Ron Oden, Mayor: He's Black. He's Gay. He's Us!
[Tim] Roth, who presented his findings of the company's 11th annual gay and lesbian travel survey in a luncheon with the Palm Springs Hospitality Association, said the top leisure destinations were in this order: New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles-West Hollywood, Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Chicago.Judging from the local coverage of things Gay and Lesbian, I can confidently estimate that just under 75% of the population in the west valley is homosexual.
(2) Here in California, our Democratic State Legislators once again model just how some would like the 110th Congress to lead the country. Thank heaven we don't have any o' them Republicans here — you know, that party that just can't Stay Out of Our Bedrooms and Private Lives:
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, wants to outlaw spanking children up to 3 years old. If she succeeds, California would become the first state in the nation to explicitly ban parents from smacking their kids.
Can I just have a peek into your bedroom? It's okay — I'm a Democrat!
... " I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child 3 years old or younger,'' Lieber said. " Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a six-month-old or a newborn?''
It would probably be a good idea to note here that California, like most sane states, has a fairly robust set of child abuse laws already on the books. I should also point out that Ms. Lieber's ideas of "spanking" differ quite a bit from those of most parents I know — hell, of ALL parents I know. We seem to be able to differentiate between "spanking," "beating," "whipping," etc. It will soon become plain that she cannot.
The bill, which is still being drafted, will be written broadly, she added, prohibiting "any striking of a child, any corporal punishment, smacking, hitting, punching, any of that.''
I would only counsel Wrymouth readers to support this bill if Rep. Lieber actually puts the clause "any of that" in the bill. Now THAT would be a law worth lobbying for!
Thank heaven; serial spankers of 2-year-olds would only have to attend state-sanctioned parenting courses. May I just add, for the benefit of the marginally-employable marriage and family counselors out there: cha-Ching! State contracts are headed your way!Lieber said it would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine up to $1,000, although a legal expert advising her on the proposal said first-time offenders likely only would have to attend parenting classes. ...
Lieber conceived the idea while chatting with a family friend and legal expert in children's issues worldwide. The friend, Thomas Nazario, said that while banning spanking might seem like a radical step for the United States, more than 10 European countries already do so. Sweden was the first, in 1979.
Wanta bet Mr. Nazario practices law in the Bay Area? I know that I am always looking to Europe to lead the way when it comes to family law — and also general indolence and economic blight!
Nazario said there's no good rationale for hitting
— we interrupt this sentence to point out that Mr. Nazario cannot distinguish between spanking and hitting, which tells us more about him, his upbringing and his vocabulary than it does about actual disciplinary procedure —
a child under 3, so the state should draw a "bright line'' in the law making it clear.
Okay; I'm back. I am hoping that the Mercury editors cut down Mr. Nazario's original statement about the state "drawing a bright, sparkly purple line!" to "bright line" in the interests of saving space and also not embarrassing Mr. Nazario any more than is strictly necessary.
" Why do we allow parents to hit a little child and not someone their own size?'' said Nazario, a professor at the University of San Francisco Law School.
HA! I WIN! USF Law School! Note also to Mr. Nazario, who (it becomes increasingly clear) is the Karl Rove of Rep. Lieber's inner circle: We do not allow parents to hit people their own size, but we do allow them to spank people their own size. And if you can't get a few samples of that in San Francisco, I know at least a couple of people down here that wouldn't mind paddling you, sir!
You naughty little minx er, barrister.
How 'bout we draw the line at NOT HAVING A STATE LAW AGAINST SPANKING AND ALL OTHER RELATED ACTS?" Everyone in the state is protected from physical violence, so where do you draw the line? To take a child and spank his little butt until he starts crying, some people would define that as physical violence.''
Ow; my head.
Oh, yes — you could see this coming a mile away — Rep. Lieber is married, but (as of this writing) I can't find anything on her state website indicating she has any children.
(3) Down Venezuela way, we note that Mr. Bush is not laughing at Mr. Chavez today: Mr. Chavez' legislative branch backs him wholeheartedly — maybe to a fault:
Venezuelan lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill granting President Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree for 18 months so that he can impose sweeping economic, social and political change.Emboldened by his landslide re-election last month, the leftist leader has called for “revolutionary laws” to accelerate the country's transformation into a full socialist state.
"This process is unstoppable,” lawmaker Juan Montenegro Nunez told the National Assembly Thursday. “This process is a historic necessity.”
... and my bird, Mittens, will be Secretary of Crackers!
I'm going to use my "holy crap" for the week now; I try to keep it down to one per week.
Ho-Leeee Crap.
I mean, I know it's only Venezuela and all, but who knew we were living in a hemisphere that had Hitler-lite dwelling in the basement?
Oh, I know what you're thinking: every time someone gets upset with someone else's political stance, and how they want to rule by decree and everything, and nationalize industries and resources purely for the "good of the people," then those "Hitler" appellations start flying around like sugar in a cotton candy machine.
Maybe I meant Lenin-lite. 
Categories: Californianing,Local Events,Politics,World Events
Hold on thar with the broad brush, wrymouth. The following comments on Rep Lieber's proposed bill are from what most would consider a 'whacko' liberal board I frequent: (Note: I copied ALL the responses in this thread - no cherry picking)
------------------------------------------
mike414:
California lawmaker proposes no-spanking law
"this is just about the dumbest thing i've ever seen...get rid of child abusers, obviously, but spanking??? my parents never hit me viciously but i got spanked plenty of times and there ain't a thing wrong with me....nanny state is right"
KarenS:
1. There's a huge difference in spanking and beating,,,,
goodgrief.
Horse with no Name:
2. I don't believe in spanking
I think it is an ineffective form of punishment.
With that being said, it saddens me today to see legislation on spanking and smoking.
Why don't they just make it necessary to apply for the right to have a child and throw everyone in prison that doesn't comply?
Big Kahuna:
3. Your title scared me!
I'm glad it only applies to minors!
salin:
4. Growing up, spanking was very rare
and not abusive - but when used (because it was rare) it made a *huge* impression.
The ambiguity within laws like this are their own downfall. What is a spank? To legislate it would require to define it.
I say this as one who recognizes the seriousness of child abuse, and who finds spanking -when used frequently - as inneffective (or having unintended consequences.) Point being - not a big "spank" advocate - but this legislation would seem very dicey.
tularetom:
5. I'm not a big advocate of spanking but this is a stupid law
How the hell are they going to enforce it? How will they sort out the real cases from the resentful ex-spouses, nosey neighbors, and overzealous child protectives service agents? This kind of thing just takes more time that the cops can't spend dealing with rapes, robberies and murders and real child abuse.
lligrd:
6. Uhh, I Am As Liberal As It Gets And This Law Stinks
I hate to see children hit and never hit my own - well, I did pat him on the diaper when he was two and tried to run into the street. I dare say he barely felt it under the diaper but it did get his attention. Yikes, this law would have made me a criminal.
We do not need more ridiculous laws that are impossible to enforce and applied arbitrarily and unfairly. Assault is already a crime and can be applied to parents as well as children who physically attack family members.
Let's use education instead of laws.
Swamp Rat:
7. Meanwhile, there's genocide in Darfur...
historicaljoe514:
8. I'm one of the few liberals who advocates spanking
Abuse is far different and horrible, but I was spanked as a child and it certainly taught me quickly what behaviors to avoid. My parents weren't mean or abusive at all, but when either my brother or I would majorly step out of line, a quick swat on the ass solved it. I'm not saying it works for everyone, but I believe it worked for me.
artfan:
9. although i don't advocate spanking
this is a stupid law, it diverts resources from genuine issues of child abuse.
-----------------------------------------------
See, liberal/Democratic/lefty opinion is not as monolithically ridiculous as it is usually portrayed by esteemed bloggers of the opposite persuasion. Kinda ruins the fun of a nice mocking, I know, but: there it is.
Note use of qualifier "some" in header. Note that vast majority of article mocks not middle-of-the-road Dems, but one idiotic idea of one representative with too-insular ideas of how and what state gubmints are supposed to "control."
Note that representatives of state and federal gubmints, who think that the job of gubmint is to shape societal behaviors and thinking irritate me.
Note that if you can find a whacky (R) type rep with whacky ideas, I will engage with glee, and with cannon blazing.
Stir together in a mixing bowl, lay flat and bake at 120 degrees for 45 years.
Serves "you right"
Very disingenuous, but the qualifier 'some' is counteracted by the rest of the first paragraph and the caption on the pic.
As for a whacky (R) with whacky ideas, why not take a swipe at AG Gonzalez, who somehow maintains that the Constitution does not GRANT the right of habeus corpus, it only prohibits the revocation of the right.
" Very disingenuous, but the qualifier 'some' is counteracted by the rest of the first paragraph and the caption on the pic. "
Just what color is the Kool-Aid on your planet?
" As for a whacky (R) with whacky ideas, why not take a swipe at AG Gonzalez, who somehow maintains that the Constitution does not GRANT the right of habeus corpus, it only prohibits the revocation of the right. "
Avast! Bring 'er hard about, Queequeg!
No comment on the picture of 'Ugo and the lorakeet? C'mon -- that's comedy!
Yes, hilarious!
-- wha'?
You've conflated "liberal," "Democrat," and "lefty"... I'm confused. I thought those were different qualities.
Next thing you know, you're going to tell me that not all righty-tighty/Republic/neo-cons don't have Groupthink and are not all evil, self-absorbed money-grubbers.
You'll have to prove this to me. :-D