Presidential Candidates

I'm still looking over everyone, but so far I'm very torn between Kucinich and Gravel. Both support same-sex marriage, as opposed to all the other Democrats who say no way to same-sex marriage but take the "politically safe" stance of "but there should be domestic partnerships." Both support universal health care. I won't even touch the Iraq war beyond saying it's pretty obvious this can't be used as a choosing point because no Democratic candidate that I know of is politically suicidal enough to NOT oppose the war.

One thing I find particularly interesting and compelling toward Gravel is that he is the ONLY candidate I've seen come right out and support transgendered people. From his website: "[Gravel] supports expanding hate-crime legislation and opposes laws that allow discrimination against sexual orientation, as well as discrimination on the basis of one's gender identity or expression."

In general I think I might have to support Kucinich in the primaries only because I think he has a better shot, though it troubles me to post that thought. I would hope that Kucinich would pick up Gravel as a VP candidate if he were to get the nomination, but one never really knows.

And now, while it pains me to quote from the only President elected from New Hampshire and certainly not someone for whom our state should be proud, it is a good quote, so...

"The dangers of a concentration of all power in the general government of a confederacy so vast as ours are too obvious to be disregarded." - Franklin Pierce

AT&T vs. Pearl Jam

A short while ago canongrrl  posted this entry about AT&T censoring Pearl Jam. Please read her post to get an idea of what happened. There was some debate there as to whether AT&T actively censored Pearl Jam or whether it was an accident as AT&T claims. It has come out that Davey Brown Entertainment, the vendor hired by AT&T to produce the webcast, DID actively censor Pearl Jam when they spoke out against Bush.

Now Trillium Asset Management Corporation (Trillium), a socially responsible investment firm with over 200,000 shares of AT&T Inc. common stock under management, is demanding answers from AT&T and want to know how much AT&T knew about Davey Brown Entertainment's actions before the censorship went public.

Read Trillium's letter here.

Spiritual Satisfaction

I may not have been able to enjoy the PVL summer party as I had to work today, but I still arrived late and got my chance to swim in the lake. It was splendid. I have a strong spiritual connection with water and rarely get to go to such wonderful bodies of water, so I cherish the few moments like today. I feel so refreshed and in higher spirits. Today really gave me an opportunity to clear my thoughts and emotions and just be alive and relaxed and connected.