Friday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

What a week this has been. It was last Friday, right around now, when we first started reading the Obama administration's brief. What a shocker. Still is. The Obama administration's response has been appalling. But, I think the LGBT community and our allies have learned some valuable lessons (almost all of us, there are still some apologists, but, Washington being Washington, most of them have some kind of vested interest, like wanting a job in the administration or something like that.) I can't help but wonder if there aren't people in the West Wing who really don't mind having the gay community upset with Obama. That's the kind of cynical politics that has been pervasive for 16 years. We were told Obama wasn't that kind of politician. But, this whole thing has had a very craven feel to it. That's the kind of politics that will damage the "change" brand and shows Obama really is just another politician.

Also, many of us were more than willing to cut the new president some slack so he could enact his top priorities, like health care reform. That's turning into a big mess, too. We need the president to lead -- and to remember why people voted for him. And, the clowns on Capitol Hill, especially the Senators-for-Life, need to smarten up, too.

Let's get it started...there's lots to do.