[In a Gallup Poll, 49] percent said they view Bush favorably with 46 percent saying they view him unfavorably.
The last time Bush had a positive approval rating was in 2005, when he registered a 54 percent positive and 45 negative split. Bush’s approval rating has slowly improved since bottoming out in early 2008 at 66 percent negative and 32 positive.
The anti-gays in France are a coalition put together by the Catholic church and France’s UMP opposition party (basically, the French version of the Republican party that thought it was a bright idea to hitch its wagon to anti-gay bigotry, the same failed trick the American GOP tried these past 30+ years). The coalition has close ties to the American religious right, particularly NOM. And their leader is a French comedienne, Frigide Barjot, whose nom de plume is apparently a sexual pun on the name of French actress’ Brigitte Bardot. Quite a recipe for success.
Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the gay-bashing. The French public gave a collective sigh, and didn’t come to side of the bigots (a majority of the French support gay marriage). But some else did. The French far right, most notably violent white supremacists.
Sometimes, when a glass ceiling cracks, it’s time to call in a construction crew. Such is the case in the Senate, where a historic number of female senators has meant traffic jams in the ladies’ room off the Senate floor. Now there are renovations underway to make room.
Once completed (after the August recess, the women are being told ), they’ll have a nicer and more spacious facility befitting their number, which is 20—a fifth of the Senate.
"Yes, it is difficult," [the Pope] reportedly said. "In the Curia there are holy people, truly holy people. But there is also a current of corruption, also there is, it is true... they speak of a 'gay lobby' and that is true, it is there [...] we will have to see what we can do."
A Vatican spokesman declined to comment on the statement, which was reported by the Chilean Catholic website, Reflexion y Liberation. "This was a private meeting held by the Pope and I will not comment on private meetings," said Father Federico Lombardi.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) has signed on to cosponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would expand workplace protections to LGBT individuals.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the bill in the Senate on April 25, and with the inclusion of Heitkamp, there are now 49 cosponsors.
Heitkamp quietly signed on as a cosponsor June 7, with no public notice. A Democratic aide confirmed Heitkamp's inclusion to The Huffington Post. Her office did not immediately return a request for comment.
Two Republicans have signed on: Sens. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois. Besides Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who does not co-sponsor bills, but strongly supports ENDA, five Democrats have yet to sign on: Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Bill Nelson of Florida and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
On today's
Kagro in the Morning show,
Greg Dworkin brings us a few non-NSA happenings, including the collapse of the IRS story, Bloomberg's move to cut off big donor funding for Dems against the gun bill, and the state of play on immigration reform.
Armando weighed in on NSA/Snowden legality and constitutionality (and "hero" versus "traitor" labeling, as well). Finally, Ted Cruz blocks budget progress, demanding assurances no debt ceiling increase will be added in conference. But is that even a thing that can happen? Well, yes and no. So is Ted Cruz off his rocker? Well, yes and no. But really, yes.