The Political Whore

By Lorna Bracewell
PoHo contributor

Hooray for Florida’s very own  Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen! On Wednesday, along with a bipartisan coalition of 100 House members led by Rep. Barney Frank, she introduced a revised (read: trans inclusive) version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). When passed, ENDA will extend existing Federal protections against employment discrimination to also protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

A version of ENDA that did not include protections for transgender people passed the house in 2007 but died in the Senate. In a recent interview with the Washington Blade, Frank was cautiously hopeful about the bill’s prospects in 2009: “Things have gotten better. The transgender community is lobbying hard.  I just need to remind people that when we have trouble doing something in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, it doesn’t get easier when you have South Carolina, Utah and Nebraska.”

Photo: http://www.newnetherland.org/ship.html

This afternoon’s featured community in the National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards (the conference convenes in Tampa next week) is Albany, N.Y.:

Albany, New York
Albany’s “Living History” Project: Half Moon Replica Ship & New Netherland Museum

As Albany commemorates 2009 as the 400th year since legendary explorer Henry Hudson first sailed to its shores, a floating educational institution, inspired by his voyages, completes its first decade of discovery. The Half Moon, a stunningly accurate replica of Hudson’s ship, is committed not only to preserving an important part of national heritage, but also is dedicated to educating youth by inspiring a love of history and fostering community involvement. Created in 1989 at the Port of Albany’s snowdock, The Half Moon was designed to be a unique method to teach youth in the Capital Region about their state’s rich history and heritage, and, most importantly, about themselves. As part of an annual curriculum for thousands of students, the Half Moon has been an incredible “hands on” sailing history lesson for more than 500 selected local young people since its maiden voyage ten years ago. At least twice every year, twelve middle-schoolers man the ship on a “Voyage of Discovery” from Lower New York Harbor to Albany. Students spanning the entire Capital District are involved, from city and rural school districts with incredibly diverse backgrounds.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-18 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

From the Stooopid Idea Dep’t.:

Fly the backup of Air Force One, a 747, with its engines screaming, low over Lower Manhattan, F-16 trailing it, without telling New Yorkers it was all for a photo shoot and not another 9-11 attack.

The White House Military advisor has apologized.

Video after the jump.

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Former Rep. Dick Armey was scolded after losing his cool during an appearance on Hardball last night, where he told Salon editor in chief Joan Walsh he’s “so damn glad” she isn’t his wife.

Walsh and Armey were in a heated debate about the relevance of Rush Limbaugh in the GOP.

“I am so damn glad that you could never be my wife, ’cause I surely wouldn’t have to listen to that prattle from you every day,” Armey said.

“Well, that makes two of us,” Walsh shot back.

New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, waiting off camera for an appearance, later said on-air: “Dick Armey was so far out of line in the last segment with his sexist comments, and he owes Joan Walsh and your viewers an apology.”

Matthews later apologized on behalf of the former House Majority Leader, and said the comments were “overboard.”

Video below: Read the rest of this entry »

…neither a Kennedy nor a Cuomo nor any other famous name. It’s Kirsten Gillibrand, a congresswoman from upstate known for “bold political moves and centrist policy positions.” Gov. David Paterson’s selection of Gillibrand might qualify as a “bold political move” in itself; those centrist positions of hers have won her the endorsement of the NRA, she’s only been in Congress  (her first elected office) since 2006, and the selection is already drawing fire from downstate liberals.