Why we don't need to jump the gun with Iran (and screw that up worse than it is)

As I've said (although it was said by people a lot smarter than me longbefore) that Iran's moderate's don't want to live in an Islamistbackwater. They've tasted Capitalism and freedom and they like it (Justlike Levi's in Russia). So, it looks like the worst thing we could dowould be to act aggressively toward Iran and unify the entire countrybehind the psycho currently in power.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/19/iran.elections.ap/index.html

excerp[t from email "discussion" with Bushie friend

Initially he claimed "all the data shows" that gay marriage is bad for kids, implying that gay parents are not as suitible parents. I then showed him data that said otherwise and he changed his tune to "noboby knows": So, I hit him with this:

As for your “nobody knows” (although I’m still confused how you went from “all the data shows” to “nobody knows” in 13 minutes…and especially since you went to such to such absolutes from “ALL” data to “NOBODY” knows. Quite a position shift in 13 minutes.


This is from a meta study of dozens of studies about the children of Gay parents vs. Heterosexual parents from the American Psychological Association.

In summary, there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women or gay men are
unfit to be parents or that psychosocial development among children of lesbian
women or gay men is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual
parents. Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be
disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual
parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided
by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual
parents to support and enable children's psychosocial growth

.

But it seems like the biggest problem the children of Gay parents experience is from bigoted people like you who deny or are ignorant of empirical studies.

Unlike heterosexual parents and their children, however, lesbian and gay parents
and their children are often subject to prejudice because of their sexual
orientation that can turn judges, legislators, professionals, and the public
against them, sometimes resulting in negative outcomes, such as loss of physical
custody, restrictions on visitation, and prohibitions against adoption

So, if you want to see what the worst thing that happens to children of gay parents…look in the mirror.

Incoming Defense Chief says the obvious

Before Bush emasculated the GOP last month, this kind of talk would have resulted in a firing, smear campaign, etc. Now the Bushies have to face reality, this and the rest of reality they have ignored for 6 years. Bush figures he’s got 2 years to get out of Iraq and claim victory. And with only he and Karl Rove knowing what “Victory” is, they can declare it whenever they want.

I would expect a declaration of victory somewhere around June 2008 regardless of what Iraq looks like.



Incoming defense chief says U.S. losing in Iraq

By Robert Burns The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded today that the United States is losing the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."
At the outset of his Senate confirmation hearing, Gates said he is open to new ideas about correcting the U.S. course in Iraq, which he said would be his highest priority if confirmed as expected.

Gates, 63, said he believes President Bush wants to see Iraq improve to the point where it can govern and defend itself, while seeking a new approach. "What we are now doing is not satisfactory," Gates said.

"In my view, all options are on the table, in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq," he added. Asked point-blank by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whether the U.S. is winning in Iraq, Gates replied, "No, sir."