Dust off and fight on.  New Jersey is next.

Here’s an ad from marriage supporters….

Friends console one another after learning about the unofficial defeat on Question 1 at election night headquarters in Portland, Maine, early Wednesday morning, Nov. 4, 2009. Maine voters decided decide to rescind the Legislature's approval of same-sex marriage.(AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach)

Thousands of Maine citizens woke up today with less rights than they did when they went to sleep.  The voters of the state approved a measure that took back the right of gay couples to marry that the legislature had passed months ago.  Round we go again…

The ‘For the Children’ ads apparently did the trick, as in California.  The  big story from this will likely be the role played by the Catholic Church in the effort to repeal marriage rights.  The Church was the largest donor to the effort, invoking much controversy when they passed the plate in several weekend services specifically to help run the ads that you see in previous posts.  Again, I have no words.

A group that does have words, however, are the folks at Liberty Counsel, explaining their joy at their “victory” in Maine yesterday.  Does this talk actually appeal to decent human beings?

“There’s good news and bad news here,” said Barber. “The good news is that even in one of the most liberal States in the Union, Maine, the people have once again rejected the ridiculous and oxymoronic notion of ‘same sex marriage.’ The momentum has again shifted – hopefully for good this time – in favor of protecting legitimate marriage.

“A counterfeit is a counterfeit. An orange is an orange no matter how much you want it to be a turnip. This isn’t about ‘marriage.’ It’s about hurting and broken people desperately seeking affirmation of an objectively deviant lifestyle. One that, even in their heart of hearts, they know to be a dead end. As for the militant ‘No on 1’ homosexual activists? I’m reminded of spoiled children dressing up and playing house, refusing to come in when mom calls for dinner”. [...]

“This is an historic battle for the minds and souls of our children – for our very culture. The mealy-mouthed approach must end. This is not just about ‘marriage.’ It has everything to do with forced affirmation of homosexuality – under penalty of law.

The vote for marriage equality in Maine draws near.  Polls show a deadlock, 48% to 48%.  As a refresher, the Maine legislature passed a bill legalizing gay marriage.  The governor signed it, making it law.  Shortly after, a citizen referendum was spearheaded to overturn the legislative decision.

Opponents of same-sex marriage have released two more ads.  I have no words.  Confession: my ability to offer any sort of objective comment on these things has long ago disappeared.  To me, these are hateful, sad displays that will be cringed at years from now.   But that could simply be a product of my clear bias.  Consider for yourself, I suppose…

At least this ridiculous ad currently running in Washington doesn’t hide the fact that it thinks one particular religious view should be mandated upon the entire state…

Sacred Ground from Protect Marriage Washington on Vimeo.

KG, Paul, and random stranger hold up Olympic rings on Daley Plaza

No words need typing to describe the saddness that befell all of us on Daley Plaza the moment we learned that our beloved city was eliminated from contention for hosting 2016’s biggest party.  On the first round.

Other have already typed the words: stunned, shocked, disgusted, flabbergasted…

Other have already given the rallying cry: keep our heads up, funnel the energy, move on stronger…

Personally, my spirits returned quickly without need for the generic rallying cry.  For that, I know exactly who I need to thank:  The Cubs.  A lifetime as a Cubs fan is a lifetime of preparation for these moments. A Cubs fan knows disappointment and knows how to find strength and sucess in spots where others fail to see any.  We don’t just say these cliches…we live them.

Competition is about stepping into the stadium at the beginning, not holding the trophy at the end.

Losing once is not losing forever, no matter how much it may seem that way.

Victory can be achieved by keeping faith in the face of arrogant winners.

Go Chicago Go.

The countdown to the Olympic announcement inches forward.  The current tally: 9 hours, 8 minutes, 2 seconds.

I have been scanning new stories on a continual basis to get the buzz.  The cliff noted findings: Very very close, but if forced to pick just one, odds makers say Chicago wins.  However, experts also note that front-runner status at the very end is often a negative characteristic.  Oy.

Andrew Sullivan has long been my favorite mega-blogger.  His online audience is so huge, however, that it often seems silly to parrot things he says.  It’s like posting something said by Oprah because she needs help spreading the word.  Kind of unneccessary.  Yet, I like his stream of conscious comments today summing up his role in making hay about gay rights matters..

It’s that last point that brings this home. A gay couple can be together for thirty years and still be regarded as total strangers by their own government and by their own president and their own Speaker. They can be denied access to hospitals, thrown out of shared apartments if one of them dies, barred from the funerals of their spouses, and denied over one thousand federal benefits. They can be forced to testify against one another in court, or be forced to leave the country in order to have a stable home if one of them is an immigrant. [...]

One major political party regards this kind of cruelty and discrimination as something so vital it wants to enshrine it in the federal constitution – a position championed by the last “compassionate conservative” president. And his successor pays lip-service in small gatherings of gay activists, takes their money and work and support but will not lift a pinkie finger to help. All the time he is firing gay servicemembers for the crime of being gay.

He may believe it is prudent to wait. That is his prerogative. It is my prerogative to call the first black president missing in action on the vital matter of a minority’s civil rights.

First, a bit of news.  I had a dream last night about a unique passion:  Halloween music.

Following that inspiration, in the mold of last year’s “Greatest Christmas Music Countdown,” we will have a “Greatest Halloween Music Countdown.”  There will likely be 13 songs of this list, because I have no energy to come up with another spooky number that relates to Halloween.  However, all of this is condition to change.

For Today,

It’s A Beautiful Morning – The Rascals

It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day

Countdown to the Announcement: 3 days, 23 hours, 4 minutes. And all the Chicago supporters get a little more excited…

Obama would be the first U.S. president to take on such a direct role in lobbying for an Olympics event. [...]

Obama is also mobilizing his administration on behalf of Chicago’s bid. Senior adviser Jarrett, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, will also be joining the president and first lady in Copenhagen. All are from Illinois.

They join a Chicago contingent already packed with more star power than a Hollywood red carpet.

The first lady is one of the few people who rivals her husband in visibility, and she’ll be joined by talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who trails only Angelina Jolie on Forbes’ annual Celebrity 100 list, a ranking of the rich and famous’ most powerful.

Also, in case you haven’t gotten a chance to see the Chicago plans in detail, here’s the best 5 minute video explaining where everything would be with cool renderings…

The Kenny/Dave collaboration.

I’m Alive – Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews

Breathing in and out’s a blessing, can’t you see?