AUSTIN, Texas -- My, we are off to an elegant start here, aren't we?

            First, we have John Kerry in a classic open-mike gaffe referring to his Republican opponents as "crooked" and "lying." While this was not a high point in the history of political rhetoric, Kerry's refusal to apologize for the overhead remark promptly solidified his base.

            "Hey, he's got more guts than I thought," said many a pleased Democrat, convinced the Bushies (SET ITAL) are (END ITAL) all liars and crooks. So he is now free to go forth and talk of health care.  

            Naturally, the Republicans postured in comically pretend outrage and demanded an apology. The indictment brought back happy memories of the Bush open-mike gaffe in 2000, in which he called a reporter "an asshole" and then refused to apologize. But we are now on Election Year Double Standard Time, a time zone in which your side lies constantly and my side is noble, true and brave -- except for those moments when the other side's despicable conduct forces our side to get tough, too.

Things may be shaping up nicely for Ralph Nader, who could very soon receive an unlikely endorsement from the Ross Perot founded Texas Reform Party. This may prove to be a huge victory for Nader's solo candidacy, as the support from the conservative Reformers could help him gain ballot access for the upcoming November election.

As you well know, Texas is not renowned for its democratic virtues or integrity (remember Trent Lott's legislative redistricting?).  And now Nader faces numerous hurdles as he attempts to get his name on the state's ballot.   Texas requires over 64,000 signatures by its May 10th deadline, and nobody who cast a vote in its presidential primary can sign his petition.   But that's where the Reform Party may lend a helping hand.

Un-registered Third Parties are required to garner only 45,540, with a slightly later deadline of May 24th. Independants are not currently recognized as a Third Party, and in Texas only Democrats and Republicans are reserved special access to the state's ballot.

Nader would of course openly embrace the Reform Party's support, but claims

I'm for anything that terrifies Democrats, outrages Republicans and upsets the apple cart. But exultation about the gay marriages cemented in San Francisco, counties in Oregon and New Mexico and some cities in New York is entirely misplaced.

        Why rejoice when the state extends its grip? Assimilation is not liberation. Peter Tatchell, the British gay leader, put it even more strongly a couple of years ago: "Equality is a good start, but it is not sufficient. Equality for queers inevitably means equal rights on straight terms, since they are the ones who dominate and determine the existing legal framework. We conform -- albeit equally -- with their screwed up system. That is not liberation. It is capitulation."

        So the good news, as my favorite paper, UltraViolet (newsletter of LAGAI -- Queer Insurrection) recently put it, is not that 400 gay couples are now legally married in San Francisco but that 69,201 in the city (UltraViolet's number) are still living in sin.

March 6th I videotaped the event commemorating the 10th anniversary of California's 3 Strikes Law at Leimart Park in Los Angeles, which included family members of some of the more than 7500 currently serving 25-to-life sentences under the law.  There were only about 100 in attendance, which is particularly shocking because the initiative to modify the law, so that it only pertains to serious crimes, has only 2 more weeks to qualify for the ballot.

I will be happy to send a copy of the 2-hour videotape of the event, together with a petition to pass, to anyone that will commit to collecting at least a few signatures and submitting them before the April 1st deadline. A donation of $3 to help with postage and materials will be requested but will not be required of those who collect signatures and mail them in before the deadline. Extra copies of the videotape sent at the same time will also be available upon request for an extra $2 each. Please specify the total number of "3-Strikes videos" you would like when you order, and send your remittance after they come. I will include an envelope for your remittance with my address on it.

AUSTIN, Texas -- How much fun can one administration have? More dead GIs. New record trade deficit. Stock market plunges. Ally in Spain goes down to defeat. The new Spanish prime minister says the occupation in Iraq is a "continuing disaster" and he's pulling his troops out. Still no jobs. And then they guy who was supposed to be the new jobs czar turns out to have laid off 75 of his own workers and then built a $3 million factory in China to employ 165 Chinese people. Whoever has the aspirin concession at the White House must be making a fortune.

            The unfortunate matter of the would-be jobs czar came at a particularly awkward moment. More than six months ago, President Bush promised to appoint a "manufacturing czar" at the Commerce Department. As the Center for American Progress points out, since then we've lost another 250,000 manufacturing jobs. Bush was on his way to Ohio last week, where the economy has just been hemorrhaging jobs, to "focus on jobs." He actually claimed, "We're creating jobs -- good, high-paying jobs for the American citizen."