We've known since the Clinton administration (read: 1 1/2 decades) that hybrids were the needed cars of the future. Not only was it economically viable, consumers wanted it and environmental and national security concerns demanded it.

Yet, the "Big Three" fought this at every turn. Why? The writing was clearly on the wall- they've been losing revenue and jobs for years, and cannot compete with Japanese manufacturers who are creating the cars people need and want. No one wants to plunk down a years salary on a gas guzzling beast which requires a part time job to maintain.

Also, our fuel efficiency standards in this country are a joke. "the new fuel economy standards of 35 mpg by 2020" ? 35 mpg by 2020? This is pathetic.

We can do better. We must.

The key to the success of gay and lesbian rights and equality is not to get into a flame war about "hatred". Believe me, I know that it's hard, but it's a lesson even I myself should learn.

The success of Prop 8, and churches and institutions and politicians who use the fear card to strip us GLBT citizens of our rights is successful simply because they've been able to paint us as the scary "other".

The more we open up in our communities and in our media and culture, the greater progress toward equality. When other citizens realize that gays and lesbians pay taxes and contribute to their communities too, the stigma goes away. The best possible scenario would be a society where every gay and lesbian person were free and comfortable to come out tomorrow. That would be a moment where the bigotry and hatred would be met with overwhelming reality and quickly recede.

When we speak about the need for equality in marriage, we need to focus upon the legal aspects. Attacking people on something like faith is a losing battle, you will never get people to give up their beliefs, even if these beliefs put them on the wrong side. We must make human appeals- talk about how we'll be denied hospital visitation should our partners fall ill, or how our rights as survivors can be called into jeopardy should our partner's family wish to fight us over the estate.

Until they've done some massive re-tooling, like tearing their party down and starting from scratch.

The GOP says it supports a small central government- yet under George W. Bush, and also under Reagan, we had a massive expansion of the Federal government.

The GOP says it supports fiscally conservative policies. This however, is the biggest joke in history. Under George W. Bush we've had the largest deficit in the history of our entire nation. All of our previous deficits COMBINED don't even equal our current debt. Not to mention that the GOP throws money around like a drunken sailor at any boondoggle or piece of pork that crosses their path. New missile system? Give 'em billions! Money for schools? Screw them! Those outdated textbooks can still be used for another few years.

The GOP is a schizophrenic party whose supposed "ideals" are completely and totally at odds with their actions.

The GOP is nothing more than a party of greed, corruption, lawlessness, bigotry, hatred and violent fear. This is a party whose lawless members seek destroy the very foundation of our Nation for their own personal, petty and vindictive power. This is a party who puts party loyalty above that of country. This is a party whose members defame, revile and threaten anyone who doesn't think and act in lockstep with them. This is also a party who has the blood of millions on their hands through their brazen and reckless support and demand for a war that never needed to be fought.

This is a party that needs to be sent to the political wilderness until a better party emerges. The question we should also ask- Does the GOP deserve to come back? Or would it perhaps be better to found a new party, or parties to represent the viewpoint of citizens?

As for the GOP- they do not deserve our respect. And they damn sure don't deserve our votes.

Start paying taxes.

I'm already worried about how the next few years are going to play out. Lieberman pissed all over the Democratic Party and they did absolutely nothing to him.

I really hope that Obama can whip these jellyfish into shape.

you mean that I'll finally be afforded all of the legal rights and legal privileges of straight people- then I'm all for it.

Although, I can see a strange positive side to this story- the fact that there are people in Arkansas who feel secure enough in coming out must speak to the slow progress that we GLBT people are making. After all, it was only 10 years ago that one of the worst anti-gay hate crimes took place in a rural part of the country.

Hate groups like this need to stop insulting our collective intelligence and quit wrapping themselves in the sacred "FAMILY" label. We've been putting up with you people for nearly thirty years now, and we're all smart enough to know that any social activist "Family" group is most likely going to be comprised of mouth breathing bigots with shit for brains.

Multiple, repeated incidents do.

I think the individuals vetting all potential White House employees will be intelligent enough to realize this.

I thought these guys were better at shooting up carloads of families in Iraq.

But, hey, gotta diversify if you want to stay relevant.

I sincerely empathize with people who have taken a hit with their 401K and retirement savings. Many friends and family members of mine have taken such a hit.

However...at least you have retirement savings to begin with! A lot of people I know (myself included) are still saddled with student loan debts and are living paycheck to paycheck. Many people in our country are losing their homes.

Yeah, it sucks. But you're hardly destitute. You're not even broke.