I.V.’s resident comedian takes a look at all things Obama from a lefty comedian’s standpoint

By Debra M. Cole

I’ve heard a lot of complaints from my gay and lesbian friends in conversations and on the web about the Obama administration being slow to act on LGBT issues. The emotions range from mild disappointment to outrage.  They’re upset that he hasn’t repealed the “don’t ask don’t tell policy of our military.” They were angry that he kept quiet when California voted on Prop 8 and when Maine rejected gay marriage at the ballot box. And even though he extended health benefits for same sex couples who are federal employees. That was considered a small step and perhaps just a gesture.

I’m quite open about my support of gay marriage. I sincerely believe all Americans should have the right to humiliate themselves on the Divorce Court Show. Everyone in this great country should have equal opportunity to appear on daytime trash TV. However, when I was asked on Facebook to sign a petition protesting Obama’s decision to have Rick Warren do the invocation at the inauguration, I wasn’t into it. (more…)

President-Elect Obama, you want to improve the schools? Start with encouraging states to slash the technology budget.

By Debra Cole

I know what you’re thinking by the sub-title. Apparently this writer is in a nursing home, gumming applesauce while surfing between the DNA results of “Who my baby Daddy” on Maury Povich, and reruns of the Golden Girls. Or, the writer has pledged allegiance to a paranoid anti-computer commune in Idaho that has a 15:1 semi-automatic weapon ratio. (more…)

What’s wrong with paying more in taxes?

By Colin Brennan

I see this again and again and again, to the point that I’m exhausted with it. Every single Republican I know or read from is riding this one, consistent fear. They are terrified of losing their well earned cash, and the word behind it all is always the same: communism. (more…)

Resurrecting their reputations

By Elan Barnehama
In an odd way Sarah Palin’s performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend and Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama on Meet the Press served similar purposes for each public figure. While both events accomplished their immediate election related goals, each appearance seemed to support a personal agenda to regain and rebuild personal reputations.

Sarah Palin has become more and more irritated withher handlers and the top brass of the McCain campaign who have mishandled and muted, if not censored, her. (more…)

This professional comedian and educator thinks so.

By Debra M. Cole

I’m a Native Georgian, raised in Waycross and reside in Atlanta.

My southern twang is unapologetically thick as molasses. I direct a church choir. I love barbeque, beer, boiled peanuts and country music. And although I can’t stand NASCAR, a man who does is not automatically discounted in my pursuit of happiness. I’m also a proud smart-ass Democrat. This “condition” as many South Georgians would call it, emerged as my political persuasion in high school, only to grow stronger through college, graduate school, school of hard knocks, and my time served in our country’s largest archaic and anti-intellectual hellhole, otherwise known as public education. (more…)

Democrat’s view: Nothing Delivered

By Elan Barnehama

I was really looking forward to Sarah Palin’s speech—and while I could barely make it through Mayor Guilliani’s sophomoric diatribe aimed at getting his campaign debt paid off by the Republican party, I waited it out.

When I first learned that Senator McCain chose Governor Palin as his running mate, I didn’t have a problem with her limited experience. I’ve always liked McCain and was eager to learn more about his pick. (more…)

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A humorous look at education in America today from a public school teacher

By Debra Cole

(Editors note: read this as though hearing it with an exaggerated Southern accent).

Well, I’m going through a break up. Yes with the county school system where I work as a teacher. It’s a no fault divorce although I’ve been emotionally cheating on them for quite some time. They get the kids, the laptop, and my salary. I get freedom from the Nazi style propaganda.

Teaching is an ok job. But when you’re in a job that doesn’t suit you, it’s like wearing shoes every day that don’t quite fit. (more…)

Clinton supporters are sore losers which may cost the Democrats the White House

By Elan Barnehama

I have a lot of experience with the agony of defeat. Sure, winning is better, but that’s the way contests go. And it’s certainly the way a democracy works. As a candidate, you don’t always win. As a voter, you don’t always get to choose the winner. In either case, you gather yourself up and get ready to try again. Or you throw your support to another candidate, another bill, another policy. (more…)

Our collective standards for choosing a president haven’t gotten any higher

By Elan Barnehama

I was recently surprised to discover that George W. Bush was still in office. Two years of a relentless rush to press with every nuance of primary coverage (gossip) had produced a news blackout. And then, after it was over, I barely had time to catch my breath before the six-month election campaign coverage began. The primaries were replaced with daily score sheets rating the McCain and Obama campaigns’ performance, read by newscasters who reported on the days tally. So, it was easy to see how I forgot, or just didn’t remember. Besides, the way things have been going lately, it’s not hard to understand why I felt like no one has been in charge. (more…)