U.S. Congress

Transcript of President Obama's Second Inaugural Address

Here is President Obama's second inaugural address as prepared for delivery on Jan. 21, 2013.Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring ... More >>

Charlie Rangel: The Poster Boy For Congressional Term Limits?

Congressman Charlie Rangel escaped this year's Democratic primary -- and subsequent recount -- with his job and likely will be returning to Congress for what will be his 22nd term, which begs the question: is it time for Congressional term limits?Just to put the longtime representative's reign into ... More >>

Healthcare Ruling: Will It Help The Prez Or Rally The Rabid Republican Base

Remember in 2010 when Republicans picked up 63 seats in the House of Representatives in the biggest loss for a party (in this case, the Democratic Party) in the House since 1938? And how the huge loss can be partially attributed to right-wing outrage over President Obama's healthcare plan? Well, the ... More >>

New York Totally Prefers Hillary Clinton To Andrew Cuomo: Poll

New Yorkers heart Hil a lot more than their gov -- so much that they would pick her over Andrew Cuomo 60-25 percent in a presidential primary. In a new poll commissioned by the New York Daily News, 400 city Dems said that they would pick Clinton, who beat Barack Obama by 17 points in the state's 20 ... More >>

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Andrew Cuomo Endorse the Respect for Marriage Act

​Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Respect for Marriage Act, on a party line vote of 10 to 8. The bil, if passed, would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and make same-sex marriages legal through out the United States. (The bill will never pass, however, for it would ... More >>

Paul Oetken, First Openly Gay Judge, Confirmed to Federal Bench

​James Paul Oetken was confirmed to the United States District Court yesterday for the Southern District of New York. He was the first ever openly gay man ever appointed to the federal bench.

Thailand to Elect Female Prime Minister; Fighter Jet Intercepts Plane Near Obama

​Thailand looks set to elect its first-ever female prime minister, CNN reports. Exit polling shows "Yingluck Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai party with a wide lead over incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democratic Party." Shinawatra's party also appears to be set to take the majori ... More >>

Anthony Weiner Resigns for Real, Effective at Midnight

​Sexting congressman Anthony Weiner said he'd call it quits from the House of Representatives back on Thursday, explaining that the "distraction [he] created" -- with his penis, mostly -- makes his work "impossible." Today came the official letter, addressed to New York Secretary of State Cesa ... More >>

Joe Crowley, New York Congressman, Pulls a Bob Dylan Against GOP on Capitol Hill

Rep. Joe Crowley, who represents New York's 7th District, took a creative approach to attacking the GOP on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in a presentation without spoken words titled, "Speechless." Even if it's not a direct homage to Bob Dylan, it reminds us pleasantly of "Subterran ... More >>

Manifest Destiny

Mexico lost the war, but won the battle

Somali Pirates Hijack American Couple's Yacht; Man Saved After Staten Island Ferry Jump; Bronx Rapist Busted (Weekend Links)

Jean and Scott Adam, an American couple, were taken captive by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean yesterday. The pair were sailing from Mumbai to Oman when they were captured, and "sources onshore in Somalia indicated that a well-known piracy gang from northern Somalia had captured them and was ta ... More >>

Don't Ask Don't Tell Repealed by House, Again

​The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 250 to 175 (almost straight down party lines) to repeal the ban on openly gay and lesbian soldiers in the U.S. military. This is the second time a repeal has been approved by the House. Previously it was repealed in connection with a defense spend ... More >>

Sidebar: Mexican Macro-Economics

Free Will Astrology: November 24 through 30, 2010

Dan Choi Off To The White House at 2PM: Handcuffs Needed? [UPDATED]

​Judging by a recent tweet, it would appear that Dan Choi is speaking to Harry Reid's office again, despite the fallout they may have had over certain comments he made about the Majority Leader in certain publications. As the 111th Congress convenes today for possibly the last time, Choi twee ... More >>

Milton Balkany, Brooklyn Rabbi With Clout, Guilty as Charged in Shakedown Case

Frances M. Roberts/Newscom​A jury in Manhattan federal court yesterday convicted Brooklyn Rabbi Milton Balkany of extortion, thus ending one of New York's longest-running lucky streaks. The verdict caps a seven-day trial which revealed a drama worthy of John Guare or David Mamet: Secretly reco ... More >>

Gay Takeaways From Election Night

The first openly gay winner of yesterday's election won long before the polls even opened on the East Coast...in Guam! A former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam, openly gay Benjamin Cruz won re-election to the Guam Senate. Not nearly as far away but perhaps even more surprising, Jim Gray ... More >>

How Joe My God's Minions Helped Track Down "All Faggots Must Die" Senate Staffer

Chambliss is claiming "credit," so far...​Senator Saxby Chambliss' (R-Georgia) has said that a staffer in his office Tuesday wrote the comment "all faggots must die" in a post about the 'Don't' Ask, Don't Tell' Senate vote which appeared at New York gay blogger Joe Jervis's site Joe My God. Ru ... More >>

In the U.S. Senate, A Hearing on Downgrading Rape Complaints; In Our City Council, Crickets (Update)

While elected officials here in the city are reticent to hold public hearings on allegations published in the Village Voice on the downgrading of criminal complaints by the NYPD, the United States Senate has no such qualms about looking at the practice across the country. Senator Arlen Specter, a d ... More >>

The Terror Babies Conspiracy Anderson Cooper Freakout! (Video)

​Terror Babies. Yes, "Terror Babies." Anderson Cooper recently had Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert (R) on his show to discuss Terror Babies. And Gohmert freaked out on Cooper and started yelling at him. What are Terror Babies, you ask?

How to Have a Green Cookout; Tomatoes Make a Comeback This Year

​Target, Wal-Mart, and Costco sell items like recycled aluminum foil, additive-free charcoal briquets, and compostable cutlery for the ultimate green cookout. [Wall Street Journal] Since the launch of Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go in Southern California in November 2008, dozens of food vendors across ... More >>

Jonathan Tasini Carries a Democratic Torch Against Gillibrand

Rebel in a pinstriped suit

Senate Passes Health Care Bill; Democrats Doomed, Say Rightbloggers

​The Senate passed its version of the health care bill this morning on a straight party vote. The bill now has to be reviewed by the House of Representatives and reconciled with its own bill, which will probably take some time, especially as President Obama is now also pushing for a new jobs b ... More >>

Free Will Astrology: October 8 through 14

Horoscope

The Queer Agenda 2007

An incremental approach to making gay life a little bit more fabulous

The New Americanism

Through the new Congress, we can begin to take back our country from George III's descendants

Best and Worst of Sex 2006

From creepy sexin' to tofu-bashing to liquid pussy, Tristan gives her 12-month roundup

The Bush Family Coup

Son revisits the sins of the father on America

What's the Deal With John Murtha?

The veteran congressman who wants troops out of Iraq

Hammer Slammer Ding-Dong

Merry Christmas! There is a G-D! And other reactions to the Tom DeLay criminal indictment

Time for Plan B

New tactics for the same pressing issues

The Best Votes Money Can Buy

Facts and figures of the most expensive election campaign in U.S. history

Protesters of Torture—and Vice Versa

House Rules: Shut Up!

Group Portrait

How Latin is it? From Carmen Miranda and Pelé to J.Lo

Bush Boys Play Doctor

Your Bed, Your Hospital Bed—Wherever

Nation

Chicken Run

Scared Congress Seeks Shelter in Nuclear Henhouse

Nation

Nation Could Get Bipartisan Presidency

Congress Has Power to Give Shrub and Joe the Keys; Gore, Cheney Would Get Bus Fare Home

Hollywood Babble On

Easy, Senators! There’s enough money for everybody.

Low Friends in High Places

Sex Slaves! (and Other Tales From Hillary’s Campaign Finance Report)

Can Mr. Smith-ereen Go to Washington?

Powerpop Star Sets Sights on Senate

Bias Ban in the Balance

Will Lazio Burn State Hate Crimes Bill's 'Chance in Hell'?

It Takes a Woman

Amadou's mother's plea to Hillary

Letters

My Knees Were Jumping

Pundit-cide

Geraldine Ferraro: Sweatshop Landlord

Long Hours, Low Pay, Rancid Conditions Are Commonplace at Senate Candidate's Building