There have been a series of email drives and reach outs to Americans who are anywhere left of the EXTREME right in regards to the Alito nomination. I was listening to a democratic Senator on the radio this week and she was questioned as to why the Democrats do not seem interested in the filibuster. Her response was that there has been no overwhelming cry from the American people. I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, Independant, Green or whatever party. We are on the brink of losing our country to a feeding frenzy of corruption and power hungry politicians.

We have really hit an all time low as a country. I am so proud to be an American but our current administration has taken what it is to be a free and proud American and twisted it into a corporate commodity to be scoffed at. Is this really the direction we want to go no matter what your politics? This is NOT about party lines. This is NOT about being partisan or bi-partisan. It is about our future. Women: your rights are at risk. Gays and Lesbians: your rights are at risk Racial Minorities: your rights are at risk. If you think this is an overreaction then we are in more trouble then I thought. We are about to take a step back 50 years and it's up to all of us to stop it. We control our government not the other way around.

With the help of Moveon.org I have been writing letters to the editor to many of the newspapers in my area and national. I have also signed the petition from JohnKerry.com which is in the blog post just previous to this. Please do the research and see Alito is WRONG for this country. Take the two minutes it takes to sign the petition or write a letter. The following is the letter I've been circulating to newspapers nationwide:

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When are we going to take our country back. I am so tired of watching our
government turn into the bully of world organizations. Never in my life have I been
embarrassed to be a part of what was once the GREATEST country in the world. We are
still there and I am proud to be an American but we are on the brink of losing that
status. With Alito swinging the courts to the right we are up for a very scary
future.

His views on minorities and civil liberties are shameful. Alito has fought for full
immunity for administration officials who illegally spy on Americans, and Bush
stands accused of just that crime. It is not time to taint our supreme court with
cronies. It is time to take back our government from extremists.

I am proud to be an American and I am proud to stand against Samuel Alito.

-Wes Culwell
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Please take action on this today. It's not just about Roe vs. Wade. It's not just about gays and lesbians freedom to marry. It's a much bigger picture of where the corruption of this country and where our future is as a whole.

CLICK HERE TO WRITE YOUR LETTER

Yours in struggle,

-W

- posted by Wes @ 4:40 PM

Judge Alito's record on civil rights is shameful. He saw no legitimate question of discrimination in allowing an all-white jury to sentence a black man to death for killing a white man. His own colleagues have criticized him for ignoring employees' rights to be free from job discrimination. Judge Alito's clear bias is to keep
victims of discrimination out of the court system - and to rule in favor of corporate interests. Do not even get me started on his stance of gays and lesbians.

Judge Alito's record on privacy rights is worst of all. In 1985, Judge Alito actually wrote a memo outlining a strategy to undermine Roe v. Wade by slowly chipping away at its protections. That same year, Judge Alito wrote in a job
application that he did not believe in the constitutionality of the right to privacy. Judge Alito's views on privacy rights are not ambiguous; they are openly hostile.

Stand up today against Judge Alito:

Stand with me and John Kerry

Your voice is essential in this fight. Please take the time to sign this petition.

best,

-W

- posted by Wes @ 1:55 PM

Just got in from a 3 day trip to Baja California. I'm exhausted and covered in dirt. HA! Just wanted to post my most recent adventure to Niagara Falls. Click below and enjoy! More on Baja tomorrow. I've got to get some sleep! :)

Niagara Falls with Gay.com

Happy Travelin',

-W

- posted by Wes @ 10:11 PM

Yeeeehaw!

Here's to Brokeback Mountain and its 4 wins last night at the Golden Globes. As overrated as I think most of these awards shows can be, every so often I am surprised by the social commentary they send out, not only to the US, but the world. The energy was hot last night as the award winners were read out loud. I was a little disappointed Heath Ledger didn't win for best actor in a drama--thinking he's too young to grab the Oscar. I can't say I've ever been a big Ledger fan but his portrayal of Ennis in Brokeback was gut wrenching and at the same time strangely heart warming. For a heterosexual, Aussie to capture the isolation and heart of a gay man stranded in Wyoming in the 60s was as raw and real of a performace as I have ever seen.

The highlight of the night for me was when Dennis Quaid (who knew he was still around?) took it upon himself to make his own social commentary. To a completely silent audience he made a ridiculous joke about Brokeback being the movie that rhymed with “chick flick”. Are you kidding me? Who the hell says something like that. My mom was so confused she called me up and asked me, "I don't get it. What rhymes with chick-flick?" When I explained to her what the joke meant, she was livid. I love that the off color comments of Dennis Quade regarding a gay themed movie got my mother's feathers all ruffled. As I've said before...we're gaining real acceptance and equality even if one mom at a time.

Cheers to Brokeback Mountain and Ang Lee for a huge risk with a huge payoff. If you haven's seen this movie, go. Now that it's getting so much attention the right wing crazies are back at it trying to get the film pulled at screens across the country. I love it. They had some puffy white faux religious leader on Larry King talking about how it goes against Jesus' teachings. I was at the gym yelling, "What about divorce? That's not allowed in the bible? What about slavery? That IS allowed in the bible!" I think the other people on the treadmills were a little uncomfortable. Good I say! They should be. I just wonder how so much hate and fear can come under the guise of "Christianity." If you've already seen it, see it again. If you haven't, GO SEE THIS MOVIE. It will really touch your heart and it has already opened so many eyes. I am heading to New York in February for the HRC gala honoring Ang Lee and I can not wait. It's going to be amazing.

best,

-W

- posted by Wes @ 12:55 PM

Oh, the happiest place on earth was all a bustle last night even through the freezing temperatures and the rain. The forced smiles of drenched faces, fighting families and exhausted children lined the streets in their 5-cent plastic top hats and 3-cent mylar noisemakers to bring in the New Year. I just have to ask, who the hell thought it would be a good idea to hand out horns to the masses who were just dying to get out all the pent up aggression of a day full of lines, indecision, family squabbles and rain! I swear to God, for about 20 minutes after they first handed them out the park just seemed held in one pitch octave hell. I found my moment of Zen, however, on the Casey Junior Train Ride and with a, "I think I can. I think I can," I made my way through the rest of the night.

We actually had a lot of fun last night. As crazy and miserable as it really is when you take a step back and see 75,000 people being herded from one gaudy spot to the other we have this uncanny ability to transport ourselves to a happy place deep inside. Who truly enjoys doing the wave, hokie pokie and getting pictures taken with strangers wearing animal costumes? Is there anything more bizarre? If any of you don't enjoy at least one of the above, your inner child is dead. Congrats. :)

Well, my inner child is alive and well and we did have a blast running from one overly decorated spot to the other and watching the entire park illuminate under two amazing fireworks shows. I think the rain kept the hoards of people at bay but after a 16-hour day at the "soggiest" place on earth we were ready to call it a night.
















Jewels and I at midnight....

So whatever you did and how crazy or mellow a time you had last night. Happy New Year--enjoy 2006!

- posted by Wes @ 2:36 PM