Flashback: Will 2016 Wyoming Democratic Party caucus crowds be as large as they were in 2008?

I have a decade-long history on Blogger. This can be a bad thing, as I can still see some of my more embarrassing writing and photographic moments. It's also a good thing, as I can trace my political happenings going all the way back to 2006.

The Wyoming Democratic Party held its 2008 caucus on March 8. Sen. Obama and Sen. and former Pres. Clinton both visited the state in the days before the caucus. People were excited. People were motivated. More than 1,500 Laramie County Democrats came out to caucus at the Civic Center in Cheyenne. That's approximately 1,300 more than came out to caucus in 2004. It was a banner year for Democrats, and it got attention outside the state. I'm a party member and I was on-hand to cast my vote, lobby for a spot at the state convention and volunteer to assist the madding crowds. Youi can read my report on the day at http://hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com/2008/03/historic-day-for-wyoming-democrats.html.

Turnout for the 2012 caucuses was anemic. This year, Dems again expect big crowds, one of the reasons that the caucus venue has been changed from downtown's Historic Plains Hotel to the gym at Central High School. Local Bernie Sanders supporters have been very active for about six months thanks to efforts by my neighbor Ed Waddell and his fellow Berniecrats. I expect many Sanders supporters will turn up to vote. Hillary Clinton supporters are equally active, canvassing and calling and talking up the former Secretary of State and First Lady.

Here are the details for the upcoming April 9 caucus:

The caucus and presidential preference vote will be held at the Cheyenne Central High School Field House Gymnasium, 5500 Education Drive on April 9, 11 a.m. Immediately following the morning’s caucus, convention activities will resume at the Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Avenue. We will be discussing the changes and volunteer opportunities for the convention. Check out the Laramie County Democratic Party’s frequently asked caucus questions at http://www.wyodems.org/frequently-asked-questions  

Get more info by attending the LCD’s monthly meeting on Monday, March 21, 6:30 p.m., at the IBEW Hall, 810 Fremont Ave., Cheyenne.

If 2008 provides any lessons for 2016, I urge you to arrive early. In 2008, I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and 100 voters already were in line. Some 1,400 folks lined up behind me, with the line snaking around the Civic Center. Great to see so many Wyoming Democrats all in one place. Let's do it again!

Laramie County Democrats meet Oct. 21

The Laramie County Democrats will meet on Monday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Hall, 1810 Fremont Ave., Cheyenne.

 

Speakers will talk about the ongoing affects of the shutdown and furloughs on the State of Wyoming. More than 200 state employees were furloughed during the recent Republican-spawned federal government shutdown. At your last meeting, we had a number of new members. At least two of them were one-time Republicans who no longer can stomach the crackpot shenanigans of the Grand Old Party.

Also on the agenda is a discussion of upcoming events, projects and elections. One of those events is a chili feed on Thursday, Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m., sponsored by the Laramie County Democrats Grassroots Coalition. Due to road construction, the venue has been changed from the Old Community House in Lions Park to the South Room of the Kiwanis Community House. LCDGC Secretary Kathleen Petersen invites you to

Come on out and visit with local elected officials and eat some good chili. Bring a fruit pie to share for dessert. Bring a friend too.

Last time I went to one of these shindigs, the chili was spicy and plentiful and the company was friendly (a bit spicy, too). 

And pie.

Join us!

How many Democrats would it take to fill in "The Hole" in downtown Cheyenne?

The mayor spoke to a small gathering of the Laramie County Democratic Grassroots Coalitions on Thursday night. He was supposed to keep his remarks to a half hour as he wanted to leave some time for questions and get home after a long day. We also wanted to get at those homemade cupcakes that Katherine brought to the gathering. 

Hizzoner brought a Power Point presentation. Normally this is cause for dread, as Powerpoints can be deadly dull. But his was quite interesting. All about the rebuilding of Cheyenne's infrastructure and planning for the future.

The good news? Cheyenne is growing at a rate of 1.5% to 2.5% a year. None of the Dems in the room asked what percentage of those are Democrats. About one-third, I'd say, as that's about the current rate of registered Democrats in Laramie County. Cheyenne is the Dem stronghold while the county's many Republicans tend to water down our influence, especially when it comes to writing wacky letters to the local paper.

This all gets a little dicey as I'm not very good with math, despite Sister Norbert's endless algebra drills. What would this problem look like on a quiz?

The City of Cheyenne has a 2012 populations of 61,303. The average growth rate is 2 percent. Thirty-four percent of those are Democrats. If newly-arrived Dems were used for some practical purpose, such as filling in The Hole downtown, how long would it take to fill in The Hole?

First of all, I'd have to know the dimensions of The Hole and those of your average Democrat, 18 and older. Once I had those numbers, the solution would be a breeze. Even English majors such as myself might be able to do the calculations.

But let's save that for another day. What we really want to talk about is progress. Cheyenne voters approved a big batch of public works projects during the most recent election. We have a new and improved Botanic Gardens in the works, as well as a new public safety building downtown. The "West Edge" project (already underway) will redesign that part of downtown with parks and parkways. Developers have already approached the city about housing and retail options, according to the mayor. We have a new airport in the works, as well as new downtown street lighting. Pershing Blvd., named for Blackjack himself, is being totally revamped. A new roundabout will debut in November that will solve the quandary of collisions at the intersection of three of the city's main drags. Why we have three major streets converging at one spot is probably a question for city historians. A new Safeway is planned for that neighborhood, and we'll be getting a new Wal-Mart at I-80 and College Dr. New sewer and water lines are being built to connect the Swan Ranch development with Cheyenne.

Everything's up to date in Cheyenne City.

This does not please everyone. Some people are wildly indignant about the roundabout. Others complain about all the streets being torn up. Some don't want to see Cheyenne grow at all, afraid it will lost its "Old West" feel. We don't want to be like Denver, some say about this other "Old West" town that long ago decided to live in the present instead of the past.

Remember: Wyoming is what America was. That's one of our old state tourism mottos. I'm glad it was retired.

Now, can anyone help me with this math problem. Just how many square feet cubic feet is your average incoming immigrating Democrat, anyway?
  

TLC BLue -- tender loving care mixed with a quick kick in the pants

Laramie County Democrats during a lull at Super Day Saturday in Cheyenne's Lions Park. We think the guy on the left is an NSA spy. Does he look familiar to you?

Turn Laramie County Blue?

That's the motto of the new fund-raising/visibilty program by the Laramie County Democratic Party. TLC Blue -- I like the looks of that. Could be translated as Tender Loving Care Blue. You know, TLC like Mom used to administer. My Mom was a nurse, so she was pretty good at TLC. But as a mother and a nurse, she sometimes had to administer a quick kick in the pants when the gentle approach just wasn't working.

Democrats have been pretty good at the gentle approach. We are reasonable people, right? We expect our opposition to be reasonable too.

LOL. I don't use that term very often but it's appropriate in this case. As we have seen, our opposition is often impervious to our rational approach. As Dems, we are outnumbered by Repubs. Some of them are moderates, but increasingly they are trumped by Tea Partiers and Hopelessly Fundamentalist Christians, although my blogging pal Rodger McDaniel reefers to the latter group as "Radical Christians" (for a definition, read his blog post from Saturday). 

We have had some success in forming coalitions with moderate Republicans. Witness the vote in last year's Legislature over civil unions. It didn't pass, but there were a number of "R" votes that hadn't been there before.

Some of our Blue lobbyists urge us to take it easy on moderates such as Cale Case, Sue Wallis and Dan Zwonitzer. So we do. Problem is, they often turn around the next day and vote for anti-worker legislation, or laws that strengthen the stranglehold that energy corporations have over environmental policy in Wyoming. In the end, it would be much better to have a bloc of Dems in the House and the Senate that could administer some TLC and a quick kick in the pants when that didn't work.

But we don't.

And moderate Republicans, especially those in rural enclaves, can be vulnerable to attacks by Tea Partiers and Radical Christians. Hank Coe of Cody could never be labeled a Liberal, but his role as power broker in the "Hill Bill" makes him a target of Park County ultra-rightists.

There are 11,215 Democrats in Laramie County, which makes it the county with the most Dems in the state, We keep adding to those numbers, although we're still outnumbered by Republicans. We're the most urban of the state's counties, with one-sixth of the population. This drives rural Republicans crazy, as the more urban a place becomes, the more Democrats there are. Maybe that's why they refer to Cheyenne as North Denver or a suburb of Fort Collins. I'm a Denver native who went to grad school in Fort Collins, so I know that Cheyenne is neither of those places. It has its own personality and its own destiny. 

But enough of my rambling. Let's hear from the chairman of the Laramie County Democrats, Vincent Rousseau. Vince was a plumber but has returned to college to retool for a new career in civil engineering. Here's some content from his recent letter about TLC Blue:

With my election to Chair of the Laramie County Democratic Party, I have accepted the critical challenge of increasing the number of Democrats holding office in our county. I am sure you understand, that the majority of positions held by the opposition party, all but guarantees that our values as Democrats, our ideals, our compassion for workers and those who struggle to make ends meet are not being represented by our state and local government. Changing this lack of representation is why we work so hard!

The recurring donation program "Turn Laramie County Blue" will raise vital funds for the Laramie County Democratic Party. TLC Blue will provide support to candidates and Democratic incumbents need to attain and hold public office, the kind of support that the hard work we all do, can't alone provide. Your donation of $10, $20, or $30 a month gives the Laramie County Democratic Party the opportunity to provide help with volunteer recruitment and training, mailings, printing, any number of the million tasks that are necessary for a successful campaign.

We have a large fundraising goal, for "TLC Blue". I have set myself a personal fundraising target of $15,000 by  December of 2014. I need your help in reaching this target. Your donation of $10 a month, will not only help with monthly operating expenses, but can help to mail 250 postcards or 75 letters for a campaign. Your donation of $20 a month will help buy yard-signs, and $30 a month goes a long ways towards radio and billboard spots.

There's more, but you get the picture. I will be spending the day pondering how much money and time I can give to the cause. Take time out to do some of your own pondering. For more info, call the Laramie County Democrats at 307-509-0504. We have some interesting conversations over on Facebook. Also check out the Laramie County Democrats Grassroots Coalition.

Promoting righteous justice -- and Rage Against the Machine

Chris Hendrichsen ran for Congress as a Democrat in 2012. In Wyoming, that takes chutzpah and a dash of foolhardiness. A gallant effort, but he lost. I've posted often about Wyoming's overwhelming Republican majority. I've also posted often about Democratic candidates tilting at windmills. They do win sometimes. I've witnessed two Democratic governors and quite a few legislators, most of them from Laramie, Albany, Teton and -- until recently -- Sweetwater counties. Democrats allegedly have been sighted in Natrona County but voters there tend to elect wackos to the legislature. Nice city, Casper, but Dems don't get elected there.

Chris is from Casper. I think he's moving out-of-state soon. He writes a good blog and blogs under "Approaching Justice" on Patheos: "Hosting the conversation on faith."

Chris describes himself this way:

I am a political philosopher and a political scientist. I am a devout Mormon as well as a committed egalitarian liberal. These two categories might appear to be a paradox. That paradox is me.

On Facebook, Chris referred to a post about righteous anger (May 5) which I read and really liked. It also featured a topical Rage Against the Machine video. He refers to Rage's Zack De La Rocha as a prophet, and this Christian agrees. Tom Morello is pretty righteous on that guitar of his too. The post also got some interesting comments on Patheos, most disagreeing with Chris. Read it and the comments.

Chris, we'll miss you here in Deep Red Wyo, but keep on posting.

A Republican walks into a bar...

One of the things that irritates me about living in Wyoming: Republicans think they own the joint.

And maybe they do. But I'm irritated when I'm at a gathering and someone assumes that every man- and woman-jack amongst us is a conservative.

At a meeting today, someone told a blonde joke. I often laugh at blonde jokes. I didn't laugh at this one.

Here it is:

A  blonde and a pilot are flying together on a small plane. The plane gets up to altitude and the pilot keels over dead. The blonde makes a frantic call to the control tower. The air traffic controller tells her to keep calm. He asks, "What is your height and your position?" She thinks for a moment and then responds. "I'm 5-foot-3 and I voted for Barack Obama for president." There is a pause on the microphone. Then the ATC says, "Repeat after me: Our father who art in heaven..."

Not really funny, right? I think a much better punchline would: "I'm 5-foot-3 and I'm sitting down." She's a blonde, right?

What was my response to the joke? I said to the teller (a blonde woman, BTW): "We Democrats would have had a much different punchline."

She smiled. "Hope I didn't offend anybody."

I wasn't offended. Miffed, maybe.

I took it one step further: "You know that blonde jokes are not politically correct?"

She moved away from me, obviously uncomfortable with the tenor of the conversation. After all, Democrats don't exist in Wyoming. And if they do, they should have the good manners to keep their traps shut.

I'm a forgiving person. Sort of. But note to Republicans: Maybe you should ask your gathering if there are any Democrats in the room or if anyone would be offended by a joke about the President of the United States.

Or maybe you should just keep your trap shut. 

"My Two Moms" author is keynote speaker for 17th annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice

This year's 17th annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice is next week in Laramie. Its theme is “Counter Narratives: Advocacy at the Intersections.” Here are some highlights (from the Casper Star-Trib Weekender section)::

GLARE and UW faculty panel is 4:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY in the Yellowstone Ballroom. GLARE is a group of faculty and staff in the School of Education at Brooklyn College committed to the well-being of gay and transgender people.

New York Times writer Samuel G. Freedman, author of “Breaking the Line,” speaks at 4:30 p.m. THURSDAY in the Yellowstone Ballroom.

“Equality in the Equality State” panel discussion/luncheon is 11:30 a.m. on FRIDAY, APRIL 5, in the Yellowstone Ballroom. Panelists will examine the Wyoming legislative processes surrounding the introduction a bill granting legal recognition to domestic partnerships.

Zach Wahls’ keynote address is 4:30 p.m. APRIL 5 in the Yellowstone Ballroom. It is free.“The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character,” Wahls told the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum in 2011, then a 19-year-old University of Iowa freshman. His speech got more than 2 million views on You Tube. He has become a gay marriage and gay parents advocate, according to a release. His book, “My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family,” delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their children and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

“Saturday Night Party” begins at 9 p.m. APRIL 6 at the Alice Hardie Stevens Center, 603 E. Ivinson St. Tickets: $5; proceeds benefiting the Tie the Knot Foundation, which created a line of art-inspired bow ties to benefit various gay-rights organizations.

If anyone sees Sen. Barrasso shoveling snow off of the Yellowstone roads, I want a photo

Snow plowing at the east entrance to Yellowstone near Sylvan Pass in spring 2011. National Park Service photo.

Instead of urging its Republican Congressional delegation to remedy the federal budget sequestration, Wyoming's leaders have discovered an opportunity to brand road plowing in Yellowstone with a conservative "Code of the West" stamp.

First of all, just what is the "Code of the West?"

It's a list of 10 precepts invented by author and retired Wall Street investor James P. Owen. He now lives in Austin, Texas, and founded the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation. His book credits include Cowboy Ethics (2004 and Cowboy Values (2008). Owen ccoined the phrase “Cowboy Ethics” and wrote his book distilling the unwritten Code of the West into “Ten Principles to Live By.” In 2010, the State of Wyoming adopted the Ten Principles of Cowboy Ethics as its official state code.

To sum up, the state code admonishes residents and lawmakers to live courageously, take pride in their work, finish what they start, do what's necessary, be tough but fair, keep promises, ride for the brand, talk less and say more, remember that some things aren't for sale, and know where to draw the line.

You got that? Somehow, this translates into using state equipment driven by my fellow state employees to plow snow-clogged roads in Yellowstone, roads that were set to open late because of $1.8 million in sequestration budget cuts. These are the same budget cuts that Wyoming's Congressional delegation has proudly trumpeted as necessary and good for the country.

Nobody has seen Sen./Dr. John Barrasso out in Yellowstone shoveling snow off the road to Old Faithful. We should put him to work during his two-week spring break.

Here's the recent press release from the Wyoming Office of Tourism:

YELLOWSTONE OR BUST!

Thanks to a collaborative effort between state, federal and private entities, Wyoming ensures America’s National Treasure will open on time

(Cheyenne, Wyoming, March 21, 2013) – Wyoming has set an example of how to deal with federal budget cuts by putting into action the “Code of the West.” Simply put, this “Code” consists of behaviors and rules that center around hospitality, fair play, loyalty, and respect for the land.

As Yellowstone National Park struggled with the nearly $1.8 million budget cut due to sequestration and ways they could alleviate the impact on visitors and gateway communities, they chose to delay plowing roads this spring; which in turn would have delayed the opening of the East Gate from Cody and the South Gate from Jackson by two weeks.

“The delays would not have been good for our local or state economy,” said Scott Balyo, executive director of the Cody Chamber of Commerce, “Almost immediately upon hearing that the East Gate would not open on time we began working with local and state partners to find a solution.”

Governor Matt Mead along with mayors and private businesses in the gateway communities of Cody and Jackson met to discuss possible solutions. Collectively they agreed that the potential revenue loss from a delay would have real financial consequences, especially on small business owners.

Governor Matt Mead led the discussion by saying, “We value our national parks as the true assets they are, not only to Wyoming’s economy, but to the nation’s economy. Yellowstone is internationally recognized and by delaying the opening we not only lose the opportunity to generate millions in revenue but we lose the opportunity to host visitors who might be experiencing this natural wonder for the first time.”

Gateway communities in particular are an integral component of the national parks system and rely heavily on the traffic generated from their national and international draw. In addition to providing a supporting role, these communities provide air service, lodging, restaurants, outfitter and guide services and other activities that enhance and enrich the national park experience.

Jeff Golightly, executive director with the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce reiterated, “Jackson Hole as a community takes stewardship of our national parks very seriously.  The idea that our nation’s first national park would not open on time for the world to enjoy was something we felt compelled to avoid. The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board and the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce felt it was our responsibility to protect our local tourism economy so we backed the plan right away by committing one time funds.”

Governor Mead offered equipment and personnel to assist with plowing efforts while the gateway communities pooled their resources, began fundraising and came up with money to fund the operation.  Wyoming’s entrances to Yellowstone National Park will open as previously scheduled. The East Gate from Cody will open on May 3, 2013 and the South Gate from Jackson will open on May 10, 2013.

Superintendent Dan Wenk agreed to start plowing from inside the park while Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) crews make their way from the east and south gates to complete the snowplowing operations.  WYDOT plows will be donning a large banner that reads “Yellowstone or Bust” based around a summer road trip campaign that the Wyoming Office of Tourism is currently rolling out.

Diane Shober, Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism attests, “Wyoming represents the iconic cowboy and not just because we’re a Western state, but because cowboys stand for something, they are entrepreneurs and they live by the simple basic values that lie at the heart of the cowboy way. This is what the “Wyoming, Forever West” brand is all about.” As the Wyoming Office of Tourism gets ready to launch their national summer campaign, the goal remains to promote Wyoming as a vacation destination to domestic and international visitors while increasing revenue for stakeholders and the state of Wyoming.

ABOUT

·         Yellowstone National Park (YNP) received 3.4 million visitors in 2012. Source: National Park Service reports
·         Traffic through the East Gate in the first two weeks of May in 2012 totaled 11,500 people in 4,200 cars. The estimated local economic impact for Cody is $2 million for that time period.
·         At the South Gate in Jackson, 17,553 visitors passed through during the entire month of May generating an estimated $2.3 million.
·         Tourism is Wyoming’s second leading industry. In 2012 travelers generated $3.1 billion in direct expenditures to the State of Wyoming.  Source: 2012 Economic Impact Report
·         Xanterra Parks & Resorts of Yellowstone will open all lodging and visitor services as scheduled
·         East Gate from Cody opens May 3, 2012
·         South Gate from Jackson opens May 10, 2012

Yellowstone is saved. Tourism is saved. Thanks, "Code of the West."

No telling yet how many park rangers will be furloughed or how many park restrooms won't be cleaned or how many other services will be curtailed due to the cuts. In Cheyenne, some 410 National Guard and 700 Warren AFB personnel have received notices about one-day-a-week furloughs. That's a 20 percent cut in their pay. That's 20 percent less dough that won't contribute to the Wyoming economy (OK -- some of it goes to Fort Collins and Denver).

BTW, my favorite month to travel Yellowstone is May. Nothing quite like navigating the East Gate road to Lake Yellowstone flanked by 10-foot walls of freshly-plowed snow. No traffic. No bear jams.

If anyone sees Sen. Barrasso, snow shovel in hand, out on the road near Fishing Bridge, take a photo. I'd love to post it.

Marguerite Herman takes A Look at Wyoming Government

Marguerite Herman of Cheyenne ran an unsuccessful campaign for county commissioner in 2012. Instead of a learned, experienced Democrat, we got a Tea Party Republican. So it goes. 

This little setback was just a bump in the road for Herman, who is usually busy with 101 things. She's been writing a book and will stage a signing March 16 in Casper. Here's the info from the Casper Star-Tribune:

Marguerite Herman, author of A Look at Wyoming Government, will sign copies of the book this month in Casper. This is the seventh edition of the book, published by the League of Women Voters of Wyoming. Originally written in 2006, it includes updates in legislative districting, governing of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe tribes, the creation of circuit courts and other topics.

Herman has been the League’s lobbyist at the Wyoming Legislature for 15 years. She covered state government for The Associated Press from 1980 to 1986 and traced the development of school finance reform through the 1990s. 

“I wrote the seventh edition of A Look at Wyoming Government to cover issues that are useful for people to understand their government, how it raises revenue and spends it, how it passes laws in the Legislature, executes them in the Executive branch and interprets them in the courts,” Herman said in a release.

What: Marguerite Herman book signing

When: 1-3 p.m., Saturday, March 16

Where: Wind City Books in downtown Casper 

Info: http://www.windcitybooks.com/

Paul Krza remembers Rock Springs as an "island of Democrats"

Good to see Paul Krza return to the op-ed pages. I used to love reading his rabble-rousing columns when he lived and worked in Wyoming. A good progressive voice in a sea of conservatives. He grew up in Rock Springs, a one-time "island of Democrats" due to its population of unionized coal miners and railroaders. That island has shrunk as union membership dropped over the years in this so-called "Right to Work" state.

In Sunday's Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Krza wrote about how his own Sweetwater County collectivist roots were vindicated by President Obama's inaugural speech in which he stressed that "working collectively is the new political normal -- solving our problems 'together'."

Krza wrote about how his Slovene ancestors worked together to form a fraternal lodge, the Slovenski Dom, where the Socialist Party met and where members could buy health and life insurance. The lodge library was stocked with socialist tracts. Teno Roncalio, the last Democrat to represent Wyoming in the U.S. House, campaigned there. Meanwhile, says Krza, the Rock Springs schools were "an ethnic mishmash that nurtured open-mindedness and my own willingness to ask questions."

As we gaze upon the strange proceedings of our State Legislature, in which even the Sweetwater County delegation is rife with Republicans, one has to wonder what happened to Wyoming Left-leaning traditions. Gone with the wind....

Paul Krza is syndicated by Writers on the Range. Read his latest column, "When frontier socialism thrived in Wyoming."

Wyoming may be red, but it ain't very religious

Gallup released its religiosity survey this week. Each state is ranked according to how many residents polled by Gallup admit to being "very religious." Red states tended to score high on the survey while blue states were on the lower end of the scale. Although Wyoming is one of the reddest of the red states, with the second-highest margin of victory for Mitt Romney in 2012, it's on the lower end of the scale when it comes to religion. Only 32.8 percent of Wyoming respondents admitted to being "very religious." This puts it just behind godforsaken places such as Connecticut (Damn Yankees) and Hawaii (alleged Obama birthplace). We're slightly less religious than neighboring reefer-mad Colorado, which came in at 33.5 percent. See the entire survey here. And thanks to Rachel Maddow's MaddowBlog, where I first saw this map.

Jack Pugh takes on the intolerance of Rep. Lynn Hutchings in latest WTE column

Wyoming boasts a number of thoughtful and erudite commentators on the Liberal side. You can find some of the on my right sidebar under WY Progressives: Rodger McDaniel, Jeran Artery and Meg Lanker-Simons. There are others, too. Jack Pugh writes and occasional column for our local paper, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. He wrote a terrific op-ed in yesterday's WTE focused on the recent legislative debates over a proposed domestic partnerships bill. Since the WTE has a very hinky and incomplete web site, Rodger reprinted the column on Facebook. Here's Jack's column:

Martin Luther King, Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Charles K. Steele founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957. It became the driving force in the civil rights movement. Its principal tactic was non-violent civil disobedience. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline”, said Dr. King.

I thought of that when I read Laramie County Republican Representative Lynn Hutchings’ crude, brutish, and ignorant comments about homosexuals in her testimony against the Domestic Partnership bill. 

Rep. Hutchings is an African-American. It is always breathtaking to encounter raw, naked bigotry from someone whose race has endured so much of it. 

Describing homosexuals as dirty, diseased and dangerous, Rep. Hutchings told the committee that sexuality has no genetic basis, and that sexual orientation is a choice that can be changed “through the help of others”. 

She went on to express offense at comparing the struggle for full citizenship rights for homosexuals to the black struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. 

I sent Rep. Hutchings an email asking her some questions about her comments. I didn’t expect an answer, and didn’t get one. 

I asked for her source for the statement “science does not have evidence of a genetic involvement in sexuality”. 

I asked her about her understanding of sexuality as it relates to gender. 

I asked her if her homophobia was religion based. 

I asked her what her experience in civil rights activism was.

And I asked her this: were the principles and philosophy that fueled the civil rights movement limited to the movement or were they universal in scope? 

When ten percent of a species shows a particular trait, as humans do with homosexuality, biologists want to know why. In 1993 Dean Hamer and Simon LeVay published scientific papers in which they offered evidence of a genetic trigger that they said was a biological basis for homosexuality. Other scientists over the next few years supported their findings. Still others have challenged them. 

Debate among biologists and geneticists about the biological origins of homosexuality continues and the question is not scientifically settled. 

Many, if not most, psychologists and psychiatrists assume that homosexuality has a biological basis, and is not a choice based on environment or nurture. Testimony from people subjected to the “help of others” cited by Rep. Hutchings has revealed an ugly form of psychological brutality, and has led to these practices being outlawed in California. 

It was the denial of the civil rights comparison that interested me most. 

Rep. Hutchings wasn’t around when the civil rights movement started and she was a little child when the great events of the movement unfolded. She is one of those lucky ones who never had to run the personal risk of fighting for her rights. Others did that for her. 

That good fortune carries with it a responsibility, however, and that is to understand the nature of the freedom that was fought for, to forever nurture it, and to include everyone in its embrace. 

When Rep. Hutchings denies full citizenship rights to homosexuals she betrays the sacrifices of those who preached and marched and were beaten and sometimes killed in the name of those rights. 

She betrays the courage of the four college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, whose lonely sit-in at a Woolworth’s lunch counter became a national symbol of injustice. 

She betrays the courage and the memory of the Freedom Riders, who endured insult and beatings as they rode their buses across the South to witness against racism. 

She betrays the memory of the civil rights workers, black and white, murdered and buried in an earthen dam in Mississippi because they were registering blacks to vote. 

She betrays the sacrifice of James Reeb of Casper, Wyoming, a Unitarian minister serving in Boston, who was beaten to death with steel pipes by racist thugs at the march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama.

She betrays the courage and conviction of all those, black and white, who linked arms and stood with each other as brothers and sisters and demanded justice from their country. 

And she betrays Martin Luther King’s vision that all of us, no matter who we are, will know the dignity of the Free. That is what the civil rights movement was about for those of us who joined it, and it is what the movement for civil rights for our homosexual brothers and sisters is about. 

Rep. Hutchings and others like her have won the day for now. But they are on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the future and the wrong side of a vast moral question.

Just as racial discrimination was beaten, so this discrimination shall be beaten. The wall will be taken down, one brick at a time if necessary, but it will come down.

Rep. Hans Hunt: Wyoming, love it or leave it

This comes from the Rev. Audette Fulbright's Facebook page. She's a minister in Cheyenne:

I wrote to my Representatives here in Wyoming about a concern I had with expanding carry laws in schools and about fracking. Here is the response I got from Rep. Hans Hunt: 

Rev. Fulbright:

I’ll be blunt. If you don’t like the political atmosphere of Wyoming, then by all means, leave. We, who have been here a very long time (I am proudly 4th generation) are quite proud of our independent heritage. I don’t expect a “mass exodus” from our state just because we’re standing up for our rights. As to your comments on fracking, I would point out that you’re basing your statement on “dangers” that have not been scientifically founded or proved as of yet.

It offends me to no end when liberal out-of-staters such as yourself move into Wyoming, trying to get away from where they came from, and then pompously demand that Wyoming conform to their way of thinking. We are, and will continue to be, a state which stands a head above the rest in terms of economic security. Our ability to do that is, in large part, to our “live and let live” mentality when it comes to allowing economic development, and limiting government oversight. 

So, to conclude, if you’re so worried about what our legislature is working on, then go back home.

Sincerely,

Hans Hunt
Representative Hans Hunt, House District 02

Republican Rep. Hunt ran unopposed in the general election. A good illustration of the dangers of a one-party state. 

Bobby Jindal to RNC: "We've got to stop being the stupid party"

Wyoming Republicans: Bibles in schools, roadkill in the freezer, silencers on hunting weapons, an aircraft carrier on Crow Creek, a Dept of Ed Director who's ruining the schools, highest suicide rate in the nation, crumbling roads, Rep. Gerald Gay who says that gays are evil, "coal is your friend" classes for middle school students, what global warming?, the earth is 6,000 years old, "public employees are bums," "Obamacare is a commie plot," Dick Cheney, Agenda 21, Tea Party, wolves are four-legged terrorists, drug tests for poor people, etc. Stupid is as stupid does, Gov. Jindal. 

Big equality vote next week in The Equality State

Jeran Artery at Out in Wyoming writes about next week's votes for equality in The Equality State. Jeran names name and challenges us all to contact our reps on the Corporations Committee. These are good people who can be reached with persuasive, cogent arguments from constituents. However, they often represent rural conservative constituencies. This is when you see a clash between fundie anti-gay arguments and Wyoming's live-and-let-live traditions. You just never know... There will be a rally at 11 a.m. at the Capitol on Monday. Get more info here. Stay active. Use those e-mails and smartphones to make these people accountable:

We are ready to rock and roll with Marriage Equality (HB169) and Domestic Partnerships (HB168) here in Wyoming. These two bills have been assigned to the Corporations Committee in the House of Representatives.  They are going to be heard at noon on Monday, January 28th.
All of the committee member names below are linked to take you to their legislative website.  The website contains phone and email contact information. 
Here are my notes on what you can do to help:
Madam Chairwoman Rosie Berger,  Needs lobbied.  Needs emails from across the state and especially from LGBT residents and allies living in Sheridan County.  Could become friendly but is going to take some work.
Rep. Gregg Blikre  I spoke with Rep Blikre this morning and he doesn't know where he stands.  He said he wants to hear all the arguments and make a decision from there.  So please email him and ask him for support, especially if you live in Gillette or Campbell county.  Again, I think we can get his support but he needs to hear from all of us.
Rep. Dan Kirkbride  I spoke with Rep. Kirkbride this morning and he said he is a probably a no vote on both bills.  He doesn't think his constituents in Platte County are favorable. Personally I know Rep. Kirkbride and he is good man.  I expressed how important these are to me personally and he promised to keep an open mind a listen to our arguments.  He really needs to hear from LGBT members and allies in Platte County.
Rep. Jerry Paxton  I have not had a chance to visit with him yet.  I'm hearing that he is moderate and persuadable.  His district includes parts of Albany, Sweetwater, and Carbon Counties.  Emails and phone calls of support would be great.
Rep. Gerald Gay  A 100% no vote.  Don't waste your time on lobbying efforts.  This is the guy that publicly stated on the house floor that out of respect to his last name "we should call these people what they are, homosexual sodomites... not gay."
Rep. James (Jim) Byrd  100% yes vote.  Co-sponsor of both bills.
Rep. Matt Greene 100% yes vote.  Co-sponsor of Domestic Partnerships and supports marriage equality.
Rep. Ruth Ann Petroff 100% yes vote.  Also co-sponsor of both bills and an absolute delight to work with.
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer 100% yes vote. Co-sponsor of both bills and a tremendous ally.

Much more here.

Wyoming Republicans look to the future with Dick Cheney as keynote speaker

Watching the inauguration festivities on Monday in D.C. made me feel old and out of it. A wonderful African-American First Family with their two beautiful daughters and Richard Blanco reciting a poem celebrating the 21st century in America and a huge crowd of people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds and origins. This is the future and this old guy wants to be a part of it as long as possible. The Republicans, on the other hand, have proved themselves to be the political party of old ideas and old ways and selfishness. There may be hope to Repubs in the likes of Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal and those who look ahead instead of back into the previous century. Even some of the young leaders are burdened with the hatreds and prejudices that were born in the pre-Civil Rights era, back when I was a kid growing up in the American South. Nothing says outdated and old like having a remnant of the latest Repub administration as the keynote speaker at your annual banquet. Here's news from the Wyoming Republicans:

Former Vice President Dick Cheney will be the guest speaker at a Wyoming Republican Party dinner next month.  

Cheney will speak Feb. 9 at the dinner being held at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne. The party says the event is open to the public. 

Tickets are available by contacting the party's office in Casper at 307-234-9166.

"In the Shadow of the Buddha" author to be keynote speaker at WY Dems' Nellie Tayloe Ross banquet

Matteo Pistono will be the keynote speaker at the Wyoming Democratic Party's Nellie Tayloe Ross banquet on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. A cocktail reception starts at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, awards ceremony and keynote at 7. Get more info at http://wyodems.org

For more than a decade, Matteo Pistono has lived in Nepal and Tibet, and worked in the fields of human rights and religious freedom. Matteo Pistono has been heralded as "The James Bond of Tibetan Buddhism" and has worked with some of the world's greatest teachers, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sogyal Rinpoche, and the late Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok.

President Obama's inaugural address aimed at all of us progressives who elected him

It's worth watching again...

President Obama: “We are going to need to work on making access to mental health care as easy as access to a gun”

This is but a small part of President Obama's Plan to Protect our Children & Communities, which was announced this morning. I'm including it because mental health is one of my blog's key issues. And tackling the many gun parts of the document is too much to bear. Read more here.  

IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
Though the vast majority of Americans with a mental illness are not violent, we need to do more to identify mental health issues early and help individuals get the treatment they need before dangerous situations develop. As President Obama has said, “We are going to need to work on making access to mental health care as easy as access to a gun.” 
• MAKE SURE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS GET TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: Three quarters of mental illnesses appear by the age of 24, yet less than half of children with diagnosable mental health problems receive treatment. To increase access to mental health services for young people, we should: o Provide “Mental Health First Aid” training to help teachers and staff recognize signs of mental illness in young people and refer them to treatment. o Support young adults ages 16 to 25, who have the highest rates of mental illness but are the least likely to seek help, by giving incentives to help states develop innovative approaches. o Help break the cycle of violence in schools facing pervasive violence with a new, targeted initiative to provide their students with needed services like counseling. o Train 5,000 more social workers, counselors, and psychologists, with a focus on those serving students and young adults. 
• ENSURE COVERAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT: The Affordable Care Act is the largest step to increase access to mental health services in a generation, providing health coverage for 30 million Americans, including 6 to 10 million people with mental illness. The Administration will take executive actions to ensure that millions of newly covered Americans, and millions more who already have health insurance, get quality mental health coverage by: o Finalizing regulations to require insurance plans to cover mental health benefits like medical and surgical benefits. o Ensuring Medicaid is meeting its obligation to cover mental health equally.

Dear Mr. President: Don't capitulate on "fiscal cliff" negotiations

Kos on Daily Kos posted tonight about President Obama's capitulation on the so-called "fiscal cliff" negotiations. There's an e-mail petition to sign if you've a mind to. I did. This is what I said, which is part DK boilerplate and part me:

Mr. President: As of today, I am three years away from retirement. I expect to find my investment in Social Security intact when that day comes.

Please don't cave in to Republican blackmail. Stop proposing cuts to Social Security.

Social Security does not contribute even $1 to the deficit, and is 100% solvent for over 20 years according to even the most pessimistic projections. It should not be a part of the fiscal showdown negotiations.

Please live up to your campaign promise of not balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class.