Openly? You mean (gasp) she is not a poor innocent child outted by that meanspirited bastard John Kerry? Whaaaa?

Yup. That is what the AP says today. The key graf:

"The first time I campaigned with my father, I was 8 years old," Cheney said in news release issued by Simon & Schuster. "I've been involved with campaigns as a family member, a staffer and, though I certainly never intended it, as a political target for the other side."

During the 2004 campaign, presidential candidate John Kerry mentioned Cheney's sexuality when asked during a debate with President Bush whether homosexuality is determined at birth.

The vice president and his wife, Lynne Cheney, accused Kerry of using their daughter for political gain. Lynne Cheney said Kerry's statements amounted to a "cheap and tawdry political trick."

Boy, that's not how I remember the controversy. I remember deep MSM confusion over just how old Mary Cheney was, how delicate her feelings must have been, and whether or not she had actually been "outted." Apparently, the outrage subsides after the election and Mary now feels free to advertize that she has been a Cheney political operative since she was 8 and yes OPENLY GAY for quite sometime. Oh, the outrage.

By the way, do the Boyscouts have enough slack in the budget to divert funds from the gay hatred operation to set up a new purge of pedophiles? Maybe they will at least double check the new head of the Youth Protection Task Force. Heh.

Tell me, can one of you help a good doctor out and sue Joe Scarborough for slander after he suggested with no basis that a neurologist who had examined Terri Schiavo was being paid off by a lawyer?

This is a serious question. Am I wrong about this? That seems pretty blatant to me...

Read Paul Krugman.

Susan Hays has resigned. Hopefully this will be a chance for reform Democrats to make good out of a bad situation. Here is the letter:

The following is the text from a letter sent by DCDP Chair Susan Hays to Active Precinct Chairs via traditional mail 03/25/2005:

I am writing for two purposes: (1) to formally call an executive committee meeting for Saturday, April 2, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Hall of State in Fair Park, and (2) to announce my resignation as County Chair effective midnight April 1.

I have served as County Chair for three years now, after Democrats elected me with 72% of the vote in the 2002 primary. With the 2004 election - working together - we tipped the County Democratic, shocking the media and the Republicans. But it didn't surprise me: I knew what great candidates and hard working Democratic activists we had. The election of Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Judge Don Adams, Judge Dennise Garcia, and Judge Lorraine Raggio provided me with all the satisfaction I need for my three years of service to the Party.

But after our victorious election, I am saddened to say that infighting has broken out, giving the public the appearance that we prefer to fight among ourselves rather than stand united behind our Democratic beliefs and work together to get Democrats elected. When faced with the question of whether to fight other Democrats or fight Republicans, for me there is no question at all. My loyalty is not to the position of the Chair, but to the larger progressive movement. That's why I have decided to resign the position of County Chair and focus my energies on fighting destructive Republican policies that threaten our democratic system and the civil rights of us all.

I would like to add a personal note to those who have discouraged me from resigning. Please know your support - and your commitment to a Party that works to fight Republicans and elect Democrats - has been invaluable to me. Also know that I will continue to be a Democratic activist, helping our candidates and spreading our message. I will continue to fight for access to our courthouses, as I did in opposition to Proposition 12, and as I will continue to do in the fight for women's health care and the civil rights of abused teenage girls under our state's parental notification law.

It is time for us all to move forward. Rest assured that the Party will move forward - not because I am resigning or because of the artificial lines people have drawn - but because rather than be divided by personalities we are united by our strong, shared Democratic beliefs in equal access to justice, health care, education, and a better life.

I would also like to urge you to work hard and together in the future, not only with each other as precinct chairs and activists, but with our elected officials and candidates. We must work with our elected officials as they are the ones who carry our message day to day and are best positioned to muster resources to implement strong, truly coordinated campaign with the Party.

Most importantly, we must engage Democrats who are new to the County or the Party and have decided to get involved. Without continued healthy growth in our County Party we cannot remain victorious or turn Dallas County into the rich source of Democratic votes our statewide candidates must have to take back Texas.

When there is a mid-term vacancy in the position of County Chair, you as precinct chairs vote to fill that vacancy under state law and the Party rules. Please make all efforts to attend this April 2 meeting so that the Party can achieve the state-law required quorum of 50% of the current precinct chairs in order to fill the vacancy of county chair and of more than 50 precinct chair positions. Bring this letter with you to facilitate the check-in and credentialing process. If you received this letter you are a confirmed, current precinct chair (NOTE: only applies to active/pending Precinct Chairs).

Pursuant to Party Rule Art. III.E.5.(a) as the outgoing County Chair I am designating Robert Franklin (Precinct 1802) to serve as temporary chair at this meeting. He will be preparing an agenda, supervising the credentialing of precinct chairs, and presiding over the meeting until you make the important vote to elect a new Chair to serve out the remainder of the term which ends next April.

Whoever the new Chair may be, I urge you to treat him or her with respect, consideration, and patience. A county chair accepts great responsibilities and devotes enormous amounts of volunteer time to the Democratic cause. While many have great ideas for the Party, not all of them can be implemented. The great Democratic inspiration of my childhood, Jack Scott, said that if everyone loves you, it simply meant you must not be doing anything of significance. I have no doubt that the next Chair will not be able to gain the love of every single precinct chair and activist. But I urge you to give that Chair your hard work and follow his or her leadership to victory in 2006 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Susan Hays