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Buttigieg Takes The Lead In New Hampshire Poll

Via WMUR:

Mayor Pete Buttigieg has surged to the head of the Democratic presidential field in first-in-nation primary state New Hampshire, according to a new poll of likely primary voters released Tuesday.

The Saint Anselm College Survey Center poll of 255 likely Democratic primary voters shows that Buttigieg, supported by 25 percent, now holds a 10 percentage point lead over former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who are tied for second at 15 percent. Buttigieg is substantially ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is in fourth place at 9 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 were Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 6 percent; billionaire activist Tom Steyer of California at 5 percent; U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey at 3 percent each; entrepreneur Andrew Yang of New York at 2 percent and California Sen. Kamala Harris at 1 percent. Thirteen percent of those polled said they were undecided.

Respondents were also asked who was the strongest candidate to go head to head against Donald Trump in the general election, and Biden leads in that lane by a mile.

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Cadet Bone Spurs Mocks Lt. Col. Vindman For Wearing His Uniform Today

While Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was testifying before the House committee handling the ongoing impeachment inquiry, Donald Trump had the bad taste to question Vindman’s attire. From ABC News:

Down Pennsylvania Avenue from the hearing at the Capitol, President Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, struck a dismissive tone when asked whether he thinks Lt. Col. Vindman is a credible witness, making note of the moment when Vindman corrected Nunes for referring to him as “Mr. Vidman” and also seemed to question his motives in wearing a military uniform to testify.

“I don’t know him, as he says Lieutenant Colonel, I understand someone had the misfortune of calling him ‘mister’ and he corrected them. I never saw the man, I understand now he wears his uniform when he goes in. No, I don’t know Vindman at all,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting, ABC’s Jordyn Phelps reports.

It appears Cadet Bone Spurs – our Commander in Chief – is unaware that per Army regulations, “A soldier performing duties in an official capacity will normally be in uniform.”

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News Round-Up: November 19, 2019

From the Men of the Vet 2020 Calendar
Some news items you might have missed: • 2020 Calendars: The Men of the Vet School are back and better than ever in the 2020 Men of the Vet School Calendar!! They’ve paired up with the cutest puppies and fluffiest bunnies (and even managed to sneak in some time with kangaroos and reindeer) to bring you this year’s hottest calendar around! • The Sun: Wealthy gay dads split up after one starts dating their teenage daughter’s ex-boyfriend. Now they all live under one roof. • Billboard: Swedish DJ/production duo Galantis and country legend Dolly Parton, teaming with featured Dutch vocalist Mr. Probz, debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart with “Faith.” This marks Parton’s first dance/electronic No. 1. • Mantique of the Day: Matt Rettenmund’s Gr8erDays Instagram reminds us how sexy Dan Haggerty (TV’s Grizzly Adams) was.

• CNN: Two Bureau of Prisons guards were charged by a federal grand jury Tuesday with conspiracy and filing false records in connection with their actions the night Jeffrey Epstein died in prison. • FiveThirtyEight: The numbers-crunching website is tracking and boiling down all of the polls asking if Americans support or oppose impeaching Donald Trump. • Christmas Music: As I missed this last year, I wanted to make sure I share this excellent cover of Band Aid’s iconic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ by a group of singing firefighters in the UK. The single, recorded under the band name The Fire Tones, received an official stamp of approval from Band Aid founder Sir Bob Geldof.

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Judge Rejects Trump Request To Dismiss Defamation Lawsuit

Crain’s New York reports:

President Donald Trump lost his latest bid Monday to delay a former “Apprentice” contestant’s defamation suit as he faces a Jan. 31 deadline to undergo pretrial questioning in the case, which involves claims of unwanted kissing and groping.

A New York appellate judge rejected Trump’s request, meaning that Summer Zervos’ case can continue, at least for now. Trump’s lawyers signaled they intend to pursue more legal avenues to try to hold off Summer Zervos’ case.

Trump’s legal team urged the judge to stay the case “given the novel and important Constitutional issues involved.” Zervos has accused Trump of sexual assault during her time on the NBC reality competition in 2007.

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Tom Goss Explores New Musical & Emotional ‘Territories’ With New Album

Singer/songwriter Tom Goss (photo: Daren Cornell)
Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss recently released his new album, Territories, The collection is a departure from the indie/coffee house rock we’ve come to know from the veteran recording artist. When I interviewed Goss earlier this year about the project, the ‘guitar-touting troubadour’ shared that the new collection takes a turn into pop-synth land as he journeys through the emotional terrain of polyamory. When Goss’ husband asked if they could open up their marriage to include others as possible romantic partners, Goss found himself realizing he could still love his spouse while falling in love with another man. Territories is primarily reflective in tone for much of the album as he recalls experiences and conversations in locations around the world including Berlin, London, Mexico and more. In addition to embracing a different soundscape (which the artist describes as ‘electro-groove-pop’), Goss says that while he’s written six albums about his relationship with his husband up to now, “To write material about intimate thoughts and feelings about someone other than my husband, it was so different.” Goss says the piano ballad “Berlin” would begin what would eventually emerge as Territories saying, “48 hours in Berlin turned my world completely upside down. Have you ever accidentally fallen in love? I have. This experience, and song, started what would eventually become Territories.” The video for “Berlin,” alternating between black & white imagery in a private, backroom cabaret setting and Goss exploring the city with his new beau, mirrors the dreamlike and ephemeral texture of the track. It’s notable that Goss, who’s extolled the attractiveness of bears and more full-figured guys many times in the past, continues that pattern versus using only gym-bound, muscle men in his videos.

The song “La Bufadora” focuses on the issue of domestic violence among LGBTQ couples. The music video, co-starring actor Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls, Looking), dramatizes a couple’s Mexican vacation gone awry as the duo’s disagreements turn violent.

Goss says the reaction from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, and that he’s “grateful by how people have put themselves in my shoes and have understood and accepted my experience.” He recently told Q Magazine that he hopes listeners will “understand that love doesn’t always look the same for everyone.” “Sometimes it looks different,” he added. “Whether you’re in a traditional relationship or a nontraditional relationship, you should be proud of the love that you share.” Earlier this year, I chatted with Goss in-depth about the genesis of Territories and the issues explored within it. Hit play below to hear him discuss its evolution in candid detail. Territories is now available on all digital download sites. For all things Tom Goss, head to tomgossmusic and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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Netflix: First Look At New RuPaul Series ‘AJ And The Queen’

Netflix just dropped the first look at the upcoming scripted series, AJ and The Queen, starring RuPaul Charles. I previously reported the announcement from Netflix that the ‘Queen of all queens’ would not only be starring in the road trip themed series, but serving as co-creator with Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City). RuPaul will play ‘Robert Lee,’ aka Ruby Red, who has spent years appearing in clubs across the country saving his coins with the goal of opening his own drag club. But Lee’s dream is dashed when two grifters swindle him out of his life savings. So Lee hits the road again in an attempt to start over. But a “scrappy, streetwise 10-year-old escaping a difficult home life” upends Lee’s life as he is thrust into a new role: de facto parent.

According to the official synopsis, the duo finds themselves “fabulously mismatched yet perfectly paired” as they criss-cross the country together, often teaching each other new tricks. So, two misfits – one tall, one small – sashaying across the country, spreading a message of acceptance and love. Michael-Leon Wooley and Katerina Tannenbaum also co-star. The one-hour comedy, described as “equally heartfelt and gritty” about “finding family in the unlikeliest of people when they’re needed most,” also promises showstopping performances from Mama Ru each week. Sounds like a cross between BJ and the Bear & Touched by an Angel, just with a lot more sass and style. Deadline has reported that the streaming platform has ordered a 10-episode first season. Netflix announces the premiere date is scheduled for January 10.

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Trump Supporter Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Murder Rep. Omar

HuffPost reports that a Trump supporter, Patrick Carlineo (55) of western New York, entered a guilty plea on charges that he threatened to kill Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. According to the criminal complaint, Carlineo called Rep. Omar’s office on March 21, 2019. He identified himself and then launched into a rant at the staffer on the phone: “Do you work for the Muslim brotherhood? Why are you working for her, she’s a f*cking terrorist. I’ll put a bullet in her f*cking skull.” According to HuffPost, Carlineo told the FBI that he is a patriot, hates people he perceives to be radical Muslims in the U.S. government, and loves Republican President Donald Trump, according to a criminal complaint. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 14. He faces up to ten years in prison.

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Army Prepared To Move Vindman & Family Out Of Concern For His Safety From Trump Supporters

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman
The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. Army ramped up plans to possibly move Lt. Colonel Vindman and his family to a military base in properly ensure their security in advance of his testimony today in the ongoing impeachment inquiry.

The U.S. Army is prepared to move Col. Vindman and his family onto a military base in the area to ensure their security if it is determined that they are in physical danger, according to U.S. officials. Army security officials in recent weeks conducted a security assessment at Col. Vindman’s request, reviewing both his and his family’s physical security and their online security, according to U.S. officials.

Army security officials have also been monitoring Col. Vindman and his family around the clock to make sure there aren’t any imminent threats, officials said. “The Army will make sure he’s safe, and the Army is actively supporting any safety needs as deemed necessary,” an official said. “It’s hard that he has been catapulted into the public eye. He served his country honorably for 20 years, and you can imagine this is a tough situation for him and his family.”

From Lt. Colonel Vindman’s appearance on Capitol Hill today:

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News Round-Up: November 18, 2019

Donny and Marie Osmond end their 11-year run at the Flamingo (photo: Denise Truscello)
Some news items you might have missed: • Las Vegas: Donny & Marie Osmond concluded their iconic residency at Flamingo Las Vegas this past Saturday. The siblings’ 11-year residency began as a six-week engagement but was so well received that by popular demand, the residency was extended again and again. I was fortunate to see D&M several times over their amazing run. They were (and are) the picture of showmanship, talent, and professionalism. I never left the showroom anything less than impressed. #ToWhatsNext • Washington Blade: A transgender woman in Zimbabwe who filed a lawsuit over the abuse she suffered after her arrest for using a women’s restroom was awarded $400,000 on November 14 in a landmark ruling. • Daily Beast: Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace repeatedly confronted House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) over the Republican’s characterization of last week’s impeachment testimony, accusing the congressman of “very badly” misrepresenting the witnesses’ positions. • BBC: Australian rugby player Israel Folau, whose contract was canceled for repeated violations due to homophobic remarks on social media, blamed Australia’s bushfire crisis on the legalization of same-sex marriage. • OUT: A representative from the Salvation Army spoke to Matt Baume about how they are working to correct their anti-LGBTQ+ past. “Unfortunately, as a large organization, there have been isolated incidents that do not represent our values and service to all people who are in need.” • CBS News: Emails obtained by CBS News show San Diego billionaire Doug Manchester was asked by the RNC to donate half a million dollars as his confirmation in the Senate for ambassador to the Bahamas hung in the balance. You may recall Manchester made hefty donations to the Prop 8 campaign that erased marriage equality in California for a time. • Wise Words: Danny ‘Tree Man’ Jones offers this reminder – “Remember, it’s more about effort than the result :)” Hit the play button for the super-cute video message.

 

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Remember, it’s more about effort than the result 😝

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Chick-Fil-A Says No More Donations To Homophobic Groups

Chick-Fil-A

Do we believe them? Chick-fil-A has had a rough relationship with the LGBTQ community for years thanks to donations by the popular fast-food chain to anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. But in a statement today, Chick-fil-A says it will end those donations in favor of a new tact. A representative for Chick-fil-A says the company “made multi-year commitments to both organizations” and “fulfilled those obligations in 2018.” The eatery says it will now focus charitable donations to “a smaller number of organizations working exclusively in the areas of education, homelessness, and hunger.” But should we be buying this? The restaurant chain’s CEO, Dan Cathy, made a similar promise back in 2011. And in 2016, the company told Think Progress that it was ending contributions to such groups, but earlier this year the news site found Chick-fil-A had donated $1.8 million to discriminatory groups in 2017. Drew Anderson, the director of campaigns at GLAAD, the national LGBTQ advocacy group, didn’t sound very convinced as he issued a statement saying in part, “Chick-fil-A investors, employees and customers can greet today’s announcement with cautious optimism, but should remember that similar press statements were previously proven to be empty.” There have been protests across the U.S., Canada and the UK over proposed openings of the fast food restaurant. Earlier this year, the San Antonio city council said no to a franchise being opened at the local airport. And the UK shopping center where Chick-fil-A opened its first storefront across the pond announced after just a week that the lease on the newly-opened location would not be renewed due to protests.