The Malcontent

Gay Bits

U.S. military has wasted $363.8 million over 10 years discharging gays, also known as 404,672 suits of body armor.

One year later and "the leads have all but dried up" in the brutal dismemberment of Rashawn Brazell, a bisexual Brooklyn teen.  Police are pointing to the possibility that a "chance encounter" took his life.  —Reg. req. for link. (Thanks, James)

Andy has a good round-up of recent gay-marriage news:  William Weld continues to disappoint; Frist continues not to surprise.  Meanwhile, "It's good for your health!"

Tom Cruise: Still sue-happy after all these years.

DNC imitates gay-left blogophere: "You're ugly!  And fat!"

It's "Zbooby"?  Looks more like It's "Zpenis" to me.

MalcoVision will be studying Johnny Weir's every fey move tonight.

Blogosphere Reax to Weld Announcement

.08 Acres (and a Donkey) says: "Someone is going to run to the right of Weld in the GOP primary. The question for Weld is whether there are enough liberal Republicans left in New York to win the nomination."

The Bad Hedgehog says: "The first thing Weld is going to have to explain to all of us is WHY."

Colorado Pols says: "Maybe Governor Bill Owens has a new political future as governor of New Mexico or Wyoming."

Minipundit says: "This guy is the perfect blend of social liberalism and economic moderation. I don't care if he's a Republican; he's my guy."

Blogcabin says: "If Mitt Romney can run for President from Michigan, I say why not?!?"

North Dallas Thirty says: "Personally, this would be a tough choice for me on the gay-rights issue."

The Four Horsemen says: "He was elected in Massachusetts and appointed ambassador by Clinton - sounds liberal enough for New York. Welcome to the race Mr. Weld."

The Politicker quotes Empire State Pride Agenda, which says this of Weld on gay rights: "His recent statements represent a complete and disappointing reversal of his original position."

Bostonist says: "We can offer kudos to Weld for resisting the siren song of the white house, which seems to be luring Republican governors from their jobs left and right these days."

And finally, Gothamist says: "Weld is a native New Yorker and has been working at a city law firm, which might temper some carpetbagger criticism, but his liberal leanings - support for abortion rights and gay rights - might be unattractive to conservative New Yorkers (the ones upstate)."

Another Pro-Gay GOP Gov in New York?

What started out as the most half-baked of ideas has now emerged from the oven: Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld wants to return to the governor's mansion, but this time in Albany rather than in Boston.

A northeast progressive Republican in the same mold as George Pataki, Weld could appeal to a lot of the constituencies tapped by the current governor.  His agenda appears solidly center-right:

Mr. Weld said he would seek to cut New York's income and capital gains taxes, overhaul public education, aggressively protect the environment and crack down on Medicaid abuse.

He also has a good record on gay rights.  Short of getting married to a man himself, Weld did the next closest thing to walking the walk: He officiated at the same-sex wedding of his college roommate.

But the pre-primary panderfest to the right might have already begun.  Weld says he now opposes gay marriage outside of Massachusetts.  (I guess he was for equality before he was against it?)  It will be interesting to see how far to the left of Weld the current Democratic front-runner, Eliot Spitzer, will tack on gay issues.  Spitzer previously issued a legal opinion that there is little to stand in the way of New York's recognizing out-of-state gay marriages.

But don't count out Bill Weld yet.  He has proven himself a consistently tenacious candidate.  And if Hillary can carpetbag her way to legitimacy in New York, why not Weld?