WHO'S ELECTION IS THIS ANYWAY?

I'm getting sick and tired of all of these people saying that Hillary Clinton should step down and let Obama have a clear shot at ruining my home. Each and every candidate has the right to decide if and when they will throw in the towel, not other elected officials or the press. This is America and we have the right to free speech but who says that it is okay to trample on the lives of others?

Yes, I am a Hillary Clinton person and my reasons are as vast as the freckles on my body. But mostly because as a mother, wife and daughter, she knows how to keep a house in order, balance the budget, ensure that the family has enough food and the proper medical attention. Also as a wife and mother, she would make war a last resort, enough body bags have come home from a senseless war. A wife and mother knows how to entertain guests, stop quarrels and make friends with her neighbors. She has been the First Lady for the state of Arkansas as well as for the nation. And when her husband made mistakes she didn't cut and run, she forgave him and pulled the family closer than ever. Now she is a second term Senator from the state of New York winning her second race by a landslide.

Has she made mistakes? Hell yes, we all have and she will admit them and go on. That shows courage and wisdom to me. How many of us would prefer not to even acknowledge out mistakes? I see that when she is on the campaign trail that she doesn't just court the college kids who will be voting for the first time ever, but instead talks to ALL of the people. Already she has begun laying out plans for what she wants to do for us and the way that she wants to lead this great nation of ours. I'm not hearing that from Obama. If he holds off and learns more and then runs, I'm sure I would like to see him as a president. But as a gay person I can tell you right now that it would take more than admitted sexuality for me to vote for a gay person. I want the most experienced person on all of the issues to lead this country so that I can sleep better at night. That's my opinion, what's yours?

Mikey

NOT JUST FOR GAY PEOPLE

There is no law that allows gay people who are partners/lovers to make decisions for them when they are ill or that they are their legal guardians, on the books. But guess what, if you are living with someone, no matter how long and you are heterosexual, you may be in the same boat as us. During a recent visit to a nursing home (Jacaranda Manor in St. Petersburg) where my lover of nine years is currently staying, I was told that in order to make decisions for him I would have to go to court and be declared as his legal guardian. The decision? Which hospital he was to be sent to. He is being treated for HIV/AIDS and uses that doctor as his primary care as well and that doctor has privileges at one hospital (Morton Plant, in Clearwater) while the nursing home wanted to send him to a hospital where their doctor (who doesn't treat my lover but only writes prescriptions based on information in his chart) has privileges (St. Petersburg General, St. Petersburg). Both he and I insisted that he be taken to one hospital and yet they did as they wished. And I am not talking about a life threatening emergency, I could understand their reluctance if it were, but it was to get x-rays on his nose to see if there was anything broken in there when he fell in an over medicated stupor.

I was NOT told that if I were hetero that I could insist on where he would get the best care so I am left to believe that it would work the same to an unmarried straight couple as well. Meanwhile, I can't bring him home and I fear for his life where he is. So if you hear anything about gay marriage I urge you to think about what I have said here before you make your decision as to what place you would like to find yourself. Your comments are welcome.