Erie County Democratic Chairman Len Lenigan backs Brian Higgins for Senate.

Here is the money quote

After beating back a well-financed Republican effort in 2004 and winning a seat held by Republicans for 12 years, Brian Higgins has become an electoral force to be reckoned with in Western New York, even winning a resounding 75% of the vote in a three-candidate race in 2008. Higgins' victories reflect an impressive ability to win votes across the 27th District's geographic strata. Liberal urban communities in the City of Buffalo, moderate suburban Buffalo areas and conservative rural communities in Chautauqua County don't have much in common -- but they all voted to send Brian Higgins back to Congress in huge numbers. This is the appeal Higgins has, and what he can bring to a statewide ticket.

Higgins' tenure in the House of Representatives indicates a depth of knowledge of the issues of concern to Upstate residents and a willingness to fight hard for Upstate's economic interests. During his first term he waged an unprecedented campaign for Western New York when he took on the New York State Power Authority, which for decades generated vast amounts of electricity in Western New York, only to ship it to other communities. Higgins won a record financial settlement to keep Power Authority revenues in Western New York and to dedicate them to waterfront development, which had been ignored for decades by the existing power structure. This fight -- at its core -- was a fight for forgotten communities in New York State. It is a record -- and a message -- that will resonate with voters statewide.

The Governor he has many great public leaders from which to choose to make this appointment, and at the end of this process, I am confident that Governor Paterson will appoint a Senator who will serve all of New York's residents well. I simply believe that an upstate voice is critical at this point in time, and I believe that Congressman Brian Higgins is the right person at the right time.

Hell. Fucking. YA!

A week or so ago a certain Senator resigned to take another office. He took with him another Senator from Delaware. And on Monday he plans on pulling yet another Senator from New York.

GOP, take note. This is how you unseat powerful Senators: you let them win elections.

There is no ulterior motive in my mind when I do it. But I just can't help myself. The way I talk to gay men is by flirting. I don't do this intentionally, but every gay man I talk to is, after a fashion, flirted with no matter if the subject is shoes, Russian iconography, or the prostate and its many, manly functions. This week for example.

My mother is sick (but doing very well) and has been getting visitors a lot. Her parish priest, Father Dennis, stops by a few times a week. He is perhaps the gayest gay who ever gayed and he is wonderful for it. We were chatting about Baroque art when it hit me, was I talking about Bernini's sculpture because I liked it or because it was sexy? And while I am interested in everything that is sexy I do feel like I subconsciously chose an artist who could only see spirituality in sex. The ensuing conversation about Caravaggio and decapitation went much the same way.

Then today my cousin Robert and his boyfriend Nelson came by. At one point I was chatting about S&M furries. That isn't a subject one just arrives at after meandering through several topics. Guys, you are both great guys but I totally wasn't being incest/home-wrecker weird.

I can't help myself. It is just a default setting. Oh, is that an old lady? Let's talk about canasta leagues and Haddock recipes. Is that a gay man of any age, relationship status, or linguistic background. Let's chat about anything scandalous. To all the gay men out there, I apologize for my uncontrollable instinct. Except you (e:Jim). We got a lot out of that instinct together.

cheers

I'm breaking up concrete slabs. Of course, I'm on vacation. Why can't I be breaking up concrete slabs at a time I could be working?

Behold, musical group The Protomen's first video in their opera based on...

wait for it...


wait for it...


MegaMan!