Poll: 81 Percent of Americans Dissatisfied with Government

A Gallup poll has found that a record 81 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with how the country is being governed.

The survey noted that 65 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of Republicans have a negative view of the federal government. Congress' approval rating was only 15 percent in the poll, while 57 percent of respondents have little or no confidence in the federal government's ability to solve domestic problems. Fifty-three percent of respondents indicated that they have little or no confidence in their

Meanwhile, the business of government and those who seek to become a part of it continued over the weekend.

Businessman Herman Cain scored an upset victory in the Florida Republican straw poll on Saturday, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won a similar content in his native Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 25.

President Barack Obama told those who gathered at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, that they essentially need to stop whining and help him pass the American Jobs Act. Lady Gaga was among those who attended a fundraiser for the president at the Silicon Valley home of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sanberg on Sunday.

Meanwhile, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace that the 2012 presidential election is "ours to lose." He stressed that Republicans need a viable candidate who can defeat Obama. And this partisan ranker continues amid the possibility of a federal government shutdown over funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Stay tuned...

A not-so-civil debate over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Is this what a so-called civil debate looks like?

Goodnight. oh btw, LADY GAGA, YOU CAN SUCK A BIG FAT ONE YOU DUMB B**CH. UNTILL YOU SERVE YOUR F**KING COUNTRY, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HOLDING RALLY'S LIKE YOU DID TONIGHT. WHO THE F*CK YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU ARE NOBODY. HANG YOURSELF WITH 50 LB SPIDERLINE OR A STRING A STRAP ONS, YOU DUMB DIKE. THE WORLD WOULD BE ALOT BETTER OFF, WITHOUT YOU. I am sorry if i offended anyone by writing this. Thank you, Management

A brother of a very good friend posted the above tirade to his Facebook page yesterday in response to Lady Gaga’s appearance at a Portland, Maine, rally on Monday, Sept. 20, in support of the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell". And while my friend’s brother is in the military, I cannot help but wonder aloud whether U.S. Sen. John McCain [R-Ariz.] had a version of this rant in mind when he said “we need to know he views of the men and women who are serving in uniform” as he successfully filibustered a measure that would have allowed debate of the measure on the Senate floor. I would like to conclude even McCain would strongly caution against expletive-filled outbursts from those who serve their country, but I will allow others to offer a more definitive—and hopefully more civilized—conclusion.

Fire Island 2010, part 11

Written at 1:09 p.m. while on the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal (and later crossing the bay.)

It’s a typical Sunday afternoon in August. People (and their children) are online at the ferry terminal waiting to return to the mainland after another weekend on the beach, boaters are enjoying the beautiful weather out on the water and one man is even trying to convince his friend he was right (about which I’m not particularly interested to know.)

It was a fairly quick trip to Fire Island this weekend because I am coming out for a week on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. In true August form, however, there was a lot on the agenda. This includes the annual Concerned Women of the Grove breast cancer benefit, a fundraiser for state Assemblywoman Ginny Fields at the Hotel Ciel pool deck in the Fire Island Pines, a tribute to long-time Cherry Grove archivist Harold Seeley, delivering newspapers (and several hours of dancing at Low Tea, Sip n’ Twirl and Cherry’s thrown in for good measure.)

It’s arguably unnecessary to provide any sort of analysis to contextualize the past weekend, but here are three notes and observations to consider.

- Lady Gaga performed at the Ice Palace on Aug. 8, 2008 (and “Paparazzi” is currently playing on my iPod as I write this blog on the ferry.)
- It is indeed possible to have at least three costume changes a day on Fire Island
- Kudos to the lovely Dallas Dubois for leading those at her and Logan Hardcore’s pool show on Saturday, Aug. 7, in a toast in honor of U.S. Circuit Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Dubois also called out Best Buy and Target for contributing to a group that supports Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.



A perhaps all too common sentiment on Fire Island.



The lovely Dallas Dubois performs at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove.



The Concerned Women of the Grove auctioned off Lady Gaga paraphernalia at their annual fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 7.



Looking east into the Meatrack from Heaven n' Earth in Cherry Grove on Saturday, Aug. 7.



Looking towards Ocean Beach from the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal.



On the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal.



Lady Gaga performs at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove on Aug. 8, 2008. [Photo by Koitz]