It was bad enough that Republican leaders like Skip Stam put their (considerable) weight behind getting their little buddy elected to the Apex town council. It didn't matter that the guy had been arrested for drunk driving, he had friends in high places. So it comes as no surprise that Scott Lassiter is looking for a way to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.

But hey, at least he's creative.

In case you thought North Carolina had a corner on Tea Party ignorance, think again.

Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy to deny property rights and herd citizens toward cities.

A United Nations-led conspiracy? Are they talking about the same United Nations that can't even get the votes to combat state-sponsored terrorism in Russia or starvation in Africa?

Freaking morons.

The North Carolina Democratic Party recently voted to oppose the marriage discrimination amendment, and form the NC LGBT Democratic Caucus. That got me thinking and wondering about where other parties and movements stand, and where support for equality is coming from. Here is what I found. Feel free to add to it.

I am mailing my Komen Race for the Cure t-shirt back to them. I figure if they get a bunch of them back it might make a statement. The address is: 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250. Dallas, TX 75244.

The fight against Non Partisan elections just heated up a little bit. As reported by the Kinston Free Press and others (http://www.kinston.com/news/federal-79724-kinston-voting.html) The Justice Department has softened its stance on the Non Partisan referendum.

Leaving 43,000 folks out in the cold:

The map leaves 43,000 residents of the new District 6 without representation in county government for the next two years. State Senate leader Phil Berger, who's responsible for creating this mess, still won't acknowledge that a problem exists let alone move to fix it.

That's because he doesn't consider it a "problem". Republicans in the General Assembly have treated municipalities/county governments with nothing but contempt since they took charge. If they could, they would take away all local representation, leaving everybody to depend on (a useless) state government for their needs. In a perfect world (again, we don't live there), that would equate to 43,000 votes against Berger (or whoever) in the next election.

Can't blame him. I'd quit too. Truth is, I don't know how Speaker Hackney has put up with all the jerks and morons in the General Assembly for as long as he has. Just in via email.

I have decided that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives this year.

I guess it makes sense. If your "vision" is to have a governor who will suppress voting rights and discriminate against gays and lesbians, then by all means, let the awards begin! Congratulations, Mr. Rogers. It takes a big guy to pollute the planet, subvert democracy, and screw over your gay employees all in one career.