Dear Ms. Nilles, Show off !!!!!

I haven't posted much on this blog, so if I'm posting in the wrong area, I apologize.

Back in the late 80's/early 90's, I volunteered at the "Life Foundation" in Hawaii (that's what we called it - it may actually have been called something else "officially"...lol). At any rate, I didn't actually have any friends with HIV/AIDS (at that time), however a fair number of my friends were gay/lesbian so it was a concern at that time. Yes, some of them were still "in the closet", but shared their "torrid secret" with close friends. And for those of you that are still 'closeted'; your close friends don't really care one way or the other - we love you for YOU. If your "friends" have problems with it, then I would argue that they aren't really "friends", but simply 'acquaintences' that you liked along the way.

At any rate, I didn't do a whole lot of "activist stuff" back then - I was young, wasn't "in the lifestyle", and didn't know (realize) that I "knew" anyone with AIDS. But I knew that it was important...and tragic...and something that 'someone' needed to do something about. I felt that I could be one of those "someones". Honestly, I just worked in the office: I answered phones mostly and directed calls to the 'appropriate personnel'. I also helped people who walked through the doors to find "someone" that could explain/help/direct them appropriately. It's kind of amazing looking back - I thought that I was doing the 'crap' jobs that no one else wanted. I was only 19 - 21/22 back then. Now that I am "considerably older", I appreciate that I was actually the 'first contact' that many of the scared/concerned/angry/??? people had after being diagnosed and/or 'fearing' that they may be HIV positive. I can only hope that I helped these people find the right people/organizations/offices.

I discovered a few years back that one of my good friends from "back then" is HIV positive. HOLY GUACAMOLE! (I thought). What in the heck can I say to him?!?! Then I remembered the 'kids' (back then they were usually older than me, so I didn't think of them as 'kids') that came into the Life Foundation. And I remembered that I didn't feel 'sorry' for them - I felt that they could fight this stupid thing...and so can my friend. Actually, now-a-days there is so much more information and so many more treatment options available that, although it's not 'roses & rainbows' (lol...no pun intended, but it's kinda funny that I came up with that phrase...lol), people still live 'relatively' normal lives with HIV/AIDS. Is it fun? Hell NO! But it's do-able.

I think that a lot of people 'these days' forget that we still have an AIDS/HIV problem in the United States. I think that we've become used to it/familiar with it/numb to it, and we don't realize that it is still a rather significant problem. We have 'fund raisers', 'awareness campaigns', and 'get the word out drives' for a whole miriad of issues. Why have we forgotten or skipped over people with HIV/AIDS? We're not 'immune', but I would argue that we've become 'numb' to the issue...

I'm just saying....

Dear Rachel~ Forgive my lack of techno prowess at commenting here (as well as the length of this - I just re-read it), I am actually trying to REALLY comment to YOU PERSONALLY, and mention a few accolades etc.. as well as generally comment. I suppose if I were a 'blogger' I'd have perhaps a forum for such a symbiotic exchange which would be totally satisfying all the way around hopefully. (I actually tried emailing you somewhere/somehow before - relying on the promise that 'we read our emails'... but to no avail, was a reply henceforth. (If anyone can personally get this in front of her, I will/would be most grateful).

First. Love the show, you're amazing etc. etc. Second. Me Gay Male - 54 hiv + partnered, Lefty of the left etc. etc. Living the hiv/ADAP success story.. (More later, if you insist! :~) )

The segment on ACT UP was for me, an emotionally shaky and somewhat nostalgic (and practically esoteric) reminder of what I/WE accomplished collectively during that era and perhaps personally, a notation of my seeming disconnect from the source (sans the obvious) with regard to my proximity of long distance (Oregon) from the 'action'. I wasn't as 'political' as I'd have liked back "then", and I try to make up for that by being a diligent, patient and careful activist/observer in these my senior time(s). 54 who'd a thunk! eh?

On your recent book tour through Portland, Ore. (and garnering even MORE support for thanking the sold out crowd for attending, inside!, on a gloriously and all too rare sunny Sunday! Apr. 15th) I was fortunate enough to get close enough during the signing to offer up a 'Great Job Rachel, keep it up!' accolade to which you quickly shouted back to the air "Thank You!" and most likely promptly continued signing. I did not have a book to sign, because a 'techno' friend bought it on Amazon or something, and I read it on my (his?) second hand kindle (is there a song in there?) prior to your visit, and we both wondered what you would say/do if we brought THAT to you for signing... (this alone opens new opportunities for crafty technos to solve the future 'ether book' autograph dilemma...eh?)

Ok, I know this is too long already.

Suffice to say, I hope that I would somehow connect with you personally, I have a LOT of 'West Coast" input and/or comments to share, and I'm sure you hear that all the time. (I was actually surprised to find out that you are originally from N. Cal - you seem to feel at home back "there" in the foreign land that is East Coast/D.C. etc.) If I may offer a comment/ critique, as of late, I'd like to suggest you to return to calling him (Bob McDonnel) - "trans vag bob", and not the sanitized innocuous "Ultrasound Bob (guv)- Please?. If the suits are pressing for the sanitized version, I totally understand, even though I don't WANT to. (Keith Olberman's fate comes to mind...) but "Governor Ultrasound" completely disengages from the NEEDED 'point blank' intent of 'trans vag bob/gov'. It appeases the 'not speak' of the republican machine from the egregiousness of the actions, perhaps making one feel as though he had some instrumental influence in say, developing/promoting/supporting ultrasounds and their many useful purposes. See? Sanitized for your 'protection'. Just what they'd like to have. (Unlike the clever use of the "papers please" moniker you gave - and continue to give!! - to Arizona's SB 1070!) I know you value 'civil' discourse and your finesse with this, beams brightly to all us seething and potentially jealous malcontents, wishing we could be oh so kind, and I admire this in you...and yet if I've managed to gain any street cred with you regarding this request via this novella, I would feel vindication for my previous life of inattention if it would result in your resumption of the 'trans vag bob' moniker for any further future comments on him...

You can take my argument to the suits if you please, if that would help (?!) and if you feel so inclined respond in kind with your thoughts/comments/requests of me.

Thank you most sincerely.

Robert hodge rhodge4477@msn.com

btw.. I don't have cable, I watch you on something called a 'podcast'. On Friday nights you allude to "going to prison" which is obviously some show that is NOT Lawrence O'donnel or Ed Schultz. Can you let me know just what 'show' that is? I will still watch you faithfully for as long as these old eyes are capable!

Re: Daniels/Rubio - So the way to become vice president in today's electoral process isn't by one's credentials or suitability for the position, but by jumping up and down where the media can see you squawking Not Me, Not Me? Even Sarah Palin had more dignity. I guess vetting isn't so much verifying the resume as it is cleaning out potentially harmful skeletons in the closet? Vetting is a joke, professional "public servants" with all the pr, reputation protection, and spin agencies available to them today have their skeletons buried with Jimmy Hoffa.

People are foolish when they do not pay attention to what Wal-Mart is doing. Wal-Mart has been deliberately responsible for driving down and oppressing people’s wages, benefits and safety. That is one of Wal-Mart’s main agendas is to do that and all in the name of competition as they make billions of dollars in profits and line their pockets. In reality, Wal-Mart currently cares very little about their workers or even the American people, except to be like Rulers dictating their wanted policies to everybody, except themselves. Wal-Mart is the same as the GOP/Republicans in craving power, greedy, corrupt, arrogant, deceivers, and hypocrites. It is like the typical saying – the same old crap just a different day.

None of the true 'young guns' on the right want to risk being on a potentially losing Romney ticket, if they have future aspirations. The result will be a retread or an unknown,being chosen.

Regarding the charge that moderate, Centralist Catholics "might" have a problem with Ryan's budget which punishes the poor to give more tax cuts and subsidies to the rich:

If they don't feel this is wrong, there is a much bigger problem brewing within the Catholic Church than there is in the GOP.

Once you shut off your soul to the suffering of others, you are guilty of the most mortal of sins. To do so is to be in direct opposition to everything Jesus died for on that Cross.

I don't expect those who worship Ayn Rand or listen to Rush Limbaugh to understand this greatest of all Christian tenets. But anyone who has ever went to confession knows full well that defending Ryan's argument against social justice ends any chance for salvation.

So the leader of the Young Guns in the GOP is now incorporated eternal damnation into their platform?

How does one become so possessed by the devil? Karl Rove can't be blamed on this entirely. You have to ask yourself wat is going on between the Catholic Church and the Republican Party? What permits Ryan to express this view without being called out by the Pope by name?

Do they both feel too much guilt over past actions? One for the pedophile priest scandal? The other for the Bush/Cheney Era failures? Neither seems to be able to resolve the fact that they sinned...and can't stop making excuses for it.

This is a watershed moment for both institutions. If they continue on this path, there will be no turning back and no redemption for either of them. True believers will not follow them.

Sorry, didn't know where to post this. You all should think about setting up a weekend comments link or something.

Watching Dr. Maddow on MTP right now and can't help but get fired up from the heated discussion about equal pay for equal work.

Just a couple of points:

1. You go, Rachel! Attagirl!

2. Castellanos is either distorting or misinterpreting the 77 cents on the dollar statistic. He said the statistic is distorted because women are not going into high paying fields. (paraphrasing) This is bunk. You need to break out the stats for each field. For instance, in the STEM fields, regardless of discipline, pound for pound, women are making less than men.

3. We can take this further and break down the stats based on race and I am betting that the discrepancies will be even more startling.

TRMS graphmasters--hop to it.

This Week In God-Damn!

Photos of Rachel Maddow's Bar at the MSNBC party after the White House Correspondents' Dinner: 45, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54, 58, 59, 60, 61.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/29/white-house-correspondents-dinner-2012-parties-msnbc_n_1462715.html