text:
LGBT rights in Belarus
Belarusin 1994, however Gay rightsin Belarus are still severely limited.
History of gay rights in Belarus
While a part of the
Soviet Union, Belarus used the laws common for all Soviet republics. Homosexuality was considered illegal. Sexual relationship between females have never been illegal in Belarus, while those between males were always prosecuted. Words such as "homosexuality" or "gay" were not present in any old Soviet code as the Soviet juridical system used the term " sodomy".
Article 119-1 of the previous Criminal Code of Belarus set out that homosexual men having voluntary sexual contacts were to be convicted to prison terms up to five years. In
1989nearly 50 Belarus citizens were fired due to their sexual orientation. A special department was set up in KGBto fight homosexuals. Secret services used blackmailto recruit their agents from the gay environment. This thus prevented the possibility of the emergence of any gay organization, or a printed edition designed specifically for sexual minorities. Homosexuals met in the streets, toilets, railway stations, or gathered in private flats or houses.
1992a newspaper named "Sex-Antiaids-Plus" was founded through the help provided by a non-governmental organization Stop-Aids-Belarus(SAB). The second issue of the newspaper was arrested by a procurator's office, and a criminal case was initiated against the newspaper. The newspaper contained contact announcements for gays and lesbians. Prosecution regarded announcements as pandering. In 1994the criminal case against the newspaper was dropped. However, its founder and chief editor, Ruslan Geniush, fearing persecution for sexual reasons, stopped his publishing endeavour. In 1992 a magazine named "Randez-vous" was registered, and began publishing. The magazine focused primarily on personal contacts, thus, contained articles written by psychologists, sexologistsas well as letters and announcements of sexual minority readers in a special column "Blue Salon". In 1994 the magazine ceased to exist.
1 March 1994the Parliament of Independent Belarus changed Article 119-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, and homosexuality became legal.ref|ilga-1
Current legislation
The currently effective Belarusian Constitution of 1994 proclaims that one of its fundamental principles is the equality of citizens. Article 22 states:
"All are equal before the law and have the right to equal defense… without any discrimination".
The Constitution does not describe the social characteristics on whose basis discrimination is prohibited. In other words, in cases of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the law provides no protection to victims.
Civil and Family Law
According to the Constitution (Article 32) and the Marriage and Family Code (Articles 1 and 12), marriage is a specific civil contract, concluded before a state organ and available to two persons of the opposite sex. This final requirement makes marriage inaccessible to homosexual couples.
Although the existing conservative model of marriage does not satisfy society, and although many people live together outside of marriage, Belarusian legislation still does not recognize domestic partnerships as a status that gives rights and responsibilities to its parties. For this reason, partners see no changes in their personal or material relations when they decide to cohabitate outside of marriage.
Domestic partnership is not a legal basis for one partner's changing his or her surname. It does not lead to spousal material commonwealth between the partners. Among the responsibilities taken on by the partners in their life together, the only ones legally enforced are those listed in the civil law. When they have a common business, their relations are regulated by the rules of commercial law. If they break up, the partners have no access to the legally recognized rights of a spouse in a divorce. Current and former partners in cohabitation have no right to alimony or financial support.
Cohabitation is not a legal basis for inheritance, since partners are not included in the legal circle of heirs. Therefore, domestic partners may inherit from one another only when there is a last will and testament. The taxes on such an inheritance are higher than the taxes imposed on inheritances received by a legal spouse. Domestic partners inheriting through a will also have no right to a preserve part of the estate.
Cohabitating partners have no parental rights over the children of the other partner. It is possible, however, for one partner to legally adopt the other's biological children. The adoptive parent must not be legally incapacitated, must not have been stripped of his or her parental rights by the courts, and must be at least 16 years older than the adopted child. It is not possible for cohabitating couples to adopt orphans, since the law requires adoptive couples to be married.
Labour Law
The Labour Code (Article 14) prohibits discrimination in the sphere of labour relations. However, sexual orientation is left out of the list of social characteristics on whose basis discrimination is legally prohibited. In other words, victims of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation have no right to protection.
Criminal Law
Homosexual sex was decriminalized for the first time in 1994. The Criminal Code in force at the moment in Belarus was passed in 2000. The only homosexual acts that remain crimes are those that violate the consent of the sexual partner. The crimes regarding homosexuality are covered in Chapter 20 (Section VII) of the Criminal Code, the chapter dedicated to "crimes against sexual inviolability or sexual freedom". Article 167 covers "forced actions of a sexual character":1. Muzhelozhstvo [specific Russian definition of "male sexual intercourse with male", literary "man lying with man"] , lesbianism or other actions of a sexual character committed by use of force or threat thereof against the victim, or by exploiting the victim's vulnerability, are punished by deprivation of freedom from three to seven years.
2. The same actions, if they are committed several times or by a person previously convicted of rape, or by a group of persons, or wittingly against an underage person, are punished by deprivation of freedom from five to twelve years.
3. Actions which are foreseen by the first or second parts of the present Article if they are committed wittingly against a person under fourteen years old, or carelessly brought about the death of a victim, or carelessly inflicted heavy damage to his/her health, caused HIV infection or some other heavy consequences, are punished by deprivation of freedom from eight to fifteen years.Article 168 provides that sexual intercourse, muzhelozhstvo, lesbianism, or other actions of a sexual character, wittingly committed by a person over 18 on a person under 16, except the crimes foreseen by the articles 166 and 167 of this Code, are punished by arrest up to six months or limitation of freedom up to three years or deprivation of freedom up to four years.
Article 170 on "Coercive acts of a sexual character" states that: "1. Coercion of a person into sexual intercourse, muzhelozhstvo, lesbianism or other actions of a sexual character by use of blackmail, threat of destruction, damage or withdrawal of property, or by exploiting the victim's material or other dependency, is punished by limitation of freedom up to three years or deprivation of freedom on the same terms. 2. The same action, if it is committed wittingly against an underage person, is punished by limitation of freedom up to four years or deprivation of freedom up to five years." No specific sexual acts, such as oral or anal penetration, are mentioned, and whether the behavior is homosexual or heterosexual makes no difference. The law makes an important symbolic tribute to the principle of gender equality in that, with the exception of rape, which requires a female victim, all other criminal sexual actions, such as violence, compulsion, or coercion, can be directed against persons of either gender, the victims in all cases being referred to in the law as she or he.The age of legally relevant consent for participation in sexual acts is equal for homosexuals and heterosexuals: 16 years old.
The legislation contains no laws that refer specifically to perpetrators of crimes motivated by homophobia. In the Criminal Code, homosexuals are only singled out when they are the "subjects" of a crime (e.g., when they are the perpetrators), and not when they are "objects" (e.g., victims of a crime). Judicial and police organs do not express any eagerness to collect evidence about the homophobic motives of those who perpetrate crimes. Judges are not obliged to consider such motives as aggravating the circumstances of guilt, or to impose more severe punishments when homophobic motives are present.
Anti-discriminatory Law
Currently effective legislation does not contain the so called "Anti-discriminatory Law", which regulates the principles of the equal treatment resting on the prohibition of discrimination and the means of legal protection against its violation.
Immigration and Asylum Law
Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation is not explicitly recognized in law as a ground for granting refugee status. Same sex partners are not recognized for the purposes of immigration law. After the fall of the communist regime many Belarusians requested and were granted asylum abroad, based on sexual orientation discrimination. The most frequent reason cited was formal or informal harassment by the police. Amnesty International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Network – Belarus (AILGBT-Belarus) has information on individuals who were granted asylum in Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, and Sweden.
"(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
2008About the Month against homophobia in Belarus
Homophobia exists in all countries, but also manifests itself in different ways. In most the past soviet union countries (because of certain historical events and cultural traditions), homophobia, even if it seems imperceptible, is part of the social order. An exception of Belarus, where homophobia is a political question also.
In Belarus, homophobia has long been a casual nature. Jokes about the gays and insults, after a load, steel, unfortunately, an integral part of our lives.
Homosexuals if suddenly become aware of their orientation, can be beaten, to dismiss work, to hunt down at the university. Yes, and what to expect if homophobia implanted at the highest level. The parliament member Kuchinsky suggested not simply put, and kill gays. "My position as a deputy is: all these "blue" (In Belarus it's mean as a freak) and so must be full-shaft" - clearly he said. And proposed an amendment to the Law to criminalize this type of relations between people. Also, many words about the "orientation" was told the Head of State, who had clearly expressed homophobic orientation.
The first music channel in Belarus, almost openly declared his position on discrimination of sexual minorities. By the canal administration appealed portal Gay.by, who responded that this is not the position of the channel, but merely the implementation of the recommendations, but not explained whose recommendations. Messages can only be a heterosexuals. Massages usually edited or not published at all. Thus, the announcement harmless "guy to get acquainted with the guy" the broadcast goes in the form of "A guy will get acquainted". As a result, gay-guy, who paid announcement, entire evenings of calls and discourage SMS from girls. In response to claims first music channel explained that has the right to edit reports of acquaintances. Most do not hesitate over the meaning of rights and interests of ads gave a paid advertisement.
Therу is no official organizations in Belarus that represent the interests of gay and lesbian in Belarus. Women's Organization, which was officially registered and working by the "gender" questions "Jyana", which protects young women in the country, recently announced that soon will closed. The so-called, men's organization, Republican Youth organization "Vstrecha" is not an LGBT-organisation, but holds a great deal of work aimed at preventing HIV infection and AIDS among men having sex with men. All other organizations and initiatives are working outside the legal framework.
If we talk about simple gay and lesbian vacations, he practically does not exist. Gay clubs in Minsk takes pace, but to say precisely, just one and in some conducted, the so-called "closed" party. But recently the leaders of such institutions are trying to maximize their in secret and not to say about the orientation of the visitors. The only "officially" an existing club (for hidden reasons of this institution, we will not publish his name) known for low prices, and homophobic guards, which periodically emit from the club to become tipsy visitors.
Internet resources for gay and lesbian in Belarus, and recently worked without any problems. With regard to Russian gay-sites, so until now denied access to the Russian portal GLBT Gay.ru. The monopoly-provider Beltelecom, which controls the external gateway, tried to block access to sites gay - at least from internet clubs, the first time, many clubs have closed Internet access on gay sites, but over the time began, but went on such a step not all. There are still in Minsk internet clubs, which are blocking access to Belarusian as well as on Russian gay lesbi sites.
The criminal article for homosexuality was abolished in 1994 but began a strong pressure towards sex minorities. They also discredited is in full swing. For example, the first gay parade was held in the CIS countries in Minsk, it was in 2001. Strangely enough, he passed peacefully, it consisted of about 300 people. It soon became clear why he was peaceful: after 2 days were to be held presidential elections, and the parade has become a very convenient pretext for customized television in order to discredit candidates from the political opposition. Now not only the gay movement, but also LGBT, as such, de facto exist in the country clandestinely.
The first and only action for the past six years was announced by Belarusian initiatives and gay sites was the "Month against homophobia", whose purpose was to say that the problems in our country is and must be addressed. Belarusian LGBT activists to campaign from 17 April to 17 May, which took place as information campaigns, and various activities for LGBT. Month organizers were made: the site gayby.org, Gay.by, members of the League of Sexual Equality "Lambda", Amnesty International (Belarus).
Belarusian "sex-minority" for the first time, openly declared his desire to take part in the way of Chernobyl, the democratic forces of the country to express their solidarity with the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy, together and on a level with all parties to the action. However, met strong resistance from the "democratic" forces and hundreds of homophobic remarks.
Thus, activist "democratic" movement, the voice of the Belarusian opposition youth, Dmitry Dashkevich, taking part in the program "Freedom Night", in a live "Radio Freedom" openly declared that in Belarus are no place for gays, that homosexuals - are sick people and that opposition will not going to the dialogue with them. These words were spoken from the mouth of a man who fights for freedom and democracy in Belarus.
Also worth mentioning, and another saying the Belarusian opposition have been told some time ago. Artur Finkevich, said that all homosexuals need to settle in the Reserve and not with the "normal" people. Ghetto and Gulag - the future of the Belarusian democratic country, at least for sexual minorities, such a thought comes to mind after listening to all the comments of opposition, the democratic forces in the country.
As part of the Month were planned street information shares, which were to be held in Gomel and Minsk, but organizers were cancelled in connection with the ban on their holding of local authorities.
Month against homophobia in Belarus supported the Belarusian electronic media, radio and foreign colleagues. More than fifty media told about the Month events. Belarusian media, despite the silence theme homosexuality, began to talk about the people on the part of society which can not be accepted nor society, nor government forces nor their opponents. In turn, I would like to express gratitude for the coverage of events Month Radio Liberty, BELAPAN News Agency, the newspaper "Salidarnast", European Radio for Belarus, Belarusian Ratsiya Radio, Radio "MIR", the regional information media, as well as all others who are not afraid talk about gays and lesbians. Alexander Poluyan Gay.by [http://www.gay.by]
ocial acceptance
Intolerance and homophobia remains present within Belarusian society. According to [http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/europe/supporting%20files/status_of_sexual_minorities_in_b.htm The International Lesbian and Gay Association] (ILGA), representatives of sexual minorities are scared of seeking protection from the human rights groups. Gay life is still largely underground and most Belarusians consider homosexuality a
Public Opinion
Homophobic attitude, suspicions and prejudices are still very strong. According to the survey held by Belarusian Lambda League for Sexual Equality (Lambda Belarus) in April 2002 47% of questioned Belarusians think that gays should be imprisoned. Young people increasingly tolerate homosexuality and show a growing interest in gay and lesbian culture. However, their interest remains part of youth popular culture and is often considered as a kind of fashion that will be outgrown and forgotten in adult life.
The open support of lesbians and gays is not a popular thing for a political movement in Belarus. In July 2001 the Organising Committee of the 1st Belarusian Youth Congress, according to majority low, voted against participation of delegates of Lambda Belarus. In March 2002 a number of Belarusian media published press release of Young Front (the youth organisation of Belarusian Popular Front), which contained homophobic statements and humiliating notes about gays. "(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
tate homophobia
In his speech at the consultation with the Belarusian Security Council, which took place 28 September 2004 in Minsk, with participation of the highest members of power and security ministries of the country President Lukashenka said: "… we have to show our society in the near future, what 'they' [EU and USA] are doing here, how they are trying to turn our girls into prostitutes, how they are feeding our citizens with illicit drugs, how they are spreading sexual perversion here, which methods they are employing". "(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
Russian Orthodox Churchis very powerful (claiming 80% of the population as adherents) and considers homosexual relationships as among "the gravest of sins". Fact|date=April 2008 According to Lambda Belarus in April 1999 Russian Orthodox Church officials have publicly called for the execution of gays. Fact|date=April 2008 In May 2003 the European Humanities University (Minsk) administration banned demonstration of the documentary "Outlawed" about discrimination of gays and lesbians all around the world. The show was planned for AMNESTY FILMS FESTIVAL, organised by AILGBT-Belarus at the University. According to the University staff the ban was made under pressure of Russian Orthodox Church. "(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
Recent cases of discrimination
There is no anti-discrimination law in Belarus. The [http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/europe/supporting%20files/status_of_sexual_minorities_in_b.htm ILGA] reports Belarusians being discriminated or persecuted due to their sexual orientations.
Specific examples include:
*A former
Minskresident Roman, 19, was seeking a political asylumin the U.S., because his parents had been trying to cure him by shock therapy. He was granted asylum in May 2007. (NOTE: real name and location changed to protect identity).
*In May 1998 a resident of
Maryina Gorka, MinskDistrict, the state official, was fired from his position after his former wife called the administration and said that her former husband was homosexual.
*In July 1998 directors of the state National Television and Radio Company of Belarus banned authors of popular TV programs "King's Hunt" and "It's All Right, Mamma" from using the already filmed material with participation of the "Singing Queens Show" on the grounds that the programs' characters confessed they were gay.
*The country's only gay club, Oscar, was closed by the government in February 2000 because police said it "gathers abnormal people". However some mainstream clubs reportedly hold specific gay nights.
*Discrimination concerning the gay rights festivals
* [http://www.data.minsk.by/belarusnews/112006/139.html Minsk Gay Culture and Human Rights Conference Cancelled]
"Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" (added by Viachaslau Bortnik, 13 August 2006)
Individual cases registered by Lambda Belarus from January 2001 to June 2003:
* On 18 April a dead body of the pensioner Alexander Stephanovich, known in Minsk as a homosexual, was found in the yard of the apartment block where he lived. His body was stabbed all over with knives.
* At night between 15 and 16 of May the activist of Lambda Belarus Andrei Babkin was badly beaten and raped by the entrance into his flat and subsequently was taken to the hospital with severe injuries.
* On early morning on the 3rd of July the owner of the gay club "Oskar" Ivan Suchinski, 30 was killed. The club was closed by the authorities in February 2000 and Ivan tried to seek civil remedy against unfair actions of the police. 6 cases of murder of homosexuals were reported in Minsk and parts of their bodies were scattered around the city. To this day the police have not found the murderers.
* On 2 July in Minsk the police detained and badly beat Andrei Scherbakov, one of the founders of Lambda Belarus.
* On 3 August the unidentified broke into and vandalised the flat of the Lambda Belarus activist Andrei Babkin where fliers, posters and booklets of the festival "Gay Pride 2001" had been kept.
* On 13 November in Molodechno the leader of Lambda Belarus Edward Tarletski was seriously assaulted which resulted in a "concussion of brain" diagnosed in the hospital where he was rushed into and spent 7 days. The police refused to take actions in connection with the assault for the reason that as they explained it was "impossible to find the criminals".
* On 15 February in Zhlobin (Gomel Region) a dead body of 34 year old accountant Victor Kovyl was found in his parents' flat. He was openly gay both at work and in public. The police refused to give the details of the murder to Kovyl's partner Alexander and one of the members of the police said to him: "It serves you right, sodomites (faggots)!".
* On 29 March, Pavel Severinetz, the leader of the biggest opposition organisation, the "Young Front", issued a letter published in media, where he called homosexuality "a death-worthy sin and perversion". According to Severinetz the fact of the existence of homosexuals is "the result of spoiling and sinfulness in the world".
* On 12 April an assault and beating of gay men took place outside a gay club "Babylon". According to witnesses a group of skin heads (10-12 men) who attacked 3 visitors of the gay club ran away before the police arrived. Among the victims was Edward Tarletski, Editor in Chief of a gay magazine Forum Lambda and leader of Lambda Belarus.
* On 10 June in the town Kommunar of Buda-Koshelyovo district of Gomel region three unidentified men heavily beat and raped a local resident Dmitrii L., 18. The victim was taken to the reanimation ward of Gomel Regional hospital where he spent 2 weeks.
* On 29 August before the festival "Gay Pride 2002" the leader of Lambda Belarus and Editor in Chief Edward Tarletski was called to the City Department of Minsk Police where he was told that in case he organizes gay parade on the streets of the city "the police will not take any responsibility for possible disorders". The police also threatened Tarletski with criminal prosecution in case of a street demonstration like it was in 2001.
* On 2 October at 10 pm Edward Tarletski was seriously assaulted outside his flat entrance on his way home. Four unidentified men asked him if his name was Tarletski and started beating him. That night he was taken to the hospital. He had a broken shoulder and three teeth smashed.
* Minsk Police started a criminal case in connection with the murder of Mikhail M., 50, whose mutilated body was found in his flat on the 17th of November. According to the police this was the 5th murder of this kind committed in the capital of Belarus. However the detectives fully denied the possibility of a maniac.
* In December the administration of the
Belarusian State Universityin Minsk banned access to all gay internet resources in the computer classes of the university.
* On 18 February Edward Tarletski, leader of Lambda Belarus and Editor in Chief of a gay magazine, "Forum Lambda", was beaten by unidentified persons near his house. Edward was taken to the hospital with a head injury and plenty of bruises on his body.
* On 20 March the administration of the internet café "Soyuz Online", the biggest and most popular among gays internet-café in Minsk, blocked the Belarusian gay and lesbian web site APAGAY.
* On 29 March the security guard of the night club "Budda-Bar" in Minsk heavily beat Yuliya Yukhnovetz, volunteer for Minsk Pride, only because she kissed a girl in the club hallway. She was taken into hospital where she was diagnosed with a "closed injury of cranium".
* On 10 May an unknown hacker broke into the Belarusian gay and lesbian web site APAGAY. He deleted all the topics of the site's forum and introduced the new one containing appeal to kill gays. In addition while downloading the home page of APAGAY.com the notification "PIDARS MUST DIE" and "STOP PIDARS IN BELARUS" appeared on the screen. The hacker's breaking was followed by telephone calls to the members of the site's team with threats of physical violence.
* On 28 May the administration of the European Humanitarian University in Minsk banned demonstration of the documentary film "Outlawed" about discrimination of gays and lesbians abroad. The film show was planned for AMNESTY FILMS FESTIVAL, which should have taken place at the University. According to the University staff the ban was made under pressure of the Russian Orthodox Church.
* On 12 June Edward Tarletski, leader of Lambda Belarus and Editor in Chief of the gay magazine "Forum Lambda", addressed a letter to the head of the state company "Minsk Postal Service" asking to explain why all international correspondence for BLL, Forum Lambda and Tarletski personally is always received open and damaged.
There are reports that police and prosecutor agencies do not give cases involving a victim who is of a sexual minority equal treatment.
In prisons and correctional facilities, homosexuality is subject to speculation,
blackmailand exaction. While in prison, gays and lesbians are largely unprotected. Reportedly, executing bodies often make use of prisoners' sexual inclinations to receive needed data, and turnkeys often encourage prisoners to abuse homosexuals.
"Discriminatory Police Practices"
Individual cases provide evidence indicating the presence of the following discriminatory practices:
1. Police officers seek information of a personal nature about homosexual persons who are victims of violence. This information is of no relevance to the prosecution the perpetrators of the crimes against those victims.
2. Police officers collect information of a personal nature as well as passport data and face pictures of homosexual persons who visit cruising areas. National NGO "Vstrecha" ["Meeting"] (HIV-prevention group for gay men) reported about those practices in Brest and Gomel.
3. Police officers refuse to register cases of brutality committed against representatives of sexual minorities and do not conduct investigations that would seek criminal responsibility from the perpetrators of crimes motivated by homophobic prejudice. Lambda Belarus reported many cases of brutality against lesbians and gays and passive behaviour of police in all regions of the country. The passive behaviour of the police is an expression of the state's desire to ignore and to not protect the violated rights of homosexuals.
4. Police has conducted unprovoked actions in bars frequented by homosexuals. AILGBT-Belarus, "Vstrecha", Lambda Belarus and lesbian group "YANA" reported about those practices in Gomel and Minsk."(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
According to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense and the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military of the University of California, Santa Barbara Belarus is between those countries that ban gays to serve in the military. AILGBT-Belarus has documented at least five cases of gay men from Gomel who did not serve in the army because of their sexual orientation. No cases of harassment of gays in the army are reported, but this may be the result of gay individuals hiding their sexuality. "(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
A high percentage of suicide is observed amongst gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. Qualified psychological help is not generally available. In Minsk, the capital of Belarus, three universities - Belarus State University, Belarus Pedagogical University and European Humanities University - have full psychology courses on their curriculum but do not address the problems of sexual minorities. [1]
Gay rights festival
After previous failed efforts, in 1999 a gay pride
festivalwas organised by "Forum Lambda", a magazine of Belarusian gays and lesbians. The festival was supported by the UN Development Programme, studio Tatyana, organisation United Way Belarus, IREX, Titanic club administration and guests from Ukraine. The 1999 festival was a success.ref|ilga-2
In 2000 the organisers of the festival encountered great difficulty in preparing for the event. According to Edvard Tarletsky, head of the organising committee, the radio station (Radio BA) which was to cover the event and grant its dancehall for night events received an order from the Presidential Administration not to do so. Other radio stations reportedly refused support on the same grounds, and other venues were also cancelled. Orthodox Church related groups demonstrated in Minsk against the Gay Festival the day before the festival was planned, on
September 9. A planned gay pride march through the city was banned by the city government 24 hours before it was due to take place, and authorities acted on the day to prevent festivities. Newspapers have reported the outcome of the day. Seeref|paper-1 andref|paper-2
In 2001 the Belarus government allegedly prohibited the Belarus Gay Pride Festival for 2001.
The organizing committee of the final (Belarusian) phase of the 4th International Moonbow Human Rights & Homo Cultural Festival and the 1st stage of this year's ILGCN (International Lesbian & Gay Cultural Network) World Lesbian and Gay World Conferencendash August 28-29, 2004ndash have been forced to cancel the event in Minsk. This comes after authorities frightened a club owner into withdrawing his promise to host the event and non-governmental human rights activists from attending the event. In addition, threatening phone calls from authorities said foreigners trying to attend the event for workshops and discussions "would be immediately expelled from the country in keeping with the article of intervention in domestic affairs of the Republic of Belarus."ref|paper-3 "(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
95% of the Belarusian media market is owned by the state. Publications on LGBT issues are rare in state-owned newspapers, as well as in independent. Pro-governmental media expresses negative views about homosexuals. The work of the media has not had yet a great educational value in opening a debate in Belarusian society.
The only specialised magazine for the LGBT community ("Forum Lambda" magazine) was published by Lambda Belarus in Russia and disseminated in Belarus during 1998-2002. The publication has been banned several times by the State Publishing Committee.
The main source of information about life of LGBT community in Belarus is internet portal APAGAY (http://www.apagay.com). It's one of ten most visited sites in Belarus with monthly audience of over 350,000 visitors. The creators of the web site encounter a lot of problems when trying to disseminate adequate information about homosexuality. In December 2002 the administration of the Belarusian State University in Minsk banned access to all gay internet resources in the computer classes of the university. In March 2003 the administration of the internet café "Soyuz Online", the biggest and most popular among gays in Minsk, blocked the site. In January 2004 the National Hosting Company N1.BY refused www.apagay.com its services. Earlier in 2003 the system administrator of "Krassnaya Banernaya" RED.BY banned the portal APAGAY from banners exchange.
"(From Viachaslau Bortnik's report presented at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Warsaw, October 4-15, 2004; side event "Intolerance, discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the OSCE region".)"
LGBT organisations
1 "Vstrecha ["Meeting"] "
Location: 23-53, Kiedyshko Street, Minsk
Phone: 288 36 08
e-mail: email@example.com
Commentary: The oldest gay group in Belarus, founded in the early 1990s. Activities: HIV/AIDS prevention; HIV+ support group.
2. Belarusian initiative group "BelQueer"
Our work and plans
-propagation of correct sexual behaviour
-distribution of a trustworthy information about life LGBTQ in Belarus and behind its limits
-preventive maintenance HIV/AIDS
-creation of a favorable atmosphere for LGBTQ in Belarus
-development Belarus LGBTQ movements
-the help to young gays
www.belqueer.gay.by [http://www.belgueer.gay.by]
www.gay.by [http://www.gay.by]
e-mail: email@example.com [firstname.lastname@example.com]
3 "TEMA - information center"
Post address: p.o.box 118, 246048 Gomel, BELARUS
Phone: +375 29 7390882
e-mail: email@example.com
Commentary: Founded in 2004. TEMA is Belarusian national wide not profit LGBT NGO (Not Government Organization). Now days, TEMA is one of the most active LGBT NGO in Belarus. TEMA is not registered NGO, because of political situation in Belarus. Activities:
• organizing LGBT Pride events
• publication informative materials
• national LGBT web-site http://www.pride.by
• a creative contest for journalists
• e-newsletter in English http://groups.google.com/group/lgbtbelarus
• monitoring of the media
• educational events (trainings, workshops, conferences)
• monitoring of Belarusian legislation
• providing the LGBT community with legal education and information
• lobbying for the interests of the LGBT community on both national and international levels
4 "Amnesty International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Network - Belarus (AILGBT-Belarus)"
Address: PO Box 10P, 246050 Gomel
Phone: (029) 731 79 02
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Commentary: Founded in 1999. Activities: LGBT rights research and advocacy, human rights education, social activities. Recipient of 2004 Grizzly Bear Award from International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network.
AILGBT-Belarus vision is of a world in which every LGBT person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. In pursuit of this vision, AILGBT-Belarus mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending abuses of human rights of LGBT community in Belarus, within the context of its work to promote LGBT rights worldwide.
#note_label|ilga-1|1|anote_label|ilga-1|1|b cite web |title=The Status of Sexual Minorities in Belarus |work=International Lesbian and Gay Association |url=http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/europe/supporting%20files/status_of_sexual_minorities_in_b.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=Worldwide Ages of Consent |work=Avert.org |url=http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=Homosexual Rights Around The World |work=Gay Rights Info |url=http://www.actwin.com/eatonohio/gay/world.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title="Gay Pride Belarus '99" held in Minsk from 9 to 12 September |work=International Lesbian and Gay Association |url=http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/europe/supporting%20files/gay_pride_belarus_99.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=Gay and Lesbian Issues in Belarus |work=A Belarus Miscellany |url=http://www.belarus-misc.org/bel-gay.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=Belarus Authorities Forbid Year 2000 Gay Pride Festival |work=GayToday |url=http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/091800ev.htm |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=Gay Belarus News & Reports 2004-05 |work=Global Gayz.com |url=http://www.globalgayz.com/belarus-news.html |accessdate=2005-09-29
# cite web |title=International Briefs |work=Bay Windows |url=http://www.baywindows.com/media/paper328/news/2001/05/03/WorldNews/International.Briefs-75666.shtml |accessdate=2005-09-29
#note_label|gayby-1|1|anote_label|gayby-1|1|b cite web |title=Month against homophobia in Belarus |work=Gay.by |url=http://www.english.gay.by/news/2008-06-13-63 |accessdate=2008-06-14
* [http://www.english.gay.by/ LGBT Country portal in English on Gay.by]
* [http://www.pride.by/en/ LGBT Sosial, Human Rights and Travel information in English on Pride.by]
* [http://www.ilga.info/Information/Legal_survey/europe/supporting%20files/status_of_sexual_minorities_in_b.htm International Lesbian and Gay Association: Status of sexual minorities in Belarus]
* [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/default.asp?topic=country&country=176 Gaytimes: Lesbian & Gay Belarus]
ee also
Human rights in Belarushttp://www.homophobia.gay.by
News article sources
* [http://www.english.gay.by LGBT Sosial, Human Rights and Travel information in English on Gay.by]
* [http://www.pride.by/en/ LGBT Sosial, Human Rights and Travel information in English on Pride.by]
* [http://www.baywindows.com/media/paper328/news/2001/05/03/WorldNews/International.Briefs-75666.shtml Belarus gay mazazine given green light by state]
* [http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/091800ev.htm Belarus Authorities Forbid Year 2000 Gay Pride Festival]
* [http://www.globalgayz.com/belarus-news.html Gay Belarus news & reports 2004-05]
* [http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategory=4&ZoneID=4&FileID=300 Gay cultural events cancelled in Belarus]
Belarusian National LGBT Portal - [GAY.BY]
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LGBT rights in Europe — legend|#980098|Same sex marriage recognisedGay rights are by far more widely accepted in Europe than in any other continent and, in many respects, Europe is arguably the most gay friendly continent on the planet.Fact|date=January 2008 As of today … Wikipedia
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Florists in Camden Town
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CHICO — With spring around the corner, staff at Butte Humane Society's Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic are offering cat neuters for $35 along with a free rabies vaccine.
The special is being offered through February and sugeries must be completed by Feb. 28 to receive the discount. A scheduled appointment confirms clients will receive the discount. Call the clinic at 343-7917 ext. 2.
The February special is limited to appointments available, and may not be used with any other promotion or voucher. To see prices for other clinic services, visit buttehumane.org/clinic. It is at 587 Country Drive.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post1913806910977228387..comments2020-07-05T06:01:51.791-04:00Comments on Dan Shanoff: Wednesday 11/05 A.M. Quickie:President Barack Obama. Enough firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-19605344251266787012008-11-05T13:20:00.000-05:002008-11-05T13:20:00.000-05:00I've said it before and I'll say it again, the big...I've said it before and I'll say it again, the biggest reason not to have a CFB playoff is that it would be played by kids, most of who will never have a pro career. I can't imagine getting a catastrophic injury when all I want to do is get my degree because a bunch of grown men can't handle the BCS.

"Won't somebody PUH-LEASE thing of the children?!"Michael Whttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-3199061460901563562008-11-05T09:54:00.000-05:002008-11-05T09:54:00.000-05:00For all criticisms you can throw at W, I don't thi...For all criticisms you can throw at W, I don't think "not a sports fan" is one of them. He was a cheerleader, owned a team, and only seems legitimately happy/competent at sporting events (i.e. throwing out first pitches, that Nats game he was in the booth, the Olympics).DougOLishttps://email@example.com


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Game of Thrones - Lannister Mug featuring the House Lannister sigil and motto, and the Game of Thrones logo.
• Officially licensed Mug by Pyramid International.
• Ideal for a gift or for your own unique mug to have around the office or home. Ceramic. Dishwasher and microwave safe.
This product was added to our web site on Saturday 12 August, 2017.
Current Reviews: 0


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Hello guys, this website is now updated with the latest messages and SMS in the month of February 2020. Please check the updated post below. Thanks.
Propose Day SMS 2020, New Messages, Funny, Cute, Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Romantic, Love Week, Propose SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp.
Propose Day: On the Propose Day, you can propose to the girl/boy that you have a crush on. This is a popular day to announce love, propose marriage to your partner and give gifts like cards or flowers. If you are waiting for the ages to express your love towards that pretty girl in your college, a girl next door or even a glamorous lady in your office on whom you have a crush for quite a long time and never had the guts to say, this is the right day to express your feelings. So, share your feelings with your crush and send these lovely messages via SMS, Facebook or WhatsApp. If you have created any message and if you want to share with us then please leave your lovely messages below.
We have some lovely SMS for your girlfriend, wife, lover of romantic partner :
Propose Day SMS 2020
*** The sweetest way to propose:
"Excuse me, do you have a band aid,
because I scrapped my knee
when I fell in love with you."
Will you be mine ...
Happy Propose Day!!!
( ' o ' )
I Love You
*** Did you know they changed the alphabet?
They put U and me together.
"Happy Propose Day"
*** I have Spent Many Sleepless Nights,
In Your Love And I don't want,
My Son to Do same 4 Your Daughter,
So let's make them Brother And Sister …
"Happy Propose Day"
*** Boy: Would You Mind Sharing Your Address With Me
Girl: Why
Boy: Because That Is Where I would take my marriage vows one day
*** Are you free .....
for the rest of your life?
Happy Propose Day
Propose Day Messages Sweet
*** I can't imagine a life without you in it,
I want to grow old with you,
Let's spend the rest of our lives together.
*** I Am Opening An Emotional Bank Account
For U Sweetheart
So Deposit Your Love In It
And You Will Get The Interest.
Be My Valentine!
Happy Propose Day...
Hindi Propose Day SMS 2018, Shayari, Latest Messages
*** I wish I was one of your tears,
so I could be born in your eye,
run down your cheek,
and die on your lips.
*** I Love You For Not
What You Are
But What I Become
When I Am There With You.
SO Be With Me Forever...
*** High
When I See You
I Know The Reason Why
So Let Me Hold Your Hand & Make You Mine
For That Would Intoxicate Me Like Sweet Wine...
*** Life Counts All D Roads V Travel
Sum R Smooth
Sum R Ruf
Sum I Wud Rather 4get
*** But There's 1 Road
I Won't Regret
D Road Whr V Met N Became Friends
Humor*** Boy: Would You Mind Sharing Your Address With Me
Girl: Why
Boy: Because That Is Where I Would Take My Marriage Vows One Day...
Check Valentine Week Days 2019 Information Click Here
Tell us your love story, Share your love story - Click here
27 comments:
Love is what which makes u that which u r dreamt of
- Anonymous6 February 2016 at 09:31
Boy to girl: I will only get on my knees to tie our daughter's shoe lacesReplyDeleteReplies
all lines r so sweet........ReplyDelete
This all sms make a boy to propose a girl...super linesssss and advance happy valentine's♥ day dearsssReplyDelete
one thing in our life is love that motivat us to live more happily , love is a emotion to our loving oneReplyDeleteReplies
- Anonymous7 February 2016 at 22:10
And here is a single guy ... committing sucide !ReplyDelete
best statusee 4 luvvvvReplyDelete
I like this girl who is in love with another guy who doesn't care about her more than I do. She knows my feelings for her. She made it clear that she doesn't feel the same, but we talk every day. What should I do?ReplyDeleteReplies
when you cant change the girl just change the girlDelete
- Anonymous12 February 2016 at 10:18
Only u can do ... be happy....!Delete
- Anonymous7 February 2017 at 10:34
Hey!!! Ankit it seems to be u r in dilemma...i cant gv u the exact solution bt i can gv rfrence of prsn who will sort out ur prblm...dey guys hv created d page on insta..dey r consultants n dey gv free consultancy n solutions of ur prblms dey sorted out mine so i thnk u shld cntct them...stayhappywithsovi its d name of dere page..gud luckDelete
Make her feel ur emptiness.don't talk to her 4 some day.let her feel ur value.she will be back to u within a week.Delete
tu to abhi frndzone mai atak gaya hai..Delete
tu bas abhi rota baith..
if she doesn't feel same back.. let screw her . if you don't yoy get more attracted to her and its impossible to get out of her era..
so let screw her
- Anonymous25 September 2017 at 23:39
Just ignore her and go for another leave ur feeling behind and be a manDelete
Forget her and first built your career.Delete
Girls will automatically follow you
- Anonymous7 February 2017 at 03:24
qurbani ke bakre aur larki ke nakhre hamesha mehenge padte heReplyDelete
Thank U, for the Propose Massages.ReplyDelete
Loved is very importantly is loved life is very quect and that today's special day for kissing its day is very romantic for my lovely baby chona (aashu)........ Love you baby aashu for Speatiol dayReplyDelete
I respected for all person true loved........ And that todays days very special days kissing dayReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
can you update some more sms plzReplyDelete
Please send some lovely messages to your Valentine through our web site. Share your romantic thoughts below : Your comment will be visible after approval...


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Guest: Mort Zuckerman, G. Gordon Liddy
PAT BUCHANAN, HOST: Tonight: tick, tick, tick. Four days and counting, an election special. A new terror tape: Osama bin Laden attacks the president and explains why 9/11 happened and what America must do to avoid another. U.S. officials believe the tape is authentic. How will this October bombshell effect the election? Then we'll look at brand-new polls that just came out. Today there are some amazing new numbers you won't want to miss. Plus, both camps agree that the military vote could be critical in choosing the next commander-in-chief. But will all the soldiers' votes be counted? That and much more on this election special.
Today, Osama bin Laden had a message for Americans just four days before the election. A new video that aired on Al Jazeera earlier today warned America to leave the Middle East alone. It's the first new video of bin Laden since September 10, 2003, a year ago. And it's the first time he directly claimed responsibility for the September 11 attacks.
In the bin Laden tape, he says, and I quote, "Your security is not in the hands of Kerry, Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Each state that does not mess with our security has naturally guaranteed its own security."
Joining me now, MSNBC analyst Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona and MSNBC terrorism expert Steve Emerson. Steve, let me talk with you. This is an astonishing and quite riveting tape. It is as though Tojo sent a message to FDR in 1942 saying, Here's why we bombed Pearl Harbor and here's how you can get out of the war, otherwise it's going get worse for you. What is your take on—first, on why he did this? And secondly, were you astonished that he appears to be in relatively good health?
STEVE EMERSON, MSNBC TERRORISM ANALYST: This is the first time we actually have seen him in such good health. And he's reading very calmly. The backdrop is very nondescript, deliberately so, to avoid any kind of identification. But understandably that he has to inject himself into the political campaign. He has not delivered on the threats that were issued back in June, when he said the time of ticking and an attack would occur before the election if America did not change its ways. He was not able to deliver on another terrorist attack. This is the next best thing right now. And he clearly is making this acutely fine tuned to the American public. It's not for Europeans, it is not for the Arab public, it is for the American public.
BUCHANAN: Exactly. And what he is saying in there is—he says—which is—I don't believe for a second—he says he saw—you know, he watched the Israelis smash the buildings in Beirut 1982, when Sharon led the attack into Lebanon, and watching those buildings come down, he determined that because the Americans had given the Israelis a green light, that he was going to bring down the American towers, or the American buildings, which is nonsense, but it is clearly a message directed at an American audience and to an Arab audience and a European audience.
EMERSON: Look, clearly, he wants to make the case that somehow it's American support for Israel, when in fact, if Israel existed (ph) within one inch in Tel Aviv, he'd still have a problem. He'd still claim that this was a provocation to the Muslim world, No. 1. No. 2, he was not—al Qaeda didn't exist in 1982. It didn't exist until 1989. He was not even involved with the jihad movement until 1986...
BUCHANAN: Right.
EMERSON: ... in Afghanistan. So clearly...
BUCHANAN: Right.
EMERSON: ... it's revisionism right now, designed to exploit what he sees in the American public, the debate now saying that somehow it's U.S. involvement and support for the Middle—for Israeli that is part of the reason why there's a radicalization in the Muslim world. He's trying to exploit that, and I think it's not going to work with the American public.
BUCHANAN: Rick Francona—are you there, Rick?
Yes, I am, Pat.
BUCHANAN: What is your take on this—on this tape, Rick?
FRANCONA: Well, I think, primarily, bin Laden wanted to make sure that everybody knows that he's still alive, he's still relevant. But along with Steve, I agree that he has really changed his tactic a little bit. He's tried to do this earlier but not to this extent, and that is, wrapping his cause around the Palestinian cause. I mean, claiming that the events of 9/11 were a direct result of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, supported by the U.S. 6th Fleet in 1982 is really a stretch.
BUCHANAN: But here's what he's also done. He—you're right, he is playing into various Arab and Islamic causes but playing into an argument in the United States. He also says the Americans were supporting the kings and the royal families and the military dictators and the president-for life. If you go home and leave us alone, you'll be as secure as Sweden. As you notice, we didn't attack Sweden.
FRANCONA: That's right. He specifically addressed the kings, the military leaders and the presidents who were not only allied with the president, the current President Bush, but also the previous President Bush. And he said, you know, Your ties to these corrupt regimes have led to these attacks on you.
BUCHANAN: OK, Ron Reagan's here with us, also. Ron, at one point in the video...
RON REAGAN, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Pat.
BUCHANAN: ... bin Laden says—hi, Ron. He says to the U.S. people, My talk is to you about the best way to avoid another disaster. I tell you security is an important element of human life, and free people do not give up their security. How do you think this is going to affect the election? Now, let me give you my—my take on it initially would be this, Ron...
BUCHANAN: Clearly, Laden's showing he's alive and well and taunting us and saying, Bush did not get me, despite what he said. But clearly, at the same time, he is insulting and challenging the president of the United States. And if he turns this in bin Laden versus Bush, the president is going to benefit for the next three days.
REAGAN: That's right. Now, first of all, let's just say right off the bat that anybody who allows this to change their vote one way or the other deserves to be taken out back and hit in the head with a shovel. But it may change people's minds, and I think we know how. On the one hand, it rebounds to Bush's advantage because it rekindles the flame of 9/11, which many people feel was his best moment. On the other hand, as you just said, it also reminds people that this guy that we were supposed to hunt down and smoke out and get him dead or alive and all that is still out there making videos.
Now more interesting, really, I think, than the impact on this election—which I hope is none, nil—is his motives for this. Now, superficially, he seems to be attacking Bush. And he may be. We can't speak for his motives. We don't know his mind. On the other hand, all movements, be they nationalist, be they revolutionary or Islamist jihadist, need an enemy. And George W. Bush is the pre-cooked enemy for Osama bin Laden. Now, if we want to say that he's very clever, very Machiavellian, we will think that, in fact, he is trying to help Mr. Bush because he knows Mr. Bush is his ready-made enemy.
BUCHANAN: All right...
REAGAN: He is the recruiting tool, in effect...
BUCHANAN: All right, let me take...
REAGAN: ... for Osama bin Laden.
BUCHANAN: All right, let me take that to Steve Emerson. Let me take that to Steve Emerson. He did mock and taunt the president. He brought up the "pet goat" reading down there in Florida. And of course, he says, The president, amazingly, was reading this story, which enabled us to get all four airliners, which is nonsense. But the taunt in there is deliberate.
EMERSON: Well, first of all, I'm...
BUCHANAN: What is he doing?
EMERSON: I'm struck by the fact that that is, unfortunately, a replication of American political, you know, circus, which is brought up by Michael Moore, when he alleged that George Bush sat there reading. So he's taking it from what he's watching on the Internet, what he's reading on the Internet, watching on direct satellite TV. He's obviously watching American politics. He's an astute observer. He thinks that George Bush is vulnerable on that issue when he's not.
He also said that 50,000 people could have been killed and George Bush could have saved more lives.
BUCHANAN: Right.
EMERSON: Obviously, that's not going to resonate with the American public.
BUCHANAN: Right.
EMERSON: My feeling is he's not being Machiavellian, he honestly believe that he can appeal to the American public. He's 100 percent wrong on this one.
BUCHANAN: All right. But Rick Francona, I think Steve's got a good point there. Look, I don't think bin Laden wrote this, I think it was written for him. But anybody that wrote this for him and who thinks bin Laden making a case of trying to separate the American people from Bush—
I mean, they are out—I mean, they are out of whack. They cannot believe that's going to be the result. Do you think perhaps that Ron Reagan is right, that this—he knows this or they know this and they believe that the taunts will help Bush?
FRANCONA: I don't know that he's that Machiavellian, but whoever wrote this for him—and I agree that he didn't write this himself—has some understanding of American politics, certainly has access to the political system and understands what's going on in the country in the election right now.
BUCHANAN: All right, well, hold it. Let's take a look. John Kerry, after this happened, said today he would fight a much more effective war on terror than the president. And tonight, President Bush responded at an Ohio rally. Let's listen.
GEORGE WALKER BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My opponent tonight continues to say things he knows are not true, accusing our military of passing up a chance to get Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora that the commander in charge of that operation, Tommy Franks, has said is simply not the case. It's the worst kind of Monday-morning quarterbacking. It is especially shameful in the light of a new tape from America's enemy.
BUCHANAN: Now, let me go over to Steve...
REAGAN: Pat, could I jump in there for a minute?
BUCHANAN: Let me get in there. Let me say why I think this will benefit the president. You saw there the president of the United States back in his role as president, not as campaigner, and he's very forceful and powerful there. And he is already...
REAGAN: He's also being dishonest, Pat.
BUCHANAN: All right.
REAGAN: He is also being dishonest. John Kerry has never, ever accused the troops of letting Osama bin Laden go. He has accused the civilian leadership of not providing the sort of leadership for the troops that would have enabled them to go and get Osama bin Laden.
BUCHANAN: Well, hold on, Ron. I got to challenge you there...
REAGAN: What he said is dishonest.
BUCHANAN: Well, Ron, I got to challenge you there because what he said is we let Osama bin Laden get away in Tora Bora. Now...
REAGAN: Yes, that's right.
BUCHANAN: ... George Bush wasn't running the operation in Tora Bora.
Tommy Franks was.
REAGAN: George Bush is the commander-in-chief.
BUCHANAN: And Tommy Franks—but Tommy Franks was running it, and he's the one that says Kerry is wrong and that Kerry is slurring the troops who were fighting.
REAGAN: Well, Tommy Franks is campaigning for George W. Bush, quite frankly. he appears with him at campaign rallies. George W. Bush has said a number of things and attributed remarks to John Kerry throughout this campaign, and of late especially, that John Kerry has never said. He has said that, John Kerry says—not, I think John Kerry will do this or that, but, John Kerry says he will not defend the United States until after we've been attacked and only then with the permission of our allies overseas.
Let me be clear about that.
REAGAN: John Kerry has never said that. The president knows that.
And that is a lie.
BUCHANAN: OK, Rick Francona, Steve Emerson, thanks for joining us. Ron Reagan, stick around because up next, I'll ask them if the president has the momentum he need to win on Tuesday. We'll have all the latest numbers next, as well. Stay tuned.
BUCHANAN: We're back with our election special. I'm Pat Buchanan.
Four days and counting until arguably the most important election in a generation. And on the heels of a brand-new tape from Osama bin Laden, we begin with our nightly analysis of the polls, both national and in the critical battleground states. Still with us is Ron Reagan from Democracy Plaza. Joining us are radio talk show host G. Gordon Liddy, Mort Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of "U.S. News & World Report," and Craig Crawford of "Congressional Quarterly."
Let's start with the national picture, gentlemen, where the Reuters/Zogby poll has the race in a statistical dead heat, 47 for the president and 47 for Senator Kerry. But latest ABC poll scores it 50 to 47 in favor of Bush. He is up 3. Meanwhile, Rasmussen Reports give President Bush a 2-point edge, 49 to 47.
Mort Zuckerman, let me begin by asking you what is your take on how this bin Laden tape played today and how it will play out between now and Tuesday to either candidate's benefit.
MORT ZUCKERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT": Well, first, let me say that if anybody thinks a tape from bin Laden that comes out four days before an election isn't playing politics, I don't know what politics is.
My own feeling is that this is bound to benefit Bush. It changes the focus of what we've been talking about for the last week or so, whether it's the Halliburton issue or the explosives in Iraq, focuses on the strength of George Bush, which, of course, is the war against terrorism, and pits, as you pointed out before, Pat, bin Laden against George Bush.
And bin Laden's claims are so preposterous. You know, it would be as if Hitler said, you know, Just give me all of Europe, and I won't do anything, and then he attacks Russia. We're not going to turn over the entire Middle East to the allies of bin Laden, with a control of the oil, never mind that we're going to walk away from our moral obligation to Israel as an ally. So the whole thing is preposterous on its face, and is bound, in my judgment, to help George Bush because this is going to be the focus over the next several days...
BUCHANAN: All right.
ZUCKERMAN: ... and this is Bush's strength.
BUCHANAN: All right, Craig Crawford, give me your take on this. It does blow the 300 -- the explosives issues, the Halliburton issue, all this stuff goes by the boards. And tomorrow morning in the papers, it's going to be bin Laden. It already is tonight in both campaigns. What is your take on how this plays out through Tuesday?
CRAIG CRAWFORD, "CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY": I can well imagine an initial tick up for the president on this. It's an emotional response first. You know, you see somebody, a hated enemy, criticizing our president, insulting our president, your first impulse is to rally around that president. And I think a lot of Americans will do that. We've seen that in the past, starting with 9/11 itself. There is a rally effect for President Bush. We saw it with the capture of Saddam Hussein.
But what we also see is those—those upticks slide down. Whether there's enough time for it to slide down or—I think these cycles are getting so compressed that as people then start to think about it and hear some of the Democratic surrogates making the argument, Well, this shows that bin Laden's still out there, we haven't caught the man that now admits he ordered 9/11...
BUCHANAN: Right.
CRAWFORD: And I think Democrats will have to argue their way to some advantage on this but be very careful about it.
BUCHANAN: All right, Gordon Liddy, what is your take on how this will play out?
G. GORDON LIDDY, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I think what we need to do, Pat, is take the bin Laden tape, in association with Assam tape which came just a few days ago...
BUCHANAN: Right.
LIDDY: ... also directly from al Qaeda. And the insults are not a problem. What they did is directly threaten the American people, and that has got to redound to the benefit of President Bush because, as you know, when they ask people, Who can best keep you safe...
BUCHANAN: Right.
LIDDY: ... it's Bush.
BUCHANAN: But you know, al Qaeda is not stupid. They have to know—and these people—that if you threaten the Americans and insult the president of the United States, and you're responsible for murdering 3,000 people, you are not going to hurt the president of the United States. The American people will turn to him as a leader and say, The president's going to give our response to you.
LIDDY: I don't know that they're that smart about American politics. I mean, after all, these people have the Mideast mind, and that Mideast mind simply hates Israel, hates the United States, would hate both of us if either one of us no longer existed.
BUCHANAN: All right, Craig Crawford, Mort Zuckerman, thanks for joining us. Everyone else, stick around because up next, we'll take a close look at the "Hail Marys" each campaign might lob.
You're looking at NBC's new state-of-the-art election facility. It's called Democracy Plaza, and it's got exhibits and events that are open to the public. Find out more at democracy.msnbc.com. Be right back.
BUCHANAN: On Monday, "The New York Times" published the now infamous missing weapons story, a story CBS wanted to air on "60 Minutes" this Sunday, 36 hours before voting began. President Bush had no choice but to answer Kerry's attacks on the missing explosives.
BUSH: The senator is denigrating the action of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Unfortunately, that's part of a pattern of saying almost anything to get elected.
BUCHANAN: By Wednesday, the source, the motivation and the facts of the story were all in serious question. Then came the news that ABC wanted to run a terror tape later in the week. And today, you have Halliburton allegations suddenly resurfacing. Are these legitimate stories, or have some big media become politicized surrogates of the Kerry campaign?
We're back with our panel, Ron Reagan, Mort Zuckerman, G. Gordon Liddy and MSNBC political analyst Flavia Colgan now joins us.
Flavia, what is your take? It's hard to believe that CBS, in wanting to take that explosives story and drop it on the president's head 30 hours before voting, wasn't making a cold-blooded political decision to damage the president. Your take?
FLAVIA COLGAN, MSNBC POLITICAL ANALYST: No. In fact, I was very disappointed that CBS decided to drop the Niger story, as you recall, a couple of weeks ago under the pressure of Dan Rather.
But I have to tell you—and I really think, at this stage of the campaign, with the electronic wallpaper that is so many of the ads, that a lot of this stuff isn't penetrating and that people are really going to make a decision based on a visceral emotional reaction. I really think that John Kerry needs to stay focused and learn from the debates in terms of how powerful the split screen was and look like a winner, have the command of the facts and look calm and look strong. And I think that the style is going to be just as important as the substance right now. We have so few days left. And really, get out the vote is the most important.
BUCHANAN: OK, I want to talk to Mort Zuckerman. Mort, you know, we talked earlier, and you talked about the impact of this tape. I think it blows off the explosives story completely. I think Halliburton disappears, virtually. I don't know why anybody—I mean, maybe some people want to talk about it. If you were—first, do you think it is unfair to say when CBS was thinking of dropping this on Sunday, they might have had a political motive in mind? And secondly, what would you do now, if you were John Kerry, about this bin Laden tape? Bill Clinton I've got some idea of what I think he ought to do.
ZUCKERMAN: Well, I do think that to have "60 Minutes" put out that story on Sunday night before an election on Tuesday—I'm not going to suggest they have a political motive, but I will say to you that as a matter of news judgment and the whole idea of being fair, particularly given the sensitivity they should have after what happened with Dan Rather, really just leaves me puzzled as to their reasoning.
Now, as far as John Kerry is concerned, that's a whole other issue. He's still got to find some way to—to, in a sense, say that his leadership versus Bush's leadership will have a positive impact on the war against terror, and then our—whatever it is, our relations with the rest of world...
BUCHANAN: Right.
ZUCKERMAN: ... whatever he is trying to accomplish, he's got to say that it's his leadership that'll do it. He's going to have a much tougher time...
BUCHANAN: Right.
ZUCKERMAN: ... because this argument is now going to be on the terrain where George Bush is the strongest...
BUCHANAN: All right, now...
ZUCKERMAN: ... and has the most credibility.
BUCHANAN: All right, let me throw out what I think his advisers are probably telling him tonight to do because he can't trump the president...
ZUCKERMAN: Right.
BUCHANAN: ... in a war with bin Laden, with what you just said.
ZUCKERMAN: Right.
BUCHANAN: Suppose he comes out and says, If I had been president of the United States, that murderer would not be sending tapes anywhere right now, he would be dead because we would have used all our energy to go after him, the man who attacked us, rather than go into Iraq. If he said that, that's a very dramatic statement, of course, and it reframes the whole debate. I think he's going to have to do something like that.
ZUCKERMAN: Yes. You know—but as George Bush has pointed out, that flies in the face of what Tommy Franks wrote in "The New York Times," in which he said, We had plenty of troops there, we had over 100,000 Pakistani troops on one side, we didn't want to incur excessive casualties going into the caves and chasm of that part of the world, which we didn't know very well. We did it as best we could. It's a very difficult argument to get away with. He may be able to do it. It may be his only argument. And therefore, it may be the one thing he does. I think he's got a very, very tough case to make. If I were he, I'd try and stay away from it and focus on other things in terms of Iraq and try and get the argument back to Iraq, if he can.
BUCHANAN: OK, Mort Zuckerman, thanks very much for staying with us. We have much more with the rest of our panel when "SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY" (sic) returns.
BUCHANAN: Could the candidates' last-minute star-power strategies help either one? We'll talk about that next.
But, first, let's get the latest headlines from the MSNBC News Desk.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER ®, CALIFORNIA: I'm here to pump you up to reelect President George W. Bush.
BUCHANAN: Four days to go and the Terminator, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is in Ohio stumping for President Bush. Rockers Bon Jovi are in Michigan with John Edwards. And Senator Kerry and Bruce Springsteen pulled such a huge crowd yesterday in Wisconsin that today they hit Florida. Tomorrow, Paul Newman comes to Cleveland for Kerry.
So the stars are on the campaign trail. But do they change voters' minds? Our all-star panel is still here, Ron Reagan, Flavia Colgan, and G. Gordon Liddy.
Ron Reagan, do you think that Bruce Springsteen can out, unless you feel that Kerry did, Bruce Springsteen can bring out 80,000 people in Madison, Wisconsin?
BUCHANAN: I didn't think there were 80,000 people in there, but does it—Ron, does it translate to Kerry?
REAGAN: Well, I think that the brilliant thing that they did with that Bruce Springsteen-Kerry rally, which did draw like 80,000 people, is that right after Springsteen did an acoustic set, is that they got people right then and there and they led them to a voter registration booth.
They had signs saying follow me and they led all these people en masse, anybody who was willing to go, to register them to vote right then and there. And that's pretty good. The Democrats clearly won yesterday, because really it was the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, doing acoustic sets, vs. the Bush twins and "Gampy," George H.W. Bush, somewhere else. And you got to say Springsteen is going take that fight every time.
BUCHANAN: All right, Gordon Liddy, what do you think? Do you think the Boss trumps them all, even?
LIDDY: Yes.
I think, after all, that they attracted 80,000 and they registered 160,000. And that's wonderful.
BUCHANAN: Flavia, is that what happened? Did they register them and vote the whole lot of them down there?
REAGAN: G. Gordon loves those dirty tricks.
COLGAN: But I will tell you, Bruce Springsteen certainly did get a lot of new voters to register, and Annenberg saying 8-1 of those are Democrats.
But I agree with Ron. I think the most significant was that they were able to translate that in terms of taking people to the polls. I'm still here in Philadelphia. And I think the rally, the sort of Willis Reed, seventh game, off the bench that Bill Clinton pulled here with 100,000 people was very significant, because he was—it wasn't abstract.
He was the physical embodiment of a question that a lot of people ask themselves when they get behind that curtain, which is, am I better off today than I was four years ago? And seeing Bill Clinton up on that stage was about more jobs. It was about cheaper health care and lower Medicare costs. And I think that that did translate.
BUCHANAN: Well, let me talk about, does it translate?
Let me ask you, Gordon, because, look, when Clinton came back, I think every American wants to see. The former president has gone through a terrific hit with that heart surgery. He's got quadruple bypass. He comes to a rally in Philadelphia. They got 100,000 people out there.
But I'm wondering, does that translate into votes? The reason is, if we watch Pennsylvania, it doesn't seem to be getting broader for Kerry. It's moving right into a the area of a dead-tie state or a state with Kerry one or two points ahead. So I'm wondering, again, go to Ron Reagan's point, whether or not they translate, these things?
LIDDY: I really don't think they do.
I think they are good for bringing out a crowd. I think that former President Clinton is enormously popular amongst Democrats, but they are not going to be voting for him. They don't have an opportunity to vote for him.
All it's going to do is bring a crowd. Then the candidate has to sell the crowd. And whether or not the candidate has sold the crowd or not, we will not know until Tuesday.
BUCHANAN: All right, Ron Reagan.
BUCHANAN: There's no doubt they bring out the crowd, but let me ask you this. The Boss is no doubt a big draw. Outside of Clinton, he is about the biggest the Democrats have.
But do you think now the bin Laden tape and the seriousness of the exchange back and forth between the president in effect speaking for America and John Kerry, do you think the stars will fade into the background now and this will—but this campaign will close on a much more serious note? Because whatever you say about it, Bruce Springsteen is fun. And...
REAGAN: Yes. Oh, absolutely.
BUCHANAN: And it seems like we're not in a fun stage right now.
REAGAN: Well, there are two just very different things going on there.
Yes, the stars are fun. And I would be interested to see if Gordo thinks that Arnold Schwarzenegger will similarly have no real effect on the outcome for people going to the polls. But I think you have to remember about the Osama bin Laden story is that by its nature, while we'll talk about it for a couple of days, it really doesn't have legs.
I mean, it has happened, and that is it. There's no ongoing investigation. He is not going to come out tomorrow and give us a few more words of wisdom. We can't interview him. So, that's over right now.
BUCHANAN: But, Ron—or, Flavia, let me ask you, isn't it going to dominate the talk shows? Let's take Tim Russert on Sunday. It's going to be all over it. Bob Schieffer will be all over it. Our friends at the other networks are going to be covering this thing and asking how it affects certain people and what is he trying to do?
This brings us down to the key issue of this campaign is, who should be conducting the war on terror?
COLGAN: And, Pat, I think that you had a great piece of advice for Kerry. I'm glad you are advising Democrats now.
But I think it's a combination. Like I was saying earlier in the show, it's not just what he says. It's how he says it. He has to make sure it doesn't seem like he's grabbing from the headlines or attacking Bush personally. But I think that he can seamlessly dovetail this in to what I think has been the most argument he has made, which is one of competence and mismanagement, as opposed to getting into going into Iraq or not going into Iraq.
And then also and just as importantly, this idea of a fantasy land, this idea that Bush, his rhetoric and reality do not match—he is telling how great things are in Iraq, but body bags are coming back. Zarqawi is still out on the loose, even though we had a chance to get him. We could have gotten Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora. Fallujah, it goes on and on. The explosives. I think he has to bring this all together nail down mismanagement, competence and the idea that Bush does though see what is happening on the ground.
There is another issue and it's about military voting. A recent study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 94 percent of the members of military intend to vote in the election. And Bush is likely to get most of those votes. He has a 69 percent favorability rating among military personnel vs. Kerry's 23 percent.
And with nearly 160,000 troops fighting in the Middle East, the military vote from abroad could decide the election. In the 2000 election, officials in Florida disqualified 1,527 votes because they lacked postmarks. Florida, as you know, was decided by 537 votes.
Now, let me ask you, Flavia, have they settled that problem up there in Pennsylvania where apparently the troops were saying that they had not to both get their ballots and get them back?
COLGAN: Well, I took major umbrage with what was essentially political posturing. Ed Rendell is a former Reservist and certainly he has seen the burden we have had to bear in Pennsylvania. And he more than anyone wants to make sure we're not undermining that which we're fighting for in Iraq, which is democracy.
And voting is so important. What happened today is that Ed Rendell went into Judge Kane, a Republican judge, former Republican secretary of state, who before had said it was not necessary to send out a second ballot, which would be confusing. And he asked for an extension. It is now extended to November 10. But, again, we have to recall that Santorum and everyone is going on saying 26,000 votes are not going to be counted.
There are only two counties that were of were in question, Venango. And there are only three ballots that hadn't been returned yet. And still Ed Rendell went in today and said even one vote being counted is not enough. I hope this rings throughout the nation.
BUCHANAN: OK, let me go to Gordon Liddy with this.
Gordon, this is a very explosive issue. Any suggestion that American guys over there and gals in Afghanistan or Iraq haven't been given enough time to cast their ballots and have them counted because of perhaps some political hack in the United States, that is a revolutionary issue. What is your take? It seems to me what Rendell is doing is the right thing, going in and getting an extension to make sure that all the troops in there who want to vote and who have cast their votes have their votes counted.
LIDDY: He did the right thing, but I think he yielded to political pressure to do the right thing and he did the right thing. I don't think he had any choice but to do the right thing.
BUCHANAN: Ron Reagan.
REAGAN: You know, with all due respect to the troops—and they are doing, you know, a heroic job where they are—all votes count equally.
And the question that this leads to is for the Republicans to suggest that there is some sort of machination going on to keep the military from voting is a little bit hypocritical, because there is an active effort on the part of Republicans to suppress the vote in various states. There are all sorts of dirty tricks that are going to be played. They are going to have people that they are paying to show up at polling places and discourage particularly African Americans and young people in Democratic districts in Ohio, in Florida and elsewhere, discourage them from voting.
Everybody's vote counts equally, whether you are wearing a uniform or not.
BUCHANAN: OK, young and newly registered voters are hard to predict.
Could they swing the election Kerry's way?
We'll ask our experts next.
BUCHANAN: The blogging world could play a large role in next week's election. Find out why when we return with MSNBC's blogger in chief.
Stay with us.
BUCHANAN: Welcome back. I'm Pat Buchanan.
And more than 700,000 residents between the ages of 18 and 24 registered to vote in time for Tuesday's election in Michigan. How will the youth vote and new voters impact our presidential election?
Joining me now, MSNBC political analyst and former Howard Dean campaign manager, blogger in chief, Joe Trippi.
All right, Joe, tell us. Tell us, you mean—I mean, tell us how the Internet is going to impact this election and which side do you think is going to benefit most?
JOE TRIPPI, MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think it's clearly already impacted the election.
But I think it may be the big surprise Wednesday when we all wake up, because I—when you look at what's happening out there, thousands and thousands and thousands of young people, not just in Michigan, but all over the country on campuses in just about every state have a signed up more and more voters. And what you are seeing is that same interview that we have seen on the interview on those online polls after each debate, where Kerry won by a landslide on the Internet.
This is their medium, this young cohorts medium. And they talk to each other in their own language. And there is so much energy there that I don't think pollsters can reach these people. They have cell phones. They don't tend to have land lines. And I think they turned out about 33 percent in 2000. I think we could be shocked and see a 50 percent turnout and a much—and they're much higher registered.
So I think the big surprise Wednesday morning could be that it was the young generation that decided this election.
BUCHANAN: You think this is the hidden vote. And you seem to be suggesting that despite the polls that show maybe Bush with a one- or two-point lead nationally and pretty good shape in the battleground states, that you could get a small tidal wave here that puts John Kerry in the White House?
TRIPPI: Definitely, I mean, particularly if it's that close.
If we really go into the Election Day with Bush having a dead heat or Bush having a slight lead and these pollsters haven't reached these young folks who have their cell phones, who don't communicate with land lands where the pollsters can reach them, the pollsters might be able to extrapolate what their vote is going to be, 56 percent for Kerry, 44 percent for Bush.
But what they can't do is predict how that energy there and how much higher turnout is going to be. And I think it could literally double in this group on Election Day. I have never seen this energy.
BUCHANAN: Gordon, what do you think? You have got your radio show.
You are in touch with a lot of folks.
LIDDY: I sure am. And what he is talking about are the college kids.
BUCHANAN: Right.
LIDDY: What he is forgetting about is that the noncollege young people are just as highly energized, and they are energized for Bush and they are going to vote.
BUCHANAN: You know, Ron Reagan, that's a point.
There's a lot of working-class kids and others, quite frankly, who are not in college, who aren't spending a lot of time working on the Internet and the rest of it. And many of them are very enthused about the president.
REAGAN: Some are and some aren't.
I would suggest to you that the youth vote, generally speaking, is a Kerry vote. And that's why you will see Republican operatives in polling states in crucial states challenging young people when they come to vote. Now, fortunately, we have got a very unique situation with these bloggers.
MSNBC is going to have citizens blogger reporters, as it were, at various polling places around the country. And we have invited them to report on what they are seeing in the polling places. So if these dirty tricks are taking place out there, we're going to know about it. We're going to have people on the ground who are just ordinary citizens with access to the Internet, or Internets, if you prefer, who are going to...
REAGAN: I don't know how many there are, but...
BUCHANAN: Let me repeat. All right. OK.
We'll have final thoughts from our panel coming right up.
BUCHANAN: All right, let's get some final thoughts from our panelists.
Let me ask you, Gordon, how do you think it is going to go this weekend up through Tuesday? And what's the effect of the bin Laden tape? I mean, do you think, as Ron Reagan said, it will fade?
LIDDY: No, I don't think it is going to fade, because I think, as you pointed out, it is going to be the subject of discussion on all the Sunday talk shows and what have you. It is also going to be the subject of discussion in bars and everything else.
And it is going to focus the issue right back where it belongs, and that's on safety and security of our people. And that is going to benefit President Bush enormously.
BUCHANAN: Flavia Colgan, I've got to think—I don't—do you disagree with that? It sounds to me that is simply what's going to happen, whether we like it or not.
COLGAN: I think that the Osama bin Laden tape, as I mentioned earlier, can really cut both ways on that competence issue.
And I really feel confident for a Republican incumbent to be in a dead heat in this stage, I would place my bet on a GOTV effort from the Democrats more than Republicans any day. And I really think that those undecideds, as you've seen in the polls, are breaking Kerry's way. And I feel confident, as Joe Trippi said, that the people in my generation, this new batch of registrants, is going to put it over the top for Kerry.
And I sincerely hope that that is the story, because wouldn't it be great if my generation for the first time in this important election is able to do the thing they've never been able to do, which is impact the future of this country and the jobs and foreign policy?
BUCHANAN: Ron Reagan.
REAGAN: Yes. Well, the bin Laden story won't simply evaporate, because we'll keep talking about it, but, again, there will be no new news on the bin Laden story.
Now, one other thing to consider, the weather. In Ohio on Election Day, it's supposed to be stormy. Will it be raining in the north and the east, where Kerry is strong? Will it be raining in the south, where Mr. Bush is strong? This election, because Ohio is so crucial, could literally be decided by the weather.
BUCHANAN: Well, I think you are right.
But I think this, Ron. I think the president can lose Ohio and win, but I think Kerry has got to have Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Do you agree or disagree?
REAGAN: Well, that would certainly help, but Joe Trippi has been working on several scenarios where we could end up with a 269-269 tie, although I think that Kerry will win the popular vote either way.
BUCHANAN: All right.
Joe Trippi.
TRIPPI: Yes, Pat.
I think this whole Osama thing is going to be eclipsed by the really big story that is going to occur over the weekend. And that is the vice president of the United States heading out to that previously undisclosed location formerly known as Hawaii to go out and try to swing that state.
BUCHANAN: Right. I understand Al Gore is going to get there ahead of him.
TRIPPI: But this shows you how close this thing is going to be, that now both parties are sending out the big guns to the state of Hawaii.
BUCHANAN: Four electoral—four electoral votes.
TRIPPI: But that gets to you where this thing is going to go. That's how tight it is going to be.
REAGAN: Cheney may be planning an early retirement in Hawaii.
BUCHANAN: OK, Gordon Liddy, Flavia Colgan, Ron Reagan, Joe Trippi, thanks for joining us for this election special, "4 Days & Counting."
Stay tuned. "SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY" is straight ahead.
Copy: Content and programming copyright 2004 MSNBC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2004 FDCH e-Media, Inc. (f/k/a Federal Document Clearing House Inc., eMediaMillWorks, Inc.), ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material other than for research. User may not reproduce or redistribute the material except for user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon MSNBC and FDCH e-Media, Inc.'s copyright or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation.


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Hints for Parents/Guardians
During High School
One of the most important people you will come in contact with during your student's high school career is his or her counselor. Here are some tips you can use to help build helpful relationships.
Get to know them
- Encourage your son/daughter to get to know the counselors early in his/her high school career. Have him/her make an appointment to talk to them, learn about their policies and procedures, and learn about programs they host at your student's school.
- Your son/daughter may want to introduce goals, skills, strengths and weaknesses. This will make future conversations much more productive.
Keep in contact
- Introduce yourself to the school counselor at school events – open house, parent/ teacher conferences and maintain contact.
- Encourage the student to navigate the course of high school with the counselor. While you should never hesitate to ask your student's counselor questions, you will be helping your son/daughter develop into a responsible adult by encouraging him or her to take charge of his/her issues.
- Encourage your student to schedule another face-to-face appointment to check in.
Stay involved
- Participate in as many parent activities as you can at your student's school,
including open houses, college fairs, college workshops, evening programs and/or financial more knowledgeable about the types of educational, occupational and personal choices your student will be making about high school and life beyond high school.
Utilize counseling resources
- Counselors do their best to make resources on a variety of topics available to you. Newsletters, web sites, pamphlets and informational programs are all often available to give you more information. Take advantage of these resources.
By maintaining a good relationship with your student's counselor, and by making sure your son/daughter is following through with the goals the counselor helps set, you can make the most of your son/daughter's time in high school.


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Mickey Mouse Costume
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Mickey Mouse!
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|Costumes for Babies
This homemade costume for babies entered our 2013 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Crystal, the 'Mickey Mouse' costume creator:
This is Easton and he just turned 2 years old. Last year, after looking and looking, I could not find any store bought costumes I liked. So, I decided I was going to attempt to make one. I received so many compliments that I knew I was gonna have to keep this tradition up and make his costume every year. This year it was fairly easy coming up with an idea as to what he was gonna be because he LOVES Mickey Mouse. After some thought, I knew this costume was gonna be pretty easy to put together. Although, there was some trial and error on a few things, such as the hat. I first had sewn the ears (and stuff them), then made a little slit on the hat and tried to sew them into the hat. That didn't work. The ears sort of just flopped over. On the second round I decided to sew and stuff the ears, but instead of sewing them on the hat, I hot glued them. The glue acted as a base and held the ears up right. The other thing that didn't turn out as I liked was his shirt. I had originally just dyed a black onsie. I didn't like it because it showed too much skin around his neck. I got lucky and found a black turtle neck onsie for only about $8.00 (it's also something he can wear later). His shorts are made out of red sweat pants, cut off and sewn shorter with felt "buttons" sewn on also. He is wearing black tights. His shoes only cost $5.00 and were originally black cloth. I used acrylic paint and primed them with white first to help cover the black. I then painted them with yellow acrylic paint. His gloves are just white gloves and I just used a black sharpie to mimic the black lines on Mickey's gloves. This costume was pretty inexpensive. I probably put in no more than $20 to make this costume. Easton could not have been more excited when he saw himself in the mirror. "I cool", he says.
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Louis IV - 1AM [Unsigned Artist]
Official Video For Rising Atlanta Artist, LOUIS IV
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Edit by: Cory Blase/ Soo Smoove AG
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