Last Friday, I posted a diary about San Diego Catholic Bishop Brom denying a funeral in the church for my friend, John McCusker who died suddenly last week.  John, who was gay with a partner, owned two gay bars in San Diego.  Tonight, just 45 minutes before a community forum in San Diego's gay community center, John's mother emerged from the Catholic Bishop's office to read a letter of apology from the Bishop to the McCusker family, the gay community and announcing plans to hold a vigil in John's honor at the Catholic Church.

Thank you to all of you here on Kos who emailed, posted, faxed, called.  It has been an unbelievable few days but it is such a bittersweet victory.  One that John would be proud of.

This is an outrage!  John McCusker, a friend and leader in San Diego's gay community, died this weekend of a heart condition.  The funeral was originally planned at University of San Diego, a Catholic university, but the Bishop thought it "inconsistent" with Catholic teachings.  

I hope people bombard the church expressing their outrage.  The contact info is below with a link to the extended story...

Update: Thank you to everyone for your incredible comments and support. Keep the letters, faxes and calls coming. John's service at St. Paul's Episcopal Church was amazing. More than 900 people attended with about a dozen TV cameras and reporters surrounding the church. Police were visible outside the church. At one point in the service. the incredible Very Reverend Scott Richardson welcome everyone and said "all are welcome to eat at our table". More below the fold...

Over the past 36 hours, I have withdrawn from the newspapers, blogs, radio, my cell phone.  Not returning calls nor answering my phone.  I have been mostly alone, with my two dogs, as my partner is away.

What I want to share with my fellow Kos junkies is the power of the voices in my head as I venture out into the world.  Yesterday, I pulled into the place where I get my haircut, only to see two cars parked side by side, with Bush/Cheney stickers.  After deciding not to rip the stickers off their cars due to the visibility of the lot, I went inside.  I was overwhelmed trying to read who inside the salon drove the cars.  Was it the older women getting a dye job or the younger one getting her nails done.  Who beside me voted for Bush.  Who among the people here want to support a man who hates me and my values.  I could not...

WE ARE Winning!

Michigan's Milliken Endorses Kerry

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Former Republican Gov. William Milliken of Michigan endorsed Democratic Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) for president on Monday, saying President Bush (news - web sites) has pursued policies "pandering to the extreme right wing."

As Kerry confronts Bush in the final debate, I think it is important to have a powerful meme to rebut Bush's domestic claims on medicare, taxes, no child, etc.  Here is my suggestion to K/E 04 for the final debate and the meme to go in the final 3 weeks of the campaign.

When Bush makes his claims, Kerry should rebut with:  

"Mr. President, you are good at claiming credit for tax cuts, for medicare reform, no child left behind.  The problem is you refuse to take responsiblity for the largest federal deficit in our nations history, you refuse to take responsibility for underfunding NCLB by 27 billion, you refuse to take responsibility for preventing Medicare from using the governments purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices for senior citizens"

This meme: taking credit but not responsibility, can be used on foreign policy as well.  

This column from today's WA Post by EJ Dione is a must read:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45792-2004Sep23.html

Nader stays on ballot, court rules

Dealing a potential blow to John Kerry's presidential bid, the Florida Supreme Court late today restored Ralph Nader to the state's ballot.

An Excerpt from the National Journal's Polltrack today....

Trouble For Bush With Undecideds?
According to the latest data from the Annenberg Public Policy Center, http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/02_reports_releases/report_2004.htm President Bush "made slight gains from the Republican National Convention on two important comparisons with John Kerry among the general public. But his standing among persuadable voters may be worse now than it was in August."

Annenberg's survey, conducted Sept. 3 through Sunday, suggested Bush's slight gains were on the issues of "fighting the war on terrorism" and being "a better commander in chief of the military."

Bush's job approval rating -- both in general and on various issues -- remained essentially unchanged from Annenberg's August polling. However, his ratings dropped among "persuadable" voters. Forty-four percent of "persuadables" said they approved of the job Bush was doing, down from 56 percent last month. On the economy, Bush's approval rating dropped seven points among persuadables; his rating on "handling the situation in Iraq" dropped eight points during that same time period. The number of "persuadable" voters who said Bush "has a clear plan for bringing the situation in Iraq to a successful conclusion" dropped from 30 percent in August to 17 percent in the latest poll.

Annenberg defines "persuadable" voters as "those who are either undecided or say there is a 'good chance' they could change their current preference for Bush, John Kerry or Ralph Nader."

This news gives a new spin to "This town is going to rock..."

Right On!  Gotta love Pearl Jam for their political work inspiring this effort!

From today's LA Times...don't forget to take the poll!