When I had a few moments to myself during my sister’s wedding weekend in San Francisco, I did something I love to do when visiting another town, visit a bookstore. And there was a delightful independent bookstore not far from my hotel, Books, Inc in Laurel Village.

This smallish (compared to the chain stores) shop reminded me how much I enjoy browsing in an “old-fashioned” bookstore. Here, instead of immersing yourself in one section, you find yourself starting in one section, then moving without thinking into another.

This store was one of those “independent stores,” you know, those who complain how they are losing business to Amazon and the chain stores.  I sympathize with this bookstore’s complaint.

I have tried to frequent such stores because the staff there tend to know and love books, but find that at some shops, the highly literate clerks have an attitude or lean far, far to the left and their store’s selection shows it.

Not so at Books, Inc. While I chanced upon a number of left-wing books on the shelves, I also saw offerings from Bruce Thornton (colleague/ideological ally of Victor Davis Hanson), David Frum and William F. Buckley, Jr. Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism was prominently displayed.

Not only that, The staff could not have been friendlier. As a result, I felt compelled to buy a book (always nice to find a reason to add another volume to my collection).  I don’t mind paying extra for a book when I buy it at a store with supportive staff and unbiased offerings.

If Independent bookstores are to survive, they will be places like Books, Inc. in San Francisco’s Laurel Village where you have a friendly staff and a selection which includes a panoply of political perspectives.

I had forgotten the pleasure of browsing in a smaller store where one section just flows into another. And the delight in perusing volumes which cover the gamut of American political opinion — as well as mythological texts, collections of poetry and bound reflections on human kindness.

So next time you’re in the Bay Area, pay a visit to Books, Inc.  And if the shop’s selection is as diverse as that I observed, buy a book and tell the clerk there you appreciate their inclusion of conservative tomes.  That is, if you think the market should reward broad-minded booksellers.

… to Sadomasochistic Fascists... (h/t – The Corner)

Formula One’s governing body is keeping its distance from sexual allegations in a British tabloid newspaper about its president, Max Mosley.  This is a matter between Mr. Mosley and the paper in question,” an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman said.  We understand that Mr. Mosley’s lawyers are now in contact with that newspaper and the FIA has no comment.”

The News of the World reported in a front page story that FIA president Mosley, 67, had taken part in a “sadomasochistic orgy” with five prostitutes that reportedly involved Nazi role-playing.  According to a story posted by the London-based Times Online on Monday, Mosley and others “re-enacted a concentration camp scene in which he played the role of both guard and inmate.”

Hey, but at least Mosley has some family connections to the authentic Fascists of old…

Mosley is the son of the late Oswald Mosley, founder of the pre-war British Union of Fascists. Mosley is married with two sons. He has been president of the FIA since 1993.

Methinks Mosley would do well to hire one of Bill Clinton’s Monica-era attorneys.

(Side Editorial Note:  I had no clue which of our Categories to file this under…..)

-Bruce (GayPatriot) 

This conversation really happened via email.  I know the people involved.  I saw the email exchange.

I am, however, changing the names and facts a bit to protect the innocent.  The bolded statement is reprinted in its original form.

Mike to Peg via email (Joan copied): “Just wondering…. when were the packages sent out since they will be needed in New York on Monday?”

Peg to Mike (Joan copied): “Today.”

Joan to Mike (Peg excluded): (sarcastically) “So…. I should expect them…. Um Wednesday?”

Mike to Joan: “Oh come on, you gotta have faith!”

Joan to Mike: “Well, you can’t have faith and your period at the same time.”

Priceless.

-Bruce (GayPatriot) 

Christopher Barron thinks the answer is personality over substance.

Sen. Obama has a fairly pedestrian record on what the gay left considers the critical issues for our community. Obama’s thin legislative record reveals little to no leadership on gay-related issues, and his positions on gay issues on the campaign trail have been largely indistinguishable from those of his Democratic opponents (all of whom, with the exception of Sen. Hillary Clinton, he has vanquished).

The love affair between the gay left and Obama seems to be much more about personality than policy, which should make the recent controversy surrounding the bigoted, hate-filled comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright all the more troubling to the gay community.

I DON’T BELIEVE that Obama shares Wright’s outrageous views, but I also still don’t know why Obama would have chosen to associate himself so closely with a man so filled with rage, hate and contempt for this country.

If Obama is going to base his campaign for president on his judgment, then he owes all Americans — including LGBT Americans — an honest explanation for that judgment. 

I wonder what the reaction from the gay left would have been if it were revealed that Jerry Falwell had been John McCain’s pastor for decades or that David Duke had been the best man in his wedding. I am fairly certain that such an intimate association with men with such divisive and repulsive views would certainly be grounds enough not to support his candidacy.

But maybe Barron is onto something more than the gay community’s adherence to Obama’s looks and style.   Perhaps the American gay (left, mostly) can also relate to Rev. Wright and his views.

So, what say you, gay community?

Do you also feel so oppressed that you hate the nation of your birth?   Do you hate the United States so much because you cannot be married here that you cheered after 9/11/2001 like the Palestinians and the Trinity Church members?

And since Obama and Wright were on the one hand “oppressed”, but on the other hand it turns out they are both are multi-millionaires… I’m assuming wealthy liberal gays are most adoring of Obama.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)