Just what is going on with Sally Kern? In this week's Gay Agenda, Jennifer Vanasco and John Polly speculate about why the Oklahoma state senator went off on her anti-gay, "homosexuals are worse than terrorists" rant. Did she have a fight with her florist? Did the lesbians next door buy a spiffy new Subaru?

This, plus why we should take over Oklahoma, on The Gay Agenda. Check it out.

New to Visible Vote 08 (a litter-mate of AfterElton.com), Japhy Grant's Flaming Politics is an opinionated and independent look at the gay political landscape. And if that's not tempting your tummy, try this: Things blow up. Yay!

This week: Where has the Governor of Florida been spending his time? The answer will surprise you. Plus, how you can get a job in Washington, why "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" don't help enlistment and what the chances are of an international conference on gay rights.

Please join us in offering a warm AfterElton.com welcome to Japhy, and check out the vlog after the break!

Jay Vanasco from 365Gay and John Polly from NewNowNext proudly present the next Visible Vote 08 “Gay Agenda” vlog.

Feeling Primary fatigue? Ready for a winter break? Jay and John certainly are. So, they’re hitting the high seas for the first-ever Visible Vote political cruise! Ready to sail?

Taking the lead from the NY Times report on the Love-Boaty voyage hosted by the super-progressive mag The Nation, we think it’s time to mount our own gay boat trip. Dennis Kucinich is on board, Jocelyn Elders is our ship’s doctor, some Kennedys are tending bar and we’ve even drafted those strapping Romney boys as lifeguards. And since it’s a cruise, you know Rosie O’Donnell’s on board somewhere, arguing.

Check it out after the break!

Jay Vanasco from 365Gay and John Polly from NewNowNext proudly present the Visible Vote 08 “Gay Agenda” vlog. We're actually a few days behind in getting this up (going forward we'll be bringing to you at the end of each week), but it's never too late to join the debate about the current state of political affairs. And it’s time to play “Make Me a Super Delegate!”

Scoot over Tyson Beckford! Jay and John are here to help you decipher what all this current furor over “Super Delegates” is all about. What ARE they anyway? Who are they? And could they really corrupt the entire Presidential candidate nominating proces?

The answers to these questions and more (like where the gay vote currently stands in regards to the Democratic hopefuls, for one) await. Watch and discuss!

My take on last night's history making Presidential Forum on GLBT issues? Maybe I'm setting the bar too low, but I continue to be astounded by how pro-gay the whole lot of them are, and what a sharp contrast the Democratic slate is with the Republican one, none of whom are apparently even willing to share a stage with us GLBT folks.

For some historical perspective, the term "domestic partner" didn't exist until 1981. It was Michael Dukakis, back in 1988, who was the first presidential candidate to actually say the word "gay." In 1992, Bill Clinton actively campaigned on some of our issues, promising to repeal the ban on gays in the military (and trying to do just that, until the Republican Party, and Colin Powell, went nuclear on him in his third day of office). In 2000, civil unions were barely even on the radar. And in 2004, John Kerry was the first presidential nominee to refer to gay people in his convention speech.

And here it is, only 2007, and all the leading Democratic candidates are debating our issues with us personally (even actually sucking up to us!). And the number one issue they're debating is same-sex marriage!

Incredible. It's just incredible to me how much and how quickly things are changing on GLBT issues.

I also thought it was great that most of the candidates at least paid lip service to transgender issues. Talk about an issue not even being on the horizon just a few years ago!

I was disappointed in Barack Obama's performance. He's my candidate, but I thought he seemed nervous, and his answers were vague and meandering. It made me wonder if he's truly tested enough for the presidential campaign. That said, I thought it was very unfair that all four questioners asked him basically the same question, about same-sex marriage, even after he had already answered it. Maybe the reason he seemed nervous was because the questions directed at him were so adversarial.

Edwards? He's slick, I'll give him that. I loved the whole "I'm gonna level with you — we've had enough doublespeak from politicians" answer, even as I felt manipulated by it. But I just can't shake the sense that this just isn't the year of a straight white man. Basically, I think Elizabeth Edwards is right: for me, the symbolism of the first black of female president is just too cool to pass up.

I continue to be impressed by Hillary. Maybe it's because I'm a political wonk, and she clearly is too. But the contrast between her, who clearly has complete command of what seems like every issue, and our current President Bobblehead, is jarring. I remember when Bill became president after twelve years of Republican platitudes and banalities, how refreshing it was to have a president who didn't talk like the whole country was a bunch of simple-minded idiots. (I know Reagan worked for some people, but he always struck me as a completely empty suit.)