Like everyone else in America, the Log Cabin Republicans are gearing up for the next election. The lavender branch of the GOP held their annual convention this weekend to address ways to move the party forward. While most Republicans don't endorse homosexuality, the Loggers insist that they must put their sexuality on hold and focus on the core issues.

President Patrick Sammon told the audience:

Our theme is how our party can get back to its unifying, core issues - limited government, getting spending under control, a strong defense and making the president's tax cuts permanent...We lost the last election because independents voted for Democrats in a way that they hadn't in prior elections. The way to get them back isn't to focus on divisive social issues.

Another speaker - former Senator Alan Simpson, who recently came out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell - urged members to stick with the traditionally homo-hating party, "Don't be impatient. Stay in the party. Don't leave, because you can change it." We suppose miracles do happen, but most likely not before the next election.

Gay Republicans optimistic about '08 [Washington Times]

Presidential hopefuls and their campaign managers aren't the only people expressing their displeasure over Ann Coulter's comments. Log Cabin Republicans' baby-faced president Patrick Sammon had this to say:

Ann Coulter should be embarrassed by her anti-gay remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Coulter's words are not worthy of this event or our nation's political dialogue. Intelligent people engage in political debates using ideas not insults. Unfortunately, she has made a career out of saying increasingly outrageous things just to garner headlines and shill her books. Ann Coulter is more interested in soundbites than substance and she has become more ridiculous than relevant. She obviously has no shame.

Are we the only ones who kept replacing Coulter's name with Log Cabin Republicans?

If something happens in Gayville, you can be sure Joe Solmonese will release a statement. And Patrick Sammon's rise up the Log Cabin pole is no exception. Of Sammon's political ascension, Solmonese had his flacks release this statement:

I want to congratulate Patrick on his selection as President of the Log Cabin Republicans... During his time as interim-President of Log Cabin Republicans and previously as Vice President of the Liberty Education Forum, Patrick has established a reputation as a dedicated advocate and valued partner in our struggle for equality. We look forward to continuing a great relationship with Patrick. As we enter a new session of Congress, it will be vital to seek out bipartisan support for our community’s top legislative agenda items and Patrick’s leadership will be essential to those efforts.

Um, can anyone say ass kisser? Although we have to admit this praise comes as no surprise. Consider the phrase, "our struggle for equality". Whose struggle? It seems to us HRC and LCR have a lot of the same interests - none of which speak for a sizable portion of queer communities (read: not white and rich). If someone can clear this up for us, we'll be forever grateful.

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Speaking of offensive...The Log Cabin Republicans have named Patrick Sammon their new president. One of six possible candidates, Sammon's history with the right wingers may have played the largest role in his ascension. PageOneQ reports:

Prior to the appointment, Sammon was Executive Vice President of the Liberty Education Forum, the non-profit arm of the Log Cabin organization. During his three years at LEF, Sammon worked on programs like Reaching The Heartland and the organization's efforts against Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The Reaching The Heartland program works to gain support for lesbian and gay issues in what the site terms "conservative red states throughout the Middle American Heartland and South."

Also, it doesn't hurt that's he's photogenic, a trait that's come in hand for his numerous television appearances.

Speaking of television appearances, we were just reliving Sammon's appearance on the Situation Room. Discussing the Mark Foley scandal, Sammon commented that it's disgraceful that anti-gay groups used gays and lesbians to score political points. Seems like we got a pot/kettle situation here.

It's worth noting that in addition to making a film on how Hollywood discriminates against Jews and Christians (starring James Dobson!), Sammon graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in broadcast journalism and marketing. A man who's been trained to repackage bullshit as gold and works with James Dobson? He's perfect!

Kentucky state Senator Dick Roeding isn't really sorry for calling the Log Cabin Republicans "a bunch of queers." For the record, it is a true statement, but an inappropriate one for some shriveled-up little straight man to be flinging around.

When the University of Kentucky expanded health benefits to non-married gay and straight domestic partners, Sen. Roeding was worried the new rule would attract the "wrong kind of people." Again, he is not sorry.

He did issue a second-hand sort-of apology through a third party, but that isn't good enough for anyone, especially the Log Cabins, who refuse to accept it until he apologizes in person.

When asked if he has apologized to the Log Cabins, Sen. Roeding snarkily replied, "I haven't met one."

Even if you're not a Log Cabin Republican, it's probably about time Dick Roeding met you if you're bothered by this news. You can email him or call him at home at this number: 859-331-1684

Gay, lesbian groups dismiss apology [Cincinnati Post]

• Jeff Gannon pays a visit to the Log Cabin Republicans — and wonders why we're interested in the sex lives of journalists. (Our answer? A.C.) [Towleroad]

• Just because Lance Bass visited a gay bar doesn't mean he's gay, right? [ABC News]

• Meanwhile, is the saga of Lance and Reichen Lehmkuhl already over? [Perez Hilton]

• In Provincetown, it's not the straights being accused of throwing around prejudice slurs. [Boston Globe]

• The AFA puffs its chest and declares its boycott of Ford – for the car company's continued ad spending in the gay market – has had a financial effect on the company. Or, you know, Americans aren't buying American cars as often these days anyhow. [Advocate]

• A freshman Texas congressman introduces a new gay marriage ban amendment bill, only this one wouldn't prohibit domestic partnerships and civil unions. [NY Blade]

Last night was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's much touted speech in front of the Log Cabin Republicans — heretofor referred to as "the first time he spoke to a gay audience since taking office." From the cheers of "Four more years!" it was clear some in the $250-per-plate audience were big fans. But that didn't mean he didn't face any detractors, and for good reason: while the LGR's site Schwarzenegger's record on GLBT issues as "extraordinary," the truth is Arnold has voted against gay marriage and vetoed a bill to include gay and lesbian history in classroom textbooks. So what'd Schwarzenegger do? Brushed around the issue, saying very little about gay rights, except:

"In our society, we need a higher level of understanding, not a lower one. And we need an understanding of tolerance that is stronger, not weaker," the governor said. He never mentioned his veto of the same-sex marriage bill beyond saying that he and the group might not always agree, but they share the same values.

The California Log Cabin Republicans -- who call Schwarzenegger's record on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues "extraordinary" -- say the governor's appearance shows they have made gains within California's Republican Party seen in few other states.

"For a Republican governor to include speaking to gays and lesbians as part of a strategy for winning, that's a historic paradigm shift," said Jeff Bissiri, director of the Log Cabin Republicans, which hosted the $250-per-plate dinner for 350 people.

And for a gay and lesbian group of voters to open their arms to a governor who's on the record as battling their civil rights cause is also a historic paradigm shift — against progress in gay rights.

Governor thanks gay GOP group for backing [SF Chronicle]

Arnold Schwarzenegger and the gays? If Kevin Federline can release a rap album, anything's possible — so long as the gays are republican. California's governor joins the Log Cabin Republicans next week for a $250-per-plate fundraiser, just in time to draw attention to Schwarzenegger's potential vetoing of a bill that requires classrooms to include gay history in their texts.

While the LCR ditched President Bush last year when he endorsed a federal gay marriage ban, they've stuck with Schwarzenegger even though he vetoed a gay marriage bill in September. Schwarzenegger has long held he doesn't have a problem with same-sex couples, but that the matter of their getting married should be decided in the courts, not the legislature. Schwarzenegger also doesn't have a problem when it comes to securing support for his next four-year run.

Schwarzenegger to help raise money for gay GOP group [NY Blade]

• The Log Cabins Republicans get along better with the "Rev." Jerry Falwell better than with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. We agree that her face looks kind of weird, but really guys. Give us a break. Lots of little policy disagreements will never equal the one giant disagreement with Falwell: over your right to live as free citizens and not burn in hell afterwards. [The State]

• Canada's biggest gay bar, Club Unity in Montreal, burned down Friday night in what the police have deemed an "accidental" fire. However, we suspect that nothing is ever completely an accident when the Mafia and the Hell's Angels have a stake in the neighborhood. [365 Gay]

• Finally a gay rights march happened in Poland, but of course police had to intervene because of all the counter-protestors, who were mostly from an ultra-conservative youth group. We lament the phenomenon of political youth groups because they always end up being fascists or hippies. There is never a middle-ground nor any nuanced position, just "fags are unnatural so let's throw eggs at them." You're grounded, you little idiots. [Pink News]

• Former Republican Sen. John Danforth calls the Federal Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment "silly." We wish a few non-"former" Senators other than Russell Feingold were as outspoken. [Seattle PI]

• The Log Cabin Republicans are spearheading efforts to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which, if successful, would make it that much easier for you and me to get a free one-way ticket to Baghdad! [NY Times]

• A convicted pedophile serving time for kidnapping and thirteen child assaults gets "special treatment" at the Broadmoor Prison Hospital in Berkshire, England. What's the treat? Gay porn. We want to know if it's twinks only. [Pink News]

• What if curing HIV was as simple as clicking our heels together and having Glinda the Good Witch tell us that we had the power all along? That may seem glib, but new research at Ohio State University suggests that certain cells in our bodies, if protected from the debilitating effects of the HIV virus, can actually help to fight the virus and limit its spread. [365 Gay]

• Being Christian and gay can be a troublesome combination, unless you're a Dolly Parton sort of Christian and a Gene Robinson sort of gay. Well what if you were also from Kenya, where sodomy is illegal, and on top of that, you had decided to lead a celibate life because of your faith? Yikes. For real, it's the true story of a Christian,gay, celibate 32-year-old Kenyan man, and he's pretty chipper about it all. [BBC]

• If this makes you feel better, hatemongering is not only unique to the American political process, but is happening Down Under as well. [ABC Australia]

• HX has a shopping guide for the "12 Gays of Christmas." Squeeze your friends into one of these stereotypes and all your holiday shopping is done.

• Or you can get everyone on your list the new Lady Bunny DVD. Rated X for Xtra-retarded. View the trailer here.

• Ang Lee tells Gay.com that Brokeback Mountain “is a gay love story.” Now if only someone would tell Jakey.

• George Michael is planning on getting married in England, but not the “whole veil and gown thing.” He’ll leave that to Elton.

• The Log Cabin Republicans want an investigation of a drag show at the University of Missouri because it “made fun of heterosexuals and featured simulated sex acts.” And some of you wonder why we make fun of those Log Cabin sissies.

First Anna Wintour, now Patrick Guerriero. The president of the Log Cabin Republicans was just starting his National Coming Out Day speech at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill when a mysterious figure rushed the stage and threw a chocolate cream pie at him. Though he valiantly ducked and swerved, he took part of the pie in the kisser.

Poor Patrick has a tough time getting any support for Log Cabins. Studies have shown that by a margin of 99 to 1, gay people prefer living in a fabulous pied-a-terre anyway. One Democrat in L.A. sent Patrick an e-mail saying he is “just another self-hating faggot,” and then topped that with “You and people like you are the worst enemies of the gay community.” The charming Minister Fred Phelps once said that Patrick is a “faggot . . . worthy of the death penalty.” Phelps has also journeyed to Sweden to hunt down its King, in the belief that he supports homosexuality.

Observers of the 2006 Pride March in New York City might recall that when a few straggling Log Cabin types paraded by, proud as all get out of their Republicanism, they were booed as if they were Ashlee Simpson lip-synching. Now you can experience all the Republican fun for yourself at the LC website. It has a video corner and a photo of Dick Cheney, if not any convincing explanations of why a gay person in their right mind would want to be associated with the homophobic Republican so-called party.