•The political world is still abuzz with President Obama and his Q&A with House Republicans (why no questions about his long-form birth certificate?). Dear MSNBC: did we really need two hours of commentary from Maddow, Matthews, and Olbermann about it?

Hopefully Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will speak for more than two hours when they meet with the the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. In all that verbiage there should be a plan to dismantle Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

• The record of Martin Luther King needs no white-washing, but why another call for a gay MLK? It’s a request based on facile assumptions of the “gay community.” We come from way too many backgrounds and ideologies to have one leader. And by the way: everyone loves King now because he’s dead.

• Now let’s turn to the The Root. Last week, the site came up with a list of black white folks.

A goofy and entertaining list, but Madonna needs to be replaced with Michael McDonald: one of the few singers who went mano y mano with Patti Labelle (all hail) and lived to tell the tale.

• No witty transition here. A  17-year-old suspect has been arrested  for the murder of gay Maryland resident Gordon Rivers. Hopefully there will be some justice.

• Alan van Capelle, as the executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, has spent seven years fighting the good fight in New York. He’s moving on and the organization is on the search for a new leader. Any ideas about who should be his replacement?

• Next week is the Super Bowl. Yawwwwwwn. Sure a Saints win would be great (Who Dat?), but football is boring!! Give me basketball and baseball. Next month there will be an authorized Willie Mays bio.

Anyone who didn’t give the “Say Hey Kid” proper respect was not allowed in my father’s house. Expect future postings about the book  and spring training. But before I wax about the green fields of baseball,  hail, hail to Roger Federer and Serena Williams, the new king and queen of the Australian Open.

• While  on the topic of sports numbers, what did we do before 538.com?  Love this in depth study of the most recent GDP report. It’s worth a gander.

• Tonight all of you best give your ganders to the season premier of RuPaul’s Drag Race. If not, expect to be called out.

• Lastly I’m behind on this, but Blue Mountain State is making me reconsider my no TV stance. The show is The Wire of the jockstrap set. What’s not to love?

I make this promise to my boss Jennifer: until he makes it official, this is my last post on Harold Ford. Three articles about the man is stalkerish and based on the lack of messages, no one cares. Makes sense. The real story is the Prop 8 trial, but I know h0w things work. If Ford beats incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand in a primary, folk will moan and groan about how 365 dropped the ball.

Yesterday he penned an editorial for the New York Post, explaining why he was considering a primary challenge against New York’s junior senator. Here is the thing about the former representative most acknowledge, even his political enemies. He’s got political skills. Lots of them. As in many. Take his stand on same sex marriage. Ford admits his anti-marriage equality past (while insisting he consistently supported civil unions). Now?  “….After listening to and participating in the national conversation about full equality and fairness, I support same-sex marriage.”

That’s smooth and good but wait; it gets better. He compares his transformation on the topic to Chuck Schumer. Last year New York’ s senior senator flipped on the issue, although he voted for DOMA and described marriage as an institution between a man and woman.

Ford fans (anyone out there?) will rightfully ask if Schumer can “evolve,”  with no political repercussions from gays and lesbians, Ford should be allowed to do the same. They will rightly wonder  why Schumer is not a “snake oil salesman,” as Alan Van Capelle of the Empire State Pride Agenda tagged Ford.

If he runs, it’s going to be tough for Gillibrand. You best get ready. Can’t say no one told ya!

NOTE: If you have been paying attention this morning, you know about the earthquake in Haiti. If you are looking to  help, here is a list of organizations.

The junior senator from New York, Kirsten Gillibrand,  has been named as one of the five people of 2009 by The Advocate.  The magazine gives her credit for trying to dismantle Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and making the case for marriage rights. Lt. Dan Choi, another magazine honoree, described the senator at a fall New York City community  meeting as “more than a fierce advocate.”

It would be fair to note though there are competing narratives. When she was first nominated in January, there was  confusion about where Gillibrand  stood on gay rights; a few claim she has turned left since her appointment. Gillibrand questions that reading of her political odyssey and Alan Van Capelle,  executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, speaks in glowing terms of her past and present.

“By all accounts, Senator Gillibrand has been an aggressive proponent of LGBT rights, that’s the record I’m looking at now,” said Van Capelle to a New York Observer reporter . “What I’ll say is that she’s probably been one of the most accessible legislators I’ve come across. I know that I can text Senator Gillibrand and I can receive a call back from the senator in less than an hour.”

While she is doing her best to shore up her left, the question remains how this will play with more middle of the road Empire State voters. Any Republican challenger worth his/her salt is going to make sure people remember how Gillibrand has become a “friend of the gays.” That plays well in New York County. Could be a problem in Yates County.

Oh my. This Obama fellow is good. For the past few weeks President Barack Obama’s name has been an epithet on the lips of many gays and lesbians. From non-work on DADT to a  defense of DOMA that made  Rev. Pat Robertson sexually aroused, Obama’s White House has come under fire for not being the fierce advocate for the gay community as  promised in the campaign.

So as the discontent grew more furious and loud (heck even the MSM was reporting on it), what does Obama do? Today, he’ll sign a directive that will extend health benefits to a number of federal employees who are involved in same sex relationships.

Please. Please. I know this is minor at best, and that’s being kind. And to steal from Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, the move feels like the title of a Prince song.

“Welcome to 1999,” Van Capelle said. “How revolutionary of the White House to give benefits to same-sex couples, when two-thirds of conservative Wall Street are already doing it. What an achievement.”

Ahhh, but no matter what you might think of the president, here is one thing you have to acknowledge when you tangle with him: he’s a master at the political game. He offers a sop to the gay community, we get mad at said sop (as well we should), and those voters who are uneasy with gay and lesbian stuff  (unfortunately a majority) think Obama is one of them. Essentially it’s addition by subtraction.

Well played Mr. President. Well played.

UPDATE: Made a few changes in the story because the benefits that will be extended are not health nor pension.