"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective," the Supreme Court wrote in its decision. "The Legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification."

This is huge, bigger than Tinker, probably as big as Griswold v. Connecticut. It's a state ruling, but having read Bobby Hanson's original ruling, is very easy to apply at a federal level. The ruling deals with equal protection under state rules, but the decision also went into detail on applicable federal rules because of rulings that apply to states (like Griswold).

Things just got VERY interesting. Federal unconstitutionality overrules state constitutions, period. Hanson's breakdown presents a clear argument that barring gay marriage is unconstitutional under the US Constitution which means those state constitutional amendments barring gay marriage could easily be voided. Expect this one to go up the ladder quickly because of this. Someone in a state that has such an amendment will challenge the state rule in federal court, using the Iowa decision, depending on how things go with the California Supreme Court and Prop 8, I would expect it challenged there in the 9th Circuit, but there are other possibilities, Wisconsin and Florida are other likely locations for challenges.

Finally, there is no, none, zero chance of a federal ban amendment getting though anything resembling the current system. Doing so would require a 2/3 vote of both houses, followed by ratification of 2/3 of the states. Right now it can't even make cloture in the Senate, is even farther from super-majority status, and then would need approval in 2/3 of the states? There is no part of that process it would currently pass, or would have at any time in the last 20 years.

Iowa high court legalizes gay marriage in state

Texas Sen. John Cornyn is threatening “World War III” if Democrats try to seat Al Franken in the Senate before Norm Coleman can pursue his case through the federal courts.

Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, acknowledges that a federal challenge to November’s elections could take “years” to resolve. But he’s adamant that Coleman deserves that chance — even if it means Minnesota is short a senator for the duration.

Norm? As soon as the state court rules, it's done. Your only precedent is Bush v. Gore which the court specifically said not to use as precedent. Go take over Michael Steele's job because he's clearly too black to be a Republican, much less head of RNC.

In Minnesota, it's still November - Manu Raju - POLITICO.com

The relevant comment is at about 2:39 from Pfotenhauer.

"How can they pay more than the 70% they already pay?"

I want to know who the hell she's getting to buy that. 70%? I call complete and utter bullshit on that one. When you get done adding sales, FICA, property etc. all up, that 1% crowd pays a bigger gross amount, but a LOWER percentage of their money than the guy plugging away at $40K.

"If you asked most New Yorkers what income level qualifies for the highest tax bracket you would get a range of answers -- from $250,000 to $1 million to $5 million. In fact, an individual making just $20,000 pays the highest income tax rate of 6.85 percent." - Nation 2/23/09

Those same numbers hold true here in Missouri starting even earlier. That's the income tax, and doesn't include anything else. When you throw in everything else, for example FICA which STOPS at $102K, after that you pay nothing, or sales which, depending on the state, is on food, clothes, toilet paper, soap, but not on pretty much anything you can't get at Wal-Mart, the percentage starts going back down as you make more.

I would like these scumbags to stop lying. There are too many people out there who buy this crap. "Well gee, someone on teevee said it so it must be true!" All I have to say to that is, watch Colbert from 3/3/09 talking about Fox and Friends and their beer pong and herpes bit.

When the COMEDY show does better with getting the news right than the NEWS show, which one is news and which one is a pathetic joke?

YouTube - Pfotenhauer Would Support Obama If He Enacted Republican Policies

Grose confirmed to the AP that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn't mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.

White House Watermelon Email From California Mayor Dean Grose Inspires Outrage

* the recovery package is part of a Democratic conspiracy to "direct" funding away from Republican districts, so Democratic districts can "suck up" all federal funds. Bachmann doesn't think this will work because, as she put it, "We're running out of rich people in this country."

We're running out of... WTF? Would that be rich people like Bernie Madoff? Or rich people like Ken Lay? Or Bernie Ebbers? Or Allan Stanford? Or Dennis Kozlowski? I can afford to run out of people like them. Michelle Bachmann! The gift of crazy that keeps on giving!

Michelle Bachmann - The Crazy Strikes Again! - The Washington Monthly

The Mormon church has revealed in a campaign filing that the church spent nearly $190,000 to help pass Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California.

Oops. Problem. Churches are barred from taking active roles in political campaigns as part of their maintaining tax exempts status. Spending this kind of money would seem to be in opposition to that.

Mormons admit larger role in California's Prop. 8 campaign

Not Photoshopped! Can I says LOLZ?

A Senate Seat is a Terrible Thing To Waste...

Thanks to Republican economic policies, the U.S. economy is robust and job creation is strong.

NRCC

Your place. What an odd way to refer to the White House.

My windshield wipers have packed it in for the night, making it difficult to determine exactly where the visitor’s-entrance checkpoint is. I roll to a sudden stop as a heavily armed guard and a man in a black suit step in front of my car.

The sight of metal detectors and dogs reminds me that I am carrying one half of a marijuana cigarette in my Camel Lights pack.

Just... wow...

C. Brian Smith on dining with Dubya: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com

I expect the Senate would have a problem seating a candidate who has not duly won an election.

Really John? Then explain why they seated Bush in 2000 after the Florida debacle and again in 2004 after Ohio?

Douchebag.

Cornyn Indicates Senate GOP Will Resist Seating Al Franken