Jackson Free Press

Please read this and then sigh and think about how ridiculous it looks at this point in his political career.

President Bush will promote a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on Monday, the eve of a scheduled Senate vote on the cause that is dear to his conservative backers.

The amendment would prohibit states from recognizing same-sex marriages. To become law, the proposal would need two-thirds support in the Senate and House, and then be ratified by at least 38 state legislatures.

It stands little chance of passing the 100-member Senate, where proponents are struggling to get even 50 votes. Several Republicans oppose the measure, and so far only one Democrat -- Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- says he will vote for it.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the amendment on May 18 along party lines after a shouting match between a Democrat and the chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania. He bid Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, "good riddance" after Feingold declared his opposition to the amendment and his intention to leave the meeting.

Bush aides said he would be making his remarks on the subject Monday.

A slim majority of Americans oppose gay marriage, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press from March. But the poll also showed attitudes are changing: 63 percent opposed gay marriage in February 2004.

I mean, its sort of akin to that scary movie moment where everyone thinks the bad guy is dead, and they relax and sort of laugh, and then all of a sudden the bad guy does that last reach up from his uncomfortable position on the floor and then everyone screams, freaks out, and someone with a gun puts a bullet right between his eyes. Then they all giggle uncomfortably and kick the dead man while he's down.

Its kind of like that. But with more suits.

Previous Comments

ID

106168

Comment

I don't think it's ridiculous...well, yeah, it's ridiculous...but, isn't this what we've come to expect? Constant pandering to his hard core "believers"? Especially when he's backed into a corner. It's like a comedian I heard yesterday: "Bush loses the election, yet he's president; The whole world says no to war w/ Iraq, yet we got to war w/ Iraq; do you think maybe he was never accepted to Yale, but just kind of showed up the first day of classes?" Oh well. And when I picture the "believers," all that will pop into my head is that episode of the Simpson's when Homer and his family join a cult with an Oz-like leader you never see until his spaceship/helicopter falls apart in the corn field.

Author

eray

Date

2006-06-02T15:08:15-06:00

ID

106169

Comment

Ali, that paragraph about the horror movie cliche makes me laugh out loud. I actually wrote a really long, tedious article on gay marriage for my About.com site, explaining (a) why the bill won't pass, (b) why this is probably the last time it'll even come up for a vote, and (c) why it's a really bad idea in the first place. Preaching to the choir in this case, but I'm proud of my little soliloquy. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-06-03T01:42:29-06:00

ID

106170

Comment

Well, he's even losing his hardcore "believers" these days. Expect more desperate stupidity like this, especially as more news about Haditha emerges.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-06-03T08:12:17-06:00

ID

106171

Comment

No body seems to note that everytime this issue is put to the voters they overwealming support limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Utah was admitted to the Union on the condition they renounce their marriage practices. Were they discriminated against? Of course they were. Recent Court rulings undermine discrimination against having multiple wives or perhaps even harems.

Author

pneville

Date

2006-06-07T11:00:38-06:00

ID

106172

Comment

Really? Explain.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-06-07T11:11:36-06:00

ID

106173

Comment

No body seems to note that everytime this issue is put to the voters they overwealming support limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Just as voters would've overwhelmingly supported segregation and ban interracial marriage at one point in time. Just because people support it doesn't make it right. I'm yet to hear one person say how gay marriage would have an effect on his or her own marriage.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2006-06-07T11:28:45-06:00

ID

106174

Comment

GEB-I was actually waiting for him to throw the "now people will all marry goats" argument into the fray. That one is my all time FAVE! ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-06-07T11:43:52-06:00

ID

106175

Comment

There are several gay couples that have moved into my neighborhood recently. I suppose I can only count down the days towards my wife leaving me as my marriage is now threatened and obviously under attack. On the positive side, at least property values have correspondingly gone up over the last few years, so when we're forced to sell the house... ;)

Author

eray

Date

2006-06-07T14:58:05-06:00

ID

106176

Comment

pneville, you clearly didn't read my article against gay marriage because I pretty much tear that argument to shreds on the first half of page two. Money quote (yes, I just cited myself and called it a "money quote"--I'm arrogant, live with it): In any case, the way to ban incestuous, polygamous, and half-bestial marriages is not by passing a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriages. It's by passing a constitutional amendment banning incestuous, polygamous, and half-bestial marriages. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-06-07T15:13:44-06:00

ID

106177

Comment

My article against the anti-gay marriage AMENDMENT, I meant... I have no argument against gay marriage. Seriously. Tried for years to come up with a credible one so I'd have more respect for the opposition. So far, no dice. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-06-07T15:14:52-06:00

ID

106178

Comment

TH-If polygamous marriages are between consenting adults why should they be banned? They are certainly traditional among Muslims and among pagans in Africa. Do you support this continuing form of discrimination?

Author

pneville

Date

2006-06-09T18:39:07-06:00

ID

106179

Comment

TH-The medical establishment has determined that it is not permissable for male homosexuals to give blood. As I understand the rule if you (a male) admit to having had sex with one other male since 1987 you cannot give blood. This is rank discrimination. Do you support this discrimination.

Author

pneville

Date

2006-06-09T19:49:52-06:00

ID

106180

Comment

eray....."There are several gay couples that have moved into my neighborhood recently". No baby.....your marriage is fine but your property values are going to definitely go up!...everything we touch turns to gold....our tide raises all real estate boats. Thanks..

Author

ATLExile

Date

2006-06-10T09:44:23-06:00

ID

106181

Comment

No ATLExile, thank you!

Author

eray

Date

2006-06-12T14:19:51-06:00