• California Supreme Court,  Gay Marriage

    California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban – The Response

    Gay Marriage

    California Supreme Court Justices, from top left, Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, Carlos R. Moreno, Joyce L. Kennard, Marvin Baxter and from lower left, Ming Chin, Chief Justice Ronald M. George and Carol Corrigan

    With today’s California Supreme Court ruling overturning a ban on gay marriage, the reaction and response has been swift and pointed.

    From the Left:

    Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles
    We are delighted with today’s State Supreme Court ruling allowing marriage equality in California. It is a true testament to advancing equality and to recognizing the right of all Californians to build a future with the person they love. We recently lost Mildred Loving, the woman whose marriage to a man of another race ushered in the Supreme Court ruling that made marriage colorblind. Today’s ruling is another important reminder that love will overcome.

    Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland:
    I’m glad the Supreme Court validated what I consider a fundamental premise of our nation – that all people deserve equal protection under the law. This is a happy and historic day because all Californians, regardless of sexual orientation, now have the right to marry.

    Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party:
    The California Supreme Court’s ruling is a momentous decision for our state and nation that marks a giant step toward in our march toward true equality for all our citizens.

    We all owe Mayor Gavin Newsom a debt of gratitude for his visionary leadership on this crucial civil rights issue, along with the courageous plaintiffs in this case.

    But our march for justice and equality is far from over. We now must re-focus our efforts on fighting the divisive and discriminatory proposed constitutional amendment that would take away marriage equality for same-sex couples.

    Working together, we can ensure that once again, justice and equality will prevail.

    From the Right:

    Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis:
    I am very disappointed that the California Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, would allow their own personal partisan views to get in the way of their duty to uphold the rule of law by thwarting the will of the overwhelming majority of Californians who voted in support of Proposition 22.

    Fortunately, more than 1 million Californians have signed ballot petitions to place a constitutional amendment before the voters this November that will write into the state Constitution that marriage should be between one man and one woman. I am confident that the people of California will again overwhelmingly vote to preserve and protect traditional marriage.

    I hope that once this constitutional amendment becomes law in November, the Supreme Court will resume its appropriate role of interpreting the law, and stop legislating from the bench.

    Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto:
    California voters spoke loud and clear that they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. This disappointing ruling gives activist judges a louder voice than the people of this great state. A constitutional amendment to overturn this ruling will now undoubtedly qualify for the ballot, giving Californians another opportunity to maintain the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

    Ron Nehring, chairman of California Republican Party:
    Once again, the California Supreme Court has substituted its own will for the will of the people, this time with its controversial decision discarding the mandate for traditional marriage granted with Proposition 22 and thrusting this issue back into the national spotlight. Support for traditional marriage transcends partisanship.

    The state Republican Party has consistently supported traditional marriage and Proposition 22. In September, the state committee will formally take a position on the November initiative reversing this ruling by state constitutional amendment.

    So, where does the issue go from here. In a few weeks the California Secretary of State will either certify the California Initiative and Consitutional Amendment 07-0098 or not. More than 1.1 million signatures of California voters have been submitted to place the issue of gay marriage before the general election electorate.

    When certified this initiative/constitutional amendment, the California Marriage Protection Act will go before voters in November. If the California Marriage Protection Act passes the gay marriage ban will once more be the law of California. Marriage will be defined as between a man and a woman.

    But, there is more.

    Flap heard today on the Hugh Hewitt Show that there will be a concerted effort by the Evangelical Right and others to recall the three Supreme Court Justices up for a reconfirmation vote in 2010 (even though one dissented in today’s opinion)

    Here is the organizational chart as to when California Supreme Court Justices come up for reconfirmation. Each Justice serves a twelve year term, unless appointed midterm of another Justice.

    casupremecourtterms

    Two of the three California Supreme Court Justices, Chief Justice Ronald George and Associate Justice Carlos Moreno will be undoubtedly be the focus of a 2010 recall or anti-reconfirmation action. But, like with the Rose Bird recall “clean sweep” over the issue of the California Death Penalty, Associate Justice Ming Chin will probably be a target as well. It will be hard to protect him from the wrath of the voters.

    Flap has faith in the People of California to RIGHT the actions of four rogues justices who have abrogated the will of California voters.

    Dan Weintraub has the take on the prospects of the coming fall election.

    Flap will be voting and campaigning for the California Marriage Protection Act and also supporting the non re-confirmation of Justices George and Moreno.

    Stay tuned as the election begins to take shape in the coming weeks.

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    California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban


  • Barack Obama,  George W. Bush,  Jimmy Carter,  John McCain,  President 2008

    Joe Lieberman Watch: The President Got it Exactly Right

    Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) speaks his mind regarding direct talks with Iran with E.D. Hill on Fox News

    And, John McCain agrees.

    Senator John McCain, who has been critical of President Bush on the environment and other policies this week, on Thursday morning wholeheartedly endorsed Mr. Bush’s veiled rebuke in the Israeli Knesset of Senator Barack Obama that talking to “terrorists and radicals’’ was no different than appeasing Hitler and the Nazis.

    “Yes, there have been appeasers in the past, and the president is exactly right, and one of them is Neville Chamberlain,’’ Mr. McCain told reporters on his campaign bus after a speech in Columbus, Ohio. “I believe that it’s not an accident that our hostages came home from Iran when President Reagan was president of the United States. He didn’t sit down in a negotiation with the religious extremists in Iran, he made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.’’

    Asked if he thought that former President Jimmy Carter, who struggled with the hostage crisis, was an appeaser, Mr. McCain replied: “I don’t know if he was an appeaser or not, but he terribly mishandled the Iranian hostage crisis.’’

    Jimmy Carter botched the Iranian hostage crisis and disgraced the United States. He continues to be a disgrace.

    Barack Obama is NO different than Carter in this matter. The Obama policy of unconditional talks with Iran’s Ahmadinejad: “Speak softly and let your enemies beat you with your own stick.”

    Asked if he thought Mr. Obama was an appeaser — the Democratic candidate has said he would be willing to meet with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran — Mr. McCain sidestepped and said, “I think that Barack Obama needs to explain why he wants to sit down and talk with a man who is the head of a government that is a state sponsor of terrorism, that is responsible for the killing of brave young Americans, that wants to wipe Israel off the map, who denies the Holocaust. That’s what I think Senator Obama ought to explain to the American people.’’

    The Team Obama response is here. And, the Democrat Party cover Obama’s ass response is here.

    The Fall Presidential debates WILL be interesting.

    Now, will Hillary weigh into this flap?


  • California Supreme Court,  Gay Marriage

    California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban

    California Gay Marriage plaintiffs and attorney

    Winning Plaintiffs & attorney in CA Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage decision. Rev. Troy Perry & husband Phillip Ray De Blieck, Robin Tyler & Diane Olson and their attorney Gloria Allred holding Baby Milo Reifsnyder-Smith, son of 2 gay dads

    A split (4-3 decision) California Supreme Court this morning overturned the ban on Gay Marriage that California voters approved by a 61% majority in 2000 in the California Defense of Marriage Act.

    The California Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry, rejecting state marriage laws as discriminatory.

    The state high court’s 4-3 ruling was unlikely to end the debate over gay matrimony in California. A group has circulated petitions for a November ballot initiative that would amend the state Constitution to block same-sex marriage, while the Legislature has twice passed bills to authorize gay marriage. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed both.

    The issue may be settled to the glee of California homosexual rights organizations today but 27 states have constitutional bans on the practice. And, this fall, California voters may be asked again to weigh into the fray with the California Initiative and Consitutional Amendment 07-0098, should it qualify for the ballot.

    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has already stated he will not support the initiative. But, the Evangelical Right, conservative organizations and other churches will view this as a direct assault against marriage and the family.

    Stay tuned for a heated campaign that may very well decide the Presidency by driving turnout of Christian RIGHT voters.


  • Barack Obama,  George W. Bush,  Israel,  John McCain,  President 2008

    George W Bush Watch: Slamming Obama for Appeasement

    In a speech to Israel’s Knesset, President Bush said Thursday, ‘some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals.’

    So, did President Bush specifically SLAM Barack Obama?

    You bet he did and the Democrats are screaming BULL, particularly Senator Joe Biden who is being prominently mentioned as Obama’s Vice President choice.

    DNC chair Dean calls for McCain to denounce the president’s Jerusalem comments:

    Sen. Biden: “This is bullsh*t, this is malarkey.”

    Speaker Pelosi: President’s comments “beneath the dignity of the office.”

    DCCC head Rep. Emanuel: “Does the president have no shame?”

    Appeasement will be the WEDGE ISSUE the GOP will use against Obama in the fall. GOP pushback against the antiwar LEFT of the Democrat Party has just started.

    Next, will come the video clips from Hillary Clinton criticizing Obama……..


  • Day By Day

    Day By Day by Chris Muir May 15, 2008

    daybyday051508

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Electing Obama or Hillary will mean the State Department will CAVE to the demands of Europe, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other nations rather than negotiate trade and defense agreements from an American-centric perspective.

    Remember when Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, under President Bill Clinton was clinking glasses with North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il and giving him a signed Michael Jordan basketball while he was breaching a nuclear arms accord which later resulted in a nuclear weapons test during the Bush Administration? What kind of negotiations are these? Peace through weakness?

    What would Obama give Iran’s President Ahmadinejad? A clear path to test a medium range missile into Israel or Turkey? How about Greece or Italy?

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