8/13/10

(Lady Bird Johnson could probably kick your ass if she wanted to.)

• Judge Walker has permanently enjoined enforcement of Prop 8 as an unconstitutional violation of equal protection and due process. But we still have to wait until at least August 18th to allow opposition time to appeal to the 9th Circuit.

• Eat, Pray, Love, Testify Before Congress. Elizabeth Gilbert heads to Washington to speak out for immigration reform on behalf of gay families. (via Huffpo) Says Gilbert:

"My citizenship is not a courtesy that is offered to me by my government," Gilbert said. "It is my birthright. It is my right as an American citizen. And my rights are not something that are offered to me out of politeness or friendliness by the United States government."

•  Terrible mudslides continue in China. 1,100 dead, more than 10,000 trapped.

• Pakistani flood survivors' lives at risk from water-born disease.

• Morality expert on leave from Harvard as problems with his research are uncovered.

• Dan Rostenkowski has died at age 82.

News 8/12/10

("Malaise forever." My favorite peanut-man. Who doesn't love Jimmy Carter?)

• Judge Walker's decision on Prop 8 stay due between 9AM and Noon PST. Should be interesting.

• Florida Attorney General and professional asshole Bill McCollum didn't mean to say that gay people should have our kids taken away from us.

• Racist serial-stabber suspect nabbed at airport. Co-worker describes suspect as "...a nice guy."

• Another Alaska plane crash, helicopter rolls over in rescue. Everyone saved. Whew!

• Lt. General Babakir Zebari didn't mean to say Iraq is a total mess and will be until at least 2020.

News 8/11/10

(Just because: Caramel pecan sticky bun. Photo by Stacy.)

• Mexican Supreme Court rules all states must recognize lawful marriages performed in the capitol. They sure leave us in the dust don't they?

• Costa Rica High Court rules you can't vote on whether minorities have rights, blocks civil union ballot.

• Analysis today of various primary elections: Nobody is really happy with incumbents, but Republicans seem unhappier than Democrats. ...and Sarah Palin can't pick a winner.

• Steven Slater's dramatic, dangerous and expensive departure from JetBlue flight begins its journey through the American legal system. Book deals, chat shows and folk-hero status notwithstanding.

• Here's wishing you all a solum and dignified Ramadan.

• Does your boss want you dead? (Hat tip to H.I.)

News From the American Bar Association

(Law is sexy. Today in Judicial garb: William Cushing wearing the latest in Supreme Court fashion sometime between 1789 and 1810.)

 I've had a link to Chris Geidner's Law Dork over on my side bar since soon after I started blogging, for those of you who love in-depth legal commentary on vital issues. I'd like to let you know that from now on you can find Chris Geidner's wisdom and insight over at Metro Weekly's blog Poliglot.

It is from Chris's new site I learned the American Bar Association has come out with the following policy:

"RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges state, territorial, and tribal governments to eliminate all of their legal barriers to civil marriage between two persons of the same sex who are otherwise eligible to marry."

I believe the President of the United States is a member of this organization. I wonder if he's interested in this new policy?

News 8/10/10

(Disco ball courtesy of Sarah from Brizzzzzle UK, and thecuriousgnome.)

• Today's Colorado primary not looking fabulous for incumbents.

• Jet Blue flight attendant mad as hell, not going to take it anymore. Veterans of customer service across the planet ponder canonization of Steven Slater.

• Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens believed aboard crashed flight. No relation to the Jet Blue incident.

• Rachel Maddow reveals just how scuzzy Target is. They never met a homophobe they didn't like.

• FOX hatenozzle Greg Gutfeld wants to open a Muslim-themed gay bar next to ground zero mosque. Um... good luck with that?

The End of Prop 8: What the Constitution is all About

• Much buzz yesterday (and today) about whether or not supporters of Prop 8 have standing to ask for a stay of Judge Walker's ruling. In a nutshell, opponents of marriage equality failed to prove any harm to themselves or anyone else at trial; and both the Governator and Attorney General of California want to resume issuing marriage licenses to everyone. The Gov. and AG are the ones who have standing, not Cooper, Thompson et al. Walker's decision on the stay could come at any moment.

• Margaret Hoover over at FOX News cautions fellow conservatives to respect Judge Walker's conservative street cred. and study his ruling on Prop 8. Hoover asserts knee-jerk, homophobic opposition to gay marriage "risk(s) undermining legitimate conservative gripes about the judiciary and putting conservatism once again, on the wrong side of the latest chapter in American civil rights."

If you haven't seen the footage yet, here's David Boies carving Tony Perkins into tiny pieces on Face the Nation:


And here's Ted Olsen schooling FOX News's Chris Wallace on what the constitution is all about:



The above videos are required viewing ladies and gentlemen. This is the path forward for justice.

News 8/09/10

(Klaatu, Barada, Nicto! Academy Award winning actress and former wife of Roald Dahl, Patricia Neal has died at 84.)

• Prop 8 proponents may not have standing to appeal Judge Walker's decision. Gov. Schwarzenegger and AG Brown (on behalf of the State of California) are the effected parties and they don't want a stay. (via Joe My God) Curiouser and curiouser...

• ...and the Los Angeles Times thinks we deserve strict scrutiny, thank you very much.

• Colorado: Republicans ditch moderate candidates. Should make the general elections interesting. (I'm pedaling my United Nations Bicycle downtown today, how about you?)

• BP's $20 billion compensation fund isn't a cap and doesn't prevent the oil giant from being sued for even more money.

• Dr. Snickerdoodle and I had fun at the beach this weekend. But now I'm back writing and job hunting. All glory to the hypno-toad!