Prop 9

The California Supremes are announcing prop 8 today. Decisions like this can make good reading; when the court is guaranteed to really peeve half the people no matter what they do, or really get the goat of more than half if they do the right thing, the decisions can twist and turn, and leave the issue unsettled for years. Look up the history of Brown v. Board, it dragged on well into the Burger years. In other news, Obama is rumoured to have picked Sonia Sotomayor as his candidate to replace David Souter on the court.

They Way To Understanding

Apparently, the way to understanding is to get your undies in a twist and maintain a logically inconsistent position. I'm speaking of the protests at Notre Dame surrounding President Obama's commencement speech. The "Pro-Life" slogan seems to be holding on to its power as a brand despite the inconsistent way in which it is applied. Condoleezza Rice, 1995 commencemnet speaker, pro-choice. President George H. W. Bush, 1992, contributed to the death of untold numbers of innocents via Iran-Contra. Maybe Condi got a free pass as an alumna, but Bush 41 took direct actions that led to the deaths of thousands of Nicaraguan civilians. In the meantime, the incumbent President is traveling to the University of his own free will to engage the community instead of publicly refusing an invitation to South Bend because they are Pro-Life. I think we all might take the Fighting Picketers a little more seriously if they heard Obama out before throwing a tizzy.

Maine Event

The Governor of Maine has signed into law a bill passed by the legislature that recognizes the right of same-sex couples to wed. Let the revisionism begin:

“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.” (Maine.gov)

So it only takes being beaten to the punch by Iowa, and solid public polling trends, for a Governor to develop a social conscience. Good to know.