Mass Gay Marriage Amendment Unlikely To Pass Survey Shows

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/011805massAmend.htm

A survey of Massachusetts legislators shows that a proposed amendment to the state Constitution is likely to fail.

To amend the Constitution the proposal must pass two consecutive sessions of the legislature and then go to voters. Last March the amendment passed the first phase, following heated debate, by only a handful of votes. (story) The proposed amendment would bar same-sex couples from marrying but would allow civil unions and convert those marriages already performed to domestic partnerships.

An analysis of lawmakers by the Boston Globe shows that following last November's election the State House now has more moderates and the amendment is unlikely to get the 101 votes votes needed. In March it was approved with only four votes to spare.

[Cocoa]

1. how much "political capital" will Bush spend

or will he just drop it.

[ThorsHammer]

2. Neither

IMO, he won't spend 'political capital', but will instead blame it on those 'crazy MA libruls' and keep it as a wedge issue.

[Maat]

3. I think that you are correct, ThorsHammer.

Why would either he, or the Religious Right Extremist leaders, want to do something that would lessen the adrenaline rush the members of these RR orgs are experiencing - that might cut the money flow. And that's what it is all about - keeping the wedge issues flourishing - and the money flowing in.

[lancdem]

4. Bush said in the WaPo interview

he has no intention of raising the issue. So those who voted for him because of that are gullible fools. They get what they deserve.

[MADem]

5. MA has one of the nation's lowest divorce rates

As time passes, and the sky does not fall, this whole brouhaha will be considered rather "quaint."

I am still trying to figure out WHO the rightwingers think is being HARMED? They just can't seem to articulate that with any quasi-convincing bullshit rhetoric. Apparently, they think that everyone will race to join this persecuted minority if same sex marriage is allowed to stand....idiots!

I think it is a great thing for the economy--more wedding receptions, more florist orders, more gowns purchased, more tux rentals, printers, take those invitation orders, caterers, rejoice, a new market awaits you.

The things that ignorant people get excited about....personnel transfer tubes are coming home every day with the bodies of our children stuffed in them, and they worry about this shit? Talk about misplaced priorities!

[yardwork]

6. It's just a wedge issue - the mainstream Republicans don't care

It's just a useful tool to get the rabid extreme right all fired up and frothy around the jowls. Get em to the polls and then drop it until the next election.