Amendment doomed......

[mede8er]

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats on Tuesday appeared headed toward a tactical victory over the hot-button issue of gay marriage.

What seemed likely Monday — an up-or-down Senate vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as only "the union of a man and a woman" — appeared very doubtful a day later as Republican and Democratic leaders were unable to agree on a procedure for a vote.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has scheduled a Wednesday vote on cloture, a procedural move that would limit debate on the topic and allow the Senate to proceed to voting on the proposed amendment itself.

Senators who who want to avoid casting election-year votes on the amendment, one way or the other, will vote against cloture and it seems unlikely that Frist will be able to muster the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and allow a vote on the amendment.

That will let Democrats who didn't want to cast a vote on the question of whether marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples breathing easier.

The Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John Kerry, had said that he and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards, would return to the Senate from campaigning to vote against the amendment. But since it now appears there will be no vote, Kerry and Edwards will not need to show up.
:)

[Bunny]

1. Rats!

I was so hoping they'd pass this. There's a box turtle living next door to me who keeps giving me the eye! I'm afraid it wants to marry me! :evilgrin:

[noiretextatique]

6. damn box turtles and their box turtle agenda

:scared: you better be careful...i hear they are really persistent :evilgrin:

:toast: good job on the juveniles

[Bunny]

8. Thanks back at ya!

:bounce:

[Ducks In A Row]

7. get your own box turtle

Then you can tell that other turtle you're taken.

...


oh wait, then your turtle might want to get closer.

...


Well I guess you can break up with yours and introduce the turtles to each other.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

2. You realize it's not about passing the amendment

It's about political fodder for the election. Either way it swings the GOP is going to use it as a wedge issue.

[redqueen]

3. I sincerely hope they do

Swing voters skew against the amendment. I'm all for allowing our opponents to continue shooting themselves in the foot. :)

[redqueen]

4. Need a link

I hate when publishers miss stuff like subject/verb agreement!

[mede8er]

5. Link.....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5416297