Frist Endorses Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage

The reason for this is Amendment is the fear that the Supreme Court at a future date will make gay marriage a right for all 50 states by some questionable ruling.

Let's say Vermont recognizes gay marriage. Fine, that's their perogative, and I understand the logic. What happens when the a gay married couple goes to another state and that state refuses to accept their marriage? They may sue and take it up to the Supreme Court. Judging from the Supreme Court's rationale in the sodomy case, all of a sudden we may see gay marriage recognized in all 50 states by judicial fiat.

 

Just FYI, I wasn't calling any of your arguments insipid, goophers.

But these questions are interesting, in my opinion, and more relevant. What do people think of the following examples, primarily raised by goophers here:

1. Consenting infertile siblings. (Or, just consenting siblings who agree to adopt instead of procreating biologically).

2. Consenting polygamy. (I want to check with Mrs. B-Bob on this and get back to you. ). This could be two men and one woman also, if legalized. Madmax, any legal comments on this, in terms of inheritance or anything? Technically, I don't see why we make this illegal. Also, can polygamy be legal on a statewise basis? Could Utah bring it back, for instance? I had a friend who moved here from Cameroon, and he was completely mystified by our laws on this topic. We would go out for beers, and he would describe, point by point, why polygamy was a wonderful system for raising kids, if all parties were consenting. I also have a good friend from Utah who has a wonderful portrait of his greatgrandfather... posing with his two greatgrandmothers!

3. Consenting young 'uns. Personally, I think these sorts of things are beyond "pursuit of happiness" and freedom arguments. Many rights are only given with age, and that simply makes sense as a society. Those ages may move around, but I don't want 12-yr-olds driving, and I don't want them making procreation decisions either. Doesn't make sense for them or for society at large. Most of the world seems to agree that 20-yr-olds make more able parents than those just escaping puberty. Picture the Icy Hot Stuntaz as parents please.

PS -- Mr. C, thanks for giving me the first hope of making sense of the motivation here.

 

You are taking my quote out of context. I was responding to a different point.

Anyway, there is no "right" to be married. If there were, then no limitations upon marriage could exist.

 

like your sig, jh, especially given the topic du jour.

 

i think you may have missed the point of my post.

 

I don't agree w/ this statement. People who vote for the bigots are the ones that put them in office. Not all Republicans are bigots, and not all Dems are not bigots, either.

However, I would like to see your insight into the questions I asked earlier. Do you support polygamy, or how do you support one and not the other? As I said before, you have a chance to convert someone here. I am looking for a solid argument one way or the other, or at least the ability to have a rational foothold on the subject. Thanks.

 

With marriage comes a license not liberty....

 

I certainly don't think "most people who vote republican" are evil.
Hell, some of my best friends and nicest relatives are Republicans... but I DO think the Republican Party leadership and control of the party has been captured by an extreme minority. The same thing has happened here in Texas.

I don't see the GOP of today being run by leaders of the quality of Everett Dirksen, who showed great personal courage as Senate Minority Leader to push through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As I've said before, Richard Nixon would be seen as a "part of the lunatic Liberal fringe" by the present leadership of the GOP.

The GOP has been captured by extremists... the sooner you conservative Republicans wake up to that fact, the better off you and the country will be. Your party is on a dangerous course and it is putting much of what you hold dear about America at risk. I hope the rank and file Republicans figure this out before too much damage is done to their party and their country.

 

No offense, Deckard but couldn't one take what I quoted and take out the word "GOP" and replace with "Democratic Party", "conservative" and replace with "liberal" and "Republicans" with "Democrats"?

It is all a matter of perspective and opinions and how things are spun. Personally, that is why I hate our political party system. I have some feelings on things that would make me a Republican but feelings on other things that would make me a Democrat. So, is my party, pretty much a mutt of Reps and Dems, in danger as well?

 

I hope not Manny cuz I am in that party.

 

Yes B-Bob, I already conceded that this is really an issue for the states. I think Frist is correct to want to maintain the tradition of marriage, but this idea about amending the Constitution is way off base.

 

No, not, really, you couldn't. If you think Clinton governed from the left, that is just plain wrong. He governed from the Center in almost every area: Welfare reform, balanced budgets, compromise on gays in the military, etc, etc. Look at Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, they were suggested to Clinton by Orrin Hatch. Now contrast that with the parade of right wing judicial candidates that Bush has appointed.

That is why there is so much controversy within the Democratic party today, liberals like Howard Dean claim to embody true Democratic values while moderates and centrists like Joe Lieberman claim that they are the only electable candidates.

Clinton moved to the center, and Bush has generally stayed on the right on most issues. 10 out of 10 political scientists or analysts would agree with me too.

 

Anyone here want to address the points B-bob and I were talking about, or would you all prefer to start arguments over who's screwed up party is less screwed up?

 

So, Sam, what do you think the percentage of Republicans fall into that ultra conservative zone, the one that Deckard said was very dangerous? 30%? 50%? 80%? or is it lower than 30 or higher than 80?

What would be the percentage of extreme liberals like Al Sharpton on the Democratic side? Higher than the republicans or lower?

 

i've never voted for Lott, Frist or Santorum. Not once.

 

I don't know about %'s of Republicans are "ultra conservative", I do know that the party leaders, like Tom DeLay, and formerly Lott, and rising star Rick Santorum do indeed fall into that zone ( a little too far, publicly, in Lotts case).

But look at the democratic leadership: when they chose Nancy Pelosi as new majority leader over gephardt, it was hailed as a historic step back to left, rather than having moderates like Gephardt and Tom Daschle and Chris Dodd lead the party as they did during the 90's.

Sharpton? The man has never even run for elective office for any party until now. But anyway, if you want to know where the extreme lefties hang out, many of them deserted the democrats for the Green party and ralph nader in 2000, complaining that it was too centrist and indistinguishable from the Republican party. (thanks ralph!).

P.S. I wouldn't necessarily call Al Sharpton an extreme liberal. What's he really in favor of besides the promotion of Al Sharpton?

 

Does Al Sharpton have nappy hair?

 

Well, Sam, I have to admit that my question was really a loaded one. I admit that I lean more towards the Republican viewpoint, but I am in favor of gun control and some of the Dem's ideas on education and taxes.

I was just trying to say that I think both parties have their extremists and it seems like here you never hear about the Democrat extremist, only the Republican side. Maybe it is because there are more people on this board that lean the Democratic side or maybe it really is that way. However, I have no idea and it doesn't bother me one bit to admit it.

I do appreciate your response because it helps me learn about these things (no sarcasm intended here).

 

LMAO! I guess we have our answer. ... And I thought polygamy and incest, at least, were juicy-enough topics to get people going.

Uh, hey everybody, how about this? What if the Olsen twins wanted to get married?