the amendment process......

[distortionmarshall]

just in case anyone isn't perfectly clear wrt what's involved....

http://www.usconstitution.net/constam.html

[RobertSeattle]

1. 2/3 of House/Senate + 3/4 of States

And the Pretzeldent has nothing to do with the whole process.

[blurp]

12. Constitution seems very hard to change. I thought "living document".

Still, it works in this case.

Such an amendment would be silly.

[Beetwasher]

2. It Would Be Practically Impossible to Accomplish on this Issue

I just see no way in hell they'd get 2/3 of both the house and Senate to go along...

I see this a total boneheaded lose/lose issue for the Chimp. It does nothing to solidify his base, which was with him anyway no matter what and it's going to alienate a lot of moderates for a couple of reasons:

1. Many moderates will scratch their heads and ask why this issue is paramount to other issues such as jobs, war etc.

2. Many moderates who may be personally opposed to gay marriage do not like the idea of tinkering w/ the constitution to deny a certain segment of the population their right to pursue happiness.

Finally, when all's said and done, I don't see a single person changing their vote to Bush based solely on this issue. It's just not that important to your regular Joe and Jane Everyman. So essentially, in the end, he's going to LOSE support over this AND not be able to pass the ammendment anyway. It's a boneheaded move. And there are people who still maintain Rove is a genious. Go figure.

[Wickerman]

3. The Pols in Minnesota are saying that this issue

will drive conservatives to the polls who otherwise, disenchanted with a neo-conservative (and idiotic) Bush* would not otherwise go. While they are there they will vote for the most conservative choice. I still think its stupid and a lose lose for him, but that is fine for me!

[Beetwasher]

5. I Dunno

I really think it would only motivate disturbed, religious nutjobs to go to the polls to vote. It's just not an important issue to most non-gay people, no matter how much the Chimp would like it to be...

[Wickerman]

6. Agreed, course there are way too many whackjobs

out there! I should add that in MN they are considering amending our state constitution this time out and the speculation is that it is for the above stated purpose.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hippiegranny]

4. kind of like the immigrant work program

karl thought that was brilliant too, timed just for junior's big trip to hispania and purely for political gain. that didn't work either. looks like kkkarl's grasping at straws these days.

[terryg11]

8. alienate moderates? I dunno

the mods will stick with him because of his policies (if they are with him to begin) and probably won't care about this issue since they will also believe it impossible to do or they happen to be very pro or anti gay which might be odd for a mod.

you don't see a single person changing their vote to Bush based solely on this issue? maybe, maybe not. I would think most people have already made up their mind on the issue but then again look at how some of the dem candidates (such as Kerry) won't come out and out against it. He hasn't said that he's for gay marriage because he knows it could hurt him or at least his advisors think so

[Beetwasher]

9. Kerry Has Come out Against it

Just FYI.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0224b.html

“I believe President Bush is wrong. All Americans should be concerned when a President who is in political trouble tries to tamper with the Constitution of the United States at the start of his reelection campaign."

--snip--

[terryg11]

11. he has,

good then I stand corrected.

[PoplarForest]

10. Not a Federal Issue

I believe that the "marriage" issue is one for the states not the Federal government.

[SharonAnn]

13. We couldn't get an Equal Rights Amendment

What makes them think they can get a "No Gay Rights" amendment.

[RobertSeattle]

14. Good point

It just shameless politics in an election year - nothing else.

Hey Cheney - how's your lesbian daugher doing?