[Pettybird]

Gas is going to run well over $2 a gallon this summer, hitting $3 in places like L.A. in spikes?- did you read that? OPEC's lowering production, sure, but it's also due tho the lowest national reserves in a generation.

Did you read we're going to restart talks with Libya, whom we've had sanctions against for 20 years, about pumping oil to us? Keep in mind the administration's reason we went into Iraq to prevent the spread of WMD's, and Libya admitted to enriching Uranium from equipment obtained illegally from Pakistan?

Anyone notice the economy's still in the dumpster? Sure, the market's back up, but millions are still unemployed that had jobs in '00, and Congress voted down a benefits extension for them.

NO??
WHY??

We're talking gay rights! And not just this post, or you here--It's on the cover of the Washington Post! 67% of America doesn't want it. It's called a "wedge issue", as lendaddy alluded to. And it is absolutely intentional. Why fight the losing fight (I'm a Democrat, after all) when you can denounce the other party as immoral?

I could rant for DAYS about this--I'm in my final semester of my senior year at George Washington University, and I'm a Political Science major... Nothing like a little homework for a couple years to make you cynical about the system.

I'm not sure what the latest craze to plactate gays is all about, though. Within the last year, civil unions have been allowed in a few states, some major employers are covering partners' health costs, and more. DId someone need their vote? We went from throwing the show "Ellen" off the air to celebrating openly gay shows such as Will and Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (I watch it... it's cool), Queer as Folk, and Boy Meets Boy.

I'm not denouncing gays... I really don't care what your preference is. I am shocked at the cultural shift, though... It's sly, and it's taken a major issue like gay marriage to get the traditional right fired up for action.

A constitutional ammendment would never fly--it's another tactic. 29 times the constitution's been ammended. In 200+ years. Bush would have better luck banning the Twinkie. Or 'winning' the war on terror (tm).

I've always considered 'marriage' to be a religious term. Maybe the answer is to call ALL marriages performed by the state outside of a religious institution civil unions. No where near as many people seem fired up about that term. Sure it means the same, but it ends the debate.

But, then again, we'd have to face 500+ dead in Iraq, high gas prices, steel shortages, and perhaps even resort to Janet Jackson's boob again. And no one wants that.

-Doug