Balta reports today that Chicago mayor Daley is open to a San Francisco-style protest on the issue of same-sex marriage. Daley can’t do it alone, however, since marriage licenses are issued by Cook County. But Daley has signaled to David Orr, the Cook County Clerk, that Daley will support the issuance of marriage licenses. If this happens, buckle up and hang on – Chicago ain’t San Francisco, and Daley is not typically a “left wing” mayor. We could be witnessing the beginnings of a civil rights campaign with real legs. Sure, it’s going to get ugly, but passing the Federal Marriage Amendment is going to be a lot harder than the Religious Right thinks. The polling numbers would seem to suggest that it’ll be a tough fight, but a slight majority isn’t nearly enough.
For the FMA to become part of the Constitution, it needs to pass both houses of Congress with a 2/3rds super-majority, and then ratified by the legislatures of 75% of the states. The method of ratification can be vote of the legislature, or by state convention. Only one amendment in history has been ratified by state convention: the repeal of Prohibition. Another method is to circumvent Congress and for state legislatures to call a Constitutional Convention, which can propose amendments. The proposed amendments still require 75% ratification by states. This method has never been taken; the only Constitutional Convention we’ve ever had is the original in 1787. Notably, the FMA is being pushed through a fairly “standard” path – votes in both houses of Congress, and then state ratification. My prediction is that the FMA will never be ratified, even if it passes both houses of Congress (which is far from certain). It will only take 13 states to block ratification, and by my count, anywhere from 13 to 17 states would likely not ratify.
For my part, it’s time for another civil rights movement in this country. Between the Patriot Act, the FMA, and the slow erosion of existing rights via the Rehnquist Court’s “procedural” attacks, it’s time to demonstrate that our rights matter and that Americans will protect them. The “war on terror” is not an excuse for giving up ground on our most fundamental freedoms.
Comments
Can Al Gore Save NBC?
president’s mock address was funny, but more variations on SNL in the fall schedule could be a bad joke
PHP Vikinger
for most attendees will be the cost of traveling to Norway. 50 invitations have been sent to various PEAR and PHP contributors.
Morning business news
ith Christopher McKevitt
Ahern praises NI parties for minute’s silence
political parties for their decision to open today’s Assembly session with a minute’s silence in memory of murdered teenager
Libya Is Off U.S. Terrorist List
tate Department Hopes to Encourage Other Nations to Cooperate With U.S.
Blue-chips helped by drop in crude prices (Reuters)
Monday,
as a sharp drop in the price of oil and other commodities led
investors to snap up stocks in more defensive sectors including
Posey, Haslem Rise to Challenge
Posey provided the strong defensive spark, holding Tayshaun Prince to only four points in the second half, writes Cammy Clark in THE
Leading Analyst Firm Rates Parlano MindAlign As High Impact Knowledge Worker Tool
Analyst Firm Rates Parlano MindAlign As High Impact Knowledge Worker Tool
Hamas Leader Mahmoud Zahar: We should have killed all those who offend the Prophet
We should have killed all those who offend the Prophet and instead here we are, protesting
McGinley to step down in next election
not be contesting the Donegal South West constituency in the next General Election.
ICON Distributes First-ever Infant/Child CPR DVD
Trackback URI: http://www.prweb.com/dingpr.php/U3VtbS1Db3VwLUxvdmUtRW1wdC1JbnNlLVplcm8=
As Prospect of US Carbon Regulations Near, UtiliPoint International and Global Change Associates Examine Potential Impacts on Utilities
Gas regime is likely coming to America sooner than thought as corporate America and Wall Street,
New Place Online for Leatherman Tools
within the compact multipurpose tool category. LeathermanPlace.com is a new site
Neighbourhood Information Systems
several successful city-university partnerships designed to distribute administrative data in a user-friendly and
Spain vs Tunisia Half-Time Score
sportsbook special offers, expert bloggers and more. Visit us now at and get our