Courtesy of Raw Story:
Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) believes he can ban same-sex marriage nationwide thanks to the Supreme Court’s recent rulings.
After the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 were struck down on Wednesday, the Republican congressman announced he would introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday questioned why he thought such an amendment had any chance of passing.
“I think given this decision, which I think has shocked a lot of Americans, that the court would step this far and accuse Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress of that time of animus — you know, the decision was outrageous,” Huelskamp said. “I think it is going to encourage a lot of folks to step forward and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to protect marriage and protect families and particularly our children.’”
Later I understand that Huelskamp will be trying to catch a rainbow with a butterfly net, get a sample of unicorn urine, and attempt to shoot the moon out of the sky with a slingshot. All of which have a better chance at success then passing this amendment.
Some people simply do not realize that the world has turned toward the light and left them alone in the dark.
An amendment will require the approval of two thirds of the states. That is 38. So more more than 12 states could vote no on the amendment (that is, because they support marriage equality.
ReplyDeleteLast I saw, we already have 13 states with marriage equality, who will certainly not support this amendment. (Never mind the ones poised to approve marriage equality soon.)
That leaves only 37 (and dropping) who might vote for the amendment.
Oops.
But! This clown and his ilk will waste the People's time and the People's money grandstanding for an amendment doomed to failure to collect soundbites and news clippings for their re-election campaign.
It takes 2/3 of BOTH houses to get the proposed amendment out of Congress. It takes 3/4 of the states legislatures approving to get it passed.
DeleteYour 38 figure is actually wrong if using two thirds as the number of states required. That should be 34. However, you are correct in that it takes 38 states to pass an amendment since it actually requires three quarters of the states, not two thirds.
Just a little nit-picking, since it still makes it damned hard to amend - especially for this crap.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
But, but, but...it's the Party of Fiscal Responsibility and Small Government, dontcha know!!!
DeleteThe same one that's tried (and failed) to repeal Obamacare 37 times!
He probably thinks you can amend the Constitution, that they flog around all the time, any little old time you want. It's *hard* (for a reason). Those founding father types were damn smart!
DeleteWell....it they just keep digging themselves and digging themselves deeper. First, it's whah whah whah, they're taking our rights away. Now, it's whah whah whah, "they're making us exercise our rights".
ReplyDeleteThe light has shined on the true motives of the hearts of men. That light really shines bright and exposes what's underneath.
Oh yes - we have to protect the children!
ReplyDeleteIf we recognize homos as human beans then god nose what they're gonna start doin to our childrens!
After all: homos aren't born that way - they're sucked into it.
-------------------------
Is this man a neanderthal? (yes)
I'm with you, Randall!
DeleteI don't understand how "they're not born that way" is an argument even IF you do believe it. We're not born with pierced ears or tattoos or education or job experience or kids of our own. We grow and mature and make our own choices to progress happily through life.
DeleteSo please, sir, do explain how the "it's a choice" bull crap makes any difference.
3:22, I believe he was being sarcastic.
DeleteHe should be mounted by a Unicorn and rode hard.
ReplyDeleteThese assholes do anything but move our country forward.
It was sad that this country couldn't pass the Equal Rights Amendment back in the 1970s thanks to conservative opposition. The idea of these same conservatives now trying to pass what would, in effect, be the Unequal Rights Amendment, while not at all surprising, would be a travesty against all that this country stands for.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking if they never got the required number of states to ratify.the IRS (they never did you know, it's a deception), how will they get the number to do this?
ReplyDeleteHuelskamp...notice it rhymes with 'fools camp'?
And they wonder why anyone with a functioning brain refuses to vote for them.
ReplyDeleteBut they have that covered; they'll just make it impossible for anyone that doesn't agree with them to vote. Thanks, Supreme Court, for that.
The regressive rethuglicans can kiss my ass.
ReplyDeleteAs my husband says, “It’s funny how these people who want government out of their lives insist on shoving it into the lives of their opponents.”
ReplyDeleteHe was getting into a Facebook scrimmage with a bible thumper yesterday, when his son and oldest grandson stepped in and shut the sucker down. Yeah! The young people don’t mind this gay marriage stuff.
Huelskamp is one of 5 malcontents that Boehner removed from committees last December.
ReplyDeleteThis caused a firestorm on the right
( as does everything ) , with Boehner being drawn and quartered on talk radio and FOX.
Boehner was accused of " purging " and " punishing " the Tea Party ..the usual paranoia.
In interviews with conservative Republicans who served on the committee , Huelskamp was described as a tantrum thrower
someone impossible to work with , not respecting the rules and protocol and always demanding his way ,
refusing to ever consider compromise or practicality.
In other words- a typical Tea Party / Limbaugh / Palin cult member.
Boehener was correct in taking him off the committees because he and his fellow hysterics were constantly disruptive.
Those Republicans who worked with Huelskamp when he was in the KS legislature said the same kinds of things about him.
There is a good chance he may get primaried by a moderate ,
common sense,
endangered species kind of Republican.
I read yesterday that Huelskamp's proposal was met with coolness by fellow Republicans.
It is a fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans want to protect their marriage, their family, and their children.
ReplyDeleteIncluding every single gay who wants to marry.
SCOTUS made a wise decision.
Signed,
A veteran.
AMEN, Veteran!
Delete(And thank you for your service!)
Why don't these Republicans worry as much about the economy or the environment as they do about gay rights? When President Obama made his Georgetown speech about dealing with climate change, GOP Senator Thune piped up that he should be worrying about jobs and the economy? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, isn't it? And besides, it's the GOP that has stalled since day one of President Obama's first term on jobs and the economy.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Most of the recent public polls I've seen show that marriage equality is favored by the majority of Americans. That's going to make it very difficult to get the support they need for a Constitutional amendment that bans that equality.
ReplyDeleteSandi, I would have to agree with you on that. However, having said that, over 80% of the population was in favor of gun control, too. What did it get us?
DeleteAs many of these people believe disaster aid should be balanced by cuts from other programs, I would like every person proposing a bill or amendment to give a cost estimate of bringing to the floor as well as telling us what will be cut to pay for it. I'd start with their salary and pensions.
ReplyDeleteah hell Jesse..here i am sitting at my computer with fuckin tears in my eye.. "get a sample of unicorn urine"..that has to be one of the funniest thing i have ever heard..an will steal it and use it as mine..thank you!!..i do like how you think,an make me laugh!
ReplyDeleteThe Goppers are so ignorant about how government really works it is crazy nuts they even attempt an opinion. Never do they have a concrete answer to a problem. One out of three people in the US are functionally illiterate and yet like most demand to be heard despite their ability to produce coherent thought. I sometimes wonder if we went a bit too far promoting self-esteem programs during the last three decades. We have an inordinate amount of self described experts with self professed "common sense."
ReplyDeleteStudies show even psychopaths and hard-core criminals have exceptionally high self esteem. Go figure. It is the very description of the hard right Gopper tea party politician. I think they partied too hard while teenagers and are emotionally stuck and angry.
I recall reading once about a freshman repube who actually wanted to eliminate the Department of Commerce!
DeleteExcuse me?
As for the education level in the country, that's what happens when schools stop failing students who can't do the work. "Don't fail him it will destroy his ego (or self esteem or whatever you want to call it)!" Better his damned ego than the intelligence level of the country!
I knew a republican child who caught a nasty case of Tolerance once, man that's some nasty stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need now is a Defense of Gay Marriage Act.
ReplyDeleteaka DOGMA, you know, because it's an easy word to remember.