Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Monday, January 22, 2007
On The Run
Wow. This is a very subtle but potentially big development:
In past sessions, Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave were conservative champions of a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the last Congress, both sponsoring legislation to do just that.

Not this year.

The two Republicans said last week they have no plans to re-introduce their legislation in the new Congress - another sign that Democrats are now in the majority.

"At this time, I haven't discussed it with anyone," Allard said on Thursday. "If we thought there was a decent chance to bring it to the floor for debate, I would, but with the new Congress, I'm not sure we will ever have that opportunity."
Since when has the prospect of a bill failing stopped them from introducing it anyway? Sheesh, the whine factor alone makes it worthwhile to reinforce their image as martyr's. Plus, what about those donations from the Dobson's of the world? The religious right is going to have a major hissy fit.

So what do Musgrave and Allard know that we don't? Probably not much other than the Preznit is at 28% approval and the country is sick of all things Republican. Does this mean that there is a sea change going on in the body politic? I don't know. I'm not going to assume so. Getting the right-wing-fringy-nutbar factions back in the box isn't easy and they don't tend to stay there long. But like much of American politics that's very "fad" driven, this one may have passed.
Written at 5:18 PM by Greyhair.
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