Category: Uncategorized

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SCOTUS to release audio recordings of Prop 8 & DOMA oral arguments

The New York Times is reporting that the US Supreme Court will release same-day recordings of oral arguments in the Prop 8 and DOMA cases:

The last time the court allowed same-day access to such recordings was a year ago, when it heard three days of arguments over the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law. The court’s general practice in recent years has been to release audio recordings of arguments at the end of the week.

The court said the recording of the hourlong argument in the first case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, No. 12-144, would be available on its Web site by 1 p.m. on March 26. That case is a challenge to Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage.

The recording of the argument in United States v. Windsor, No. 12-307, will last almost two hours and will be available by 2 p.m. on March 27, the court said. The case is a challenge of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

(via NYTimes)

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Michele Bachmann runs from her own mistatements

At CPAC on March 16th, Michele Bachmann made the following statement:

“A new book is out talking about the perks and the excess of the $1.4-billion-a-year presidency that we’re paying for. And this is a lifestyle that is one of excess. Now we find out that there are five chefs on Air Force One. There are two projectionists who operate the White House movie theater. They regularly sleep at the White House in order to be readily available in case the first family wants a really, really late show. And I don’t mean to be petty here, but can’t they just push the play button? We are also the ones who are paying for someone to walk the president’s dog, paying for someone to walk the president’s dog? Now, why are we doing that when we can’t even get a disabled veteran into the White House for a White House tour? That isn’t caring!”

As usual, Ms. Bachmann is wrong on every count. And when CNN’s Dana Bash asks her about her assertions – Ms. Bachmann can’t seem to walk away fast enough. And strangely, she diverts to the Benghazi issue when Bachmann herself brought up these “White House cost” ideas.

Over at the Washington Post, the fact checkers have found Ms. Bachmann wrong on every count, giving her 4 “Pinocchios.”

According to the Washington Post, former White House aide Bradley H. Patterson Jr. attempted to figure out the tab for the White House for a book, “To Serve the President,” published in 2010 by the Brookings Institution.

Patterson estimated that the cost of running the White House for fiscal year 2008 — when George W. Bush was president — was nearly $1.6 billion. About half — more than $800 million — related to the Secret Service budget. An additional $271 million was spent on the president’s helicopter squadron.

If Bush is a $1.6 billion man, I guess that means that President Obama is saving the country money at $1.4 billion?

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Santa Fe: Press conference on marriage equality resolution

As I wrote yesterday, the mayor of Santa Fe, David Coss, and Councilor Patti Bushee, have announced that they have looked at the laws and constitution of New Mexico and found that there is nothing in New Mexico state law that prohibits same-sex marriage.

Here’s video of Coss’s press conference yesterday, along with Councilor Patti Bushee and City Attorney Geno Zamora.

They announced they will introduce a resolution at the next city council meeting on March 27th stating that marriage equality is legal in New Mexico.

Excerpt from Zamora’s speech:

“Currently, today, under the existing laws on the books…same-sex marriage is legal. This argument consists of four points.

First and most importantly, New Mexico does not define same-sex marriage  as a marriage between a man and a woman. These statutes define it as gender neutral between two parties.

Secondly, New Mexico validly recognizes same-sex marriage from other states.

Third, under New Mexico statue, a marriage license is not permitted to be denied based on the sex of the couple.

Finally, we have a New Mexico constitution that guarantees equal rights on the basis of sex. To deny equal rights to same-sex partners is to violate the New Mexico constitution.

Same-sex marriage is legal in New Mexico. It’s legal for our brothers and sisters, for our parents, for our nephews and nieces, and for our friends.”

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Nevada: Early steps taken to repeal constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

Nevada legislators have begun the long road of repealing the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment.

From the Las Vegas Sun:

Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, introduced a Senate Joint Resolution that would repeal the section of Nevada’s constitution that says “only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized.”

Here’s what has to happen:

1. The state legislature has to approve the measure this year
2. The state legislature would have to approve the measure again in 2015
3. The resolution would have to be put on the ballot in 2016
4. If the state voters repeal the constitutional amendment, then lawmakers would THEN have to work towards a bill that would LEGALIZE marriage equality.

But here’s the thing: time is going to go on no matter what.  And, at least, the process has been introduced.  Nevada does have domestic partnerships to help offer some legal protections for LGBT couples, which is at least something.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is already marketing specifically to gay and lesbian couples. Adding weddings to the mix could be an economic boon for Nevada.

“We’re already a huge destination for weddings anyway,” Shinn said. “If we could expand to the LGBT community, we would benefit.”

A recent poll by the Retail Association of Nevada last month shows support for same-sex marriage and repeal of the “Protection of Marriage” clause in the state constitution.  The poll shows that 54 percent of Nevadans favor repeal while 43 percent oppose.

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Justin Timberlake gets ready for Target exclusive

How cute is this?

These fans were assembled under the idea that they were going to help announce Target’s exclusive deal to release the physical CD of Justin Timberlake’s CD “The 20/20 Experience.”

I think what’s most interesting is how they react to seeing JT one on one. We’re so used to seeing fans react “en masse” but when you’re one on one? Whole different experience.

Made me laugh.  Fun video.

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New Mexico to recognize same-sex marriage?

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and a City Council member say New Mexico county clerks should issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and Santa Fe’s city attorney says it’d be legal to do so.

Coss and Councilor Patti Bushee plan to introduce a City Council resolution on March 27 “recognizing” that same-sex marriage is legal in New Mexico.

Aparently, City Attorney Geno Zamora has issued a legal memo which says same-sex marriage is permitted in New Mexico.

The legal opinion, drafted by City Attorney Geno Zamora, notes:

1) New Mexico’s laws do not define marriage as between a man and a woman, the definitions are gender-neutral
2) A statutory list of prohibited marriages does not list same-sex couples
3) Same-sex marriages from other states are already recognized by New Mexico law
4) To discriminate against same-sex couples would violate the New Mexico Constitution which requires equality under the law regardless of sex

Zamora also says same-sex marriage is legal because the state already recognizes same-marriages from other states and the New Mexico Constitution requires equal treatment on the basis of sex.

A petition has been launched to support the mayor’s move.  Click here for more info on the petition.

(source)