Okay, so now that a federal judge has ruled unconstitutional Prop 8, the "gay marriage ban" voted into law by California voters, let the fun begin!

I can't wait for the idiots in downtown Pleasanton to be marching on the corner of Hopyard and Valley, holding up stupid signs about how the federal government usurped "states' rights AGAIN" or "Marriage is between a man and a woman" or some other such crap.

I personally don't care whether gay people can marry. I really don't even care if heterosexual people can marry (though I would find it very funny if two straight men got married just because they could).

What I do care about is equal rights and the Constitution. And since I'm not a judge or lawyer, I can't comment on whether the federal judge made the right interpretation of the 14th amendment. But I can tell you with certainty that until his ruling is overturned, it's LAW.

A federal judge today overturned California’s ban on gay marriage, saying the voter-approved initiative violates both the due-process and equal-protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

As an aside, I heard today somebody who was a little miffed about the decision and he posited the question (prefaced by the concept that this ruling supported equal rights for all):

So do you support equal rights for the unborn?

Why, no, I don't. Why? They're not born. They have no rights. Sorry to sound insensitive, but they don't. Correct me, from a legal basis, if I'm wrong. (I know that the Supreme Court has a much more nuanced interpretation of this than I do.)

Secondly, that issue has been adjudicated already. Read Roe v. Wade. Abortion has been legal in the US for decades now.

What really puzzles me, however, is the fact that many pro-lifers are in favor of the death penalty. I know there is a difference between a murderer and a fetus – one committed a crime and the other isn't able to. So "eye for an eye" and all that.

But why don't murderers have equal protection under the law? If it's wrong to take another person's life, then how can we possibly justify taking of a person's life by the state?

You really can't have it both ways. You gotta come to the same conclusion on both, whether you come out in favor of "ending a life" or "saving a life."

I invite civil comments, please

Calif. gay marriage ban overturned; Yahoo! News tweets live from L.A. – Yahoo! News
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California

I’ve lived in California all of my life. I don’t know what it’s like to live anywhere else. In fact, my entire life has been spent in the greater Bay Area (that’s San Francisco to most of America), though I would never consider myself a San Franciscan. No, the majority of my life has passed in the East Bay, which is, um, EAST of San Francisco. I even chose to go to college in Northern California, at UC Davis. Note that I didn’t attend UC Berkeley or any college in SF.

So you could say that I’m a native Californian by birth and by choice. I like California. Oh, the past ten years or so, I’ve entertained — even considered — the thought of moving out of state. But not because of politics. Or bad weather. Or the fact that the idiots who run our state are inept, ineffective, and greedy.

No.

Because it’s just too damned expensive to live here. The mortgage meltdown has taken care of that for some people (but I bought my house in 2004, so I’m pretty much underwater right now). But sales taxes are high, as are income taxes, energy costs, entertainment (try taking the family to  a professional sports game like football or hockey), etc.

You just get less bang for your buck here.

Why do people come here? And why do they stay? Before the last couple of years, it was for the very reasons listed above: Real estate appreciation, high income and low unemployment, a wide variety of entertainment (7 professional teams within 60 miles — A’s, Giants, 49ers, Raiders, Sharks, Warriors, and Kings PLUS race tracks, waterparks, bike trails, hiking trails, skiing within a few hours, the beach…the list goes on), and, but for a few days of the year, mild weather (we’ve had a recent — but not uncommon this time of year — heatwave with temps over 100 many days the past few weeks).

I was listening to the radio the other morning, and the host — a fill-in for the regular hosts — was pining about how he hated California, how it should just be split off from the country, and how the state was a drag on the rest of the nation.

A caller suggested that he move. I wholeheartedly agree. Move out, dillhole. If you don’t like it, either change it or leave. The politics and government we have is what we have. Run for office. Or run out of town.

But I digress. The point I want to make is that for years — decades even – California was definitely NOT a drag on the rest of the nation. It lead the nation.

In many cases, still, it leads the nation.

We’re suffering right now.

• Our politicians can’t seem to find the courage to make tough choices
• Our economy is in the tank (but so too is the rest of the nation)
• The job picture is ugly
• The housing market is in a funk
• We have very high taxes, on both goods and services (sales taxes and income taxes)
• People are leaving the state
• Businesses are leaving, too

But you know what? We’ve been here before. We’ll make it out. Silicon Valley may take the lead. Those VCs and entrepreneurs really make shit happen. IF the national economy rebounds, you can bet California will be at the forefront. Mark my words.

Things may be bad now, but they’ll get better. But, by all means, if you disagree, feel free to leave. I’ll harbor no ill will toward you. You gotta do what you gotta do.

But don’t shit on my state just because it’s hurting right now.

By the way, if you’re a local or state politician, please

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO YOUR JOB!

For if you don’t, I’ll be forced to run against you, and even though you have a lot more money backing you up, I will expose you for what you are: A fraud, a parasite, and a liar. Plus, you’re stupid, petty, and selfish.

Then I’ll take my ball and go home.

(That last one really has me worried!)

But I hear that Iran had an election and the results are in dispute. What a shocker! A corrupt government ruled by a “Supreme Leader” or some shit like that (I’ll take a chalupa with my Burrito Supreme) — did anybody think things would turn out any different?

Now, the oridinary citizens of Iran have taken to the streets and started some crap they cannot finish — without help.

And guess who is being held up as the knights in shining armor? Yeah, the US.

Um, no.

Obama is getting praise from the left for his stance on Iran (stand pat); he’s getting lambasted for being sympathetic to Middle Eastern concerns from the right.

Apparently, now the Iranian government is beating the protestors and getting them to admit to acting on behalf of outside interests like our very own CIA!

(Didn’t we do the same to those suspected terrorists at Gitmo? Memories…)

Anyway, the real reason I haven’t been paying attention to Iran is because I really don’t care. I do feel sorry for folks who want a better life. I really do. But why in the world would I think it’s appropriate to meddle in another country’s affairs?

I know, the US has been doing this for decades. Why stop now? Well, for one, the economy. For two, we’re already in Afghanistan and Iraq. For three, the economy. Did I mention the economy?

If we cannot take care of ourselves, how can we take care of others?

I’m starting to think Cheney’s got something against California.

Cheney’s apparent battery run-down can be seen in the video below about half way in.

Wow, what a perceptive dimwit.

“In retrospect I could see how that happened,” Davis said. “There’s no question that the energy companies saw me as an adversary when I wouldn’t buckle under their demands. I was vulnerable and the [energy companies and the White House] took advantage of it. This crisis took place in the early days of the Bush administration. I figured these guys are too busy picking out furniture for their offices. I didn’t think they [the Bush administration] were spending their days in office involved in some full-scale conspiracy. But it turns out they were.”

After all, California is still one of the biggest economies, all on its own. We don’t need BushCo’s help.

Richard Cheney has fully earned his nickname.

These kits are compatible with any mobile phone and one size fits all. I paid him $0.08 each because he bought in quantity. Then we tried it with Motorola, Sprint, Verizon and Nokia units and they worked perfectly.

A photo is attached so scroll down and take a look and let me know if you want one. Also, forward this to anyone you know, who has a cell phone, and who may want one!

But the bigger news is we now have a new governor, Cruz Bustamante. Ironically, Cruz ran against Schwarzenegger in the recall election, if memory serves me correctly. Now Cruz gets to be governor for a few hours. All that hard work has paid off.

Schwarzenegger to have surgery on leg – Yahoo! News

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No matter where you stand on the death penalty, this news is significant.