Gun Laws: Nelson, Georgia to Newtown, Connecticut

The small city of Nelson, GA, population 1300, has passed a new ordinance requiring all residents to own a gun. Yes, you read that correctly. I speculate that at least one of the people responsible for this new law opposed the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate,” on the grounds of freedom of choice and individual liberty. But when it comes to guns? You’ll buy one and you’ll like it, or else…

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Gallup Poll: Republicans Are ‘Inflexible’ And ‘Unwilling To Compromise’

A new Gallup poll reveals the biggest negative perception facing the GOP, with “inflexible” and “unwilling to compromise” getting 21%. I wonder how they got that idea? Maybe it could be all the filibusters and general obstruction in congress? Or maybe it was when Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner, said, “I reject the word,” when asked about compromise.

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Georgia GOP Chair: Same-Sex Marriage Will Lead To Fraud

Sue Everhart - Georgia GOP Chair - photo by APSue Everhart, chairwoman of the Georgia Republican Party, says that same-sex marriage will lead to massive fraud. “You may be as straight as an arrow, and you may have a friend that is as straight as an arrow,” said the misguided GOP chair. “Say you had a great job with the government where you had this wonderful health plan. I mean, what would prohibit you from saying that you’re gay, and y’all get married and still live as separate, but you get all the benefits? I just see so much abuse in this it’s unreal.”

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MHP: Corporate Welfare Queens, And The America They Hold Hostage

I was glad to see today’s Melissa Harris-Perry (MHP) show focus on the real takers in society, big corporations and their obscenely rich executives. As Americans gather with family today with plates overflowing (as Americans do on just about any holiday), we should remember that tens of millions of Americans rely on food stamps for their next meal.

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Justice Alito: Same-Sex Marriage Is ‘Newer Than Cell Phones Or The Internet’

During Tuesday’s “Prop 8” oral arguments, Justice Alito compared same-sex marriage to modern technology saying, it is “newer than cell phones or the Internet.” I don’t know about you, but I find statements like this unconvincing, and actually in this case, just bizarre. Because the whole point of the “Prop 8” and “DOMA” cases is that gays and lesbians are being denied equal rights. If you’ve been denied equal rights for decades or centuries, but only started to gain those rights (state-by-state) in recent years, how can that be used against you? Same-sex marriage is new because it was illegal until recently. Same-sex marriage is not new because it’s the latest trend, fad or what all the cool people are doing.

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DOMA: The Indefensible Defense Of Marriage Act

Signed into law in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of restricting federal marriage benefits to heterosexual marriages only. But what exactly does DOMA defend? I mean, the very name of this act implies a profound protection of the institution of marriage, so it must make great strides to defend the institution.

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Justice Scalia Got Served By Ted Olson During “Prop 8” Arguments

During today’s oral arguments on California’s gay marriage ban (Prop 8), Justice Scalia asked Ted Olson, the lawyer challenging Prop 8, “When did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage? 1791 [Bill of Rights ratification]? 1868, when the 14th Amendment was adopted?” Olsen answered Scalia’s question with his own question responding with, “When did it become unconstitutional to prohibit interracial marriages?”

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Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness: Marriage Equality is Inevitable

There are times when it feels like we are taking one step forward, two steps back. There are times when advancing freedom and liberty takes a backseat to narrow-mindedness and bigotry. But over the past decade, on the issue of gay rights, Americans have made great strides in social acceptance. And regardless of bumps in the road and hurdles yet faced, for those of us who are not guided by prejudice, bigotry and dogma, we see what is inevitable — that all 50 states will some day recognize same-sex marriage, and afford gay and lesbian couples the same rights.

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Poll: When It Comes To Drones, Most Americans Say ‘Fight Them Over There’

A new Gallup poll shows a strong majority of Americans (65%) support drone “airstrikes in other countries against suspected terrorists.” President George W. Bush was wrong about a lot of things, but he tapped into a sentiment that many Americans feel (right or wrong), that they would rather take out perceived enemies on foreign soil. Bush famously said we would fight the terrorist “over there” so we don’t have to fight them “over here.” And who wouldn’t want their enemies vanquished in some far away land, out of sight, out of mind? As for collateral damage — well, we are at war, right? A one-state war against a tactic, not a nation or an army, but that’s just semantics, right?

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