News – Overreacting to Gay Marriage (1/2)

US

Looks like Bush will be going through with his endorsement of an amendment against gay marriage. Good luck getting it through. And good luck being seen as a good guy for it when a constitutional amendment would be overkill in the extreme. What conservatives don’t seem to realize is that they have nothing to worry about in terms of a sudden ‘plague’ of gay marriage across the country. Current laws allow for states to ignore any marriage formed in a sister state due to policy differences. So Mass would be an isolated island amid a sea of states that are already set against the issue. But I suppose that isn’t enough? Perhaps they’re afraid that a little social experiment in gay marriage might not crash and burn in Mass.

A deal has been reached between the 9/11 commission and the Bush Administration on access to his daily briefs. Escaping a potential subpoena scenario, four of the commissions members will be able to see them and no more. But other members will get summaries from those who did see them.

A second chicken farm in Delaware has been found to be infected with bird flu. The strain is, apparently, not transmittable to humans. However tens of thousands of chickens will be killed and disposed of to prevent further spread of it amongst them.

Clark bows out of the democratic race. Who shall be next?

Musing Kerry’s electability.

For those following the drama over Bush’s service record, Scott showed off another bit o evidence which is also contested. On a side note, I think those who bitch that his record shouldn’t be an issue forget how he likes to play up his military man status. When you start trumping up on your military service, the details of that becomes fair game. It isn’t any more shameful than any other political tactic that I’m sure Bush/Cheney 04 will take on. To pretend otherwise is hypocritical.

Iraq

A suicide car bomb has killed 47 at an Iraqi army recruiting center. Guardian notes that the number was stated as at least 36 and as high as 47. The car apparently rammed into the building before detonating.

When asked about the car bombings in Iraq, Rummy said there are murders in every major city in the world “because human beings are human beings.” Nor does he seem to remember the 45 minute claim from Britain. Nice to know we have a real steel trap brain in the Pentagon, eh?

Further details of the Iraqi woman and the US soldier who fell in love and married in Baghdad. Personally, I think it was a stupid thing for them to get married during this mess. They should have traded contact info and planned to wed after he was off active duty in Iraq. It was a very dangerous thing for both of them.

Israel/Palestine

Israel does another militant raid. Gun battles result. Thirteen Palestinians are killed. Medics claim 12 were killed including 5 gunmen and one police officer. Israel’s army denies shooting any police officers and says at least ten gunmen were hit. Counted among the dead were Hani Abu Skhaila, a senior activist of the Hamas faction, and the 17-year-old son of Ahmed Helles, a leader of President Yasser Arafat’s Fatah movement.

Guardian has the above incident with 9 dead and 25 wounded. However the two noted above are also noted in the Guardian aticle, though Mohammed Hilles is said to be 18.

A tremor shakes Jerusalem. You know, maybe Israel and Palestine need a little natural disaster to make their arguments over so hostile a stretch of land seem less important.

Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz is going to London. British government has assured him he’ll be safe from arrest while in the country. See, he’s been accused of crimes against humanity and human rights lawyers are accusing the government of “creative legal interpretation” to protect him from a Scotland Yard investigation.

Haiti

The violence in Haiti continues as government troops and armed supporters fight back against the rebellion. Two towns taken back, apparently, with the homes of political opponents attacked and local radio stations being ordered off the air.