Marriage statute in Iowa jettisoned by court

Justin over at Donklephant has a take on the shocking unanimous decision of the Iowa Supreme Court.

An excerpt of the opinion, emphasis mine:

We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective. The legislature has excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in dispute, that can affect this determination.

We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law. Faithfulness to that duty requires us to hold Iowa’s marriage statute, Iowa Code section 595.2, violates the Iowa Constitution. To decide otherwise would be an abdication of our constitutional duty. If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded.

Big Ten shock

The Big Ten poll has some shocking numbers, so shocking that Matt Drudge won't touch them, putting Barack Obama ahead by double digits in all of the states they polled.


Big Ten Battleground Poll

So say we slide those Indiana EVs away from John McCain and to Barack Obama and we have Obama winning 348 to 190. And thus we have a bonafide landslide in the works. Add to that Quinnipiac having Obama up by 5 in Florida, and we move deeper into landslide territory: Obama 375, McCain 163.

If that's what it is, I think that's Obama's maximum potential for this election cycle. It will be hard for someone to make further inroads in places like Georgia, Texas, West VA, until that someone has 4 years of good leadership under his belt. I wish I could see the future, but I can safely predict November 4 will be a good night for America.

UPDATE:

Now with fancy-pants map.


-rl

Alas - 2008.

I am very much loathe to posting about today's Iowa caucus (and using the expression "to be loathe to") as it seems like I'm just not covering any angles that aren't already being covered.

Truth be told, I don't know what to expect come the end of caucusing this evening. Polls have numbers everywhere, with the latest from CSPAN/ZOGBY having Obama sitting at 31%, Edwards at 27%, and HRC at 24%, with no other candidate in double digits. Those three candidates assume 82% of the polling - the other 18% belong to the remaining Bill Richardsons, Chris Dodds, Joe Bidens, Mike Gravels, and Dennis Kuciniches of the Democratic presidential race. I'm not sure how big those remaining 18% will be, as one must recall Iowa's 15% rule. What is the 15% rule? Any candidate not receiving 15% of caucus votes must release their supporters to either no longer vote or allow them to caucus with others. (At least that's how I've understood the rule... I may be mistaken.)

Will Kucinich's 2% help Obama's 31% when it becomes very apparent that Kucinich's instructions to his supporters - that they are to caucus for Obama should he (Kucinich) not garner the 15% necessary to stay in the game - will take effect?

I don't know. The race is effectively a three-way one and my only concern is by how much HRC will finish in 3rd place, as in mind there seems to be no escaping that fate. HRC's campaign seems to have slowly declined since HRC developed a heavy case of foot-in-mouth. BUT it's important to remember that in all likelihood, should Richardson not hit 15%, his caucus-goers will be caucusing with the Clintonistas.

Maybe a 2nd-place finish for HRC is in order. Again, I'm not sure.

Meh.

Iowans: caucus early and caucus often.

-rl