Beginning this week, Senate leaders are planning votes on emotional issues dear to social conservatives, many of whom are upset with President Bush and GOP lawmakers about immigration and other matters.

 

Are these really Hot-button issues or are they only to devert the public attention away from real matters that have not been addressed in 6 years of control by the Congress and the Administration?

 

Of course I feel they are only a diversion for real problems that are being ignored. Like the deficit, ending this war and bring home our boys, raising minimum wages, election reform, are only a few of my concerns.

It's a diversion, sure, but it's all about the '06 elections. Almost exactly 6 months away, so it's time to manufacture some matters of dire importance like flag burming and gay marriage.

 

And I would love to say that it won't work and the American voters will see that this is just distraction from real election issue, but we saw first hand in '04 how many people came out of the woodwork to vote to "save the sanctity of marriage."

 

:headshake

both votes are a complete waste of time

This one pisses me off. STAY THE **** OUT OF OUR LIVES, GOVERNMENT.

This one pisses me off. STAY THE **** OUT OF OUR LIVES, GOVERNMENT.

Exactly. And these are Republicans proposing the votes too. The ones who supposedly like small government. Yet another sign that there are two distinct GOP animals now - those who really want small government, and those who want to force their moral choices down our collective throats. The latter are the ones that make the GOP look terrible.

Exactly. And these are Republicans proposing the votes too. The ones who supposedly like small government. Yet another sign that there are two distinct GOP animals now - those who really want small government, and those who want to force their moral choices down our collective throats. The latter are the ones that make the GOP look terrible.

I know it's Republicans that are proposing this. And they are flat out wrong.

I know it's Republicans that are proposing this. And they are flat out wrong.

Then we agree on this one.

I know it's Republicans that are proposing this. And they are flat out wrong.

 

When you can bring together Kap, Northside, Iggy, and Balta all on the same side...wow.

 

When you can bring together Kap, Northside, Iggy, and Balta all on the same side...wow.

\

Count me in too. At best, from a purely constitutional point of view, this is an issue for the states to decide. At worst this is completely none of any governments business. I would personally say that because governments are already in the business of marriage by governing things such as wedding licenses, divorces etc, that it is definately a state's issue.

 

Personally, as a biblethumping conservative, I still see judge not lest yee be judged in the bible. In other words no matter what I think about it, it is none of my business.

The contrast with Canada right now is great. In Canada during the election Conservatives pledged early on to hold a vote to re-examine the issue of same-sex marriage to appease the social conservatives. So they won the election, and last friday the Prime Minister said there would be a vote. Of course the difference being that they want to bring as little attention to it as possible because it scares voters away from the Conservatives, and doesn't help them.

 

I'm glad to see that we're all in agreement on this one. And I have a lot of respect for those right-leaning posters here who are all calling this political move for what it is- a cheap ploy that has no business distracting Congress from the real issues at hand.

Hmmm... I stole this from Thomas Friedman... but here it is:

 

I wonder how a Congressional vote would go on this proposed amendment:

 

All burning of the American Flag shall be illegal as it is a sign of great defiance against our traditional American values and history. Furthermore, the displaying of the Confederate Flag shall also be banned, as it is a symbol the past defiance against our traditional American values and history.

 

I bet it would fail 0-100

Thank God for my Senators who are going to vote Hell No on the Federal Discrimination Amendment. To be honest, I doubt that amendment will even get 50 votes in the Senate.

Thank God for my Senators who are going to vote Hell No on the Federal Discrimination Amendment. To be honest, I doubt that amendment will even get 50 votes in the Senate.

52 is what the latest pollwatchers are guessing - not nearly enough to pass but a couple more than two years ago.

 

But then again, I can understand there being more support now, since Tony Snow has now explained to us how this is a "civil rights" measure.

 

And by "civil rights" measure, he apparently means using the Constitution to discriminate against a minority group and permanently legislate away their right to be treated as equals in society. I have a dream stuff if ever I saw it.

I will admit that all this bulls*** is just to bring back the "conservative base"... but hello, the conservatives DO NOT GIVE A s*** about this crap.

 

You want to win the election?

 

- SEAL the border, and screw that amnesty s***. One thing at a time. Make sure that the laws mean something.

 

- STOP spending money like drunken sailors

 

- ACTUALLY stand for something re: Iraq. Quit being pussies and get that s*** done and get back home.

 

Do that, and you'll have even more of a majority then you do now. But as it is, they are pandering to every bulls*** special interest f***wad out there. Do not do the above, and sell your soul to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

I will admit that all this bulls*** is just to bring back the "conservative base"... but hello, the conservatives DO NOT GIVE A s*** about this crap.

 

You want to win the election?

 

- SEAL the border, and screw that amnesty s***. One thing at a time. Make sure that the laws mean something.

 

- STOP spending money like drunken sailors

 

- ACTUALLY stand for something re: Iraq. Quit being pussies and get that s*** done and get back home.

 

Do that, and you'll have even more of a majority then you do now. But as it is, they are pandering to every bulls*** special interest f***wad out there. Do not do the above, and sell your soul to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

 

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HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi?!?!

 

God what a gut wrenching thought!!!

both votes are a complete waste of time

 

This country has bigger fish to fry than an amendment that has no chance in the Senate.

 

This is really f***ing stupid if you ask me.

This country has bigger fish to fry than an amendment that has no chance in the Senate.

 

This is really f***ing stupid if you ask me.

It's the perfect metaphor for the current leadership in the executive and legislative branches. Stupid, pointless photo ops to distract the voters, instead of anything with substance.

Yep. I agree with you guys. They're just blowing smoke.

It's the perfect metaphor for the current leadership in the executive and legislative branches. Stupid, pointless photo ops to distract the voters, instead of anything with substance.

 

 

Immigration legislation?

 

 

 

Not everything they do is a photo-op.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm glad I can finally get some sleep. I have been so worried about people burning flags and gays marrying each other. It's about time this administration tackles the issues that affect us all so deeply.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm glad I can finally get some sleep. I have been so worried about people burning flags and gays marrying each other. It's about time this administration tackles the issues that affect us all so deeply.

And then you all wonder why I say ya'll are biased against the President.

 

The ADMINISTRATION is not tackling this, Congress is. But they're all molded from the same tattered cloth, I will agree that much.

And then you all wonder why I say ya'll are biased against the President.

 

The ADMINISTRATION is not tackling this, Congress is. But they're all molded from the same tattered cloth, I will agree that much.

So giving speeches on the issue that get broadcast on CNN because it's the president, and using the bully pulpit on this issue, is not considered an effort at tackling it?

Nah. This is a Congressional move, and the president is along for the ride.

 

It's STUPID, but that's neither here nor there.