tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49610554704064587282024-02-19T06:06:40.708-06:00Kingfisher ColumnIn Defense of Marriage and FamilyKingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-66148284540434326382011-03-28T20:03:00.001-05:002011-03-28T20:04:08.809-05:00What Marriage Has Becomeby Christopher Wolfe<br />
[hat tip: <a href="http://abannerisunfurled.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-marriage-has-become-by-christopher.html">A Banner is Unfurled</a>]<br />
<blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 15px;">The widespread adoption of different versions of no-fault divorce by most states after 1970 transformed marriage and family. The traditional presumption in favor of the permanence of marriage (with certain well-defined exceptions) gave way to a situation in which one of the partners, for whatever reason, could unilaterally end the marriage. This marked a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 15px;">cultural shift</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 15px;">from regarding marriage as a truly fundamental social institution to regarding it as primarily a personal union in which there is a very limited social interest.</span></i></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;">[<a href="http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2011/03/2607">Read more . . .</a>]</span></span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-60427414949731945782011-03-01T15:31:00.001-06:002011-03-01T15:31:24.091-06:00DOMA in the LA Timesby The Playful Walrus<br />
<div><a href="http://opine-editorials.blogspot.com/">The Opine Editorials</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-doma-20110225,0,4040320.story">LA Times</a></div><blockquote><i>The president is not obligated to defend laws that are unconstitutional and thus indefensible.</i></blockquote><br />
The Playful Walrus<br />
<blockquote><i>By the same reasoning, a court trial should not be available to someone who is obviously guilty. <strong>Isn't the constitutionality the precise question being discussed in the court cases?</strong></i></blockquote><br />
[<a href="http://opine-editorials.blogspot.com/2011/03/did-you-know-los-angeles-times-backs.html">Read More</a>]Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-40746210281424508272011-02-28T12:59:00.003-06:002011-02-28T13:09:40.940-06:00Court sets deadline in DOMA case<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnfmEY8CYtZiw9lI5UpdV5xjKUrH5v_pQ5mg3tvEZ_pnnMR0sBrqqqJtMC4jIn_HfqT-91MwWcZRmchKQWVzXiX7H4PpI9NFMSPm0aBzD0UAqsdAuqhIa0TJnTEH99sQRTJ01Wc0uaZwV/s1600/red-phone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnfmEY8CYtZiw9lI5UpdV5xjKUrH5v_pQ5mg3tvEZ_pnnMR0sBrqqqJtMC4jIn_HfqT-91MwWcZRmchKQWVzXiX7H4PpI9NFMSPm0aBzD0UAqsdAuqhIa0TJnTEH99sQRTJ01Wc0uaZwV/s320/red-phone1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Email alert from Brian Brown of <a href="http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3836955/k.BEC6/Home.htm">NOM</a><br />
<blockquote><i>"On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit gave us just three weeks to ensure that Congress steps up to defend DOMA. By March 18th, the Obama administration and the State of Massachusetts must agree on a new plan for how the pending DOMA litigation will proceed.</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>If Congress doesn’t step up quickly to defend DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act may soon be history – the victim of an administration that is deliberately undercutting the very laws it is duty-bound to defend.</i> </blockquote><blockquote><i>Thousands of you have already petitioned your Congressman to intervene on behalf of DOMA in the challenge filed by the State of Massachusetts.<br />
<br />
And it's working!! Speaker Boehner told The Hill in an article posted this morning that the House is likely to take action to defend DOMA.<br />
<br />
But we need to keep the emails coming! ... Your calls and emails could make the difference – not just for DOMA, but for the future of marriage in our nation."</i></blockquote>Please take a minute out of your busy day - just one minute away from working, shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. - to call your Congressman and express your desire that they stand up for checks and balances in our government and defend the DOMA when those who are duty-bound to do so refuse.<br />
<div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Click <a href="https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a> to find your Congressman or woman.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Call the White House:</div><div align="left"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Comments: 202-456-1111<br />
Switchboard: 202-456-1414</span></blockquote></div>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-8556003310487894342011-02-28T12:31:00.003-06:002011-02-28T12:32:03.019-06:00Euripides on Obama and DOMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU5Jsyi72uFaBspj3X-MI7a12cGiPdgR-ejacp8dZ5fUO0fXrNE2An7xm4cPOAU0wl33OaSO71tRcHfhDlesbkA_DNzGk7-uwedzNygWTLGvDEZVDZw-arQ_edtzvLKOPLjZ3lDr-Lh-f/s1600/obama_shreds_constitution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFU5Jsyi72uFaBspj3X-MI7a12cGiPdgR-ejacp8dZ5fUO0fXrNE2An7xm4cPOAU0wl33OaSO71tRcHfhDlesbkA_DNzGk7-uwedzNygWTLGvDEZVDZw-arQ_edtzvLKOPLjZ3lDr-Lh-f/s1600/obama_shreds_constitution.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">by Euripides</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://selfevidenttruths-euripides.blogspot.com/">Self Evident Truths</a></span></span><br />
<blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">If the Obama administration ignores the constitutional mandate to uphold the law, then the rule of law becomes meaningless. When the executive branch of the federal government takes on both legislative and judicial powers, the possibility for abuse follows, including the possibility of dictatorial powers.</span></i></blockquote><blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">The agenda of those who support same sex marriage is blatantly clear. Nothing can stand in the way of supporting gay ideology to obtain protected class status based on self-identified attributes of same gender attraction. Gay activists and others will cheer the statist decisions of Obama while ignoring the latent dangers of his decision.</span></i></blockquote><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">[<a href="http://selfevidenttruths-euripides.blogspot.com/2011/02/no-more-federal-protection-of-marriage.html">Read More</a>]</span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-5492044059770978682011-02-26T20:42:00.000-06:002011-02-26T20:42:48.864-06:00Obama picking and choosing what laws he'll defendby Shane Vander<br />
<a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/">Caffeinated Thoughts</a><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><i>Presidents don’t have the right to pick and choose what laws they will defend or enforce. Based on <a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/02/obama-administration-abandons-doma/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">the rationale that Attorney General Eric Holder gave</a>, I think Governor Mike Huckabee had it right in a <a href="http://caffeinatedtv.com/2011/02/laura-ingraham-mike-huckabee-slams-chris-matthews-obama-and-politico/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">recent interview with Laura Ingraham</a> when he suggested that he also should then quit defending the health care reform law since it too has been <a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/01/judge-roger-vinson-declares-obamacare-unconstitutional-in-florida-case-voids-entire-law/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">deemed unconstitutional</a>. Oh no that won’t happen since President Obama doesn’t believe it to be unconstitutional!</i><br />
<br />
<i>Here’s the point I think everybody is missing. While there are currently no lawsuits challenging section 2 Congressman Paul, rightly, expresses concern because that may not always be the case (now I’ll admit that he doesn’t seem to recognize that same-sex marriages are already allowed in Iowa, but I think his larger point remains in tact). I am also unconvinced that the Department of Justice would make a spirited defense if section 2 is challenged. I also believe it is just a matter of time before it is challenged, and I don’t believe most homosexual activists would have any problems having gay marriage imposed on other states. If it is found unconstitutional in a lower federal court will then President Obama <a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/02/rick-santorum-obamas-refusal-to-defend-doma-is-an-affront-to-the-will-of-the-people/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">change his mind</a> on this as well?</i><br />
<br />
<i></i><i>Again, the President can’t just pick and choose which laws he will defend.</i><br />
</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br />
<div align="justify" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">[<a href="http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2011/02/obamas-picking-and-choosing-what-laws-hell-defend-and-ron-pauls-defense-of-doma/">Read full blog post</a>]</div>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-85254038129813995202011-02-25T23:09:00.000-06:002011-02-25T23:09:16.394-06:00David Limbaugh on Obama and DOMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KYzfx4LJ3agfhqNlfUYBTNV_sYDVpwBDWvp8FOmqie-s8cQqYnzq4rM2B_YlbpTso6LH1XZo9H0FdVatOn9EHqjcF5rTpsm0FhpSKdRu7ZvxaiX_tYPEaGsSHGarb-7-Ywwph6Unne2z/s1600/ObamaLaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KYzfx4LJ3agfhqNlfUYBTNV_sYDVpwBDWvp8FOmqie-s8cQqYnzq4rM2B_YlbpTso6LH1XZo9H0FdVatOn9EHqjcF5rTpsm0FhpSKdRu7ZvxaiX_tYPEaGsSHGarb-7-Ywwph6Unne2z/s320/ObamaLaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Excerpt from David Lambaugh's latest column entitled <i><a href="http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/mt/archives/2011/02/new_column_obam_56.html#more">Obama Not Just Above the Law; He Is the Law</a></i>:<br />
<i></i><br />
<blockquote><i>To understand the magnitude of Obama's action, we must again consider the above-cited fact that both chambers of Congress passed DOMA by overwhelming majorities reflecting the will of the people that marriage be defined, for legal and policy purposes, as it always had been. Also, no federal appellate court has ruled the statute unconstitutional.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>As he has in so many other areas (EPA, the offshore drilling ban, IMF), Obama has usurped the authority of the other two coequal branches of government to make himself, in effect, not just chief executive but super-legislator and a supreme judicial authority.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>. . . </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>So now we have an imperial president who is refusing to enforce a law passed by powerful congressional majorities while persisting in enforcing a law (Obamacare) that two federal courts have already invalidated. The only common denominator is that Obama believes he is the law.</i></blockquote><br />
<br />
[<a href="http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/mt/archives/2011/02/new_column_obam_56.html#more">Read More</a>]<br />
<br />
Hat tip: <a href="http://abannerisunfurled.blogspot.com/2011/02/president-obama-law-unto-himself.html">A Banner is Unfurled</a>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-50053683397491662502011-02-24T14:18:00.000-06:002011-02-25T23:09:49.582-06:00DOMA may have a better chance without Justice Department's lackluster "defense."<div>"The previous efforts of the Obama administration and DOJ to defend the law were so inadequate as to raise the suspicion that the Justice Department was deliberately throwing the case," said Robert George, a political science professor at Princeton University who opposes same-sex marriage. "Chances are the law will get a robust defense, and I suspect it will withstand constitutional scrutiny."</div><div><br />
</div><div>[<a href="http://nomblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/In-gay-rights-victory-Obama-administration-wont-defend-Defense-of-Marriage-Act.pdf">Read more from NOM blog</a>]</div>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-13024320141622471792010-04-30T13:14:00.003-05:002010-08-14T13:58:55.495-05:00Hawaii House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill<span style="font-size:85%;">by Peter J. Smith, <a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/">LifeSiteNews</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Pro-family advocates were taken by surprise when the Hawaii House of Representatives unexpectedly revived and passed legislation that would establish same-sex civil unions and make them equivalent to marriage, nearly three months after everyone thought the issue was a dead letter.</span><p style="font-style: italic;">The Senate bill taken up by the House (<a href="http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/HB444_.HTM">HB 444</a>) "extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union."</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Back in February, the House decided to take the legislation off its agenda for the rest of the legislative year in a voice vote that would have required two-thirds of the Democratic-controlled chamber to revive the issue.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">However on Thursday, the very last day of the state’s legislative session, Rep. Blake Oshiro moved to revive the Senate bill. Instead of following the rules established for taking up the shelved bill, Speaker Calvin Say had the House take four votes to suspend those rules and pass the bill with just a majority.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">The bill passed 31 votes in favor to 20 against, and will now proceed to the desk of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle. The governor has 45 days to make a decision on whether to sign or veto the civil unions bill, and has not indicated which way she will decide."</p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Read the rest of the story </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/apr/10043004.html">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /></span></p>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-21472048437785149332010-04-16T13:19:00.003-05:002010-04-16T13:22:09.001-05:00Obama Extends Hospital Visitation Rights to Same-Sex Partners<span style="font-style: italic;">"WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama issued a memo on Thursday that would require hospitals accepting Medicare or Medicaid funds to allow visitation rights to gay and lesbian partners...<br /><br />He also ordered hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid to ensure that all patients' </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1271427456_6">advance directives</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, which include appointing someone to make healthcare decisions if necessary, are respected.</span>"Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-11372932950291871072010-04-02T12:43:00.005-05:002011-02-25T18:35:43.644-06:00Real Reason for the Easter Season<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9ddXNF29goo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-31018544089711948362010-03-09T13:57:00.000-06:002010-03-09T13:58:48.189-06:00Neutered Marriages in Washington, DCFrom the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/ap_on_re_us/us_dc_gay_marriage">AP</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"About 150 couples were eligible to pick up </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; font-style: italic;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268164488_4">marriage licenses</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Tuesday after applying on the first day the licenses were made available. Many of them stood in line for four or more hours last Wednesday.</span> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268164488_5">The District of Columbia</span> is the sixth place in the country permitting <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268164488_6">same-sex unions</span>. Connecticut, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268164488_7">Iowa</span>, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268164488_8">Vermont</span> also issue same-sex couples licenses."</p>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-1607885282737931192010-02-19T08:21:00.002-06:002010-02-19T08:24:45.343-06:00Marriage DOES MatterOpine has a link to an article summarizing social science research that shows that marriage is important and does play a positive role in society. <a href="http://opine-editorials.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-marriage-matters-second-edition.html">Check it out</a> for some good reading.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-30216355880969670112010-01-18T13:02:00.005-06:002010-01-19T13:23:30.838-06:00Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.One of the greatest speeches ever given. This man changed a nation.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iEMXaTktUfA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iEMXaTktUfA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-49291215158800789312010-01-13T14:27:00.004-06:002010-01-13T14:39:19.141-06:00Haiti: How You Can HelpFrom the <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake">AP</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Haitians piled bodies along the devastated streets</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> of their capital Wednesday after a powerful earthquake flattened the president's palace, the cathedral, hospitals, schools, the main prison and whole neighborhoods. Officials feared thousands — perhaps more than 100,000 — may have perished but there was n</span><span style="font-style: italic;">o firm count.</span> <p style="font-style: italic;">Death was everywhere in <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263413378_0">Port-au-Prince</span>. Bodies of tiny children were piled next to schools. Corpses of women lay on the street with stunned expressions frozen on their faces as flies began to gather. Bodies of men were covered with plastic tarps or cotton sheets.</p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263413378_1">President Rene Preval</span> said he believes thousands were killed in Tuesday afternoon's magnitude-7.0 quake, and the scope of the destruction prompted other officials to give even higher estimates."</p><p style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1953257_2023473,00.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIETMfJ6UF1A5XrAD6u8NOIXpdyeAf8RCsXcc0N6KgWbZ_iZmm98LMwGNrg8EavmwpVpcQhNHRye4jxJpwkSzcjFxtzge0zIqK151D46DLjfzQzeRb5a7dBsZq69qccfn_tWNrQpumP0Tm/s320/haiti_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426326392140994178" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><br /></p>Find links <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011302658.html">here </a>to the Red Cross and other organizations where you can donate to help the relief effort in Haiti.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Photo: LISANDRO SUERO / AFP / Getty Images)</span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-62722468921214984192009-12-18T12:39:00.002-06:002009-12-18T12:41:33.410-06:00Washington, DC Legalizes Gay Marriage<span style="font-style: italic;">"The mayor of Washington has signed a bill </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; font-style: italic;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1261154400_0">legalizing gay marriage</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> in the nation's capital, but it won't go into effect just yet....<br /><br />The bill must pass a 30-day period of Congressional review."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Read the story <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_dc_gay_marriage">here.</a></span></span><br /></span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-29537499272157176752009-12-04T08:01:00.001-06:002009-12-04T08:03:40.132-06:00Marriage Victory in New York<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>"In a lengthy debate Wednesday that often focused more on theology than politics, the New York Senate defeated a “gay marriage” bill 38-24, handing homosexual activists another stinging defeat in the liberal Northeast."</span><span><br /><br />See <a href="http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/long-fought-victory-in-new-york/">Beetle Blogger</a> for all the details!<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-86748129317198445772009-11-05T13:14:00.003-06:002009-11-05T13:21:14.480-06:00Maine Marriage Supporters Targeted<p style="font-style: italic;"> <span><span>From <a href="http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/128048.html">Bangor Daily News</a>:</span><br /></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span>"In a defiant speech to several hundred lingering supporters, No on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly pledged that his side “<span style="font-weight: bold;">will not quit until we know where every single one of these votes lives.”</span></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> “We’re not short-timers; we are here for the long haul,” Connolly told the crowd, some of whom wiped away tears as he spoke. “Whether it’s just all night and into the morning, or next week or next month or next year, we will be here. We’ll be fighting, we’ll be working. We will regroup.'"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">[Hat Tip: </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/05/left-wing-thug-of-the-day/">Michelle Malkin</a>]<br /></p>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-44051485272396469862009-11-04T13:06:00.002-06:002009-11-04T13:11:01.954-06:00Maine Stands For MarriageFrom <a href="http://pearl-diving.blogspot.com/2009/11/children-win-as-natural-marriage-wins.html">Pearl Diver</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Yes on Question 1 </span><strong style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">WINS</span></strong><span style="font-style: italic;">, 53% to 47%, an almost identical percentage margin, I might add, to California’s Prop 8 results. Congratulations go to Mainers who GOT OUT THE VOTE and represented and protected the children who will ultimately be most affected by any marriage redefinition. It is clear that THE MAJORITY still recognizes the eternal and natural truth that children </span><em style="font-style: italic;">have a right</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> to be raised by a mother </span><em style="font-style: italic;">and</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> a father and that </span><strong style="font-style: italic;">GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DO ALL IN ITS POWER TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT</strong><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Says Fox News, “Gay marriage has now lost in every single state -- 31 in all -- in which it has been put to a popular vote.' "</span><br /><br /><br />Opine also has a bunch of news clips and commentary <a href="http://opine-editorials.blogspot.com/">here</a>.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-50646745202070551162009-10-28T23:27:00.002-05:002009-10-28T23:30:10.461-05:00Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislationby Peter J. Smith, <a href="http://www.lifesitenews.com">www.LifeSiteNews.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">President Barack Obama has now signed into law a controversial "hate crimes" bill that authorizes the federal government to intervene in violent crimes that appear motivated by hatred of homosexuals and apply stiffer penalties and sentences.</span><br />...<br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Opponents of the hate crimes legislation have charged that the bill violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution by making an individual's thought regarding certain groups as much a factor as the nature of his act in prosecuting a crime.</p><span style="font-style: italic;">The US Commissioners on Civil Rights wrote letters to US House and Senate leaders condemning the legislation, saying they "regard the broad federalization of crime as a menace to civil liberties." The commissioners also pointed out that the law creates a legal loophole to the Constitution's prohibitions to double jeopardy, because it allows the federal government to try an individual who has already been acquitted in a state trial, for the same crime.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Read the full story </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09102806.html">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-4366357524784205912009-10-12T14:38:00.000-05:002009-10-12T14:41:04.407-05:00Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Gay Agenda BillsFrom <a href="http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/">Beetle Blogger</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"After a long midnight session with legislators, Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed SB 572 legislation that appoints May 22 as “Harvey Milk Day” in California public schools</span><em style="font-style: italic;"> AND </em><span style="font-style: italic;">and SB 54 that recognizes same-sex marriages performed out of state</span><em style="font-style: italic;">.<br /></em> <p style="font-style: italic;">The signing of these two bills is a slap in the face to voters who have consistently rejected same sex marriage and pushing homosexuality in schools."</p>Read the full story <a href="http://beetlebabee.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/benedict_arnold_signs_on_to_gay_agend/">here</a>.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-73733189251386105542009-10-06T13:07:00.005-05:002009-10-06T13:15:41.696-05:00Illinois State Senate to Consider "Equal Marriage Act"A similar bill has already been introduced in the Illinois House.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6ZEwaAFUIfI&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6ZEwaAFUIfI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />And there is a helpful article <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23164-Tampa-Political-Buzz-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d4-Gay-marriage-battles-loom-in-several-states">here</a> summarizing all of the legal activity<br />on "gay marriage" so far in 2009.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-90160686534893558252009-10-02T13:13:00.001-05:002009-10-02T13:14:53.076-05:00Texas Judge Rules Gay Marriage Ban UnconstitutionalThe ruling came in a gay divorce case, but will this help to open the door for gay marriage proponents?<br /><br />Read the story <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Dallas-Judge-Texas-Ban-On-Gay-Marriage-Unconstitutional--63182762.html">here</a>.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-16416876836574416542009-09-28T13:33:00.002-05:002009-09-28T13:41:35.237-05:00Updates from the FrontlinesCheck out <a href="http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/three-states-work-to-defend-marriage/">United Families International</a> for updates in the fight to protect marriage in Washington, Maine, and Michigan. <br /><br />There are also recent updates from <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/republican_lawmakers_want_cons.html">New Jersey</a> and <a href="http://http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/campaign-to-overturn-prop-8-and-legalize-gay-marriage-begins-today-with-ballot-filing.html">California</a>.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-44611855270592007072009-09-24T10:40:00.002-05:002009-09-24T10:45:42.565-05:00Judge Orders Mother to Send Child to Public SchoolFrom New American:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"> "A New Hampshire family-court judge has decreed in a July 13, 2009 ruling that a 10-year-old home-schooled child must now go to a government school in order to teach her to be less “rigid” and foster “tolerance” in her religious beliefs. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Was it because the child was falling behind or socially backward? <br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"The judge made this order despite finding that the child “is generally likable and well liked, social and interactive with her peers, academically promising, and intellectually at or superior to grade level.”<br /><br /></span></span>So what right did the court have to step in and tell the parent how to educate their child? Was this simply because he didn't agree with the child's religious upbringing? Should the parent or the government have the final say in how to raise the child?<br /><br />Read the full story <a href="http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/education/1945-excising-religious-beliefs-from-a-child">here</a>.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4961055470406458728.post-48666751145429375282009-09-17T13:14:00.005-05:002009-09-17T13:31:53.124-05:00Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to be Repealed?The National Organization for Marriage (NOM):<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Today, Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) will introduce a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act — the only federal law protecting the marriage statutes of 44 states.</span>"<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Marriage isn’t about inside-the-Beltway opportunism, or scoring political points. It’s about honesty and integrity. Protecting children and religious liberty."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://nomblog.com/?p=435">Visit NOM</a> to see how you can help in the fight to protect DOMA.<br /><br />United Families International (UFI) lays out <a href="http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/whats-at-stake-in-the-attack-on-doma/">what is at stake</a> if DOMA is repealed.<br /><br />Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) has <a href="http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=5069">census statistics and poll numbers</a> that disprove any politician's claim that by voting to repeal DOMA, he is simply following the wishes of the majority.Kingfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104803485290311402noreply@blogger.com0