Image from the Daily Kos!

This year could be a big one for supporters of marriage equality across the country. State legislatures in Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland are all engaging the issue this year.

In order for marriage equality to pass, supporters need both Democrats and Republicans to vote for it.

But Republicans who decide to support the measure have to break ranks with their party to do so – and for many that could mean angering conservative constituents and tempting primary challenges.

But the numbers are telling a different story for those Republicans who support marriage equality.

While some supporters are touting the economic benefits of marriage equality for states,  the newest round of campaign finance reports tells of a different kind of economic benefit that comes along with supporting same-sex marriage

The New York Times published an article this week reporting that the four Republican senators who split with their party to support gay marriage in New York have seen HUGE jumps in their fundraising.

One senator received 27 times as many donations in this most recent fundraising period compared to the same one in 2009, before his vote.  Much of the donations came from people who often identified as both gay and far left.  Many had never supported a Republican before, but money started flowing into the four senators for their support.

These four senators aren’t the only ones making some moo-la from marriage.  Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose fervent support was credited with the measure’s success, raised over 6 million dollars in the six months after his effort.  And three Wall Street Executives donated $350,000 to the NY Senate Republican Campaign Committee – who came out AGAINST the bill – as a thank you for allowing the vote to take place.

A strategist for the Human Rights Campaign, one of the national organizations working on LGBT equality issues, explained that

It was essential to send a clear signal around the country that we will support those who support equality, irrespective of party.  We were able to win marriage in New York with a bipartisan coalition of fair-minded elected officials. We need to replicate that if we are to keep winning.

So what do you think – are these political contributions better than a thank you note?  Will donors follow suit if Republicans in WA, MD, and NJ also break ranks?  And should Republicans making up their minds about marriage equality take these possible benefits into consideration?

Image from the BBC!

What’s a pipeline got to do with a payroll tax holiday?  Ask the US Senate.

A new strategy to curb illegal immigration: fencing off the ocean.

Looks like TLC’s “All American Muslims” found some advertisers to replace Lowes.

Hunting and gathering in the holiday season.

The consequences of Tebowing.

Has anyone spotted the trend in GOP nomination races? No, not the say-crazy-stuff-to-win rule. Not the astronomical number of debates (and counting). Not even the anybody-but-Romney rule.

It’s the Curse of the Front Runner.

It seems spending any period of time as the GOP front runner is a death sentence to your candidacy. The progression went Trump, Gingrich, Bachman, Perry, Cain, now Gingrich once more.

1. First Donald Trump slid because he made the critical error of behaving like Donald Trump.
2. Next Newt Gingrich criticized GOP darling Paul Ryan, thus committing a cardinal sin… Don’t throw salad when you should be throwing red meat.
3. Then people heard Bachman speak.
4. Perry or George Bush 2.0, had the hair and the swagger but doesn’t talk real good. And we found out just how uncomfortable it is to watch a grown man try to remember “Department of Energy.”
5. Cain had the charisma, the element of surprise, but also an alleged history of sexual harassment that negates everything else.

And now comes Gingrich again. He’s polished, he’s smart, as a former speaker of the House he’s got a history of political success. Following Cain’s snafu, Gingrich roared to the front of the pack.

But will he stay there? There are those who think Gingrich is the real deal. The guy to break the Front Runner Curse.

Enter Freddie Mac.

You must understand: to Republican stalwarts, a relationship with Freddie Mac is the moral equivalent of satanism. Gingrich was a paid helper–and, believe me, he didn’t get paid $1.6 million to lecture the organization on the failures of government intervention in the market

Can Newt wiggle his way out of this? Maybe.

But honestly, his relationship with Freddie Mac is not the only issue that will get the microscope. It only took a few days at the head of the pack before this came out.

And so the curse continues….

Maybe lowly Jon Huntsman or Rick Santorum will get a chance in the spotlight after Gingrich has been spit out.

But the same thing is likely to happen until the lacklustre Mitt Romney is selected the nominee.

Or until Ronald Reagan Rises from the dead.

Who do you think will get the nomination?

Image from NPR!

The clock is ticking.  Super Committee nears deadline, with what to show?

Clinton visits Burma and NPR gives us a rare look at the country’s new capital.

Do Republicans send better emails?

It’s baaaaaaack: new episodes of Arrested Development!

Photo courtesy of the New York Times.

President Obama can’t seem to get folks in Washington to listen to him. So he has decided to try his luck elsewhere…

For weeks he has been striving to get Congress to support  his plan to create jobs in the US… with lukewarm reception.

Now he is exploring alternatives to the American Jobs Act, tacitly admitting the bill is unlikely to pass through Congress.

The President will be touring in Las Vegas and Denver, hoping to pressure Republicans in Congress into passing the bill, rallying citizens under the mantra “We can’t wait,” for lawmakers to act.

Polls have shown that the main goals of the bill are widely supported- 63% approve according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll.

The bill, which can be read in its entirety here, focuses on cutting payroll taxes, extending unemployment benefits, funding new road construction, and providing a tax credit to returning veterans.

Opponents of the bill have cited concerns ranging from the proposed level of spending ($447 billion) to the targeted industries losing tax benefits, which include the oil industry.

Opposition has not been limited to the Republican party. Some Democrats are queasy.

“I have been very unequivocal…No more tax cuts,”

said a Democratic Representative from Oregon, Peter A. DeFazio.

Clearly the President has a long road to travel before his Jobs Bill will be passed.

If you haven’t had time to keep up with election politics this season, here’s a handy field guide to the current Republican flock that may be of help.

Let us know if you spot any other species flapping about. ( cartoon by KAL)

Thanks to The Washington Post!

Times are tough. Folks are suffering. Time for Washington to act, Right?

Nope!

At least that was the answer in the Senate yesterday.

In a move that should surprise no one, the Senate GOP voted unanimously to block President Obama’s jobs bill.

The $447 billion proposal faced its first real test after being touted all over the country by the president himself. But the Republicans weren’t the only ones with “doubts” about the bill.

On Tuesday morning, senior White House officials said this is just the first act in a long-term play. They brushed aside the dissent among Democrats and urged Americans instead to look at the Republicans, unanimously voting against job-creation measures.”

Facing opposition from both parties, the next steps for the legislation remain unclear.

Votes on pieces of the bill could begin later this month, perhaps as early as next week, Senate Democratic aides said. Party leaders said they needed to consult their caucus before they decide on the timing or choose the provisions to be considered separately.”

Is the president running out of time? Or will be looking for a job soon?

Thanks to the Daily Mail!

Something strange is going on among the GOP presidential contenders…

They’re seeking Donald Trump’s approval!

Recently, several of the potential nominees have headed to New York City to meet with the Donald, who very publicly considered a shot at the presidency himself.

Aligning themselves with Trump could help Republicans in a GOP primary because conservatives who make up the base of the party generally cheer him. But candidates risk losing moderates, independents and other general election voters turned off by Trump’s crusade against Obama’s birth certificate.”

So far, Trump’s guest list includes Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Mitt Romney (who chose to forgo any photo op). The next candidate on his schedule is Herman Cain.

Will the Donald’s support make any difference once the primaries begin? Or, are these candidates just securing their spot on the first season of The Republican Apprentice?

In this political witch-hunt, no Republican is safe.

Obama for America recently started the website AttackWatch.com. The site gives the average person the opportunity to report criticisms of the president and his initiatives. This is supposed to help the American public “Get the facts. Fight the smears”, the website’s slogan.

Allegations and responses are stored in the “Attack Files”.

This article in the Wall Street Journal calls the website a “Twitter Disaster”, noting that the site’s twitter feed is is full of “zingers”. Not exactly going as planned, we suppose.

So how do you feel? Is this a good idea, or is it screaming 1984 to you?

One of the most coherent statements to come out of last night’s GOP debate came  from former Utah governor Jon Huntsman.

Mr Huntsman clearly thought some of the other candidates needed a science lesson.

When you (other unnamed candidates) make comments that fly in the face of what 98 out of 100 climate scientists have said, when you call to question evolution, all I’m saying is that in order for the Republican Party to win, we can’t run from science.”

He went on to beg his party to let up on the issue.

If we’re going to win in 2012, we’ve got to make sure that we have somebody who can win based upon numbers of the math that will get us there. And by making comments that basically don’t reflect the reality of the situation, we turn people off.”

Though Huntsman chose not to name names, the indication was that he was speaking to Texas governor Rick Perry, who has a much different take on the whole “science” thing.