Burnt Orange Report

You're right Byron. The Republicans must be out of their minds.

They must be total fools to bring this up 30 days before the election. This issue must be a complete loser with the American public.

Surely, as popular as gay marriage is across the fruited plain, the Republicans will receive a huge backlash on Election Day. And any day now, John Kerry will seize on this opportunity. Heck, he might even come out and declare his unequivocal support for gay marriage. He'll rally the huge majority of Americans who favor gay marriage, and sweep to victory.

Bush will be toast. Republicans will lose control of Congress. States will suddenly stop passing bans on gay marriage.

That'll teach Tom DeLay about the consequences of raising such a stupid, unpopular, and unwanted amendment. =)

Are you talking about the same one that, um, failed in the US Senate? Meaning that is didn't even get a majority vote when it needed 67 votes? The one that Republican Senators joined Democrats in voting down. Oh yeah. It is.

You're absolutely right Karl. Those fools. Tom DeLay is committing political suicide. You've called it. =)

I don't argue with Chris that it's bad politics. My point is that Republicans care more about getting Democrats on the record on a divisive social issue, than they care about solving the much more pressing issues of the day - such as Iraq and the economy. To me, it clearly shows the misguided priorities of Tom DeLay and the House leadership.

Well... I thought my sarcasm on the popularity of gay marriage was obvious. I don't think this is bad politics. I think Tom DeLay is just applying Byron's theory of surviving in politics

As found in the comments over on Greg Wythe's site.

"Fine, but doing what you have to, to stay in power is sort of an axiom that any Texas Democrat (especially an Anglo one) has to abide by if they want to have any chance of remaining in power..."

Having said that - I'll freely admit this fact. Tom DeLay is on a strikingly similar course that Jim Wright, Tom Foley, Tip O'Neill, and Newt Gingrich took in their last terms. Pride goes before a fall, and you don't get to be majority leader without incurring a lot of it.

Don't let your jaw hit the floor, but I've got a big problem with what the Republicans are doing as well. For example, just this week while taking the time to force votes on such doomed matters as the failed gay marriage amendment and restoring gun rights to the citizens of D.C., the GOP has to pass an emergency appropriations bill to keep the government running the rest of the year. They didn't bother to produce a budget!

That's just irresponsible, and the type of issue where I foresee Americans holding DeLay and the leadership accountable.

crap, I hit post before adding the last thought... sorry

What the GOP is doing in forcing these votes is just a short-term political fix - based on the idea that voters don't have long memories. However, irresponsibility like ballooning the national debt and failing to produce a budget before recess - that's the sort of long-term issue that creates a sour taste in the mouths of American voters.