The Dow dipped below 8000 around 930 this morning; do you honestly think anyone gives a rat's ass about whether two old dykes tie the knot?  The institution of marriage has not collapsed in California or Massachusetts - not more than before gay marriage - and if it were not for the economy, that alone would make the gay marriage issue nonsensical.

Once again, a state court of ALL Republican Justices comes down with an election-eve decision about gay rights.  These socially-liberal Rs get a two-fer: to indulge their socially-liberal policy preferences and further their R political preferences.  Same as MA in 2004 (though, to be fair, the MA court had ONE D).  Same as CA (Id.).  Compare NJ and VT, where there are some D justices and the court let the lege try to work something out.

Too bad it's not going to work this time fellas, as the S&P heads for territory last seen in 1997.  I support this decision, but I am consistently amazed at the timing of these rulings.  And yes, I am that cynical.

If "oughta"s and "should"s were umbrellas and hoods

I'd never get wet in the rain;

Yet "oughta"s and "should"s aren't umbrellas and hoods,

But causes of infinite pain.

Bad poetry with a point, icarusr:  sometimes it is *exactly* the crappy economic news that makes people inclined to hatred anyway lash out with whatever they can find at hand: yelling "kill him" about Obama at a Palin rally, voting down gay marriage at the ballot box...

cs: I have the envious position of living up here in Canadia, enjoying an Indian Summer, going to the votes and having the choice of a mild conservative, a mild liberal, an avowed social democrat and a looney Green - and not having decided which to go with or even which not to go with.  Above the 49th, we express uncertainty by voting for the Natural Governing Party, the Liberals; the most *hatred* or, for that matter, emotion, anyone can muster during the parliamentary elections in our blessed Monarchy is to call a carbon consumption tax "risky".

Surely our 'Murcan cousins can rise to the challenge?

Yes Irarusr, they do give a rat's ass about 2 old dykes tying the knot, Dow and vaprozing 401K's notwithstanding.  An anti-gay ballot initiative to motiivate the "base" (in many senses of the word) is one of the oldest trick's in the Rovian playbook.  

Besides, they blame Obama and Nancy Pelosi for the meltdown anyways.

I know this is anecdotal without a link, but in one of my political science classes, my professor said that the same-sex marriage ban on the ballot in some states actually HELPED Democrats by driving out liberals who wanted to defeat the amendment. These ballot initiatives work both ways, you know.

In "The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth," Benjamin Friedman lays out a pretty compelling case that times of economic distress tend to run parallel with greater nativism, racism, and the most virulent strains of populism (The converse is also true).  Gay marriage initiatives aren't a perfect analog, but it's not uncommon for people in times of insecurity and duress to lash out at any and all perceived "others" - however specious a connection there might be between those out-groups and their own genuine problems.  Particularly people who aren't well-educated enough to grasp the actual causes of that distress.

www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1

Icarusr, maybe us aggrieved Yanks just need to bask in the soothing balm of maple syrup and beaver fur caps.

California's Prop. 8 banning gay marriage via the state constitution went from losing a couple months ago to winning today. This, in a state in which McCain has zero chance.  On Election Night when the polls close it's quite likely that California will put Obama over the top and simultaneously make same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

Nov. 4 may also define the high-water mark of S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom's political career. Newsom's arrogant cheerleading when the state Supreme Court overtuned a previous initiative banning gay marriage is, IMO, stoking the Yes on 8 movement. The Yes on * campaign features TV and radio ads with Newsom loudly bragging that same-sex marriage "is gonna happen, whether you like it or not"; it's a slap in the face to decent Californians (i.e., most Californians) who happen to be opposed to same-sex marriage. Every time I hear that radio spot I'm ashamed to be on the same side of the issue as Newsom. He sounds like he belongs in the peanut gallery at a Sarah Palin event. If you think that the right has a monopoly on arrogance and vitriole, think again.

Yes on 8 seems to be outspending its opponents (lots of Knights of Columbus [Roman Catholic] money coming in, for one thing). I hear the Mormons are jumping in to help Yes on 8. Newsom's unwitting motivation for the Yes on 8 folks, OTOH, is priceless. His gubernatorial campaign is dead in the water: progressives angry about some of his more Rudy-ish mayoral policies want to cut his left nut out; Prop. 8 offers his right nut to the right on a silver platter. Geldings sometimes win at the track, but running for the Governor's Mansion is another story.

icarus:  just how much time have you spent south of the 49th parallel, or more pointedly south of the ol' Mason-Dixon line?  Your 'Murrican cousins are not rising to much of anything these days, outside of Viagra commercials...