Morning News and Stuff
Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 1:06 pm
New York Senate Republicans continued their closed-door meeting this morning in the hopes of coming to a conclusion on the vote on the legalization of gay marriage in New York. Last night's marathon session ended up nowhere and Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos ended the latest meeting around 11 p.m. out of concern for his crusty comrades — most of the Republicans are well into their 70s.—-
The lawmakers also face several other bills ranging from public college tuition increase to a landmark tax cap before they can consider making New York the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage. The geriatrics were met by backers on both sides of the argument when gathering at in Albany, N.Y., and have been instructed to use back hallways to avoid the hundreds of demonstrators lining the hallways. The session was scheduled to end last Monday but has since been extended after more bills were added to the table.
The gay marriage bill was introduced last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and is only one short vote of passing in the Senate. Republicans in the senate have been pressing for religious exemptions that would protect religious organizations or individuals from facing legal battles if they refuse service to same-sex couples because it's morally and politically correct to be a bigot. "We're going to conference the language of the amendments; we're going to conference the whole issue," Skelos said Thursday morning. "And I expect that that's going to take a little time."
"This isn't stalling; it's a complete work stoppage by the Senate Republicans," said Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Democratic minority that supports gay marriage.
At a New York City fundraiser with gay and lesbian donors last night President Obama kind of, sort of endorsed same-sex marriage. Tiptoeing, Obama said, "I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in the country." Met with applause, the president continued his speech and was met with chants of "Marriage. Marriage. Marriage." The President replied, "I heard you, guys," but never formally endorsed the cause.
Also not endorsing same-sex marriage, actually blatantly opposing it, is former New York Giant football player David Tyree. Tyree said in a video last week that gay marriage would lead to anarchy, that he'd give up his Super Bowl ring to keep same-sex couples from marrying. Tuesday, Tyree added, "we can't complain when we see the moral fiber of our society drift away" when we consider homosexuals normal.
Former half-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has not cut her "One Nation" bus tour short. Reports suggested that the tour was tentatively scheduled to make stops in Iowa and South Carolina as well as New Hampshire but was cancelled after being heavily scrutinized. On Wednesday Palin denied that she had quit the tour, re-tweeting a link to a Fox News report. "SarahPalinUSA I did? Hmm, glad I have media to let me know my plans. They never cease to amaze MT "@foxheadlines Palin Ends Bus Tour.
Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain has targeted The Daily Show host Jon Stewart after Stewart mocked Cain and his stance on several issues. "Bills will be three pages. If I'm president, treaties will have to fit on the back of a cereal box. From now on, the State of the Union address will be delivered in the form of a fortune cookie. I am Herman Cain and I do not like to read," said the Comedy Central comedian. Well Herman Cain thinks he was the butt of the joke because he's a "black conservative" and not because he's an idiot.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball player Ron Artest on Thursday filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to officially change his name to Metta World Peace. Although no one is sure why Artest is changing his name to something so batshit insane (to be confused with one of Frank Zappa's children?), Artest says he wants to put his new last name, "Peace," on his Lakers jersey.
Autooooooo-tunnne, bitches.