1) Separation of Church and State - What the religious right will not tell you about these votes is that a vote like this opens up the opportunity to vote on other religious institutions. What if Christians decide that Baptism should be required for all youngsters? What if Jews feel all boys should have to go through circumcision? This opens the door to vote on those issues.

On the flip side, for those that say the Constitution has this amendment to prevent from watering down the church, you have voted to allow the government to meddle in your church. In fact, you already have. There are multiple denominations, the UCC being the most prominent, that want to marry gays. You just told them they cannot. Good job. Also, what if someone feels full submersion during Baptism is dangerous? That can now be voted on and a church forced out of doing it. Ditto circumcision. Too dangerous? Fine, it is illegal.

2) The legal protection for families - Protecting families? That’s laughable. It has been shown in recent census data that Marriage and Family values are arguably stronger in states that allow gay marriage. Gay families live as straight families even *gasp* raising children. Why do you hate their kids? You just voted against protection for them in the event of the death of the partner. Who knows where the kids may end up now if one or both of them die? Sleep well with that thought.

3) Your argument as to why we should be in Iraq and Afghanistan - There is a ton of outrage in our country over the Islamic church states. How can they rule on an archaic view that women are not equal? How can they condone stoning based on religious doctrine? How can they seriously persecute those that participate in a religion other than Islam?? Yeah, Maine, how can they? Oh…wait…you just said that people that may not necessarily hold the same religious view as you shouldn’t be able to express that. Huh…

4) What Thomas Jefferson said - “The legitimate powers of government,” he wrote, “extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”

I’m a firm believer in the facts, the Constitution and the well being of our Country and the families within. What do you believe in?

Sincerely,

Me.

Running in second:

Who doesn’t want a mattress made of Gypsy Sluts?

Heidi declares she is ready to get out of pig flu country while fiming a, um, music video in Mexico.

I’ll admit that I am fascinated with this couple, but not in a good way.

This is in spite of the fact that people actually have to pay 5 bucks. This is up from last year’s attendance of a mere 76,346 last year, but to be fair, it did rain in ‘08.

I woke up and started getting ready for work, just like any other day. I looked outside and saw neighbors leaving for work, just like any other day. I turned on the TV to catch up on some headlines, just like any other day.

Funny; today is the day that gay marriages will occur for the first time in Iowa. I was under the impression that marriages would be cheapened, gays and lesbians would be in the streets recruiting, fire and brimstone would rain down and the world just might spin off of its axis.

Instead, here I am, typing a blog and preparing for the day ahead. The straight people around me are still married and living life as they would have any other day.

Weird.

The only people that seem to be straying from their routines are the protesters. Oh, and the kids that some of them pulled out of school.

Thank you for making this one of the greatest days of my life!

Over the past couple of years, my sig other and I debated getting married in Canada or another state. Our planning kind of stalled. Deep down, I think the reason is that it didn’t feel “right” and that something would be missing.

That something is the chance to make it easy for all of our friends and family to be there. This is an occasion that should be shared by all. The thought of possible financial hardship keeping loved ones from joining us was too much to take. Not to mention the logistics of cross-state planning.

I am so happy we waited and I cannot wait for the day to celebrate with our loved ones!

The best part of this story is that it was shortly before he was outed for using steroids.

The photographer had this to say:

The writer says Rodriguez posed for the photos Feb. 6, the day before the SI report came out, and was “loosening up with shots of Patron [tequila].”

I have to get A-Rod’s back, I suppose. Tequila shots impare your judgment. Just ask Eli Manning and his wife

I will give this newslady major props for not losing it, but holy crap!