Blue Mass Group

I’ve been having some debate with fellow marriage equality proponents about the effect of repealing the federal defense of marriage act (DOMA) on people living in anti-equality states.

I have always believed that as long as a couple’s marriage license was valid where it was issued (MA, CA, Canada, etc.) that that couple should benefit from the repeal no matter what state they happen to live in.  They would have access to the federal-level rights, responsibilities etc. of marriage even if they were denied access to state-level stuff.

My opponents in this debate think that if a couple lives in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage, they will not be eligible for the federal marriage benefits.

The problem with this debate is that it is based on opinion and our non-professional understanding of the law.  Anyone with real qualifications out there want to tell us what’s the what?  Links that I could pass along would be very much appreciated.

From Daniel Kurtzman: “The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals have the right to carry guns…When the decision was read, it created pandemonium in the court. Justice Scalia had to fire two warning shots to settle people down. And then at the White House, just for fun, Dick Cheney went out on the lawn and peppered a buddy with some birdshot.” -David Letterman “Ralph Nader’s in the news. Today, Ralph Nader attacked Barack Obama for refusing to accept public financing for his campaign and said that Obama was too closely tied to big business. Yeah, then the guy sitting next to Nader on the park bench said, ‘Shut up!’” –Conan O’Brien “You know. People really like Barack Obama because he’s an inspirational speaker. But he was not the first one — I was checking my presidential history — he was not the first candidate to use the phrase ‘Yes we can!’ Bill Clinton frequently used that on interns.” –David Letterman “President Bush spoke at a campaign rally in support of John McCain. They raised millions and millions of dollars, most of which will be used to repair the damage of President Bush supporting John McCain at a campaign rally. So [...]

Sean Garballey, the Rep elected this year for the 23rd Middlesex in the special election after Jim Marzilli resigned, has set up an interactive blog to keep his district informed. Here is the link:  http://seangarballey.wordpress… BMG may wish to add that as a link here at BMG – or some of you may find it of interest.  Sean really has “hit the ground running” and is both having real and substantial input on the issues affecting Arlington, but larger issues as well. Way to go, Sean!

Global Warming Rally Global warming is the most urgent threat facing humanity today. We must take action NOW and pass The Global Warming Solutions Act and put Massachusetts on path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. When: July 2nd, Noon Where: Main Steps of the Statehouse, 1 Beacon Street, Boston MA What: Legislators, Scientists, and Activists call for passage of Global Warming Bill Please Join Us!!!

In what to the best of my limited knowledge is a first the Obama campaign has mapped out its strategy for the general election in an internet video from its Campaign Manager. They say their, “top priorities in battleground states” are voter registration, helping Democrats down the ballot, and building a grassroots organization in every state. (They might want to add, “proof reading presentations” to the list, since not every state is a battleground, and “shooting video against a dark background”). Of course, the campaign does not show all its cards: this is not a complete strategy briefing. No weaknesses, for example, are mentioned. It is also, for most of the second half, a fundraising solicitation. Nonetheless, it is interesting, novel, a big step in the right direction in terms of transparency and inclusiveness, and cogent. Good politics. Check it out.  

I know you guys love to call JM a big flip-flopper but what do you call BO’s position on gun control and the second amendment… consistent?????

- Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?   – Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn’t solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are? – Why isn’t the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago? When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines? Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks? – Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets? – When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a “vanilla” Iowa, because that’s the way God wants it? – Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism? – Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people? – How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

I started this as a comment on Mark Bail’s good post, but I think it’s too long and not closely related enough to his focus on the proposed Readiness Schools.

From what I’ve read so far, it sounds as if the Readiness proposals suffer from a lack of clarity of the value of centralized control vs. local control.  An article in the current issue of Commonwealth magazine mentions a changing balance between the strong executive approach and the decentralized approach as a confusing aspect of New York City’s ongoing education reforms:

Additionally, some see Chancellor Klein’s repeated reorganizations of the bureaucracy – going from intensely centralized control to regional districts to decentralization – as glaring evidence of the administration’s lack of educational experience. “I don’t think anyone who’s been paying attention could possibly believe they know what they’re doing,” says Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters, a city advocacy group.

This is embarrassing for Republicans. Oregon GOP Senator Gordon Smith is touting his connection to the presidential nominee as a selling point of his re-election campaign. The problem is it’s not his party’s nominee featured in the ad, it’s Barack Obama. And the theme of the commercial is bipartisan leadership. It’s interesting that a Republican is running on the theme of bipartisan cooperation with Senator Obama because yesterday the campaign of Obama’s GOP rival, John McCain, released this statement: There has never been a time when Barack Obama has bucked the party line to lead on an issue of national importance. He has never been a part of a bipartisan group that came together to solve a controversial issue. Never, you say? Gordon Smith would respectfully disagree: Obama: Change even Republicans can believe in! (Hat Tip: Olbermann)