Posted on 09/07/2005 2:54:29 PM PDT by rhema
By the slimmest of margins in each house, 21-15 in the State Senate (21 votes needed for passage) and 41-35 in the State Assembly (41 votes needed for passage), the California legislature sent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the homosexual marriage bill, AB 849. When the governor vetoes this bill, it will cement his reelection and start his long march back to the top of the heap in California politics.
Assemblyman Mark Leno’s (D-San Francisco) first attempt at passing a homosexual marriage bill, AB 19, failed twice on June 2, first on a 35 to 37 vote, then on a 37 to 36 vote, as one Democrat, Alberto Torrico, flipped from voting “no” to “aye”.
Undeterred, Mr. Leno looked to a bill that had made it to the Senate, AB 849, a bill originally about fish, and then “gutted and amended” it with the same language as the twice-failed AB 19. His reasoning for doing so was sound. At 25 Democrats to 15 Republicans, the State Senate is more liberal than the State Assembly. In addition, by resorting to the little-understood “gut and amend” parliamentary tactic, Mr. Leno outflanked many grassroots, pro-family lobbying groups who mistakenly thought the bill was dead for the year.
What then followed was a relentless arm-twisting effort by a wealthy and active core constituency of the Democrat Party: the Gay Lobby. Democrat members in the Assembly who voted “no” or who abstained were targeted day and night. Fundraising considerations were paramount in this calculus as Democrats facing tough primaries in gerrymandered liberal districts typically win by running to the left of their opponents with little to worry about in the general election. The Gay Lobby let it be known: vote against our bill and you’ll never win another race in California again.
After winning passage in the Senate on September 1, AB 849 moved over to the Assembly where it needed four more votes to pass. Of the members who abstained or who voted “no”, most observers thought that the venerable Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally, former Lieutenant Governor and former U.S. Representative, would be a sure “aye” vote, as his abstention previously occurred because it was late at night and he was out of the chamber. Where Mr. Leno would get the other three votes was of considerable speculation, with Democrats Tom Umberg, Gloria Negrete McLeod, and Simon Salinas, all eying State Senate races, being the most likely to put the bill over the top.
The first targeted Democrat to speak was Mr. Umberg. Termed out of the Assembly in 2006, Mr. Umberg faces running for a Senate seat that is moving more towards the tossup column. Burdened with a campaign debt in excess of $1 million from previous statewide runs for office as well as a spate of bad press relating to his personal life, Mr. Umberg explained that perhaps the house wouldn’t be having this debate if he had voted for it the first time around instead of abstaining. Word in Orange County is that Mr. Umberg’s turnabout on the homosexual marriage bill has all but guaranteed him Democrat primary opposition from O.C. Supervisor Lou Correa, a former member of the Assembly. Assuming he survives a challenge from within his own ranks from a moderate Democrat with a strong grassroots following, Mr. Umberg might then face rising star Republican Assemblyman Van Tran, who represents a large portion of the senate seat Mr. Umberg covets. Mr. Umberg’s flip-flop probably cost him, and the Democrats, a Senate seat in 2006.
The next lobbied Democrat to speak was Ms. Negrete McLeod. She too said that had she voted instead of abstaining the last time, the house would probably not have been forced to debate the issue again. Interestingly, Ms. Negrete McLeod is running for a Senate seat in socially conservative San Bernardino against freshman Democrat Assemblymember Joe Baca, Jr., the son of U.S. Representative Joe Baca (D-CA). During his time in the Assembly, Mr. Baca has carved out for himself a moderate voting record, as has Ms. Negrete McLeod. In this vote on the controversial issue, Mr. Baca abstained after having voted against the measure twice before. Expect Ms. Negrete McLeod to use her vote to raise funds while Mr. Baca will rely on his family’s formidable political machine to carry the day in the Senate primary race next June.
As the debate wrapped up, uncharacteristically long and philosophical for a body that approves so many bills it barely has time to vote on them, much less discuss them, the Speaker Pro Tem called the roll. Within seconds the bill had 40 votes with 36 in opposition and three abstentions (there is one vacancy). The Assembly gallery was quiet, press cameras whirred away while television lenses swept the floor. A few members gathered around Mr. Salinas’ desk and urged him to be the 41st vote. He relented. There were gasps in the gallery but one member quickly “moved the call” to delay the tally before the Speaker Pro Tem could call it. Within moments the call was lifted, and the Speaker tallied the votes resulting in pandemonium as the advocates for homosexual marriage in the gallery hooted, yelled, clapped, and cried.
As with many political actions throughout the course of history, the winners and losers are not now obvious. When Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes the homosexual marriage bill, however, he will galvanize much-needed conservative support behind his soon to be announced reelection campaign. His actions will remind conservatives that the Governator is the only thing standing between them and the extreme liberals who run the California State Legislature. In the final analysis, the homosexual marriage bill will only ensure one thing: Republican gains in California in 2006.
Mr. DeVore (R.-Irvine) represents 450,000 people in coastal Orange County's 70th Assembly District. He also serves as a major in the Army National Guard
At the expense of turning this into a Mike Savage thread, I really began to appreciate him about a year ago. Behind his course personna, he is an extremely bright, articulate, forward looking (in many respects)and ballsy talk show host, right at the top of the heap IMHO. Additionally, he has a keen, if subtle, sense of humor which I particularly appreciate.
>> I asked my cat this morning if she would like to marry me.
Did she accept? Don't forget to make sure she's registered to vote!
doubt he will veto it his steroid buddies won't like it,
I love his act, and I agree with you. If you listen closely, you can hear him laughing at the end of some of his rants. He hams it up a lot.
I find Savage at his most brilliant when he goes off topic into a personal anecdote, or a short history lesson. He develops it and then applies the moral or the metaphor to the big news item of the day. It's usually very good, but sometimes its remarkable and truly brilliant.
Savage is AOK. By the way, 56 mins into todays show and still an 'encore.' :(
Larry Marino in for Savage on the local radio feed. The Internet feed had a 'best of' show.
From an e-mail I sent several days ago:
subject: pointy shoes, drugs, sex, rock & roll
Dr Savage -
Since I tried to call your program and the lines were busy, I thought I would e-mail.
About two weeks ago, you did the pointy shoes shtick which darn near split my gut. I thought that introducing "pointy shoes" as a sub theme (almost what could be called a computer subroutine in geek talk), then continuing your topic for a dozen words or so, and going back to "pointy shoes", then to the topic and back was absolutely brilliant and I congratulate you.......................
"Savage is AOK. By the way, 56 mins into todays show and still an 'encore.' :("
Larry Morena (sp?) is sitting in for him tonight so it's a new show here. Of course, I can't remember what I had for lunch so take that for what it;s worth ;-)
At the expense of being accused of jumping to conclusions (guilty as charged), Marino is no Savage. I've already given him twelve minutes and I'm neither engaged or amused...or am I being too harsh?
Hopefully, a ballot initiative to amend the California constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman will also be on the ballot in 2006.
Yes, that's a good example! Savage has warned men in the past to be wary of women with very pointy shoes. The pointer the shoe, the more trouble.
There's wisdom there!
I tried to call Savage twice and both times I got on without problem. I once called Dennis Prager and got through without problem. The phone rang 4 times and his producer Ava answered. Just flukish luck - I have spoken to people who have called both many times and always got a busy signal.
Larry Marino is ok - he subs for Savage on occasion, as well as Laura Ingrahm. He is a good guy, but he is no Savage!
Savage's best semi-regular sub is Jerry Doyle (hasn't subbed in ages maybe he got the boot). Once Mancow subbed and that was great, I had never heard him do a purely politics/culture show, and once NYC Icon Bob Grant subbed and Savage called in - I was giddy with that. I grew up on Grant and having them on the radio interacting was like Babe Ruth shooting the breeze with Mickey Mantle!
"Did she accept? Don't forget to make sure she's registered to vote!"
No, she did not - I got the feeling she's offended by the concept of same-sex (not to mention different-species) "marriages." And I'm sure if she were registered to vote, she'd vote more sensibly than - what percentage voted for Kerry? 48%? - 48% of the country.
Thanks for the very helpful links on your homepage to the Calif. special election initiatives. I didn't know repeal of energy deregulation was on the ballot - that'll drag the dems out to vote: there's nothing they like better than regulating an industry.
Oh wow...I'd love to get a copy of that. I grew up on Bob Grant also and still can get him at WOR on the net.
They're collecting signatures to get it on the ballot
http://www.protectmarriage.com/home/default.aspx
DOWNLOAD PETITIONS:
http://www.protectmarriage.com/docs/Official_ProtectMarriage_Petition_short.pdf
I wish I had that clip, too!
I forgot those were even there! I got so tired of tracking back between the LAO and the AG website, I finally just stuck it there for future reference.
Thanks for the reminder--it may need updating; it's been a couple months.
And hopefully, Arnold will appoint a strong conservative to replace Janice Rogers Brown on the CA Supreme Court,
which would rule on the amendment's constitutionality.
Who knows.
Jesus said: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore, they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." -from THE BIBLE: Matthew 19:4-6
bookmark.
Arnold just VETOED same-sex marriage bill passed by the liberal legislature of California. He said the voters had already voted a few years ago that marriage was between a man and a woman.
GO ARNOLD
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