Yep, Pataki has really screwed this up beyond all comprehension. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well, check out the primer below. Things could get interesting again over the next few weeks.

**Adult Language**WARNING**Adult Language**

No makeup and plucked eyebrows here (well, mostly).

Maybe Iran would like to trade? How ’bout it honey - wanna go play Rugby in Iran??

Seriously though, if you happen to be in NYC May 24-28, be sure to check out the Bingham Cup, in honor of Mark Bingham, one of the many heroic passengers on United 93. My honey and his team, The San Francisco Fog, hope once again to bring the cup back to San Francisco to honor their fallen brother.

Roll fog, roll!

It is time Meathead found a new gig. Fire Reiner.

Scott McClellan on Ted Kennedy’s reaction to Bush’s LONG OVERDUE speech today:

It is also regrettable that Senator Kennedy has found more time to say negative things about President Bush than he ever did about Saddam Hussein.

More, MUCH more of this please. (h/t Right Rainbow)

It is well past time the administration started kicking ass and taking names.

Well, as you may have heard, the IFC will not be occupying space at Ground Zero. I don’t think I will be able to get the wide smile off my face any time soon.

I want to take a moment to recognize Michelle Malkin. The very first email I sent out after reading Debra Burlingame’s op-ed was to Michelle. I let her know the site existed and she graciously threw up a quick link. That link and the subsequent attention she and the rest of the blogosphere drew to this cause is greatly responsible for this achievement.

Thank you Michelle, and thank you to the rest of the blogosphere.

You had a hand in shaping the destiny of Ground Zero and have played a part in the overall story of 9/11.

Arnold will veto the gay marriage bill. I am disappointed but I knew he would and his reasoning is sound.

“We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote,” the governor’s press secretary, Margita Thompson, said in a statement.

With Prop. 22 still on the books (it defines marriage as a union between a man and woman and passed by 61% in 2000) there really was little choice.

Even though opinion polls are showing a shift in sentiment on gay marriage, nothing has been done to change the law and this all would have ended up in court anyway. Mark Leno, the State Assemblyman that put together and got this passed, did a great thing - too early. Prop. 22 is before the courts now and he should have waited for the outcome. If the courts reaffirmed Prop. 22, then he should have put a ballot measure up repealing it. Had the court struck it down, it would have cleared the way for Arnold to sign the bill. Whether he would have is another question but he would have been hard-pressed to come up with a reason not to.

Doing things the right way is a major pain in the ass sometimes, but things worth doing are seldom easy.One good thing did come of this though. The California State Legislature passed a bill approving gay marriage. The first in the history of this nation and, I dare say, it will not be the last time either.

**UPDATE**

Of course, some people would prefer to take the easy way and just allow the legislature to say “f-off” to the people that put them there to do the people’s will.

While I am really very emotionally happy about the California legislature passing AB0849 (”Gender-neutral marriage” bill), I cannot help but remember that the voters of this state have already spoken on this issue and they overwhelmingly said “NO” to gay marriage with Prop. 22.

That being said, I hate the proposition system in this state. I have even advocated getting rid of it. The typical voter is uninformed and ill equipped to make a decision based on anything else except raw emotion.

We are a Republic and if you don’t like what your elected officials do, you vote them out of office.

Support the bill.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633

Thanks to The Malcontent for the contact info, and the nudge his post on the subject provided.

The company I work for has two locations in the New Orleans area and there are a lot of folks unaccounted for. I realize it is a long-shot, but if anyone out there has any info on any of these people, please call 1-866-222-4781 ASAP.

as September 12th

* Abrego,Karla
* Andrews,Jason S
* Bennett,Patricia A
* Brownlow,William C
* Byrne,Michael E
* Cesana,George R
* Dagradi,Dominic A
* Elphage,Sylvia M
* Hartley,Sharon D
* Hera,Denise L
* Hockman,Morris
* Howard,Ashley D
* Jimenez,Fancy M
* Jones,Jonathan B
* Jones,Linda V
* Mulvihill,Lisa J
* Pinkins,Clayton
* Puente,Marco T
* Sanders,Elton E
* Smith,Joan
* Smith,Kari M
* Smith,Mondia D
* Truehill,Jeremy C
* Vadell,Thomas
* Victorian,Courtlyn L
* Wadge,Gordon F
* Washington,Herman
* Weber,Kristofor G

I encourage all my readers that are able to give $100 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund.

If you would prefer to donate to a different charity, there are comprehensive lists compiled by Glenn Reynolds and FEMA.

Don’t forget to visit other blogs participating in Blog Relief Day for Hurricane Katrina victims for the latest updates on the situation here.

I love Cox & Forkum.

Background Here

Help us fight the IFC, won’t you?