[Lancaster Online]

[Scout]

I value human life and human rights. I value my country and those who fight for her, but feel we never should have gotten into Iraq. I think abortion is an unacceptable form of birth control. I think civil unions should be ok. I think we need to take care of those here at home before we play godparent to the rest of the world

Find me a politician with those same thoughts, and he/she will have one voter for life.

[2fat2ride]

Actually, I found Brubaker's ruse very helpful It forced me to take a close look at my State Senator, Mike Folmer, aka "Citizen Mike" who was a co-sponsor of this bill.

Folmer always mentions that he was a founder of this group:

Constitutional Organization of Lebanon

This group from Lebanon County, with the acronym COOL, is described in other sources as a "community-wide educational project designed to promote awareness of America's founding principles" and also as "a political-action committee to promote civic involvement in governmental affairs."

hmmm, well, not exactly...As part of their 16-hour educational package, COOL uses a set of videos called "The Institute On The Constitution." The IOTC claims that it educates folks to the real intentions of the founding fathers.

Actually, it is a fringe interpretation of history and the constitution. The IOTC was produced as part of Michael Petrouak's failed 2004 Presidential campaign under the Constitution Party. It is a very Christian right-wing biased view of history. It is, in my opinion, BAD history. Its claim is that the founding fathers used the Bible as their primary doctrine in their creation of the Constitution and that their intention was that all of our laws and ruling ideals should stem from the Bible and that we should all adhere to their original intentions (and therefore, the Bible) forever.

It only takes a quick look on-line to figure out the bias of this view. It is very easy to Google all the "scholars" that appear in the IOTC.

Go ahead, take a minute and look 'em up. Not exactly mainstream academia.

Sorry, Senator Folmer, I don't believe this type of BAD history. Keep your religion out of my life...and thank you, Senator Brubaker for waking me up. I wouldn't have ever bothered looking at this had it not been for your bill. Most of all, thank you for dropping the bill.

[Goldilocks]

There are lots of “maybes” and numerous “perhaps” in those few paragraphs. Are clairvoyant, Gil, that you were able to look into Brubaker’s mind and determine the motive for Brubaker’s marriage amendment bill. Your blog is all speculation and no more.

[littledutchboy]

Gil! Do you look under your bed before you go to sleep?



It’s more probable that Sen Brubaker being a rookie was handed the Amendment ball to carry for that reason alone.



It’s interesting to note that while Hill and Boomer are fighting for the hearts and minds of the blue collar democratic voter they never mention what they would do for the down trodden gay community. Why is that Gil?

We already know the answer; they will not get the hearts and minds (or votes) of that segment of the Democratic party if they support gay’s so called right to marry.

[Bigmaclender2]

Gil! Do you look under your bed before you go to sleep?
It's more probable that Sen Brubaker being a rookie was handed the Amendment ball to carry for that reason alone.
It's interesting to note that while Hill and Boomer are fighting for the hearts and minds of the blue collar democratic voter they never mention what they would do for the down trodden gay community. Why is that Gil?

We already know the answer; they will not get the hearts and minds (or votes) of that segment of the Democratic party if they support gay's so called right to marry.

What a brilliant observation, LDB. It took you this long to figure that out?

[dragonrider]

Actually "Boomer" as you have called him has spoken truth to hate. He has talked about gay rights to blue collar voters and talked about climate change in Detroit. LDB I know that being a "certain type" of christian shall we say Pharasee though you will not let facts stand in your way

[Artie See]

In other words, you’ve been used.

As have we all.

[Pericles]

Post your thoughts and comments about this blog post.

I think Brubaker believes in the issue and wanted to make an effort, even if it was bound to fail.

Brubaker has no need to appeal to voters with this legislation. He's virtually assured a second, third and fourth term in Harrisburg. The power of incumbency and the incumbent protection plan in Harrisburg will keep him in office as long he wants.

The only opponents he'll have will be Democrats, and they'll have no chance to defeat him in a general election, not in his district.

[2fat2ride]

I think Brubaker believes in the issue and wanted to make an effort, even if it was bound to fail.

Brubaker has no need to appeal to voters with this legislation. He's virtually assured a second, third and fourth term in Harrisburg. The power of incumbency and the incumbent protection plan in Harrisburg will keep him in office as long he wants.

The only opponents he'll have will be Democrats, and they'll have no chance to defeat him in a general election, not in his district.

Why is it that neither Brubaker nor Folmer puts any information or updates about the amendment on their own websites? I think you are right. They do "believe" in the issue, but even if they thought it was going to fail, if it was merely "belief in the issue" that inspired them, you would think that they would spend at least a little bit of time and effort and included an issue in which they believed in their updates and blogs, etc.

No, I think Gil is right, they knew it was never going to pass and had other motivations. It was a ruse.

[dragonrider]

In the last political cycle the republicans spoke with glee about how this issue was a real get out the vote getter. Their intentions was to mobilize their base with or without a comitment to the issue. The ultimate purpose was to get out the vote. Just as Hillary issue with the gas tax she knows its going no where but it gets some votes wehter she is for against the gas tax is irrelevant she knows it will garner some votes. Thats how modern politics works.

[littledutchboy]

Actually "Boomer" as you have called him has spoken truth to hate. He has talked about gay rights to blue collar voters and talked about climate change in Detroit. LDB I know that being a "certain type" of christian shall we say Pharasee though you will not let facts stand in your way

Here in PA?



We are talking about PA, in case you didn't know.

[dragonrider]

Here in PA?



We are talking about PA, in case you didn't know.

Yeah here in PA "Boomer" talked about how both sides of the racial divide had reason for anger and boths side need reconcilliation discussions to move beyond a racially divided society.

[littledutchboy]

In the last political cycle the republicans spoke with glee about how this issue was a real get out the vote getter. Their intentions was to mobilize their base with or without a comitment to the issue. The ultimate purpose was to get out the vote. Just as Hillary issue with the gas tax she knows its going no where but it gets some votes wehter she is for against the gas tax is irrelevant she knows it will garner some votes. Thats how modern politics works.

No kidding what was your 1st clue?



Will you say the same thing later this year or next year when the Amendment is put forward again? Unlike Hill’s ½ rearend gas tax thing, the Amendment is not a gimmick, it will be put foreword until it’s adopted, because the ultimate goal is its passing.

Yeah here in PA "Boomer" talked about how both sides of the racial divide had reason for anger and boths side need reconcilliation discussions to move beyond a racially divided society.

when did we start talking about race?

[dragonrider]

No kidding what was your 1st clue?



Will you say the same thing later this year or next year when the Amendment is put forward again? Unlike Hill's ½ rearend gas tax thing, the Amendment is not a gimmick, it will be put foreword until it's adopted, because the ultimate goal is its passing.











when did we start talking about race?

I thought we were talking about politicians and political parties using ruses and wedge issues to get out the vote and get voters excited get out the base. For the republican party this cycle its gay marriage, And yeppers they will keep bringing up gay marriage all the while voting against your interest and the rich will continue to get richer ala Armstrong president and the middle class will continue to shrink. McCains recent call for removal of tax benifits for corps to offer insurance to employees. When the did the same for retirement retirement plans went away. So vote against gay marriage and watch as your company paid insurance goes down the drain. But hey your marriage is protected. wink wink