Gay marriage Mecca!? Will gay people have to make Haj in Iowa? Perhaps a gay mosque will be built where the state house now stands.

I live in Des Moines and I think the statehouse could easily be converted into a gay mosque. WoOt!

What do you think the gay marriage hajj looks like?

Iowa is going to be one fabulous looking state. Tourism dollars, Rep, King, tourism dollars!!

Somewhere in there, there's a joke about "bending over facing Iowa five times a day."

Somebody else will have to make it.

Oh, please, no. Put Michelle Bachman in the top spot.

"Gay marriage mecca"? Iowa? Are you kidding me? We only live in "fabulous" places and Iowa is anything but!

Mo Rage
http://moravings.blogspot.com

You know, the image in my mind is Grant Wood's "American Gothic," except that it's two men in drag. Gay farmers, what a concept. The cool thing is that Iowans really will accept that. They may disagree with it, but they really are the kind of people who will treat everyone well.

I know I shouldn't be suprised, but I still am. Even though the Iowa Supremes went to great lengths to explain how government works in the "Separation of Powers" section of the opinion (Legislature makes the laws, executive enforces and enacts the laws, and the courts resolve controversies when citizens feel aggrieved by the laws - this is 10th grade civics), the right STILL follows up with the tired "activist judges" angle.

Anyone who wants to argue this with conservatives MUST read the whole opinion. It's really well-written, and covers all the bases.

You know, the image in my mind is Grant Wood's "American Gothic," except that it's two men in drag. Gay farmers, what a concept.

This is an unconstitutional ruling and another example of activist judges molding the Constitution to achieve their personal political ends.

Constitution FAIL.

The legislature, in carrying out its constitutional role to make public policy decisions, enacted a law that effectively excludes gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage. The executive branch of government, in carrying out its role to execute the law, enforced this statute through a county official who refused to issue marriage licenses to six same-sex couples. These Iowans, believing that the law is inconsistent with certain constitutional mandates, exercised their constitutional right to petition the courts for redress of their grievance. This court, consistent with its role to interpret the law and resolve disputes, now has the responsibility to determine if the law enacted by the legislative branch and enforced by the executive branch violates the Iowa Constitution.

Good luck carving up Iowa's constitution with your hate, you freaks.

"We only live in "fabulous" places and Iowa is anything but!"

Hey man, don't be dissin' Iowa. It may not be as slick as Manhattan, but the people there are way cool. They deserve some respect.

Is this guy a lawyer? Has he ever taken a civics class? Does he not understand that CONSTITUTIONAL LAW is what Supreme Court justices do for a living?

I wish the Rapture would hurry up already. christian hate groups need to get the fuck off my planet.

Iowa already is a "gay mecca." Maybe Rep. King should get outside his district a little more. I still remember when my local newspapers covered how a prominent gay & lesbian magazine named Iowa City the most lesbian-friendly town in the US.

I suspect the many of the good folks of Iowa wouldn't mind a few gay dollars spent on weddings in their state. Nothing like some good old American money changing hands to change some minds.

I've been waiting for some town or region to become Gay Marriage central, and reap the economic development benefits. Think of it: all of the local B&Bs are fully booked. The local florists can't keep up with the demand, ditto the local photographers. The local limo rental companies are booked to capacity, as are the caterers. Gay couples then develop a romantic attachment with the area and buy 2d homes there. Who knows, maybe in 5 years, Ottumwa Iowa will be the Chelsea of the Midwest.

I knew this would bring out the #1 seed in my man King. Take that, Michelle "World Currency Dropped from Black Helicopters" Bachmann!

Justice Cady wisely saw a teachable moment; knowing this order would be read by more people than most (I should say hoping; it appears the wingnuts aren't bothering) he did a lot of "longhand" that in most opinions gets reduced to shortcuts. There is a lot of Iowa history, a lot of law school 101, a lot of detailed step-by-step analysis. It is a very thorough, very detailed opinion, and while it has its holes (as you would expect in any big case or long opinion) it is pretty careful. King would be hard pressed to point to any actual language in that opinion that is "activist" -- so he just jumps to the outcome and slams on it.

Have I mentioned Cady was first appointed to the appellate bench by a Republican?

Fantasy Fest in Key West is going to relocate.

Turning some town in Iowa into a gay marriage Mecca -- premise for the next Adam Sandler/Kevin James movie?

I guess King was watching Michelle Bachmann the last few weeks and getting worried she was going to steal his crown as Most Embarassing Member of Congress. Way to step up to the plate and defend your title, Stevie!

King vs. Bachmann: Deathmatch Continues!

Iowa lawyers should celebrate too! With gay marriages will come gay divorces too -- big bucks for the legal fraternity...

Yes but North Dakota LIKES it's brain drain problem--whenever there are attempts to ameliorate it via making college more affordable if you stay for 5 years after, tax breaks programs etc., the legislature always shoots it down.

Steve King is the comeback kid! Take that, Michelle Wild Eyes!

I'm trying to picture the gay Muslim mecca. All I can envision right now are some damned gorgeous fabrics.

It really amazes me when right wingers flip out about activist judges making supposedly obviously wrong decisions when those decisions are unanimous. With all due respect to the wingers -- by which I mean none at all -- when Supreme Court cases are controversial and can reasonably be decided in more than one way, they come down with split decisions. The more controversial cases generate very heated dissents.

When a Supreme Court case is decided unanimously, you can be pretty freakin' sure that the way it was decided is really the only appropriate way to go.

What the wingers are really saying is that they don't want the law applied fairly and equally to everyone. They want an arbitrary and capricious system built around their personal desires. Or, more charitably, they want a theocracy. Of course if we had a theocracy, they would scream that the activist judges were interpreting biblical law incorrectly and to benefit the judge's political agenda.

hanan--not sure I'd guess Ottumwa, or even Des Moines (oddly, too central for a quick drive from out of state for a wedding).

But if you're a florist in Davenport, less than three hours drive from downtown Chicago, you might be popping champagne about now. If the Quad City River Bandits don't have a "wedding night" planned at the ballpark, now might be the time...

I once had a good friend from MN (metropolitan Albert Lea) who explained why the Mississippi River flowed South: because Iowa sucks. So, the 5-per-day bendover from MN probably won't be in the same direction as the rest of the country. I'm sure Jay would have a wry observation about the brain drain as well. Hmmmmm.... I'll have to check in on that.

Anyhoo, I did appreciate the comments above, and it is very important to remember that any time GOP policies have examined on their merits, whether it is warrantless wiretapping, unlawful detentions, the endless occupations, cronyism, political prosecutions, the GOP almost always loses (except on Siegelman, and that appeal hasn't looked at the entire case yet). It's why good policy can stand the light of day, while bad policy has to skulk in corners and pull tricks out to get done. Almost all of the non-GOP America dislikes phonies and hypocrites, and Iowa is no exception.

Finally, if King loses it, will anyone really notice? How could we tell?

Scary thought: King and Bachmann have a kid. Cue the Psycho music, and I apologize in advance for the mental (get it?) picture.

How is it possible that there are over 20 comments on this post already and nobody has mentioned that this very concept was the plot of one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever. (Springfield legalized gay marriage in an attempt to boost tourism.)

Here's a 'solution' to the 'problem' of Iowa becoming the Gay Mecca....allow Gay Marriage nationwide, then the poor Iowa Republican won't have to worry about it ;)

How is it possible that there are over 20 comments on this post already and nobody has mentioned that this very concept was the plot of one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever.

Jonah is on vacation?

hey Keori,

"I wish the Rapture would hurry up already. christian hate groups need to get the fuck off my planet.

Posted by: Keori on April 3, 2009 at 3:39 PM"

This needs to be on a bumper sticker.

Cheers

Carl

Darn those activist Republican judges! They've got closets flying open all over Iowa!

I'm not sure why Mo Rage is ragging against Iowa. He's from Kansas City, MO. One of the most unfabulous cities in our nation, and in Missouri at that.

Congrats to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Hey guys, I live in Arizona. I think that both our senatorial "worthies" can give Bachmann and King a run for their money! (Accent on money.)

I hope our AZ Sups also overturn our prop 202 which passed last Nov. Sigh.

--Straight female who has lots of fabulous friends!

"He's from Kansas City, MO. One of the most unfabulous cities in our nation"

Now that's blasphemy. KC rocks. Great blues and great barbecue. And you can scalp a Chiefs ticket for under face value. Try that in Tampa. I've driven five hundred miles out of my way just to go to Kansas City. Granted, I stopped by Memphis (another vastly underrated city) on the way, but I'd have done it anyway. Some of the best times I've had in my life have been in Kansas City. Now Kansas City, Kansas is another story. That's the kind of hellhole that makes Newark seem nice. It's better than Gary, but that's not saying much.

I can hardly wait. Designer tractors and colorful barn murals will be de rigeur.

I graduated from law school in Iowa and served as a clerk for a former Iowa Supreme Court justice in the late 1980s. All of these justices except one were appointed by a Republican governor under a modified Missouri plan that required an up or down vote on retention by the voters every six years. The people I worked with were fantastic. They paid no attention to politics, but interpreted the law fairly and accurately. There were a few strongly worded dissents to the majority view, but each justice, each clerk and each staff member displayed the utmost respect for each other. It seems nothing has changed. I wish we could have appointed judges in the state where I currently live and practice, but alas, the law seems to change with every change in party make-up of the courts. Way to go, Iowa, you still make me proud.

'I once had a good friend from MN (metropolitan Albert Lea) who explained why the Mississippi River flowed South: because Iowa sucks.'

I lived in the Twin Cities(a great place)for 16 years and I could never understand the people and medias' need to trash neighboring states. It's like they have a huge, unwarranted insecurity problem.

Of course, it's all a matter of degree, but for example, the StarTribune and its commenters feed on every bad thing that happens in Wisconsin. It's creepy.

I knew that soon as I heard the news, that instead of congratulating Iowa, all the coastal rubes who think that they are oh-so-chic and modern because they have never been in the Midwest would begin a another round of bashing people they've never seen except via the lens of TV.

This ruling is no surprise to me.

As anyone who grew up in the rural Midwest can attest, there are plenty of gay farmers, as someone above joked, and no one bothers them. In rural areas you have to rely on your neighbors for support, and if your neighbors just happen to be gay, then so be it.

You coastals could learn a lot from the midwest if you'd just stop mocking us long enough to listen.

And I predict that, unlike the oh-so-socially advanced Californians, Iowans will refuse to overturn the court decision with a const amendment.

I'm from ruralish Eastern Iowa. I grew up there and moved away when I was nearly 22. My folks still live there, in the same town they grew up in, where they have lived all their lives. I have watched their attitudes towards homosexuals change over time. My Dad's views have changed the most. Probably had something to do with his oldest nephew coming out and meeting his partner. Sometimes, that's all it takes. Finding out someone you already love and respect is a member of the "hated class" to know they're just people too and deserve the same dignity and rights afforded to you. I've never been more proud to be from Iowa than I am today. I have a deep respect for the Iowa SC to have had the courage and ability to see discrimination for what it is. I dont know if it'll last. This is the state where Pat Robertson won the Republican caucus, but it is enough to give one hope.

As anyone who grew up in the rural Midwest can attest, there are plenty of gay farmers, as someone above joked, and no one bothers them.

As a matter of fact, there was a gay farmer two ridges over from my Grandparents spread in north Missouri. Nobody cared. People from around there had to move off to a big enlightened city before they realized that it mattered.

My "Uncle Billy and Aunt Richard" were a constant presence in my life growing up, and they live in Council Bluffs. They have been together for my entire life (and I can see fifty) - I have no doubt that they will be one of the first couples to tie the knot, and I can't wait to witness it, since they have been the model of devoted monogamy that I based my 27-years-and-counting marriage on - I just hope that I am not crying so hard I can't see their first married kiss.

I was born in Ottumwa, lived many years in Iowa City, and though I've lived all over, at the end of the day I'm still an Iowan. All I can say about this is, "Go Hawks!!!"

Good for Iowa. King better not piss off the local Chambers of Commerce, they probably want the tourism right about now.

There was a polished, urbane gentleman, a distant cousin with macho conservative brothers,etc. in my family whom everybody knew was gay,even before gay meant GAY. No one ever hassled or disparaged him, he was included in all family functions, and his funeral was a packed house. His preference was no big deal to anybody. I bet his brothers fought for him as kids.

I'm another proud Iowan, and it's absolutely true about the seriousness of the brain drain problem - there needs to be a reason for young people to see Iowa as a place to stay, rather than somewhere to make a glamorous escape from. And if it comes to be seen as a place to move TO from somewhere else entirely, so much the better! I'd be thrilled for Iowa to follow the example of Springfield cited above (nice reference) - hell, we need the money, so why not?

Hey Blue Girl, nice to see a friendly face.

Hey Disputo! How the hell you been? And just as importantly, where the hell have you been? I was inquiring about you just the other day. I must have conjured you! :)

I read frequently, but I don't have the time to chime in like I used to. Doesn't mean I've shut up, just that I post more and comment less. I moved to a hosted domain and abandoned blogger after Netroots Nation last summer - You can find me here now. Come by often!