I think the state should ONLY be in the business of civil unions. No marriages, gay . . . or straight. Leave it all the church, or whatever substitutes for the church people want.

I think marriage is sacred - a spiritual union. Of course the western human history is that marriage was as much a property and legal arrangement, which is why the state is involved. But that's not what is truly important.

Much of the argument of including gays in marriage is based on the legal protections that go along with marriage, things that affect property, visiting rights at hospitals, etc. Only someone really hateful would deny those rights, and civil unions also have the virtue of providing a mechanism for other circumstances that are hard for a one-size-fits-all legal system to take into account - two sisters living together, for instance. They need legal protections too, even though they aren't married, aren't in that category at all.

I've always wondered why one person's marriage would threaten another.   more »

Buried deep in a Daily Kos post about Robo-calls was the following comment by Hannah: It may not be just a McCain thing; his advisers seem equally inept when it comes to timing and cause/effect relationships. But then, neither is the base. It's almost routine for consequence to be confused with effect   more »

I'm occasionally frustrated by advocates for good causes who make a lot of noise but aren't effective. And there are others who choose apathy and feel powerless when seeing that. I offer below a quick course in effective political communication. This is not regarding elections and voting but in working with those we've elected. The point is to have an impact, to be effective, rather than simply complaining among the choir.

Three main points: - All Politics is Local (the representative or official cares about how it will effect their district)
- QUALITY of communication is important (be concise and focused)
- Build a long-term relationship (we're all humans here!)

The mindset here is to be strategic; to ask, "What will it take to get X to happen?" Then you plan backwards, thinking about the laws and regulations that might have to change, who you'll have to reach to make that happen, and what points of leverage you have. Obviously there are other powers in play, so I'm not saying you can win all the time . . . But there ARE some things you can achieve.   more »

Canadian, Ian Welsh writes that power and leadership requires that you must supply meaning and a way for people to belong:

"The Christian right supplies meaning for their people."

This is not just theological, but political.

The problem for the rising repressive class is that they have outsourced their meaning to evangelical Christians who are not easily controlled. This is our opportunity.   more »

Interesting discussion on Blogging of the President about the division between technocrats vs. activists in the democratic party. . . . the activists on the liberal side proved they cannot lead either. Thus the democrats and liberal America fell under the influence of technocrats. And while technocrats may realize they've been played, they haven't yet found a new language because the activists haven't developed any new language.   more »

I AM optimistic because I think what is needed on the left is a soul-searching, new message and rebuilding of a movement at a grass-routes level in the culture.

I supported Kerry, but recognized that his election would have been counter to this need.

What was accomplished in this election    more »

Learn how to talk with them about the 95% we have in common rather than argue and yell at each other about the 5% that divides us.   more »

Stirling Newbury, ever brilliant, has an excellent post today in blogging of the president on how this election represents a choice by Americans of a militaristic society.

But a militarized society is a fundamental contradiction with a Christian society,   more »

From the Emerging Democratic Majority, comes this data:
Between 2000 and 2004, President Bush's largest gains occurred among less religious voters, not among more religious voters.   more »

I�m really having fun working for the Kerry campaign. The work is fun, focused and fulfilling. Let me tell you how . . .   more »

I walk in the door for the first time and there is a palpable and infectious buzz. People are everywhere amid the hastily constructed open space full of hand-me-down computers, desks, tables, never enough chairs and activity. The Santa Fe campaign headquarters has 2,300 volunteers, all managed by one volunteer director.

What�s happening here is amazing. The sheer quantity of labor happening is out of proportion to the level of infrastructure and structure to support it. This is a very different kind of volunteer project than what is found at the local non-profit.   more »

John Kerry, running for President in the US, has made a major commitment to alternative energy in a highly visible way in his campaign.   more »

Not many people seem to be talking about what to do if Kerry looses. Other than vague "go to Canada" declarations.

We'd have a grieving process, obviously. With all the stages, bargaining, anger, denial, etc. I'm sure there would be a lot of shock. Where I am, people seem not to be able to comprehend why people support Bush. Obviously people do   more »