Same sex marriage advocates on why they should be worried about their case against California's Proposition 8

Opponents of California's Proposition 8 are worried that their case against the measure--which overturned the attempt to impose same-sex marriage on Californians--could lead to legal disaster for their movement:

Attorney Charles Cooper, a Reagan-era veteran who is well known to the justices, filed an emergency appeal last weekend urging them to block all video coverage of the trial — even if it were limited to a few courthouses in California. By Monday morning, the high court had granted the appeal and ordered a halt to any video coverage outside the courthouse.

Legal experts on the left and right gleaned three insights from the high court intervention:

First, the justices are following this case closely. They typically rule on appeals after cases are decided. It is rare for them to intervene in a pending trial.

Second, the court’s conservatives do not trust Walker to set fair rules for proceedings. Their opinion described how he had given shifting explanations of his plans. This suggests Walker’s ruling on Proposition 8 may be viewed with some skepticism.

And third, the majority has a distinct sympathy for the foes of same-sex marriage. The justices cited a series of newspaper stories reporting on the threats and harassment faced by those who have publicly opposed gay unions.

Read the rest here.

I never thought I'd say it, but let's hope the gay rights groups are right on this one.

Should we raise the compulsory school age?

Every session, it seems, state lawmakers entertain a bill proposing to increase the compulsory school age from 16 to 18. And every year the bill is largely ignored. That could be different this year, with the issue already getting unprecedented attention. Two bills have been introduced to do this: House Bills 94 and 140.

In today's Lexington Herald-Leader, a story presents the case for the change. Here are the reasons not do to it:

• Students wanting to drop out after becoming 17 have more than likely already been failed by the school they are in. So why draw out an already bad situation?
• Students who would otherwise drop out in the system could make it more difficult for the students who want to be in school to get a good education by becoming distractions in class.
• Keeping students who would otherwise dropout in schools would divert resources devoted to students who choose to stay in school and would increase the financial burden on the education system at a time when funds are tight.

Like earlier attempts, neither bill has gained any legislative momentum, but this year could turn out to be different.

Charter schools die in committee, but the issue could still rise from the dead

For Immediate Release
January 14, 2010

LEXINGTON--"We will be back," said Martin Cothran, communications director for The Family Foundation of Kentucky, after an amendment providing for charter schools failed in a tie vote in a State Senate committee. "This was the end for this amendment, but it wasn't the end of charter schools in this state."

"We were disappointed in the vote," said Cothran. "We understood we had the votes going to vote for the amendment. It turned a golden opportunity for more parental and local teacher control of schools into a lost opportunity." The bill failed when State Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr voted against the amendment.

"This was a loss for parents and local teachers and win for state educrats and teachers' union bosses who are to the left of the Obama administration on this issue. Charter schools are supported across the political spectrum--from Newt Gingrich to the Democratic presidential administration."

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Casino Crowd Finds Elections Not for Sale

Yesterday Joe Gerth of the Louisville Courier-Journal reported something we already knew about the casino lobby: they're willing to spend money on elections. Of specific interest, however, is just how much they're willing to pour into a campaign. In the special election to fill former State Sen. Dan Kelly's seat, Democratic candidate Jodie Haydon outspent his opponent by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. In fact, he spent $890,000 to Higdon's $328,000. The spending set a record for a Kentucky Senate race. Nonetheless, Higdon, the underdog, went on to win the race, thus dampening the Governor's prospects of passing a pro-casino bill this session. Higdon's election was also a repudiation by Kentucky voters that Senate seats are for sale and automatically go to the highest bidder.




http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100112/NEWS01/1120326/Democrats+spent+nearly+$900+000+on+special+election

$1.5 Million embezzlement linked to gambling addict

Today's edition of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reported that an Owensboro woman embezzled nearly $1.5 million from elderly customers of the bank where she was employed. Authorities reported that the 40 year old lady used the money to fuel her casino gambling addiction. Earlier this year, we reported a similar situation regarding a Hopkinsville woman involved in embezzlement to fuel her casino gambling addiction. A trend? Maybe. Whatever the case, it is becoming ever so clear that casino addiction hurts not only the individual and their immediate family but anonymous citizens who least expect to be effected. To read more go to:

http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/articles/2009/12/17/news/national/15998962.txt

Politicizing Christmas has deep roots

The governor's recent debacle calling for a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree underscores how politically charged Christmas has become in recent years and how the negative current from an unhappy electorate can shock the starch out of one's political socks. Of course, Gov. Beshear backpedaled in his decision faster than Ebeneezer Scrooge after being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Future.

Gov. Beshear argued that Christmas shouldn't be politicized--even in the midst of politicizing it. That is already old news, I know. He repented and we should forgive, for sure. But it seems that a government steeped in political correctness and a people mired in an identity crisis of sorts can learn something in the brouhaha over contemporary Christmas politics.

Those on the sidelines in this PC equivalent of a snowball fight will insist that Christmas is all about exchanging gifts, family gatherings, good food and drink, church plays with kids dressed up as donkeys and sheep, and seasonal carols. Of course, they're right, Christmas is all these things. but even while some may forget what to call the green tree strung with ornaments and bright lights we find in living rooms across the country at this time of year, we should remember what it is we celebrate--an easy thing to lose sight of in the shadow of Black Friday.

Central to Christmas is celebration of the Christ, the one the prophet Isaiah spoke about 700 years before the shepherds found him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a Bethlehem manger. It's probably the least favored holiday today for those who embrace identity politics and worship at the altar of multiculturalism. Some wish Christmas away, or at least any official recognition of it. In Leesburg, Virginia, not only is the Christmas tree off limits this year, but so is the Crèche and Menorah. In Manitowac, WI, for the first time since WWII, the nativity will not be allowed on the county courthouse lawn. When the seasonal grinches and scrooges can't ban crèche's from the public square, they superimpose other holidays and invent myriad other reasons for celebration.

Perhaps the politicization of Christmas began with Isaiah's prophecy when he said the "government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end." Can't this be interpreted to be a political statement as much as a theological statement? At least Herod thought so, that's why he set about to butcher every male baby in Judea. Isaiah's prophecy brings us full circle to why Christmas is still marginalized by some government officials today. They aren't interested in sharing the stage with another king, least of all, the King of Kings as Christians recognize Jesus to be.

So enmeshed are political implications in the first Christmas story that we're still dealing with the aftermath today--both on courthouse lawns and in the realm of public morals. In fact, what better backdrop than the first Christmas to review the moral and philosophical battles we face today? After all, Jesus was born to an unwed, teenage mother. Mary was maybe 14 or 15 years of age. Amidst the rumors of sexual immorality, her betrothed husband Joseph considered divorce. Neither of them buckled. Mary didn't abort, as she'd be encouraged to today. Joseph didn't push for divorce and took on the responsibility of fatherhood. What seemed like a mess for the young couple turned into the most beautiful story of all history--the incarnation of God who came to save sinners.

The prevailing political tide may continue to whitewash the public square of any Christmas references and politicians may refuse to call a Christmas tree what it is. But regardless of what any government does, they cannot sweep away the real import of Christmas, and the joy in the hearts of those who celebrate it.

From around Kentucky

Christmastreeaphobics still angry over Beshear reversal: Over at Barefoot and Progressive, they are under the impression that I have "worked myself up into a phony lather" about Gov. Grinch's replacement of the state Christmas tree with a "Holiday tree." We must have done a pretty good job of hiding our amusement. Why would it make us mad to see Beshear politically shoot himself in the foot?

Former proponents of letting the people decide on expanded gambling but who changed their mind for political convenience can't spell: Must be too much to drink at the casino. Blue Bluegrass can't seem to spell State Sen. Thayer's name right. Its "Damon," folks, not "Damien." But go ahead and read about why we should not let the people decide on the gambling issue from the people who elected a man who said exactly the opposite.

Rich horse tracks find another excuse to expand gambling: Ohio is allowing expanded gambling, therefore we should have it too. Let's hope they don't legalize drugs and prostitution.

State universities want more of your money: The Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education will consider larger tuition increases than it said it was going to allow. Some state universities, already swimming in taxpayer cash because they won't control their spending, may be asking for more. Oh, and anyone notice that higher education has already implemented many of the ideas Congress wants to try on health care and that costs are even more out of control there than in the health care industry?

State universities wanting even more money. Not only tuition, but state money. They're insatiable.

State K-12 Schools having to actually get serious about school accountability: For years, state school officials have been telling everyone how serious they are about holding school accountable. Then, when they get pressure to implement charter schools from the federal government--which would result in real accountability--they oppose it. But the loss in federal money Kentucky could incur because of their intransigence may be too much for them.

Evolutionists reasoning badly: Kenneth Miller, a professor of genetics at Brown University spoke at the University of Kentucky on Oct. 21, making an impressive case for the compatibility between the belief in evolution and religion, but makes a big logical error unbefitting an upstanding member of the human species we will discuss next week.