I’m surprised Roy Moore hasn’t been mentioned as a possible Repub candidate for President
Very off the cuff: if wikipedia is to be believed, the last time we had a president who had been a judge was William Howard Taft — that’s more than a hundred years ago. I couldn’t find similar info about candidates who lost. Someone more knowledgeable can correct me, but I don’t think it’s a very good springboard to presidential candidacy.
I was born in northern Alabama, and it took me forever to get that damn banjo off my knee.
I can assure you that many–maybe most–Alabamans will take this as well and as easily as they took 60s integration. Even a solid generation-plus later racism, sexism, homophobia and the like are norms in many areas of the state. As one with many, many relatives in the area from blue-collar/poor heritage, I can tell you from my anecdotal experience that even generational change is hard to achieve in many areas of the deep South.
FWIW, the Wikipedia article that mentions William Howard Taft omits what may have been considered his most important executive roles prior to the presidency: he was Chairman of the Philippine Commission, then Civil Governor of the Philippines (1901-1903), then Secretary of War, which had (inter alia) responsibility for the Philippines and other overseas territories. In Philippine history 1899-1912 is commonly referred to as the “Taft Era,” and to the extent that the American occupation of the Philippines was considered a success, this, more than Taft’s law and judicial career, would have been his prime credential, I suspect.
None of which, of course, has anything to do with the OP, but this is the Internet, is it not?
I think I get your Alabama point. For me, with my family roots in the North and in Virginia, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Alabama often stands for some kind of nadir. But, to think of it, disparate dear friends from Alabama (all black, as it happens), well, Alabama is in their souls, and they make no apologies. Sweet home there to come home to, I am more than willing to believe. Let us hope.
Wiping away years, Eli Borges Wright, 28, said he was overjoyed to be marrying the man with whom he has been in a relationship for the past seven years. “After all of these years, I can finally say this is my husband,†he told the Associated Press.
As a gay man from Alabama who has been in a relationship with a man for the past 15 years, I just don’t get why being able to say “This is my husband” would be important to anyone.
Maybe it’s a generational thing; when I was in my 30s, observing straight friends (almost always women) who felt they had somehow failed in life because they weren’t married, I thought the freedom not to marry was one of the benefits of gay life.
I do feel the emotional value of having a partner, a soulmate, someone who is in for he long haul. But the idea that marriage in the abstract, divorced from feelings for a particular individual, has some intrinsic worth just doesn’t resonate for me.
I think I get your Alabama point. For me, with my family roots in the North and in Virginia, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Alabama often stands for some kind of nadir
Well, the Alabama Shakes have a new album out, so there’s that.
My expectation is, that taking up the gay marriage issue in the first place is only designed to gin up a liberal-leaning decision that will allow the court’s conservative wing to pull the plug on Obamacare with the only handle they’ve been given, even if most lawyers seem to agree that King v. Burwell is absurd on the face of it.
{ 18 comments }
dn 02.10.15 at 2:51 am
Clarence Thomas, for one, thinks that his colleagues’ refusal to stay the decision is a clear signal of things to come.
John Quiggin 02.10.15 at 3:21 am
I’m surprised Roy Moore hasn’t been mentioned as a possible Repub candidate for President
MPAVictoria 02.10.15 at 4:01 am
Truly amazing. We are winning this one. It makes for a nice change.
Tabasco 02.10.15 at 4:19 am
@John Quiggin
He can run on a platform of
“no homosexuality now, no homosexuality tomorrow, no homosexuality forever” .
JanieM 02.10.15 at 4:22 am
I’m surprised Roy Moore hasn’t been mentioned as a possible Repub candidate for President
Very off the cuff: if wikipedia is to be believed, the last time we had a president who had been a judge was William Howard Taft — that’s more than a hundred years ago. I couldn’t find similar info about candidates who lost. Someone more knowledgeable can correct me, but I don’t think it’s a very good springboard to presidential candidacy.
Alan White 02.10.15 at 4:25 am
I was born in northern Alabama, and it took me forever to get that damn banjo off my knee.
I can assure you that many–maybe most–Alabamans will take this as well and as easily as they took 60s integration. Even a solid generation-plus later racism, sexism, homophobia and the like are norms in many areas of the state. As one with many, many relatives in the area from blue-collar/poor heritage, I can tell you from my anecdotal experience that even generational change is hard to achieve in many areas of the deep South.
dr ngo 02.10.15 at 5:00 am
FWIW, the Wikipedia article that mentions William Howard Taft omits what may have been considered his most important executive roles prior to the presidency: he was Chairman of the Philippine Commission, then Civil Governor of the Philippines (1901-1903), then Secretary of War, which had (inter alia) responsibility for the Philippines and other overseas territories. In Philippine history 1899-1912 is commonly referred to as the “Taft Era,” and to the extent that the American occupation of the Philippines was considered a success, this, more than Taft’s law and judicial career, would have been his prime credential, I suspect.
None of which, of course, has anything to do with the OP, but this is the Internet, is it not?
Meredith 02.10.15 at 5:39 am
I think I get your Alabama point. For me, with my family roots in the North and in Virginia, Tennessee, and Baltimore, Alabama often stands for some kind of nadir. But, to think of it, disparate dear friends from Alabama (all black, as it happens), well, Alabama is in their souls, and they make no apologies. Sweet home there to come home to, I am more than willing to believe. Let us hope.
Anderson 02.10.15 at 12:44 pm
Alabama exists to make Mississippi proud.
(Our ban was struck by a federal judge, but then the 5th Circuit stayed the judgment. No action expected til SCOTUS rules.)
parse 02.10.15 at 3:55 pm
Wiping away years, Eli Borges Wright, 28, said he was overjoyed to be marrying the man with whom he has been in a relationship for the past seven years. “After all of these years, I can finally say this is my husband,†he told the Associated Press.
As a gay man from Alabama who has been in a relationship with a man for the past 15 years, I just don’t get why being able to say “This is my husband” would be important to anyone.
Maybe it’s a generational thing; when I was in my 30s, observing straight friends (almost always women) who felt they had somehow failed in life because they weren’t married, I thought the freedom not to marry was one of the benefits of gay life.
I do feel the emotional value of having a partner, a soulmate, someone who is in for he long haul. But the idea that marriage in the abstract, divorced from feelings for a particular individual, has some intrinsic worth just doesn’t resonate for me.
Shelley 02.10.15 at 4:17 pm
Someone on Rachel’s show last night said that Missouri might be the “show me” state, but Alabama is the “make me” state.
MPAVictoria 02.11.15 at 3:18 am
Gay marriage is winning and right wingers are angry! I drink their tears. I drink them up.
http://t.co/RtJZCjpwgV
Helen 02.11.15 at 3:46 am
Well, the Alabama Shakes have a new album out, so there’s that.
mattski 02.11.15 at 3:59 am
I believe this is appropriate.
Tho some may differ.
johne 02.11.15 at 7:43 pm
My expectation is, that taking up the gay marriage issue in the first place is only designed to gin up a liberal-leaning decision that will allow the court’s conservative wing to pull the plug on Obamacare with the only handle they’ve been given, even if most lawyers seem to agree that King v. Burwell is absurd on the face of it.
So no, I’m not so cheerful.
MPAVictoria 02.11.15 at 7:44 pm
A wise bunny take his joy where he can find it.
-Bunny Buddhism
Jim V 02.11.15 at 8:04 pm
My thoughts tend to parallel those of parse although there are also potential legal benefits to marriage. Certainly a step forward.
bt 02.12.15 at 1:03 am
And Mississippi exists to make Texas proud…
Comments on this entry are closed.