Gay Marriage Legalized in Iowa: Both Sides of the Debate

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The Next Frontier

The debate over the constitutionality of gay marriage hit a turning point today with the Iowa Supreme Court ruling gay marriage bans unconstitutional. Here are bloggers' reactions to the ruling breakdown:

Unhappy: Conservative Kathryn Jean Lopez posts this analysis of the court's decision here, attempting to show the major flaws in the ruling. "The lawless judicial attack on traditional marriage and on representative government continues," writes conservative Ed Whelan. "What gobbledygook." Conservative Erick Erickson thinks there's only one way to stop rulings like this from happening again: "Until we make a regular habit in this nation of impeaching activist judges who put their personal policy preferences ahead of the constitutions of the several states and nation, we will just keep bowing lower and lower to our black robed masters." And this Iowa State Rep. doesn't like the ruling at all.

Ecstatic: "Damn straight," is liberal BarbinMD's reaction (pun so clearly intended). Andrew Sullivan is very, very happy with this development, and posts this roundup of varying views on the decision. In one of many posts on the subject, Sullivan writes: "Imagine: actually thinking about the welfare of gay citizens as equal members of society. What a concept." Liberal Emma Ruby-Sachs posts her analysis of the ruling here. Don't get her wrong—she's happy about the Iowa Court's decision, she thinks they've only taken the first of many steps. "Good for the court," writes Robert Schlesinger in one post on the subject. In another, he argues that conservative politicians with big hopes are no doubt salivating over the ruling: "Anyone want to place bets on which of the 2012 contenders first gets this ruling into a fundraising appeal?"

Undoing Bush, et al.

This is, at least, what many see as the goal of Obama's post G-20 summit trip in Europe. Johanna Neuman gives her take on Obama's town hall meeting in Strasbourg, Germany (White House press release available there too). Liberal Beth Arnold thinks Obama's performance was a "resounding success," lifting "people up instead of whipping them down." The Daily Beast gives this media roundup of Obama's performance. Conservative Jean Granville turns to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, arguing that Sarko is a stereotypically unpredictable French politician. A number of conservatives were very, very unhappy with the bow Obama gave to the Saudi king—conservative Ed Morrissey devotes a long post to the controversy here. Conservative Rick Brookhiser remembers a "shameful" Bush bow, too. And here's a post on the trivial rivalry between French first lady Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama.

...Meanwhile ...

Levi Johnston awkwardly admits to not (always) having safe sex with Bristol Palin... Unemployment in the U.S. is now worse than in France... Dog owners really do look like their pets... And Rutgers breaks the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Waldo.