Pushing same-sex marriage in the US is still a disaster politically, no matter how many Mudcatters stand up and say it's a basic human right. Such Mudcatters may be in the majority--here.   Not on the outside, And it's the surest way to strengthen Sarah and her true believers.

Here in Iowa (where it is now legal) the republicans have been pushing for any kind of debate in the legislature on any bill that could possibly contain language related to the issue. The dems (who control both branches) have side-stepped this. I am of the opinion that the repubs are pushing for it so they will have quotes and voting records to throw at the dems in November. The dems aren't giving them this opportunity.

This may not matter as much as some think. Recently there was a poll in which 62 percent of respondents said gay marriage does not deserve the legislature's time, while only 36 percent said it does. In addition, in an earlier poll, 92 percent of respondents said marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples had led to "no real change" in their own lives.

Iowa has a lengthy process for amending the constitution. Assuming the state legislature does not pass a marriage amendment this year, the soonest a same-sex marriage ban could appear on a statewide ballot would be 2014 (only if the legislature elected in 2010 passed an amendment in either 2011 or 2012, and the legislature elected in 2012 passed an amendment in 2013 or 2014). By then it may not matter any more.