Gay bashing amendment rejected

That should be the last we hear about this until Bush's approval numbers fall again, which should be just about ... what time is it?

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, dealing an embarrassing defeat to President Bush and Republicans who hoped to use the measure to energize conservative voters on Election Day.

Supporters knew they wouldn't achieve the two-thirds vote needed to approve a constitutional amendment, but they had predicted a gain in votes over the last time the issue came up, in 2004. Instead, they lost one vote for the amendment in a procedural test tally.

Wednesday's 49-48 vote fell 11 short of the 60 required to send the matter for an up-or-down tally. The 2004 vote was 50-48.

Supporters lost two key "yes" votes — one from Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., who has changed his mind since 2004, and another from Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who did not vote this time because he was traveling with Bush.

I guess know we'll be subjected to Bush administration attacks on activist lawmakers who ignore the will of the people and are legislating from the legislature.

Seriously, if the administration were serious about this gay marriage ban nonsense, or thought the proposal had even the remotest chance of passing, don't you think Hagel would have shown up at work to contribute his "yes" vote?

Now that that nonsense is out of the way, perhaps Congress can stop wasting time and address some serious issues.

The U.S. House of Representatives began debate Tuesday on the Senate-passed version of legislation that would increase the fines broadcasters pay for airing indecent speech, with a vote expected on the legislation Wednesday.

Or not.