Okay - canary watch time. Give me two minutes, then glaze over and move on - but this is big news - and it is unreported.
The Supplemental War Bond act was passed. Included in it was the Real ID Act. Included in the Real ID Act is a provision that this act is not subject to judical review.
Well ladies and germs, this is a real honest to god first. This is the first time that congress has explicitly said that courts have no juristiction over a specific law. It is, essentially, a test. Some people read the constitution to say that Congress can exempt a law from Judical (including Supreme Court) review. Some of those poeple have put a test case in the Real ID Act.
This is EXACTLY what Republicans suggested should be done to the Defense of Marriage Act. They could do this by simple majority, and then not let the Supreme Court ever review it. That allows a majority to essentially Amend the Consitution (preventing these laws based on a simple majority is why Amending the Constitution is so difficult).
At this point it goes way beyond fags. I mean, we are already dead meat here. But this - should it stand - is a step away from the America we grew up with.
Have a nice day.
War Funds act passes (RealID Act mentioned- CNN (no mention of rule change))
Details on the Bill (way too much)
Way to much nerdy detail on the whole judical thing