(3) IOWA (Supreme Court) Justices Ousted Over Gay Marriage Ruling

[underpants]

Iowa voters did the unprecedented Tuesday when they ousted three justices of the state’s Supreme Court.

The move, a repudiation of a ruling last year that struck down a law prohibiting same-sex marriage, was particularly noteworthy given the nature of the vote. The justices weren’t running against opponents. They would have stayed on the bench for another eight years had a majority of voting Iowans said yes.

It was the first time since the retention vote was introduced in 1962 that an Iowa Supreme Court justice wasn’t retained.

Less than 24 hours after the highly charged battle, another minicontroversy was brewing over this question: Who will appoint their replacements? The options: the current governor, Democrat Chet Culver, or the man who defeated him Tuesday, former Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican.

Mr. Branstad doesn’t take office until January. Todd Pettys, a law professor at the University of Iowa, said there’s nothing in the law keeping Mr. Culver from moving quickly on the justices’ replacements.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/11/03/iowa-justices-ousted-over-gay-marriage-ruling/

[emulatorloo]

1. Hope Culver moves quickly. He's been an excellent governor. Branstad lied about him

claiming he was "scandal ridden" and had destroyed the Iowa economy and gotten the state into debt. Iowa got voted one of the best managed states in the country, Culver is leaving the state with a balanced budget and a surplus.

[bluestateguy]

2. Not that this excuses cowardice (only explains it)

But this is why so many politicians, who privately have no objection to gay marriage, take an anti-equality position.

These politicians like their jobs, they would like to keep them, and they don't want to sacrifice them for the purposes of gay rights.

[cynatnite]

3. The GOP: Poisoner of the judiciary. n/t

[Drale]

4. They made a very good point on WGN radio earlier

These justices are being ousted because they followed the law. They are not there to do stuff people like they are there to follow the law. So these guys are gone because they are following the state constitution but the national supreme court lets corporations rule the land and there is nothing we can do about it. FUCK I AM SO FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW!:banghead:

[rurallib]

8. I hought WGN was a right wing bastion these days

that sounds pretty sane.

[xchrom]

5. Sigh. Nt

[mattvermont]

6. My home state is

dead to me forever. I use to speak with such pride the socialist history of the 30's, and the progressive strongholds in Ames, Iowa City and elsewhere.
My last area of pride (and shame) was the same sex marriage ruling. Pride, because it was Iowa, shame because they managed to do it before my current state, Vermont.
Oh well, Mom...you are gonna have to come east to visit the grandchildren.

[rurallib]

9. this ain't over yet Matt

the most disgusting part is that King is taking credit.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Steve King and NOM ran their "Bigotry Express" bus tour through

the entire "Bible Belt" portion of the state - pretty much everywhere west of Des Moines.

They didn't dream of bringing that shit to the blue parts of the state; lest they be run out of town with torches and pitchforks...

[bullwinkle428]

7. As an Iowa resident, I sincerely apologize for the disgusting homophobia

that prevailed on the part of so many citizens of this state.

Thanks again, Citizens United decision!

[Coexist]

10. this really sucks.

:(

[iowasocialist]

12. It was the old farts and "Christians"

There were too many old, white, "Christians" who voted yesterday in Iowa!

That was pretty much the electorate everywhere, or so I have heard...