So, is Vermont going to fall behind Iowa?

Putting Republicans in executive positions really isn't a good idea, the people of Vermont are finding out. The good news is the Vermont state house of representatives is only a few votes shy from beating back a veto -- and there's already a couple representatives who have promised they'd switch their vote should the Governor veto.

But, slights asides, let's celebrate today. Iowa's got marriage equality - and it's not going away. Not only does Iowa have a similar system as Massachusetts, where the legislature must approve potential amendments two years in a row, but it takes a majority of the votes - not the 25% low bar we have in the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Democrats control both houses in Iowa and have voted unanimously against a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the past, with several moderate Republicans joining them.

So, let's all welcome this important midwestern state for joining Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only states in the country who legally offer full equality to all its citizens.

Mike Huckabee Dot Com

For 30 seconds of fun, go check out Huckabee's website. For something extra special , do glance through Huckabee 101, on the main page (you don't have to click anything to get to it). His "grassroots goal" is to collect $200,000 by midnight, January 4th. Rather conservative, right?

Errr.... not so much. I'm almost shocked Huckabee 101 is still on the front page of his website, because Campaign 101 teaches not to put stupid things on the front page of your website. Out of Huckabee's $200,000 goal, he's so far achieved $30,961.09 of it. That's a whopping 15.5% of his goal (I'm rounding up). Woot!

To put that in perspective, any of the top three Democratic candidates can sneeze more grassroots support than that.

A Little Perspective

We may be witnessing some serious Iowa madness, but at least we don't live here.

For more on what's going to happen in Iowa tomorrow, click here. For more on avoiding the apocolypse or something, click here.

Iowa Madness

Huckabee came out of no where to jump to a huge lead. Now, polls show Romney with a slight edge.

Edwards was falling a bit back, now it looks like he's a tad up - but everything's within the margin of error.

While I'm glad '08 will make for great political theater, I can't get past the fact that not only is this insanity, but it's a terrible way to do elections. About 10% of Iowa's population will decide the fate of the Presidential race - and it's a caucus, to make things worse, meaning that not only are votes not held in secret ballot, but the system actually encourages peer pressure and voter manipulation. Iowa madness, indeed.

Also: Be sure to tune into LeftAhead! on a holiday/Iowa/New Hampshire special, Wednesday at 2:30, featuring at least one very special guest.

Different Paths

Isn't it wonderful that we now have the first happy couple ever married in Iowa? Of course, they had to go through hoops to get there, before there was a stay granted until appeal, but it's great nonetheless. I wonder what Senator Larry Craig thinks - about the life he could have lead. He could have been out and proud, instead of working against GLBT people across the country. Then, maybe again, he's probably so angry, bitter, deluded and hateful that he really thinks he's "never been" in the GLBT camp. Perhaps there's a close familiarity with toe-tapping and stall walls that Craig won't ever be able to pass up.

Prez Candidates Must Deal With Equality

Today must have been a scary day for Jonathan Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, et al.

A Polk County judge on Thursday struck down Iowa's law banning gay marriage. The ruling by Judge Robert Hanson concluded that the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and he ordered Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty to issue marriage licenses to several gay couples.

I'm curious to see how the campaigns - all opposed to same-sex marriage - will react. Obviously, since this happened in Iowa, it's going to be on the radar. Hopefully, we'll see the Big 3 praise the courts and encourage the further spread of equality. Consider this one of the campaign's first big tests: it's one thing to say you're for equality, it's another thing to support it.