Forget Rev. Wright, forget racial divide, forget surrendering in Iraq. THIS is what the Republicans have been praying for.

will now let himself be photographed with Gavin Newsom.

I support gay marriage.

But can something like this EVER HAPPEN in a non-election year!?!?!?!? It always seems to happen right before a major national election. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but this just cannot be coincidence.

Why do I feel we just lost OH and FL? That McCain now has a basis for his presidency?

We had it - economy and the war, winning issues for us. Now this will be the #1 issue in MO, OH, FL and many other key states. Jesus, we even had a shot at VA!

Damn, we almost did it.

this is BAAAAAAAD timing!! What, couldn't wait until December could we??

I guess all that remains to be seen is if the people will be duped by this crap one more time.

shit. things just got WAY harder.

...really.

Not that we ever did anything with control of Congress anyway...

at least we can point to Massachusetts and say look, the world didn't end there when gay people were allowed to marry.

is there any polling with respect to public opinion in CA? Does a majority approve of gay marriage there?

How could Governor Schwarzenegger let this happen in his state?

My first reaction was "Awesome". I'm proud to live in a state that treats GLBT people fairly. Then I started to think about November. Californians are not as liberal as we are made out to be. There are a lot of conservatives who will make it a point to come out and vote for the inevitable anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot. This is going to wipe out downticket Dems, including my favorite candidate, Charlie Brown. Why do the courts always come out with these decisions right before major elections?

Arnie is not that conservative compared to the neocons. He supports gay rights, and I suspect he even quietly favors gay marriage. However, he doesn't get a say in what the courts do, so he had no impact on this.

Public opinion in California doesn't mean a thing. The theme of the Republican's campaign will be the unholy trinity of Homos/California/Uppity Negro. Nothing energizes the Republicans like fag-bashing. Throw in the wicket, amoral California and a cultured black man and you have one toxic conservative stew.

I'm gay, I, of course, support same sex marraige...but I was really hoping this issue wouldn't rear its head until after the election.

They really could have put this decision off until next year...it's done all the time.

Things that make you go...hmmmmmm

Seriously, I think they exhausted the supply in 2004.

I'm proud to live in a state that agrees that equal protection for all means EQUAL protection for ALL.

If some hick from Idaho thinks gay marriage is more important than the fact that his job is overseas, his healthcare is astronomically high or non-existent, his kids' college tuition is skyrocketing and global warming is threatening our very existence, then I say screw this country and it's so-called ideals. Maybe it's time to crash and burn.

Yes, I'm that angry.

But the rate of acceptance for gay marriage has risen significantly, since all the commotion died down. Nothing like having a nice gay couple move in next door to diminish prejudice and fear.

Congrats California.

And the smart thing for the Democrats to do is label this as a states-rights issue.

Dude.

Most of Red State America still refers to Massachusetts as "Taxachusetts".

And this will surely energize idiot America - who I affectionately call "most US Americans".

So we have had gay marriage here, in Massachusetts, for a couple of years now, and not only has the sky not fallen, the opposition (most of which came from OUT of STATE) just dried up and floated away.

AND there has been a rise in heterosexual marriages (ok, no stats on this one but I know at least 3 couples personally who go married AFTER gay marriage was legalized for that very reason.)

So, I don't think this will as big a deal as it was 4 years ago. When it comes down to it, bread and butter issues will win the day. Nothing will happen in CA, just as nothing happened here, and everyone will begin to get used to it.

And anyway, Obama has all these new YOUNG voters with much more tolerance for gay issues, plus he has redrawn the Electoral Map, so what is everyone worried about? Afraid the kids won't turn out in Nov.? (track record not good) Afraid Obama's reading of the Electoral Map is wrong? Really? And here I thought you all had everything figured out.

... that's all I got...

And while 2009 would have been more strategic than 2008, it is essential that we continue the battle against segregation in this country. Besides, this election cycle the real war and the economy trump culture war issues.

But the rate of acceptance for gay marriage has risen significantly, since all the commotion died down

as sorenreport mentioned, there's been a huge shift in attitude in MA. One prominent Republican in the state who'd been vehemently against Gay Marriage stated that he'd been wrong. All the things he'd predicted would happen, didn't.

And in the end, all something like this does is drive up turnout. I doubt it'll drive it up enough to help McCain enough in the fall.

What's right is right. Stand for what you believe in or remain seated.

No, I think this is not only the right thing, but the timing is going to be okay. Imagine an Obama presidency starting with this. I want Obama to be able to frame his agenda as president. Also, this is happening now 4-5 months out from the election. As with Rev. Wright, it's going to be played out for a lot of people before the election. I think it's going to help further energize young people, liberals, and gay/lesbians (obviously not mutually exclusive).

Are there some races which will feel the impact of this? Maybe. But that's a maybe in 2008, not a yes. This is a 'change' election. Things are going to change. The GOP can run against gays, but they're still minus a positive message. The economy and war are going to trump everything else. Heck, Bush is going to trump everything else the Republicans do.