Last week the Florida Family Policy Council sent out an e-blast to their members after a judge's ruling that allowed a same-sex couple to adopt a relative's child that they has been fostering. Nothing surprising there, right?

Well in the newsletter the included a picture of the same-sex couple that the case concerned.

The picture below contains the actual lesbian couple that the case involved and another lesbian couple that was included in the Florida Family Policy Council's newsletter.

A simple mistake? Or calculated homophobia? Can you guess which picture is which?

MoveOn & R.E.M. released a new video from MoveOn members with personalized messages to their elected officials about a public health insurance option. It's quite powerful to see the many people and the circumstances they find themselves in fighting terrible diseases and conditions and a powerful industry committed to sucking every last penny from their living hands.

I really shouldn't be surprised at this point by what comes out of the mouth's of our elected officials. Case in point - Mark Sanford and Sarah Palin - but I just couldn't believe the garbage that spewed out of Georgia Republican Paul Broun's mouth on Friday on the floor of the House.

My favorite part of his speech comes when he talks of the Canadian and British universal health plans and states, all-knowingly, that they "don't appreciate life like we (the US) do, evidently." Really? What the f*ck does that mean? Dude, you are an @sshole!

The United States dramatically needs health care reform. And that can be nothing less than a public health care option. I'd go farther to say that we need a single-payer system. If you happen to live in Georgia - or just want to share your thoughts with Rep. Broun - call or email his office and let him know what will actually kill people (poverty, wars, hunger, not being able to get treatment for cancer, etc.) and scold him for his irresponsible, partisan rhetoric. You can reach his office at (202) 225-4101.

Guess who is resigning as Governor of Alaska? No, not Mark Sanford - he should be the other Republican Governor resigning but he isn't.

IT'S SARAH PALIN!

The announcement came at a hastily arranged press conference at her home in Wasilla today in what seems like an attempt to be lost in a slow news day before a holiday. There Gov. Sarah Palin announced that she will be resigning as Governor of Alaska on July 26. Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will then take over after being sworn in at a picnic.

She claims that family was the biggest factor in her decision.

"I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous," she said. "Well, in response to asking, 'Hey, you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?' It was four yeses and one 'Hell, yeah!" And the 'Hell, yeah' sealed it."

It could also have something to do with the scathing Vanity Fair article that just came out.

I'm hoping that she either fades into oblivion or goes back to the beauty pageant circuit.

UPDATED!

I've just added Gov. Palin's speech - it's bizarre and confusing to say the least. She doesn't want to be a lame duck governor? Several people are already wondering aloud if she - or another family member - is pregnant again.

On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court announced their decision regarding the constitutionality of a state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. That decision makes Iowa the third state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry. Not just domestic partnerships (which is being pushed in my former home of Wisconsin) or civil unions as they have in Vermont but marriage.

Here's an excerpt from the unanimous Supreme Court decision:

"We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian
people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially
further any important governmental objective. The legislature has
excluded a historically disfavored class of persons from a
supremely important civil institution without a constitutionally
sufficient justification. There is no material fact, genuinely in
dispute, that can affect this determination."

"We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of
the law. Faithfulness to that duty requires us to hold Iowa’s
marriage statute, Iowa Code section 595.2, violates the Iowa
Constitution. To decide otherwise would be an abdication of our
constitutional duty. If gay and lesbian people must submit to
different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification,
they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection
upon which the rule of law is founded. Iowa Code section 595.2
denies gay and lesbian people the equal protection of the law
promised by the Iowa Constitution."

Opponents of equal rights immediately started lobbying the legislature to begin the process of amending the state constitution. The earliest voters could vote on a constitutional amendment would be 2012 - if the phobes are successful at getting two consecutive sessions of the legislature to pass it. Luckily for all the rest of us Democrats control both houses.

Congrats Iowa! And for all you folks looking to tie the knot, I heard you can plan a pretty cheap wedding in Dubuque.