About the only difference between last night’s Republican debate and a WWE match is that you generally know the winner of the WWE match in advance. The GOP has descended to such depths that simple political civility–like not calling your opponent (in the same party) a liar–has been replaced with eye-gouging and below-the-belt blows, as well as an audience that eggs on the attacks. For entertainment, it can’t be beat.
For the Republican party, it’s a disaster.
At this point, the actual issues seem beside the point. The only thing that changes is how extreme the candidates can get. Immigration, ISIS, and of course, with the death of Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court. The last was a key theme throughout the debate, and the one with the greatest importance for LGBTQ equality.
Thankfully, we have Marco Rubio, the Senator from Android, to highlight just how important. At the end of the debate, Rubio made a remarkable promise for his presidency: “We are going to be a country that says a marriage is between one man and one woman.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The promise was not just a sop to the evangelicals whose vote Rubio needs to win to recover from his disastrous New Hampshire meltdown. It’s a signal of the kind of message that Republicans will carry into the general election to highlight just why they need to win the White House: to control the Supreme Court.
The death of Scalia underscores the stakes in the presidential race. Ted Cruz made that crystal clear when he said, “We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that would undermine religious liberty for millions of Americans.”
The nihilist Republican leadership in the Senate wouldn’t approve John Jay if Obama nominated him because it would mean the end of the conservative stranglehold on the Supreme Court.
Thanks to Anthony Kennedy, LGBTQ issues are the great exception: One of the few areas where the court hasn’t hewed to the originalist line that Scalia laid out. If conservatives are ever to reverse those gains–and don’t think they don’t want to try–they need to make sure that Scalia’s replacement is a disciple of his philosophy and, just as importantly, that any future liberal retiree finds a similar successor.
This line of argument could be the one that benefits Ted Cruz and Rubio at the expense of Donald Trump. Both Senators have taken blood oaths to ensure that the Court remains as conservative as ever. Cruz has an especially strong case to make, having been the first Hispanic clerk on the Supreme Court. Trump, of course, is famously spontaneous, which makes his judgment more open to question.
How South Carolina voters will react when they go to the polls on Feb. 20 is anyone’s guess. Trump is leading the polls, but Jeb Bush gave a credible impression of an actual candidate during the debate, attacking Trump for defaming his brother. (It helped that the audience was packed with his supporters.)
But no matter the outcome, South Carolina will hardly be the end of the party’s wrestling match.
Ken Davis
WWE has so much more class.
DCguy
So lucky that this didn’t happy years ago when Obama still thought he could work with the GOP. At that time he would have nominated some moderate Republican candidate as a gesture of goodwill. Now, in his last year, I have a feeling his nominee will cause the GOP to freak out.
Mandrake
After being proposed by 2/3 of both houses of Congress, a proposed Amendment must be ratified by 3/4 of the states ( 38). Does anybody in 2016 think such an Amendment to make marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman could even remotely be possible??? This is what Rubio intends.
And for a new SCOTUS to reverse its decision on Gay Marriage after the major reaction to it from last June, whether pro or con, there would be an immediate cultural revolt! There is no way SCOTUS would attempt it, no matter how conservative the next justice is. Society and cultural make-up has changed, and that cannot be reversed! The conservatives cannot bring back the 20th Century’s mores and cultural traditions via the Constitution.
Aromaeus
I find it cute he thinks he has a chance in hell of being the republican nominee let alone becoming the next POTUS.
He BGB
One thing I realized this morning about ScalIA is that he wanted to keep Sodomy illegal in the 50 states and thus sees the LGBT community as just Sodomy which gay people are more than Sodomy. He is a victim of his religion, hate, fear and ignorance …does this mean that straight people do not or cannot do sodomy? It’s a shame that conservatives are hung up on this one thing and can’t move forward with other things like the economy and such.
onthemark
Sen. Cruz (R-Alberta) declares “the American people don’t want” abortion rights … gay marriage … gun background checks, etc. … but he’s wrong on every count, we DO want those things. Polls show that even a majority of Republican voters want those things.
Sen. Yertle the Turtle (R-Kentucky) is taking a big chance if he prohibits ANY vote on ANY Obama nominee. The voters in general won’t like it, and there are far more R than D senate seats in danger this year.
Herman75
@onthemark: LOL
That old queen from Kentucky can kiss my grits.
Kangol
@Aromaeus: La Rubia still has some big money people behind her, as does Jebra, so both think they have a chance. They also were appealing directly to the nutcases in South Carolina who agreed that George W. Bush was a good leader and president. It took Donald Trump, whom I’m no fan of, to point out the grotesque lies and failures of W Bush. The media appear incapable of doing so.
Seriously, what sane person can utter the words “My brother [George W. Bush] kept us safe” and “George W. Bush was a good commander in chief” and have even a passing memory of 9/11, those anthrax attacks, the illegal spying on Americans that did not prevent terrorist attacks, the debacle of Hurricane Katrina, and the national and global economic disaster that nearly brought down the US and other economies from 2007 through 2009? On top of which, George W. Bush repeatedly pushed anti-gay laws and legislation. No thanks, Rubia and Jebra!
Mack
@Mandrake: I disagree. They don’t care about gays one bit. They would over turn Obergefell in a second if they have the majority of Conservatives on the Court. They only care about their perceived religious rights.
The Republican Senate will do what they’ve done so well for the last seven years-NOTHING. Someone said the “voters” should make the choice-well the “voters” did make a choice-twice when they elect President Obama. It’s time the Republicans got their heads out of their asses and do their jobs.
Transiteer
Republicans need to be wiped out to get rid of all the religious disease it’s infected with. There is a place for a progressive Conservative Party, but this isn’t it. It works at destabilizing the country because of its racism and hatred. Their religion is one of hate and violence – and their contempt for others, for the Nation itself, is jaw droppingly astounding. Politicians on the take from the Very Wealthy posturing for their benefactors benefit at the expense of the Nation they are there to serve, and against the best interests of the country. It’s like the Rot is so deep, the Country is lost. McConnell should shoot himself for the absurdities he stands for at the behest of those who have paid him off.
Lazycrockett
We must elect someone who has outlasted 30 years of GOP hate to insure our future.
galatians328
With the SCOTUS – for an generation! – are risk perhaps now the deluded supporters of Senator Sanders will become serious-minded about winning an election IN A COUNTRY THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT – NOT NOT NOT! – elect Mr Sanders.
1EqualityUSA
What is up with this site! C’mon Queerty, the bugs are preventing comments from loading. Seemingly innocuous sentences, with no bad words nor offensive language are (POOF!) disappearing. It’s making it less fun. FIX this, Queerty! I have to go now. I’d say, happy Queertying to you all, but it is a frustration to deal with a buggy site.
1EqualityUSA
Bernie will not survive Washington. He thinks as a Senator, not a world leader. This frail bird, this johnny-one-note, will not win in 2016. That last debate on Feb 11, 2016 (you-tube it) was very telling. Clinton fed Bern slices of his own brain and he never even knew it. HRC all the way. We need a leader with a dorsal fin, who can take on the Republican obstructionists. Eat them alive Hillary! Take no prisoners! Yes. I have to go to work now. Happy Queertying.
Bad Ass Biker
@onthemark: One slight spelling correction; he is Yurdel the Turdel.
scotshot
No one is looking at the obvious: VOTE. So many think their candidate is going to win they don’t bother to vote. Everyone who doesn’t take their obligation to vote are the ones who put these awful people in office and on the Supreme Court.
scotshot
Edit: Everyone who doesn’t take exercise their right to vote are the ones who put these awful people in office and on the Supreme Court.