# What's the Next Shiny Thing To Come From Washington? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489 "2006-06-05T15:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/21 "2006-06-05T18:52:05Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Is the de-legaliztion procedure finished in MA, or is it pretty much expected to fail? The Legislature has given up. There is still a band of fundies trying the popular-amendment route, but they’re way short of signatures, and have succeeded mostly in generating news stories about many of the signatures they do have having been obtained by subterfuge. Got no chance anyway. > [@](#): > > I haven’t followed the flag burning amendment news, but does it not have enough supporters in the Senate? Not nearly, not even if you count Senators who \*say \* they support it as \*actually \* supporting it. That distinction was my point; sorry for any nonclarity. But even the panderees recognize it as pandering by now, in increasing numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/22 "2006-06-05T19:34:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But take heart - a party that has to massage its base in an election year is in deep trouble. But Clinton got **his** base massaged! And remember, vote for a Librul and Hillary will make your son marry a boy. The Clintons secretly funded the Faggot Cowboy movie. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/23 "2006-06-05T19:42:50Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I certainly agree that public opinion is reversing quickly on the issue, as more people think about it. That’s a lovely thought. Any evidence? I can’t count the number of threads where I’ve seen people talking about the Neocons, the RR, and how the camel’s back is finally snapping this time". -Joe ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/24 "2006-06-05T20:04:38Z")
They are doing it as we write now. The protect the marriage act. A constitutional amendment being discussed no less The aim of gays has always been to destroy marriage. Finally we tget it.If gays destroy marriage they get…something I guess. I dont have a clue. I just know they want to destroy marriage. Divorce rate is over 50% ,so it is working. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/25 "2006-06-05T20:05:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Are they ugly, \ puppies? Don’t exist, dude. Complete figment of your imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/26 "2006-06-05T20:14:21Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > They are doing it as we write now. The protect the marriage act. A constitutional amendment being discussed no less As clean a whoosh as e’er I saw on this board. > [@](#): > > I just know they want to destroy marriage. Divorce rate is over 50% ,so it is working. I always wondered how exactly marriage was going to be destroyed. What does it mean? Are they going to blow it up? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/27 "2006-06-05T20:29:53Z")
Of the married gay couples I am familiar with on a personal basis, I see a divorce rate of exactly 0%. If I wanted to pump up some good numbers in favor of marriage, I would consider how this might affect the impact on the overall divorce rate staistics. ooh! shiny! dang…wasn’t there something else I was supposed to be paying attention to? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/28 "2006-06-05T20:48:50Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > .If gays destroy marriage they get…something I guess. The four-slice deluxe toaster, of course. What else would they want? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/29 "2006-06-05T20:57:04Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > The four-slice deluxe toaster, of course. What else would they want? I knew it - they want to be able to get married so they can get gifts at wedding showers! Bastards! I bet Hallmark and Target are behind this. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/30 "2006-06-05T22:20:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Wait a minute- it all makes sense! > > Think about it… rising oil prices, the missing WMD, the way the Iraqi insurgency is lasting and killing American troops, Middle East instability, the hurricanes and our inability to come up with alternative fuels, the WB/UPN merger… what else could it be except the gays? > > Gays need oil. They slather it all over each other, driving up prices for the gay-oil cartel (HOMOPEC). The Iraqi insurgency? If you’re watching the news, you must’ve noticed that they’re suspiciously well-dressed, if you know what I mean. And all that ‘praying?’ Probably singing show tunes in Arabic. It’s a scientific fact that gays deflect wind, so their homes are almost hurricane-proof while other peoples’ get destroyed. The gays don’t care about America’s fuel problems since they run the oil cartels and have the money to crush the poor farmers who grow corn-based alternative fuels. The UPN thing speaks for itself. America can’t afford to ignore this problem any longer. The gays will destroy us if we let them, and stopping them from marrying is our only choice in self-defense. Since I cannot be this funny, allow me to link to someone who can: [http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly040310.htm](http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly040310.htm) ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/31 "2006-06-05T22:30:25Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > My guess is abortion is going to come up real soon now. I’d say the Pubs are going to do whatever they can to prevent 2 things ever from coming up again - 1) abortion 2) illegal immigration. From their rhetoric you’d think they want to change those issues, but realistically, it would be the fatal shot in the heart if they ever actually overturned Roe or passed some serious anti-immigrant legislation. Thus, it’s unsurprising that they’ve gone for the Pink Menace again. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/32 "2006-06-05T22:32:06Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But take heart - a party that has to massage its base in an election year is in deep trouble. I’m guessing you mean the Republicans here… which would make the Democrats the party that actually needs to massage its base but doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/33 "2006-06-05T22:36:08Z")
Rangel is trying to [reinstate the draft yet again](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4752:). :rolleyes: Moron. [It went thud](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/07/rangel.draft/) last time he tried it in '03, and then he was asking for people 18-26. Now it’s 18-42. [Gene Wilder]Could someone please show this poor asshole the way out of town?[/gw] ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/34 "2006-06-05T22:41:18Z")
The EPA is changing diesel fuel requirements so that the diesel used for trucks emits lower sulfur than currently required in the EU. No word yet on new requirements for fuel tankers and such, but the oil industry and the trucking industry are fuming about it. It might be tough to make a lot of people care about it, but that may be the next Shiny Thing. No cite, but I heard about it on NPR recently. > [@John Mace](#): > > That, and the fact that it just isn’t as much of an issue with most younger people. Do you really think so? You seem to live in California (maybe even San Diego, from your location line), and I’d be interested to hear your experiences on the matter. To me it seems like everyone I know (I’m a few months short of 20 and most of my friends can’t legally drink, BTW) has an opinion on the issue. > [@gonzomax](#): > > Divorce rate is over 50% ,so it is working. While I agree with your point, I have to tell you you’re misinformed. Cecil delivers the Straight Dope [here.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030124.html) ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/35 "2006-06-05T23:08:57Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > Rangel is trying to [reinstate the draft yet again](http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4752:). :rolleyes: Moron. [It went thud](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/07/rangel.draft/) last time he tried it in '03, and then he was asking for people 18-26. Now it’s 18-42. [Gene Wilder]Could someone please show this poor asshole the way out of town?[/gw] I somehow doubt he really wants a draft… ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/36 "2006-06-05T23:12:17Z")
No, I know he doesn’t, and I get that he wants us out of the war. So do I. I just don’t think this is the way to go about doing it. Aside from being a waste of tax dollars spent in subcommittee, it’s just going to piss people off. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/37 "2006-06-05T23:36:42Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Well, election year is fast approaching so they’re gonna need some really good shiny stuff to keep us distracted. What’s it gonna be? It will be threefold. Gays, illegal immigrants (actually Mexicans in many minds, but that would be racist, so they’re going to sugarcoat it for us), and terrorists. If they could somehow pull it off, they’d try and convince us that all Democrats are gay Mexican terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/38 "2006-06-06T00:10:45Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > If they could somehow pull it off, they’d try and convince us that all Democrats are gay Mexican terrorists. You mean they _aren’t_?!? :eek: 😕 :smack: I really do have to catch up on my reading. You miss _one_ memo… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/39 "2006-06-06T00:19:53Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > We already did that one in 2002. It can’t be up on the wheel again already, can it? > [BBC News | BUSINESS | US trade chiefs propose timber tariffs](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1964755.stm) It’s **always** timely to blame the Villainous Canadians! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489/40 "2006-06-06T01:14:55Z")
What we need is something to terrorize Americans that George W. Bush can seemingly _do_ something about to prevent – you know, the way he has prevented further terrorist attacks. And I have just the thing: He can prevent the eruption of the Yellowstone Super-volcano. This volcano, should it erupt, would destroy the United States as we know it. It would disrupt the climate over all of the earth and cause famine. Its noxious gases would poison the atmosphere. It _could_ cause the extinction of humanity. Only George W. Bush and the Department of Homeland Security can save us. But they must act now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-shiny-thing-to-come-from-washington/359489.md?page=3)