[Sir Taliesin]

Originally posted by Donut: The Episcopal Church were last night expected to approve the drafting of a church service to bless homosexual couples. This is in direct defiance of Bush's announcement last week that he was against all forms of gay marriage and that he had asked Federal lawyers to explore ways of changing the Constitution to outlaw the practice throughout America. Yes - read it again "change the Consitution" what would the Founding Fathers have to say about that? The same Constitution that is set in stone to allow shooty things is actually somewhat malleable when dealing with a few poofs.

Bush is pandering to the Falwell/Robertson wing of the Republican Party again. The election season started this spring and he needs to shore up his base. While the Constitution isn't written in stone, it's incredibly hard to change. Here's what has to happen.

Article V of The Constitution of the United states of America

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

I don't think for a moment that you could get a 2/3 majority in either house to go along with it. The Republicians hold only a narrow majority in both houses, and don't think Bush could get all the Republican Representatives and Senators to vote for such a ban either.

The only route I could see such an amendment passing would be via the State Legislatures and your talking YEARS for that to happen.