Now taking bets on how long it will take Congress to try and kibosh this one

Washington, DC City Council approves recognition of same-sex marriages licensed in other states
I predict before the week is out, some House or Senate member on the Republican side of the aisle (most likely, one facing a tough re-election bid next year) will decide s/he needs to stir up the base with a red-meat issue and demand that Congress—which has final say on local laws in the District (I should know; I used to live around there)—enact legislation overturning this decision. Any takers?

Leonard Pitts calls out the so-called "Christians" who support torture

Far as I'm concerned, old Mark had the best possible response to the torture supporters, in chapter 8, verse 36: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Even if you accept the notion that torture can sometimes be called for and even sometimes be effective (neither of which I will concede), there is still this to consider: If we let ourselves become as bad as the enemy, in the name of achieving victory or safety, then what the hell are we even fighting for? The answer to that question has to be more than mere survival.

But one of my favorite pundits, the Miami Herald's Leonard Pitts Jr., comes in a close second to the Gospel as quoted above with this column he published today. I would dearly love to slip a copy of it into each pew at every church, temple, mosque and other house of worship in the land come this weekend...and had I the resources, I'd cheerfully do so. Between this and the constant inveighing against homosexuality, abortion and suchlike, it's hardly a wonder the young folks are deserting the churches in droves...as adamselzer helpfully points out by linking to this other article from ABC News.

Bottom line: Don't you fucking dare try and tell me you're in favor of allowing our soldiers and spies to torture under any circumstances at all, ever, and then in the next breath claim to be a Christian...or the real Jesus Christ will bitch-slap your ass silly when He comes back.

Oh, and before I forget and run out of time...

Happy birthday today to layla_aaron! Hope you got everything you hoped for and more today.