The California State Supreme Court listened to arguments today to determine if Proposition 8 was a legal amendment to the State Constitution or if it was a major revision. They are also considering the fate of the approximately 18,000 people that got married while gay marriage was legal in California. The lawyers in support of Proposition 8 are arguing that these families should be treated differently under the law and that their marriages should be legally voided.

Whatever the courts and lawyers argue the issue is to me a religious issue. If your religion doesn't want to acknowledge love between two men or two women as essentially the same, then so be it. To my friends that were married before Proposition 8 passed you should know that the power that validates your love isn't a court of law. The power is your friends, your family, and from a much higher power.

In these of all times it is wrong that people would seek to invalidate the marriages of two people that love each other. Marriage is more than some rights. If it was just some legal rights we wouldn't be debating it so much. Marriage is also focused on responsibility and duty. At the center of marriage is love.

With the shape of the world tonight we should be encouraging duty, responsibility, and love. We need to support more love and to find ways to help it to flourish. Marriage is a building block of our civilization and we should encourage two people that love each other to create a stable and beneficial partnership that will reward themselves and our communities.

The ultimate question over marriage is if love is essentially the same between two people of the same gender. If you believe it is the same then you likely believe in marriage equality. Same gender love is not like love between two friends nor is it the same as love between parent and child. It shares traits, but it isn't the same. It is no different then love between man and woman and therefore shouldn't be treated any differently.

The dream might be deferred but in the long run it is likely best if marriage equality is supported in an election and not only by courts. I will be there on the street corners and on the internet to push for that day. I was inspired by seeing so many young people come out to rally in Simi Valley for themselves and for their families. I met people I didn't know were directly impacted or cared so passionately for justice on this issue. Regardless of the court ruling know that we will organize again, this time with better resources and a better plan. The campaign was so negative from both sides last time, but next time we will focus on the families involved.

Do you remember the ad above from the Courage Campaign? It was one of the more controversial ads that went directly after the Mormon Church for their involvement in the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. It sparked outrage and news coverage on the internet and on television. One of the creative minds behind it, David Atkins, is now going to be involved in a local progressive radio show.

Two other bloggers have already reported it but in case you missed it there is a new Democratic radio show in town. I like to post entire press releases to help give you a closer look at local politics. Click on continue reading for the press release.

Who would you like to see the Dynamic Democratic Duo interview in the near future?

Click here to read Timm Herdt's blog.

Click here to read Marie Lakin's blog.

Local Democratic activist and popular Dailykos.com blogger David Atkins has a great entry up on Dailykos.com defending President Barack Obama's policies towards winning the war in Afghanistan. At last count there was close to 1,000 comments. The war in Afghanistan seems to be the forgotten war.

Click here for his blog entry on Dailykos.com

Young Democrats, under the leadership of popular DailyKos.com blogger David Atkins and others, are restarting a young Democrats club in Ventura County.

To see the details including their first meeting, click on continue reading.

Last week David Atkins ( blogger on Dailykos.com and Venturacountydemocrats.com ) and Mike Gibson ( Ventura County Republican activist ) debated if America is a center right nation.

Thanks to both of you for an intellectual debate that will help set the tone for future Thursday Night events. I think you both did great. I plan to make Thursday Night debates or interviews a semi-regular event.

Next week the topic is education innovation, reform, charter schools, and budget cuts. I have a respected conservative but I am looking for another person to be in the debate.

Click here to read their debate.

To say thanks I am posting a link to David Atkin's latest entry on Dailykos.com that has so many people recommending it that he is on the front page again with almost 500 comments.

Click on continue reading to see an excerpt from his recent entry, including comments from MSNBC host Keith Olbermann!

Mike, let me know what cause you would like me to plug as a way of saying thank you.

The debate was covered on a few other blogs including by Tyler Suchman, of the Ojaipost.com and of course David Atkin's Dailykos diary.

David Atkin's Dailykos.com diary entry on the subject made the front page. He also ran a poll that showed him winning overwhelmingly, if the voters only include Dailykos.com readers, which obviously isn't anything near a scientific poll.

I read through some of the comments and this one stands out:

Its nice hearing an actual debate.The vice presidential debates and even presidential debates felt shallow. Like a constant spouting of platitudes. You and Gibson actually addressed each other's points. Personally I think Gibson did an alright job, but as you stated, his arguments would've been stronger with statistics and he seemed to be more on the defense than the offense (also he did lose the point as you suggested halfway through).

by jididly on Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 09:31:27 PM PST

Again, thanks to David Atkins and Mike Gibson for kicking off a new feature with class. Who do I think won? My readers and I for the entertainment and insight you two provided.

This year I am going to be sponsoring debates on Thursday Nights. For the first debate I have David Atkins, blogger on Dailykos.com and Venturacountdemocrats.com representing progressives. To read his work click here for his Dailykos.com diaries. He has also worked with other groups like the Courage Campaign.

If you would like to represent conservatives send me an email.

The debate will be one hour long and will use the comments feature of this blog. There are very few rules besides limiting personal attacks, name calling, and appropriate language.

The topic for the first debate:

Is America a center right nation?

Throughout the year the topics and participants will change. I have members of central committees, political activists, and others that have already agreed to participate.

The California Courage Campaign produces some pretty funny and irreverent videos. Their latest is a Christmas themed video aimed at Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the failure to bring in more taxes revenue cash for the state.

When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected I didn't have high expectations for his tenure as governor, mostly because of his campaign promises and platform. He pledged to open up the books and go after wasteful spending. So far there hasn't been much success there. He said he would balance the budget, not raise taxes, and not cut spending on education. That just seemed like too lofty of a goal for any politician in California. I guess because I had such low expectations it is easy for him to impress me.

I did overestimate his political appeal though. I really thought he would have long coattails and could win over state legislators who didn't want someone with his ability to attract attention campaigning against them. I am sure there are some isolated cases but I think I was wrong with that idea.

But my overall impression of his ability to govern has improved from when he was first elected. I have also been impressed with his pragmatic approach to governing. He is a member of the minority party AND that same party has been distancing themselves from him quickly, which means he has no constant base of support to depend upon.

Add to that his failed "year of reform" , voters that keep passing ballot propositions that mandate budget restrictions or money spent on particular programs, and a sudden decline in taxes because of a dramatic economic slowdown and he has serious problems to face.

The fact that he remains standing with these forces aligned against him is all by itself impressive. Sure, much of this has been his own doing and he is deserves criticism for many reasons. In fact, he is starting to seem more like Gray Davis more and more.

He should have asked President Elect Barack Obama to appoint him Secretary of Energy.

To my friends on the right:

Would you have preferred Gray Davis? He has his flaws to be sure, but many of the charges against him were just partisan attempts to gain power.

Maybe you shouldn't nominate people like Bill Simon, a man that couldn't beat Gray Davis during a time of serious problems, to be your leader.

To My friends on the left:

Maybe if Cruz Bustamante wasn't our standard bearer during the recall election things might have turned out better. Cruz Bustamante didn't even beat Steve Poizner to be insurance commissioner. Sure, Poizner could self-fund his race but this California is a progressive state where most statewide Democratic candidates should have an advantage.

Beating Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 would have been tough for anyone. Phil Angelides tried his best but I wonder how Steve Westley would have done?

Was there a Democrat in California that could have beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger?

Maybe someone needs to be crazy to run for governor of California? Are you impressed with any of the candidates for 2010?

I nominate Tom Hanks to run for the office.

Seriously, do you already know who you are going to support in your party's primary?