Dear Santa,

For Christmas, I'd really like Republicans to shut up about social issues and work on fixing the economy. Could you make that happen? I don't care what the American Tight-Ass Institute says, I'm married and so far, gay marriage has not impacted my life in one single, tangible way and there's scant evidence to suggest that it will. So you could send Terry and Company a memo to tell them to clam it and starting fixing the damn economy?

thanks,
The Cigar Guy

P.S. This little tirade was prompted by Our Beloved Governor Elect called Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal a 'dictator' for not letting a vote on gay marriage come to the floor (or vowing not to, anyway).) First of all: see above. People should be shutting the hell up about shit like this and FIXING THE DAMN ECONOMY! Water is coming over the sides, people. Let's get some perspective. Second of all: no, he's not a Dictator. Like him or loathe him, and for Republicans I suspect it has long been the latter, Senator Gronstal is making a stand on these strange things called principles- and on this issue I happen to agree with him 100%- but even if you don't, which is perfectly fine, you have to admire a politician who is willing to stand up for their principles. It doesn't happen a lot these days, so double bonus to Senator Gronstal for being right and refreshing at the same time! Third of all: somethings we don't do by a show of hands. Technically it runs contrary to democracy and yadda yadda yadda, but we're a Representative Constitutional Republic, not a democracy- it's time Republicans (ironically enough) remember that. If we would have decided slavery, interracial marriage, women's suffrage, a whole host of other issues by a show of hands, then we'd still have slaves, interracial marriage would be banned, women wouldn't be able to vote, but we could all sleep better at night knowing that judicial tyranny had been avoided! PHEW!

OK, I'm done.