Maine and New Hampshire Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Following Vermont, both Maine and New Hampshire have legalized same-sex marriage though legislation rather than judicial activism. There hasn't been much for me to be happy about in the world of politics lately with the rise of the far-left and the media shilling for them at every opportunity, but this is one bright light.
The representatives of the people have spoken and changed the law to allow same-sex marriage. I hope pro-same-sex marriage activists look at these examples and stop resorting to judicial activism. They can win without it. In fact, they will win faster without it.
Almost every time same-sex marriage has been mandated by the courts a backlash has ensued. I hope, and think, this will not be the case with states that have passed it legislatively.

Answering a Liberal Strawman: Should Republicans move to the right or be more inclusive?

Should Republicans move to the right or be more inclusive?
This question is a strawman posed by liberals who are insinuating that being
conservative is somehow the antithesis of being inclusive, but it does raise
interesting issues.

Should Republicans move to the right? Absolutely, Republicans have betrayed
economic conservatism since the late 90s and simply embraced a milder form of liberalism on economic issues than the Democrats. This is one of the reasons they are in the minority right now. Republicans need to stand firm on smaller government and lower taxes.

They also need to stand firm on the war on terror, the 2nd amendment and
securing the border. The people are with Republicans on these issues.

Now, should Republicans be inclusive? Republicans already are inclusive. The
media and entertainment industries have basically been peddling the left's
propaganda of the 'bigoted conservative' to push people into the Democratic
party because they know they can't win by selling a socialist agenda.
Conservatives are not anti-Hispanic, they are just opposed to illegal
immigration. They are not even anti-gay, it is just that most are opposed to
same-sex marriage, a position that the majority of Americans hold.
If you were to ask a gay conservative, who do you get more hostility from,
straight conservatives when they learn you are gay or gay liberals when they
learn you're conservative, the answer is almost always from gay liberals when
they learn you're conservative. It is the left that is intolerant.

Maybe we should ask the Democrats, if they want to continue to move to the left
or be more inclusive. They sure can't tolerate any dissent, judging by their
reactions to the tea parties, and the fact that many of them want to stifle free
speech under the guise of the 'Fairness Doctrine.'

Standing for smaller government and lower taxes is not being exclusionary. We let the left push us in their direction for their benefit and it has to stop. This does not mean we become as rigidly ideological and narrow-minded as they are, but it does mean acting on our principles. Smaller government, lower taxes, more freedom. These are principles to proclaim proudly, sure we should allow a diversity of viewpoints into the party, but not to the point to where the party stands for nothing but itself and itself alone. Be bold. Be conservative. And don't apologize for it.

Specter Did Republicans A Favor

While there is no doubt his move to the Democratic party was purely self
serving, he even admitted it himself, he may have inadvertently done Republicans
a favor. Once the Minnesota race is resolved, sadly it is almost certain to go to
supposed comedian Al Franken, the Democrats will have 60 seats and no excuses in
2010.

It also rids the Republicans of a bloody primary battle that would have been needed to oust Specter in the 2010 Pennsylvania primary. Republicans can now nominate a real Republican, either Pat Toomey or former governor Tom Ridge.

I have literally no harsh feelings that Specter switched parties because he wasn't much of a Republican in the first place, his voting record is left of center and when he was needed to stop the stimulus he actually supported it. He even voted against the Iraq war, which shows that isn't even there on terror issues. Although he isn't far left, his voting record is less than 45% conservative according to the American Conservative Union.

Anyone who has read my blog knows I am not a rigid ideologue. I don't agree with Republicans on everything, and am willing to say so when I think they are wrong, but the party has not drifted too far to the right, especially on economic issues where Republicans have betrayed their base time and again. Republicans have not been conservative enough. If Republicans want a chance at governing again they will need to have a bold conservative vision of less government and more freedom. And let's face it Arlen Specter would never support such a vision.