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How long has it been since Maryland had a Republican senator? (And, no, let’s not count Charles MacC. Mathias, who practically invented the RINO.) The long dry spell may come to an end this year because of a ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court that held the state’s ban on gay marriage a violation of the state constitution.

Mike Steele, the Republican lieutenant governor, is running for U.S. Senate this year, and the Dems -- according to this WaPo report -- are panicking because of a Republican initiative to put a constitutional amendment to correct the problem on the ballot this November.

Get this: the Dems -- speaking through Delegate Luiz Simmons -- want to hold up the court ruling to prevent the ballot initiative and are seeking legislation to allow the legislature to get a court injunction against the decision. Said Simmons, “What we're trying to do is see if we can craft a bill allowing the legislature to seek an injunction, at least until 2007, when we'll have the opportunity to consider a constitutional amendment.” Anything, Simmons, anything to prevent the people from deciding the issue themselves?

Said Simmons’s cohort, Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery), “I don't want to see the gubernatorial election, or any other election, tangled up in this issue.” Translation: we know this is a loser and want to manipulate the courts further to avoid the result the people will impose. Note to Mr. Steele: You got ‘em on the run, sir. Now is no time to go wobbly.

topics:
Constitution, Supreme Court, NATO