I have to admit, I never thought I would see the day when gay marriage was legal in Iowa before it was legal in California.

I am simultaneously pleased and embarrassed.

My favorite line from the LA Times article:

According to the Des Moines Register article linked above, Iowa requires more than the momentary populist backlash [emphasis mine] needed in California to put a law beyond judicial review by passing a constitutional amendment.

It reminds me of an article written by a famous architectural critic about the building of the de Young in San Francisco. The comment was about SF politics, but applies in these circumstances as well – he described the process as one that values pique over all other forms of input.

Democracy, mob rule. Have we lost the distinction here?