Oh, the things that we find funny, and the things that would be hysterical if only they weren’t so terribly, horribly sad.

First up is the notion that allowing everyone the same joys and sorrows of marriage will threaten your own happy or sad union.  Seriously.  The state of North Carolina, currently in early voting mode, is voting on Amendment 1 which reads

“Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

Unfortunately, the latest Public Policy Polling data released today shows 10 percent of voters still erroneously think voting down Amendment 1 would legalize gay marriage and another 27 percent are unsure what it would do.  That falls under the really sad category.

I called on Pam Spaulding, North Carolina resident and proprietor of Pam’s House Blend to join me this morning to talk about just how truly heinous this amendment is.

Big money forces are at work, pushing this piece-of-shit legislation with ads like this peppering the airwaves:

Sad, yet again.
Fortunately, there are some ads to counter that particular brand of bullshit, like these:

and

But they need money to keep running them on the air throughout North Carolina. Pam told us you can donate at tinyurl.com/amendment1 . Early voting is already in progress, and election day is May 8.

Also not funny is the hatred used to instill fear and loathing into otherwise more normal people.  Arizona’s racist SB 1070 (or the “Papers Please” law) went into effect two years ago yesterday.  Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on its constitutionality.  How sad is that — that it’s even gotten this far?

We’ll get more in-depth on that topic on tomorrow’s show.

This morning, I also continued yesterday’s conversation on the lack of real, independent investigative journalism – today with someone else who actually does it!  Russ Baker of WhoWhatWhy.com was on with me today, and will speak tonight in NYC at 6:30pm, Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Avenue at 40th St, 6thfloor.

And we wrapped things up as we do every Tuesday morning with The Political Carnival’s GottaLaff- we talked about these stories before descending into the depths of scatological humor…

VIDEO: Mitt Romney’s fondest memories of France. Oui, la France.

Minnesota State GOP Being Evicted From Party Headquarters

Couple held at gunpoint by neighbors, arrested. Nobody believed that they were the new owners.

Hey Sarah Palin, does God “benevolently” let us recklessly endanger lives and destroy the earth, too?

The joke is on the GOP

Matt Damon “would kiss George W. Bush on the mouth… No tongue” for his work fighting AIDS

Major Media Bias Alert! Again.

VIDEO: Missouri GOP Senate candidate Sarah Steelman never heard of Violence Against Women Act