A Fast Defeat -- Pure Genius?

In a whirlwind of political failure, the federal "gay marriage ban" came and went without even gaining a majority -- much less the two-thirds needed to start the Constitution amendment process:

The Senate rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage by a wide margin Wednesday, delivering a stinging defeat to President Bush and other Republicans who hope the issue will rally GOP voters for the November elections.

The senators' vote was 49-48 to limit debate and bring the amendment to a yes-or-no decision. That was 11 short of the 60 needed, killing the measure in the Senate for this year.

That was fast. If only they could decide on immigration reform that quickly.

Unless, of course, the Evil Genius once again duped everyone (Hat tip: Instapundit):

By bringing up the proposal now, when it is certain to be defeated, and making it clear in comments to the media that they are doing it only to "bring out the base" in November, Bush, Rove and company are also laying the groundwork for permanently shelving the initiative after the ballots are counted. Let the marriage amendment fail now and odds are overwhelming that there will be many other "more winnable" goals for Bush and the GOP leadership to push. The marriage amendment will then languish or fade away as the Balanced Budget Amendment did.

Which always leaves, in my mind, the question: George W. Bush, idiot or master politician? Ask some people the question, and they'll say both. The same people who call him a chimp will, when the argument suits them, in the next breath call him the world's greatest manipulator.

Sorry, you can't have it both ways. (No offense to you "bisexuals" in the audience.)

Not that Macy's Department Stores isn't trying:

Macy's department store found itself mired in a fierce national debate between conservatives and gay activists when it bowed to complaints and removed part of a window display marking Boston Pride Week.

The Downtown Crossing store display featured two male mannequins - one wearing a gay pride rainbow flag around its waist - standing near a list of several planned Boston Pride events.

The display was designed by Macy's with the approval of the Boston Pride Committee.

But the store yanked the mannequins from the window after MassResistance, the conservative group formerly named Article 8 Alliance which has also campaigned against sex education and gay-themed books in public schools, complained the display was offensive.

"They were male mannequins with enlarged breasts, and one was wearing a skirt," said MassResistance president Brian Camenker, referring to the gay pride flag wrapped around one figure, cinched with a white belt. "It was really disgusting."

I agree! A white belt with a skirt ... completely disgusting. And I'm guessing Brian Camenker is a fat boy. Those aren't enlarged breasts; they are pecs. No, wait, he's not fat. Just butt-ugly.

BaT would call for a boycott of Macy's -- freedom of speech! -- but since we haven't bought anything in that crappy store in 10 years, we don't think it would have much impact. Seriously, has anyone been in a Macy's lately? Since when did it turn into Urban Outfitters? Ecko, Sean John and G-Unit? That's worse than the white belt.

Although I did find something at Macy's to help Mr. Camenker out. C'mon, Brian, celebrate your victory with a little acne scar-covering party. We'll end send over Kyan to give you pointers.

Putz.