Instead of granting the most basic of protections to thousands of California families, Gov. Schwarzenegger has chosen to protect the anti-gay special interests that control the Republican Party.

He's trying to play all sides, but it doesn't look like it's working.

It's ironic that the porky king of cronyism who for years flooded Alaska with frivolous benefits for special-interest groups is now taking a hard stand against the most basic of benefits for same-sex couples.

We'll see movement on both of these issues. It's just a question of when.

The nomination of john Roberts as chief justice underscores the need for a full examination of his record and past statements.