and i think that s where the doyle mcmanus column makes the most sense. we have to have some kind of federal involvement so there s a standard. you asked this question, maybe what do the conservatives do to get around this. if i was a conservative political analyst, i might say maybe you want to separate these issues and talk about the religious covenant of marriage, and then there s a legal construct of marriage, which may be something separate. i was wondering about this, can you split that? there are a number of states who have tried. that s what the whole civil union idea is which is to create we know that there are going to be partner benefits. but you re a republican, you want to be able to a congregation and say listen, we can believe what it is that we believe, but the state is going to have a legal right to call whatever couple i think you re right there. i think that is the construct of the future where you mitigate or take away the fear of an assault on the ins