On Tuesday a federal appeals panel in San Francisco ruled that California's infamous Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional. This decision would lead to the Supreme Court's consideration of the highly controversial social issue.

The panel overturned the proposition by a 2 to 1 vote. Proposition 8 was approved by 52 percent of California voters in 2008, and thus amended the state's Constitution to limit marriage to a man and woman.

U.S. Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote in his decision:

“Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort.”

Reinhardt, appointed by Jimmy Carter, was joined ruling the proposition unconstitutional by Judg Michael Daly Hawkins, who was appointed by Bill Clinton. Judge N. Randy Smith, who was appointed by George W. Bush, dissented.

Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) was detained on Monday by the Transportation Security Administration in Nashville, Tennessee, after refusing a full body pat-down.

Paul spokesperson Moira Bagley confirmed that he was being detained, stating:

“I spoke with him five minutes ago and he was being detained indefinitely. The image scan went off; he refused patdown.”

Meanwhile, Rand's father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) posted on Twitter about the incident, saying that there'd been an "anomaly" with a body scanner:

“My son @SenRandPaul being detained by TSA for refusing full body pat-down after anomaly in body scanner in Nashville. More details coming.”

Rand Paul was traveling to Washington D.C. when he was detained. He had been slated to speak at the March for Life.

Paul's spokesperson was the first to report that he'd been detained, posting on Twitter:

“Just got a call from @senrandpaul. He’s currently being detained by TSA in Nashville,."

Paul has been a fierce critic of TSA's pat-downs of passengers at airports, something he views as government overreach.

This week, the Federal Communications Commission filed a formal request for public comment on the idea to end the policy of prohibiting television broadcasts of professional football games that do not sell out prior to the start of the game.

FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said that the rule may be obsolete due to the wide range of communication technology currently available. The rule was adopted in 1975. McDowell said:

"We now live in a world with not only local broadcast stations, but also cable, satellite, the Internet and wireless, and where television and merchandizing revenues exceed ticket sales. It is appropriate for us to re-examine the rule in light of marketplace changes."

The National Football League would be most effected by the move and has decided to take an early stance against the FCC proposal. The NFL issued a statement saying that the blackout rule supports ticket sales, which add to the overall excitement and appeal of the games:

"The policy is very important in supporting NFL stadiums and the ability of NFL clubs to sell tickets; keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds; and ensuring that we can continue to keep our games on free TV."

President Barack Obama announced on Monday that his White House Chief of Staff, William M. Daley, had resigned. The decision to resign at the start of a critical election year came as a surprise to the Democratic president.

Obama said that Daley will be succeeded by White House budget director Jack Lew. The changes will go into effect at the end of January, which will give Lew time to finish up details on the President's budget proposal that is due next month.

Speaking of Lew, Obama said:

"I have every confidence that Jack will make sure that we don't miss a beat and continue to do everything we can to strengthen our economy and the middle class and keep the American people safe."

Daley offered his resignation to Obama in an Oval Office meeting last Tuesday. The President then asked Daley to take some time to think about the decision, but the following day. Despite his promise to stay through the 2012 election, Daley informed him of his final decision to leave the very next day.

In his resignation letter, Daley praised Obama's leadership on a number of issues and said he was honored to be a part of his administration. He did not, however, give any indication of his reasons for leaving, other than to note, "It is time for me to go back to the city I love."

President Barack Obama is expected to use a stop in Cleveland on Wednesday to announce that he's bypassing the Senate to install former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Speaking on a condition of anonymity, a White House official revealed reporters:

“With Cordray in place, the CFPB will now be able to exercise its full ability to protect consumers and middle class families allowed under the law. "

According to prepared remarks released by the administration official, Obama will say:

"Every day that Richard waits to be confirmed is another day when millions of Americans are left unprotected. Without a director in place, the consumer watchdog agency we’ve set up is left without the tools it needs to prevent dishonest mortgage brokers, payday lenders and debt collectors from taking advantage of consumers. That’s inexcusable. It’s wrong. And I refuse to take “no” for an answer.”

A group of gay and lesbian military personnel (both active and retired) that are married sued the federal government on Thursday. They are asking for the same benefits as straight military couples, and make the argument that it is a matter of justice and national security.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Boston by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which filed it on behalf of eight service members. In the filing, the group claims that the government's Defense of Marriage Act violates their constitutional rights and requests that the military recognize their marriages, as well as provide spousal benefits.

The Pentagon is required to ignore same-sex marriages under the Defense of Marriage Act. Same-sex marriages are legal in six states and Washington D.C. It was also legal for a short period of time in California.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said:

"It's about justice for gay and lesbian service members and their families in our armed forces rendering the same military service, making the same sacrifices, and taking the same risks to keep our nation secure at home and abroad."

On Monday, a federal judge temporarily put a stop to drug testing Florida welfare recipients, siding with opponents of the new law pushed by Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican dominated Legislature. U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven said in her decision that the testing requirement amounts to an unreasonable search and seizure, and criticized lawmakers for ignoring an "overwhelming body of case law" when approving the law last spring.

The ACLU of Florida and the Florida Justice Institute brought about the legal challenge. Both groups have hailed the judge's decision. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Luis Lebron, a 35-year-old man from Orlando, who, along with his 4-year-old son, was declared ineligible for benefits because he refused to take the required drug test.

Following Judge Scriven's ruling, the Scott administration ordered testing to be put on hold. However, the Scott administration still defended the new policy as necessary.

Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, said Scott and state officials should just abandon efforts to defend the drug-testing policy for TANF applicants.

In a move designed to appeal to voters, President Barack Obama will propose a "Buffett Tax" on individuals making more than $1 million a year as a part of his deficit recommendations to Congress on Monday.

The proposal, which is one of many suggestions being given to a congressional Super Committee that is expected to see up to $3 trillion in deficit savings over the course of 10 years, would appeal to Obama's Democratic base ahead of the 2012 presidential election. However, it would not raise much in revenues.

According to White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, the tax would act as "a kind of AMT" (Alternative Minimum Tax) that aims to ensure millionaires pay at least as much tax as middle-class families.

The name "Buffett Tax" refers to billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Earlier this year, Buffett wrote that rich people like him often pay less tax than those who actually work for them because of tax loopholes. And he says that they can afford to pay more.

Obama will give his suggestions, but Congress can choose to ignore them if they like. Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, have already said that they will not agree to tax increases.

I never heard of Republican Hill staff veteran Mike Lofgren, retired this summer after 30 years, until he published on Saturday what I believe will be required reading in textbooks someday - a forensic indictment dismantling his own Republican Party so thoroughly, I thought I was reading the boiled resin of every blog post I've ever written in my seven years as a loud mouthed left wing liberal blogger.

Take note what a Republican Hill staffer of 30 years will have been part of. Mike Lofgren was at the highest levels of GOP legislating for George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and two years of Barack Obama. Lofgren helped legislate into law the Contract with America under Speaker Newt Gingrich. He is no passer by, no bystander, not merely rank and file, not even a fleeting member of Congress. Mike Lofrgren was embedded into the very pinnacle of Republican power, for multiple presidencies.

This week, Mike Lofgren wrote that his Republican Party has gone completely mad. And in order to write this, he retired from government. I saw his first appearance on Hardball tonight, and Lofgren looks in equal measure relieved, freed, and yet, terrified. Lofgren appears a bookish, geeky, middle-aged technocrat with a look in his eyes of a canary just released from a coal mine, begging you to listen to his warning.

Today, United States Postal Service officials are expected to tell senators that the organization will go into default, perhaps as early as this coming winter, unless Congress takes action to prevent that from happening. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe would like to lay off a minimum of 120,000 workers, as well as take other drastic measures to close a budget gap projected to reach $9 billion this year.

The U.S. Postal Service says that it is unable to make a $5.5 billion retiree healthcare payment this month. The USPS also expects to run out of money to pay workers and other expenses early next year.