As happened yesterday, here in EDT “lunch” is interfering with the timing of the “lunch buffet,” so I hope you will forgive me for starting without you.

Here are some mid-day news/views morsels:

* Oral arguments in the Prop 8 case are over, and as usual, Justice Kennedy is the key to the decision. More on that directly.

* Phil Gingrey announces Senate bid in Georgia. For a minute there, I thought the headline said “Gingrich,” which was thrilling.

* Gary Bauer makes tired case for GOP doubling-down on social issues and calling it “compassionate.”

* Dave Weigel notes poll from New Jersey showing gay marriage as popular as Chris Christie.

* At TAP, Abby Rapoport assesses growing support for pot legalization in the states.

And in non-political news:

* Georgia beats Iowa State in women’s NCAA tournament and heads to Sweet 16.

Back after digesting some Court analysis.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.