Bloggers discuss the future of same-sex marriage in Iowa, Tony Snow's resignation, and the all-powerful infant-formula lobby.

Weddding day: Polk County Judge Robert Hanson struck down Iowa's gay-marriage ban Thursday and ordered local officials to start processing licenses for several homosexual couples. GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney issued a statement condemning the ruling, and the county's attorney has already asked for a stay.

Liberal Atrios is delighted and characteristically terse: "Fabulous," is all he has to say. Newbie liberal blogger Schmitz Blitz is more cautious: "We saw how the 2003 Massachusetts ruling in favor of marriage equality ushered in backlash across the country, culminating in 27 state amendments denying the right of marriage to gays. I fear this Iowa ruling will have a similar effect, especially with election season upon us. This is why I'm generally against sweeping court decisions like this."

For many bloggers, the real import of the news is how it'll change the 2008 presidential race: "Democratic and Republicans candidates will not be able to campaign in Iowa -- as all will be doing in coming days and weeks -- without addressing the ruling and the broader issue of same-sex marriage," opines liberal John Nichols at The Nation's Campaign Matters. Picking up where Nichols leaves off, lefty Todd Beeton from MyDD weighs in on the political fallout: "The Republican's responses won't be difficult to divine, of course. In fact, they'll probably trip over themselves to be first to call it a gross example of judicial activism. How the Democrats respond on the other hand could get interesting. … [I]n the end, they'll likely hide behind the old 'the courts need to sort it out' delay tactic."

Over at the National Review's water-cooler blog, the Corner, Stanley Kurtz predicts the ruling will benefit Romney: "On balance, this would certainly seem to help Mitt Romney, who rightly criticized the ruling as another example of an activist court and unelected judges trying to redefine marriage and disregard the will of the people as expressed through Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act.' Romney also rightly went on to pointed out the need for a Federal Marriage Amendment." Lefty Marc Ambinder concurs: "Romney … could not have asked for a better post-labor day gift than the decision by a Polk. Co. judge to throw out the state's voter-passed gay marriage law. It's the lead story across the state today, and Romney is already getting props from conservatives for his response."

Read more about the Iowa gay-marriage ruling.

Snow day: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow will leave his job Sept. 14. The one-time conservative pundit is ailing with cancer, but cited financial concerns, not his illness, as the reason for his departure. He'll write books and hit the more lucrative speechmaking circuit.

Righty AllahPundit from Hot Air rejects the financial rationale: "[H]e told Hugh Hewitt a few weeks ago that it was coming, ostensibly because his paycheck isn't enough to support his family in the manner they deserve but probably because he's just exhausted from having to spin Bush's crap."

At the Carpetbagger Report,liberal Steve Benen  assesses Snow's legacy: "Snow was probably the most genial of the three Bush press secretaries. He combined the dishonesty of Ari Fleischer, the secrecy of Scott McClellan, the credibility of Baghdad Bob, and the smooth confidence and blind loyalty of a Fox News personality"

Snow does have a few defenders. DrewM. at the conservative Ace of Spades is sorry to see him go: "I hope Snow is the new model for White House spokesmen, especially for Republican administrations … an aggressive advocate for the policies of the President and one who isn't afraid to take on the smug, preening members of the White House Press Corps." Mark Kilmer at Red State also has some kind words: "There is only one Tony Snow, and his unique talents cannot be replaced … Godspeed, Tony."