We really need Molly to speak about the “lege” in Texas. The place is run by tiny little brains.

It’s a strange feeling to be both unsurprised and shocked at the same time.

Thanks, BT, for keeping us posted. So very unsurprising that TeaBaggers/conservatives who rant, shriek, whine & scream about the gov’t allegedly getting between their vaunted @sses and their vaunted doctors are the first in line to hypocritically force women to endure the govt getting between them and their doctors.

Absolutely disgusting & degrading. I would encourage younger women, especially, but also everyone of conscience in TX to get out on the street in protest. Accepting this in silence means acceptance of what should be utterly unacceptable.

Not only unacceptable but odd, too. Most women who have an abortion get it very very early in the pregnancy
when most likely nothing would show up on a ultrasound IMO.

Is the point of this law really to make it more difficult for someone to decide to have an abortion? Were there no cover arguments trying to run interference for the truth, here?

I’d go ahead and call this tantamount to torture. As if the women who decide to have an abortion aren’t already feeling enough pain, guilt and shame over their decision. Now these fucktards have to make them look at the fetus before the procedure?

Fucking animals.

Meanwhile, women serving in the military will have to get used to the idea that it is “God’s will” when they get raped.

“When SGT Havrilla met with the military chaplain, he told her that ‘it must have been God’s will for her to be raped’ and recommended that she attend church more frequently.”

Rick Perry hates women…first he tried to make all young women get vaccinated for HPV so he could get pharma money…now he wants all women to be MANdated to have sonograms if they are considering (who determines if they are considering?)…I guess they don’t consider it a medical procedure (that can be refused, unless you are deemed unable to make a decision)..WTF???? Sick, sick, sick.

I believe other states have a similar law? I could be wrong, but I know I’ve heard about this draconian measure before.

You’re correct that many obtain abortions early enough that an ultrasound would show very little. But there’s a certain percentage who get abortions late enough (for various reasons) that the ultrasound would show the fetus, if viewed.

Besides the outrageousness of this measure, the usual anger at rightwing double standards and hypocrisy apply.

And might I add that it certainly appears as if the rightwing is doubling down on their attacks against *all* rights of *all* citizens this year.

Wake up, sheeple. You may not need an abortion, but this is about more than just that (spoken rhetorically).

Yes. This is about control and we are going to need a great deal of help from men on this issue since men dominate the legislatures.

The few. The proud. The evil.

This really is a recruiting effort by the DoD, inviting perverts of all stripes to enlist with the promsise that they will get a free pass for their depravities.

The pukes are worried that the next great puke prezdenzint will get aborted.

Wait, I thought government-mandated medical costs were bad? Someone is going to have to pay for that sonogram, right?

There’s a galtian troll in The Party Line :) Makin’ my day!

And might I add that it certainly appears as if the rightwing is doubling down on their attacks against *all* rights of *all* citizens this year.

Now they have the majority they can do what they want right /s*

Ding. Somebody is makin’ money on this somehow.

Why don’t we just take the sex offenders out of prison and send ‘em to boot camp? Scrrew it. No need to do this half-assed.

Is this like “Death Panels”, getting between you and your doctor. Hmm?

Well, no. Texas will actually give another tax break to health care providers to apologize for the added burden. Then fire some teachers to cover it.

Ten to one it ain’t the Texas State Senate, either.

And if they’re from Texas, Rick Perry will see to it that the rape victims carry their babies to term.

You’re not keeping up. Each year recruiting standards are lowered with respect to education and prior legal entanglements.

“Texas is going to shrink government until it fits into a woman’s uterus,” Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said during debate Thursday.

Indeed! …and inherently quotable.

On the topic of the assholishness of the two political parties:

President Barack Obama’s budget for next year will propose cutting the budget for low-income heating assistance by nearly half.

Republicans and Obama both will do whatever to score political points with the Republicans’ base.

For many years there have been attempts to get rid of abortion but the tone has changed lately. It has become a literal war against women in many different ways. Why? And why now?

Yeah, and then send ‘em off to war, where they can get killed. Let’s call it a “deferred termination”.

“You’re wasting perfectly good future soldiers by terminating them as fetuses!”

Pardon my sarcasm, but that’s how it looks from here, seeing as the Rethugs don’t give a rat’s fuck about starving children, or struggling mothers who terminate because they know they can’t afford another mouth to feed or, or, or….

Because they can? Because there is no real “opposition” anymore? Because most/all politicians have been bought off by David Koch and his evil elite band of brothers/sisters? Because keeping the serfs in fear and servitude is their goal? Because forcing women to be barefoot and pregnant and raising kids they can’t afford makes them less likely to have the energy to protest? Because the piss-poor economy makes the serfs afraid to protest? Because the corporate-owned rightwing noise machine has been so effective at totally brainwashing our nation of sheep?

Pick your poison…

Yes, that is very true. And there have been some good investigative articles written about issues with military recruitment which, these days, basically accepts just about anyone, no matter what. There’s a lot of issues in the military, not only with sociopathic/criminal behavior, but also with somewhat more “mundane” issues of recruits being quite overweight and having various related medical issues.

It’s literally insane, but …

Some dickweeds (Republicans) in Minnesota are trying to repeal the fair pay laws for women.

Women only make 80% of what men do. Between the anti-abortion and anti-decent pay idiots we might as well stay home bare foot and pregnant. Except us over the hill ladies. Wonder if they see any value in us at all?

If you aren’t a member of NOW, now is the time to join.

It seems that more women in the military are being raped or are we just hearing about more? That is certainly criminal behavior and is not being punished.

They probably deserved it. They are, after all, trying to act like men. geez. Uppity Witches. (You know what I really mean.)

As if the women who decide to have an abortion aren’t already feeling enough pain, guilt and shame over their decision.

Really?

And how about enforcement of this “law”. Are they going to put government monitors in the procedure rooms? Wiretap the doctors? Send in pregnant undercover agents? This is just above and beyond individual freedoms, is it not?

Yes, I do know. I feel so bad for these young women who have gone into the military trying to get training so they can have a better life and this happens to them. It’s beyond belief that they are left to deal with it alone.

It’s those gays you know. /s*

No singy no mo in Texas — No woman no cry.

http://www.msmagazine.com/fall2008/TheScandalOfMilitaryRape.asp

This was from the Fall of 2008; I doubt it’s gotten any better. The article is rather depressing, albeit good to be written.

I think we are hearing more about this bc more women are joining the military, and currently the military is engaged in two wars (for no reason except to enrich the elites). The Ms. article (above), plus others I’ve read elsewhere, point to the fact that rape tends to be higher in combat (I’m not sure why and/or if the article gives a good explanation for it).

But we all know well how the military is a bastion of the old boys network, and the military is truly *not* doing much of anything to “deal” with the issue of rape other than to blame the victim and cause her grief (the whistleblower syndrome). Most unfortuante, to say the very least.

I wish all women well who are in the military for many reasons, but it sure seems as if they are more in danger than men… often from their own “comrades” in arms, sad to say.

Of course, it is. Why didn’t I think of that? :)

The small Gov’t rant from these fiends is only about not getting in the way of BIG CORP. For everyone else it’s BIG BROTHER is watching.

Oklahoma has that law too. It’s been on the books for about 3 years.
I don’t recall the specifics of it, but the OK version seemed more harsh than what I’ve heard about the TX version.
But I would not be at all surprise if TX version is actually worse than the OK version, since the damn whackos always play the one-upmanship game.

Yes, really, and seriously, I suggest you tread very carefully on this issue, about which you may be unqualified to speak with any real authority, moral or otherwise. Advise to tone it down and be less offensive, please.

I thought it was on the books in other states and possibly in some other countries. Pretty draconian, esp as, per usual, they only make the woman be involved in such procedures. Per usual, the men go scott free and suffer no consequences, at least of this nature. Another rightwing double standard, hypocritical bullshit thing…

Yep. Really. Go find a dozen women who’ve had abortions and ask them how they feel about it.

You got it wrong. TX will give money to wealthy churches who will start prayer circles, which will elicit more donations, to be given as campaign contributions to TX legislators who give taxpayer money to wealthy churches.

You see, giving money to the rich, when combined with prayer, makes all problems the fault of dirty hippes. Easy!

Sounds like a mandate. Is Perry picking up the bill? Or is this just down right unconstitutional?

Are you advising me to tone it down and be less offensive?

I was just questioning if it was wise for #5 to ascribe feelings to others. It was he who suggested that the decision was guilty and shameful.

I thought only the Tea Baggers got to decide what is “truly” constitutional and unconstitutional these days… /s

I’ve never met someone who didn’t feel remorse, guilt, and shame about an abortion.

Speaking of, MSNBC reported this morning that there are going to be “organized Tea Party pushbacks” in WI this weekend. I wonder if they’ll bring their gun?

This law in Texas may be a real gift to abortion clinics in Mexico.

Why can’t Rethuglicans and Democraps get out of people’s bedrooms? It isn’t the role of gov’t to legislate any of this stuff. Abortion laws, laws against gays, drug laws, etc etc etc, are none of the gov’ts business at all. Perhaps all lobbyists should be rounded up, and dropped off in the middle of the Congo or something.

*Shudders*

Then please strive for more clarity in how you write your comments on sensitive issues like this. If I misunderstood your intentions, then thanks for the clarification. It *appeared* as if you were questioning whether it was a hard decision for a woman to make and/or whether women felt remorseful about getting an abortion.

10 heavily armed teabaggers, and they’ll get the entire media focus 24/7 for the entire weekend, and camera zooming will make it look like there are thousands of them.

The Texas legislature is mandating purchase of a sonogram from a for profit private provider, while concurrently opposing the purchase of an insurance policy from a for profit private provider.

Did I get that correct?

My bad.

“Really?” as in, did you just say that?

Probably. Don’t David Koch and Dick Armey *encourage* their teabagging serfs to do just that? Clearly the so-called “push back” by teabaggerz is being funded and organized by the Kochtopolis… and clearly the corporate-owned rightwing media will devote much much more time and attention to their ginned up ersatz “rally” than to the very real grass-roots protests. More’s the pity…

Got it, and thanks again for clarifying.

Why can’t Rethuglicans and Democraps get out of people’s bedrooms? It isn’t the role of gov’t to legislate any of this stuff.

Couldn’t agree more, but it’s the raison d’etre for the govt for conservatives… as they’ve been brainwashed to believe by Doug Coe and his “Family” of churches and the Kochtopolis… it’s a great and fantastic *distraction* for the serfs… so that they don’t really see how very ripped off they are by the Doug Coes & the David Kochs of this nation.

I hesitate to step in this minefield…
but I’ll testify, if only to say (speaking as a woman who’s had an abortion, in days of yore) it was very sobering, but the opposite of a tragic experience.
I felt nothing but gratitude and relief that I was fortunate enough to get the procedure. I was certainly not cavalier about it. I was a student and having a kid at that point wld have been a disaster. While I can only speak for myself, I’m offended when people assume every abortion is a guilt and shame fest – seems like an insidious way to control women, making them feel they’ve done ‘wrong’. There’s a huge range there between being cavalier about something and shame/guilt/tragedy.

Thank you for speaking up. Although I have never had an abortion, I agree with your prospective.

Republican Infighting…

Thx! I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s had this experience.
To this day, I feel nothing but gratitude that I was able to get the
procedure with a minimum of drama and continue my education.

Well, no. Texas will actually give another tax break to health care providers to apologize for the added burden. Then fire some teachers to cover it.

If by “providers” you mean Insurance companies and For Profit Hospital chains, and not doctors or public health clinics, you are correct. And doubly correct on the firing teachers part. Did you ever live in Texas?

That’s very very funny.

I often ask myself…

Q: Why are men making these decisions in the first place?

But the answer I come up with is obvious…

A: Because the men making these decisions actually believe that men are godly and women are not. They believe that women exist solely to serve men, that women are indeed property of a man. It all goes back to wrong-headed religious beliefs, and is not unique to Christianity.

Many women feel the way you did/do. It’s not that women “don’t care” or that they treat abortion lightly or “use it for contraceptive.” It’s just that getting pregnant happens, even when the best of precautions are taken. Nothing is 100% effective against pregnancy except no sex at all.

To be able to get a safe, clean procedure with little to no hassle should be a *right* for all women. It’s horrid that it is not so.

Many women approach the procedure with gratitude and relief because it means that they are not forced to continue with a pregnancy that is not the best for all concerned. Thank you very much for your story. I’ve heard similar from many of my female friends.

This is why we need to enforce separation between Church and State.
Bigtime.

I noted earlier today that I watched a bit of the Mike Pence “Assault on Women” debate on C-Span last night. To say that these wingnuts are offensive and heartless would be to express my sentiment in the most euphemistic of terms. In fact, I’m doing my level best to self-moderate right now. So hey Lurking Mod: You should be proud of me.

I thought it was pretty good, alright. This one’s my fave:

“Dec. 8, 2010: In a live broadcast on Fox And Friends, Mike Huckabee and Texas governor Rick Perry get into a heated argument over who hates science more.”

I saw a quote earlier today that said –

“Progressives protest without guns and they call it a riot. The Tea Party protests with guns and they call it Patriotic.”

Fairly accurate assessment I would think.

This is all just bread and circus to the right so we won’t notice the hand stealing our wallets. No one will ever convince me that a congress critter is DC cares two cents about some 16 year old in Idaho who gets pregnant and has an abortion.

Okay. I see your point, and apologize if I offended in any way. I think I used the wrong words. What I meant is what you expressed better than me. That it is not a decision that’s taken lightly, and is something that’s very serious in most womens’ lives. There may be some folks out there that are cavalier about it, but I’ve yet to meet one. I have met women that regret the loss of life, and feel some guilt about it, but ultimately feel that it was the best decision to make at that point in their lives.

Nope. But I’m moving there in June XD

By the way: This will add about $500 to the cost of an abortion, once again ensuring that only rich women — like the mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and mistresses of Republican “pro-life” legislators — can have them.

I wonder if they’d consider a bill that made viewing photos of gunshot victims mandatory prior to a weapons purchase?

I agree except it’s getting more and more obvious, it isn’t just the Republicans. Dems at one time at least pretended to give a sh*t. Now? Not so much.

David Dayen has a fresh cross-post ready: NM-Sen: Jeff Bingaman Becomes Latest to Announce Retirement

That’s certainly a big part of it, but it is coupled with too many women who go along with that “world view” and endorse and encourage by being willingly complicit.

But I also see it as the politics of control. Bastards like Doug Coe, who founded the “Family” or “Fellowship” of churches aren’t really about believing men are “godly” and women aren’t. They just want power and control and use religious dogma to coerce people, many of whom are trying to be sincere in their belief system.

At the end of day, for me, I think it’s a power and control. Period.

And as they say, if *men* were the ones who got pregnant, there would be free contraceptives and abortions everywhere for all men, no matter what.

Haven’t “we” already done enough to the Congo?

Bingo. Just like all this deficit talk that has exploded from both parties. Pure kabuki through and through.

Is anyone taking legal action against this? Forcing ppl to have a medical procedure??

Ok…how about Bikini Atoll?

Dems have been bought off as much as the Rethugs. It’s all the same at this point.

Perhaps all lobbyists should be rounded up, and dropped off in the middle of the Congo or something.

Proof once again that you good people from Canada are far too considerate and polite, Canbeav. The Congo’s too good for them. I would send them to the floating mass of trash and junk in the Mid- Pacific. Who knows, since they obviously lack consciences on land, maybe they could develop gills at sea.

This is all just bread and circus to the right so we won’t notice the hand stealing our wallets.

Bingo! Hole in one! Ding ding ding….

It’s long been my contention that most of these politicians – whether male or female – could give a sh*t about abortion. It’s just part of the Kabuki Show and a distraction from the big rip-off going on in DC and all State Capitals, etc.

This is all just bread and circus to the right so we won’t notice the hand stealing our wallets.

Bingo. Reminds me of the Justice Dept. announcement yesterday that they busted a bunch of doctors for Medicare fraud. Somewhere around $250 Million, give or take. In the meantime, the Wall Street criminals who plundered $Trillions and blew up the economy continue with business as usual. Of course Medicare fraud should be punished, but to my way of thinking the Justice Dept. resources should be allocated against the largest dollar amount crimes first.

Texas astounds me. They print the books for education yet they have learned not a damn thing. Wonder if Mexico would like to have Texas? The oil co’s and the drug lords would get along–well like gang busters.

No offense taken. I know my experience isn’t unusual, I just wanted to put it out there because we always seem to hear about the shame, guilt, regret nexus – or the ‘taken lightly’ canard.

Why do you hate America…?

. Reminds me of the Justice Dept. announcement yesterday that they busted a bunch of doctors for Medicare fraud. Somewhere around $250 Million, give or take. In the meantime, the Wall Street criminals who plundered $Trillions and blew up the economy continue with business as usual.

Well typical. And of course, we all know that the bastards are going after Medicare, so this type of fraud busting (disclaimer: I agree with going after Medicare fraud, but…) fits right in with the elites’ program.

And duly noted that the DoJ has yet to go after any of the really big Wall Street and Bankster crooks. Isn’t Bernie Madoff now dropping a dime on the banks and Wall Street? And what’s happening so far?? A big old bupkiss … look over there! Medicare fraud!!!!!!!

707!!

Winner.

loss of life

Are you doing this on purpose?

By the way: This will add about $500 to the cost of an abortion, once again ensuring that only rich women — like the mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and mistresses of Republican “pro-life” legislators — can have them

from the standpoint of these assholes in the Legislature, that’s a feature and not a bug. Good thing Rick Perry made the voter ID bill another emergency item… what with more poor minority women bearing more kids they can’t afford to raise, that leads to more poor minority voters, and new and improved ways need to be found to disenfranchise them.

I gotta say I noticed that, too.
Oy!

What is it you think I’m doing, alan? Spell it out for me, bud.

Just like all this deficit talk that has exploded from both parties. Pure kabuki through and through.

Exactly: good distraction. Our nation’s deficit is not analogous to your personal debt and/or household budget, yet our wealthy overlords would have the serfs think it is. So let’s talk incessantly about the deficit and cutting the budget… but for heaven’s sake, we must spend more more more more on the military and these useless senseless wars that are killing maiming and destroying people and property. Go USA USA USA etc ad nauseum.

That’s just my personal belief. I’m all for womens’ rights. I think what a woman does with her body is none of my business, or anybody elses, except that woman.

I believe, for myself, as a man, knowing that I have almost no say in the matter if my partner and I are ever faced with a similar situation, that abortion is the wrong way to go.

Again, my personal belief. I have voted for and will continue to vote for the right for the women of this country to decide for themselves what they do. I believe that’s a constitutional freedom and a basic human right.

perhaps a small step first: raise the price of viagra & don’t let insurance pay for it.

Are you kidding? I live in Texas. Seemingly intelligent people lose all understanding of logic once they move to Texas.

Yes, there is always one law/rule for the poor and another for the rich. And as I’ve commented here in the past, I’ve had friends who worked for Planned Parenthood clinics – which btw conservatives in DC are trying to completely do away with *any* federal funding for them – and they’ve told me stories about rightwingers protesting outside the clinic one day, and then sneaking their daughter, sister, mistress, themselves in the back door the next day to have an abortion.

This whole abortion controversy is so fraught with lies, duplicity, double standards, hypocrisy and plain old common garden variety bullshit that it’s just ridiculous (and out of control).

Reminds me of the Justice Dept. announcement yesterday that they busted a bunch of doctors for Medicare fraud. Somewhere around $250 Million, give or take.

considering the Texas AG’s office is probably still hiring for Medicare and Medicaid fraud investigators, and that the amount of money spent in this country going after doctors and small clinics who have irregularities with their accounting vs. the out in the open fraud committed by the Banks and financial services industry… our governments’ regulatory priorities are totally fucked up.

Ultimately, this is about a woman’s right to decide
what she does with her own body.

I appreciate your respect for basic human rights.

how about instant photoshopped images of the purchaser on an autopsy table – chest opened?

Are you kidding? I live in Texas. Seemingly intelligent people lose all understanding of logic once they move to Texas.

Skep, we’re not all “barking at the moon” mad, but I’ll be damned if most of the politicians in Texas aren’t. My personal take on the split is 99% of the Repubs, and 75% of the Dems are foaming at the mouth insane…

The house just defunded PP today.

our governments’ regulatory priorities are totally fucked up

Yes but they’re the priorities dictated to them by our wealthy overlords, many of whom are on Wall St or working for the banks. Yet another distration, esp as our Overlords want to “go after” medicare and ridiculous sh*t like this will be “sold” to conservatives as absolute proof of why we must get rid of Medicare at all cost. And believe me, the Tea Baggers will clap cheer hoot and holler in praise to witness Medicare being taken away from them, IF it’s sold to them in the exact right way.

Mark my words, this is part of the anti-Medicare sales pitch to conservative voters, who’ll willing bend over and take it, as they have in so many other ways.

The fact that there is controversy is bullshit. It’s a personal, basic human freedom to decide what one does with their own body. Once we begin trying to define when life begins, or whether or not it’s a medical decision, or any other such nonsense, we’ve lost sight of the real conversation.

This is where the right wing goes wrong on abortion. They seem to think that somehow, it’s any of their fucking business in the first place.

Huge sigh… I saw that they were voting on that. Damn and blast them to hades… bastards.

Again, though, far too many conservative women will clap & cheer and feel eminently *victorious* about this. And the really *insane* part is that PP provides a lot of assistance with contraceptives and family planning, esp for poor women (well, there’s another kicker: those middle class conservatives sure don’t want to *pay* for those blasted dirty minorities). As in: you know, helping women to *avoid* pregnancy, and hence, *avoid* the need to get an abortion.

Talk about nuttiness on steroids: this is it.

the answer to this is to carry an unwanted baby to term, and then dump it on the state. Texas, like almost every other state has a safe haven law. the short version: You can leave your baby, up to 60 days old, with an employee on duty at any hospital, emergency medical services provider or child welfare agency in Texas.

the pdf (located at the link) doesn’t allow me to copy and paste, so here’s my paraphrase: anyone dropping off an unwanted child can do so anonymously, and cannot be prosecuted. the parent may fill out, voluntarily but not mandatory, a form discussing any medical issues. The Department of Child and Family Services is not obligated to seek out relatives.

The child becomes a ward of the state, which means the taxpayers pay. So texas gals, don’t just leave that unwanted kid in ANY ol’ hospital: choose one that’s in a district with a pro-life Senator, that way it’s his consituents that shoulder more of the tax burden.

these people are short-sighted idiots.

Conservatives have been carefully taught, esp in their Churches, to believe that it IS their right, nay, DUTY to stop *anyone* from ever having an abortion ever under any circumstances (except, of course, when it’s them or their family members who want one; that’s different).

It’s all Kabuki show; it’s all about power and control; it’s all about conservative sociopaths who have no morals, no values, no ethics, no compassion, who are willing to do *anything* to control the masses in order to bilk us all out of as money as possible.

Abortion? It’s just a distraction; a means of power and control. Period.

Amen, OIG. And let’s not forget how Abortion, Equal Rights for Gays, Illegal immigration, Racism, Taxes, Separation of Church and State and other cultural issues are used as wedges for the past 30 years to divide the poor so the affluent can conquer. Notice how the Dems stopped staking the progressive and liberal positions on these issues after Reagan? And now look at how much ground has been lost since. You’re right, the Democratic Party has abandoned it’s principles and now the only fighting over policy is Kabuki. I think we’re getting closer to an Egyptian moment (the folks in WI give me hope), but I don’t know how much more we need to suffer to get there.

Good point, but these people never ever consider that. They live in little fantasy lands where all of “god’s children” will be adopted out to wonderful Ozzie & Harriet “good Christian” families and live happily ever after.

Of course the reality is that most wards of the state who are minors end up leading lives of abuse and misery and often not adopted. And when the kids reach the age of 18, they are literally dumped out on the street and left to fend for themselves. Many turn to drugs and prostitution to get by.

Yeah: great way to show us all how to lead the “godly life,” but if you’re wealthy and white and go to a mega church, you can turn your head, look the other way and clap harder for tinkerbell….

The Dems have been bought off since the days of Jimmy Carter, and now there is next to *no* difference between the 2 parties. The Democratic party politicians absolutely stand for nothing that they used to be about. Caveat emptor; they’re all Republicans now.

Ah, the old “agent of christ” schtick! Classic. I follow.

To get real down and dirty here, I’m a very spiritual dude. Being a recovering alcoholic, I’ve dedicated a lot of time and energy to finding a higher power I can believe in. I pray every morning, turning my will and my life over to his care. My understanding of God’s will for me and everyone else?

-Love unconditionally (or in the absence of the ability to love any given individual, at least consciously recognize that they deserve it)
-Help your fellow humans/people/men/women etc.
-Do no harm

It’s that simple for me :) None of it has anything to do with whether or not my neighbor plans to have an abortion. Me trying to assert my beliefs on anyone in that situation is doing that person harm. So I stay the fuck out of it :)

Pretty rational, I know. That’s why I’m not a conservative.

Many wingnuts believe that the pill is abortion since the fertilized egg cannot implant on the uterus wall. Look for them to go after birth control soon. I give ‘em another three or four years to finish off abortion.

The fact that there is controversy is bullshit. It’s a personal, basic human freedom to decide what one does with their own body.

That’s exactly how I see it too.

For a second I thought that read “TX passes mandatory sodomy law”.
Since they all like to pretend theyre cowboys and rugged mountain men.
At least the ones who go into politics.
Too bad.

Well, Kris, good luck with your recovery and congrats for finding the strength to do that; I know it’s challenging.

As for your spiritual convictions, well, seriously, what do you think? You are following pretty much the teachings of Jesus, who some call Christ. Having been raised in a born-again fundie family, I have studied the Bible thoroughly. It’s my contention that far too many who call themselves “christians” these days no longer follow the teachings of Jesus. I feel badly bc they are being very badly misled by evil beings like Doug Coe. I won’t go on.

Your belief system is much like mine, and many churches still practice these preachings. However, the radical conservatives mostly do not. They are entitled to whatever belief system they chose. The very unfortunate and extremely frustating thing is that such conservatives *truly believe* that they have the right & duty to *shove their belief system down everyone else’s throats* and force everyone to lead their lives according to their narrow, conservative “value” system (which is insanely hypocritical on top of everything else).

But best to you, and your belief system sounds very sane and a good way to go… as in simply following the Golden Rule: do unto others, as you’d have them do unto you. Pretty simple really. But then, you and I aren’t talking about trying to force power over anyone else, nor do we wish to control anyone else. Therein lies the difference.

707… watch Brokeback Mountain much???!

Yes, the whole “pill as abortion” bullshit. I’m inclined to agree that a woman’s right to choose appears to be history in the near future. I keep feeling like I’m in a Margaret Atwood novel, esp “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Caveat emptor; they’re all Republicans now

makes me glad that FDR, LBJ, JFK, and Harry S didn’t live to see what became of the party they built in the 30′s. My question is where will the leaders necessary to rebuild the movement come from? FDR and JFK were rich, LBJ married into wealth, and Harry had political connections out the yin-yang. I don’t mean to sound defeatist, but for those of us lucky to have jobs we’re barely hanging on to, the time necessary to commit to action isn’t there. And for those with the time, they may not have the “economic capacity” to be active.

I hear you. It’s a huge conundrum, yet we have to try. But I don’t know. Politics in this nation has mostly been for the wealthy and well-connected. At various times in our nations history, there have been wealthy politicians, such as FDR & the Kennedys, who acted more for the public good and to really help the poor and middle class.

But there have certainly been many periods where the rich and powerful were as rapacious and boot grinding as this current crop of Kochs, Scaifes, Murdochs, etc. The gilded age comes to mind.

Somehow, out of those past gilded ages, there arose pols like FDR and JFK. We have to keep on keeping on and do what we can, which sounds lame, I know.

Not lame at all. If we give up our children and grandchildren will pay a heavier price than we ever dreamed. One day at a time, just plugging away.

For a second I thought that read “TX passes mandatory sodomy law”.

Rumors that Gov Rick “Good Hair” Perry is gay have been going around the state for years. I personally don’t have much of a valid opinion on that subject, but he did shoot a coyote once while jogging – supposedly to protect his daughter’s puppy. While I’m sympathetic with him protecting his dog, in the amended words of the Red Hot Chili Peppers “real men don’t shoot coyotes (with laser-sighted firearms)!”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/27/rick-perry-shoots-and-kil_n_554397.html

Note: perry being lame because of his sexuality is not what i’m implying…he’s lame for so many reasons, but in my snarkitude I’m referring to the laser targeter on his .380 -that thing’s almost as big as the gun.

Agree that we cannot give up. Just seems lame sometimes but that’s where it’s at.

These attacks on abortion providers and even on other health services provided by Planned Parenthood and other institutions are an outrage. Abortions are legal in this country and the many restrictions imposed or planned by state and federal governments are unjustified. In fact, it is difficult to see any reason for denial of any federal funds for this legal medical procedure.

homer http://www.altara.blogspot.com

Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s always true. Poor women have myriad problems with access to care, and may get later abortions because of these issues, not because they chose to wait. I imagine the cost of getting and paying for a sonogram will only add to their difficulties.

You have now, although it’s an on-line meeting.

Yeah, that’s exactly how I’m feeling, too. It should be unimaginable that something like this would happen in the US, yet there have been so many things happening that should also be unimaginable that it’s almost becoming par for the course – which is really sad.