Update/correction: It appears that the source cited below, MN Daily News, is misleading. Apparently, the Senate has not yet passed the bill. Yet the article cited in the MN publication states: "Minnesotans should be wary of Wisconsin’s ban on birth control on its university campuses." and "In passing this bill, Wisconsin has the distinct honor of becoming the first state in the nation to limit college students’ access to full birth control options." I received a similarly worded announcement in a Women's eNews alert. But a commenter from WI says it ain't so. Fox News (sorry for this cite, but it was the only one I could find) has this to say: "It is not clear which way the state Senate will go on the matter, but the earliest vote could take place this fall after the summer recess. Even if the bill passes again, its chances of becoming law may be bleak: Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has indicated he would veto it."
I've made a few corrections to this post, and I offer my apologies. Funny, ten years ago, no one would have believed the MN newspaper story cited here, but since then 'unbelievable' has become everyday life.
-------
If Wisconsin lawmakers have their way, it will be back to the 19th Century for college women in Wisconsin. The state would become the only state to ban birth control services on campuses.
Cause birth control is the reason women have sex.
Women applying to colleges may wish to scratch this state off their list.
Margaret Sanger is rolling over in her grave in disbelief.
"Wisconsin has passed a bill entitled UW Birth Control Ban-AB 343. This bill prohibits University of Wisconsin campuses from prescribing, dispensing and advertising all forms of birth control and emergency contraceptives. Wisconsin State Rep. Dan LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, introduced this bill based on the belief that “dispensing birth control and emergency contraceptives leads to promiscuity.” In reality, full access to all birth control options — including emergency contraceptives — has no effect on the level of women’s promiscuity. Instead, birth control and emergency contraceptives help prevent more than 35,000 unintended births and 800,000 abortions each year.
The bill denies thousands of women essential health-care services and reproductive choices and affects their lives and futures in many ways. With this bill, rape victims will no longer be able to turn to campus health services to obtain emergency contraceptives to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, or receive postrape counseling and education — adding even more stress to a traumatic event. Students who want birth-control prescriptions, emergency contraceptives or even information about preventive birth control are forced to seek out these services at off-campus clinics. " There's more . . .
Tags: reproductive rights
Feminism
contraception
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Karl Rove Is A 'Welfare Queen': Nader
Ralph Nader weighs in on Karl Rove's parasitic nature:
Remember the day after the election last November, a triumphant newly elected (for the first time) President George W. Bush introduced to a national television audience a beaming Karl Rove as "The Architect" of his winning campaign. Did you know that you, the taxpayers, paid for his salary and benefits while he was running George W. Bush’s political campaign day after day inside the White House? . . . .
Tags: Karl Rove
progressive
Remember the day after the election last November, a triumphant newly elected (for the first time) President George W. Bush introduced to a national television audience a beaming Karl Rove as "The Architect" of his winning campaign. Did you know that you, the taxpayers, paid for his salary and benefits while he was running George W. Bush’s political campaign day after day inside the White House? . . . .
Tags: Karl Rove
progressive
Doubts About Who Told Rove About Plame
Sources have told Time Magazine that Karl Rove may have learned about the identity of Valerie Plame from someone in the Bush Administration rather than from reporters as Rove has said.
"As the investigation tightens into the leak of the identity of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame, sources tell TIME some White House officials may have learned she was married to former ambassador Joseph Wilson weeks before his July 6, 2003, Op-Ed piece criticizing the Administration. That prospect increases the chances that White House official Karl Rove and others learned about Plame from within the Administration rather than from media contacts. Rove has told investigators he believes he learned of her directly or indirectly from reporters, according to his lawyer. " Hat tip to Political Wire
Tags: karl rove
Valerie Plame
"As the investigation tightens into the leak of the identity of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame, sources tell TIME some White House officials may have learned she was married to former ambassador Joseph Wilson weeks before his July 6, 2003, Op-Ed piece criticizing the Administration. That prospect increases the chances that White House official Karl Rove and others learned about Plame from within the Administration rather than from media contacts. Rove has told investigators he believes he learned of her directly or indirectly from reporters, according to his lawyer. " Hat tip to Political Wire
Tags: karl rove
Valerie Plame
Bush's Hostile Middle Finger
Did George W. Bush give the First Finger salute to the White House Press Corp? Or was he merely giving the thumbs up to his CAFTA Victory?
The White House actually called Americablog to say that it wasn’t Bush’s ‘hostile' middle finger that the world saw extended on Jay Leno, rather it was his elongated thumb. If anyone takes this White House at its word, they haven’t been paying attention.
Everyone Together Now: First Finger Salute Experiment
The best evidence supporting the contention that Bush flipped off the press is at The Litter Box:
"Try a little experiment for yourself. It’s OK. No one is looking. Hold your right arm up and extend your thumb. The thumb goes up and the rest of the hand goes up and right at about a 45 degree angle. There is a distinct “V” between thumb and hand. Nothing is visible to the left of the thumb.
Now try your index finger. The index finger goes up and the rest of the hand is all on the right. Again, nothing is visible to the left of the index finger, except maybe a little thumb bump, if your hand is unnaturally rotated inward. (Normally, when your arm is raised, the palm of your hand faces out, not forward.)
Now try it again with the, um, social finger. Even with the palm turned outward, part of your hand (the part extending down from the index finger) is visible to the left of the upraised finger.If you look closely at the picture, this is exactly what you see when you look at President Bush’s hand. Scientifically proven. I don’t know why anyone is surprised. It is something he obviously likes to do.” (see First Finger Salute close-up here) but don’t miss the killer photos at the Litter Box.
John at Americablog responds that he has a problem with the First Thumb Theory:
“I have to say, I'm not real convinced by the thumbs up excuse. It's possible, of course, but the video doesn't look like his thumb, and Bush has a history of flipping off reporters (there's a video we posted last fall of him flipping off a reporter in Texas while governor). (photo also)
There are also unconfirmed reports of Bush flipping off protesters last year. Bush called a NYT reporter a "major league asshole," and let's not even talk about VP Cheney's mouth. And while, yes, it would be really stupid of him to flip off reporters while on the Hill, well, it would be pretty stupid to lie to the nation about going to war, and to keep Karl Rove and Scooter Libby on staff after it's already been proven that they outed a CIA agent. I'm not going to put it past Bush to do something really stupid. ”
Go here for more on: "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."
White House denials have led some to go back to the video and view it again and again. Wonkette says: “Upon many, many viewings, we think it could be his thumb. His hideous, elongated thumb.”
The evidence for the thumbs up theory? Bush has a deformed hand? Keith Olbermann reports that while many of us got a good laugh from the episode, those who were there say it was the thumb. I like Keith, but he is not infallible. His report is at best vague and unconvincing; it falls far short of the evidence to the contrary.
There is one witness who claims it was the thumb, a reporter who works for the publisher of the ultra-Bush-friendly Wall Street Journal. Given that crossing Bush has resulted in lost jobs for many a man and at least one woman, this source, like the White House itself, is simply not enough to convince anyone other than militantly loyal Bush fans.
George W. Bush is not exactly a model for civility. For many of us the most telling evidence is that when all is said and done this President’s past behavior provides no reason whatsoever to believe that he would not stoop to unpresidential behavior. Whether Bush targets journalists or world leaders, civility is simply not his forte.
The White House actually called Americablog to say that it wasn’t Bush’s ‘hostile' middle finger that the world saw extended on Jay Leno, rather it was his elongated thumb. If anyone takes this White House at its word, they haven’t been paying attention.
Everyone Together Now: First Finger Salute Experiment
The best evidence supporting the contention that Bush flipped off the press is at The Litter Box:
"Try a little experiment for yourself. It’s OK. No one is looking. Hold your right arm up and extend your thumb. The thumb goes up and the rest of the hand goes up and right at about a 45 degree angle. There is a distinct “V” between thumb and hand. Nothing is visible to the left of the thumb.
Now try your index finger. The index finger goes up and the rest of the hand is all on the right. Again, nothing is visible to the left of the index finger, except maybe a little thumb bump, if your hand is unnaturally rotated inward. (Normally, when your arm is raised, the palm of your hand faces out, not forward.)
Now try it again with the, um, social finger. Even with the palm turned outward, part of your hand (the part extending down from the index finger) is visible to the left of the upraised finger.If you look closely at the picture, this is exactly what you see when you look at President Bush’s hand. Scientifically proven. I don’t know why anyone is surprised. It is something he obviously likes to do.” (see First Finger Salute close-up here) but don’t miss the killer photos at the Litter Box.
John at Americablog responds that he has a problem with the First Thumb Theory:
“I have to say, I'm not real convinced by the thumbs up excuse. It's possible, of course, but the video doesn't look like his thumb, and Bush has a history of flipping off reporters (there's a video we posted last fall of him flipping off a reporter in Texas while governor). (photo also)
There are also unconfirmed reports of Bush flipping off protesters last year. Bush called a NYT reporter a "major league asshole," and let's not even talk about VP Cheney's mouth. And while, yes, it would be really stupid of him to flip off reporters while on the Hill, well, it would be pretty stupid to lie to the nation about going to war, and to keep Karl Rove and Scooter Libby on staff after it's already been proven that they outed a CIA agent. I'm not going to put it past Bush to do something really stupid. ”
Go here for more on: "There's Adam Clymer, major league asshole from the New York Times."
White House denials have led some to go back to the video and view it again and again. Wonkette says: “Upon many, many viewings, we think it could be his thumb. His hideous, elongated thumb.”
The evidence for the thumbs up theory? Bush has a deformed hand? Keith Olbermann reports that while many of us got a good laugh from the episode, those who were there say it was the thumb. I like Keith, but he is not infallible. His report is at best vague and unconvincing; it falls far short of the evidence to the contrary.
There is one witness who claims it was the thumb, a reporter who works for the publisher of the ultra-Bush-friendly Wall Street Journal. Given that crossing Bush has resulted in lost jobs for many a man and at least one woman, this source, like the White House itself, is simply not enough to convince anyone other than militantly loyal Bush fans.
George W. Bush is not exactly a model for civility. For many of us the most telling evidence is that when all is said and done this President’s past behavior provides no reason whatsoever to believe that he would not stoop to unpresidential behavior. Whether Bush targets journalists or world leaders, civility is simply not his forte.
Prince of Pot Busted: US Has Its Way With Canada
In a post appropriately titled: Canada Officially 51st State Now, Linda Nall provides the details of how the U.S. ordered Canadian police to aid them in the the arrest of Marc Emery, famed marijuana activist and publisher of the magazine Cannabis Culture.
"The search warrants were authorized at the highest levels of the provincial government in concert with a cross-border US-Canada law enforcement pact created by a US-authored Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters treaty (MLAT) between the US and Canada.
The US has issued extradition orders for Marc Emery, who was arrested while traveling in Halifax to a hemp festival; two other Emery associates, including the media icon known as “Marijuana Man,” were arrested in Vancouver.
In a major press conference held in Seattle, American officials accused Emery of “conspiracy to produce marijuana and distribute marijuana seeds, and money laundering." The DEA and other agencies are claiming that by selling seeds to pot-growing Americans, Emery engaged in a criminal enterprise with the growers.
In the eyes of his accusers, providing marijuana seeds is the same as selling marijuana produced from those seeds."Their activities resulted in the growing of tens of thousands of marijuana plants in America," claimed US federal attorney Jeff Sullivan. "[Emery] was involved, allegedly, in an illegal distribution of marijuana in [the United States.] He is a drug dealer." "
Hell, in the U.S., pretty well anybody can be classified as a drug dealer. That's how we fund government. Catch someone with marijuana seeds, or say you did, call them a dealer, seize their bank accounts, house, car. Voila! You now have funds for tax breaks for the wealthy and weapons of mass destruction, but, sorry, nothing for healthcare.
In Tennessee, if police say you have been caught with more than 42.5 ounces of pot, or a little bitty pot plant, within days armed goons in flak jackets and jack boots will appear at your door to demand your car, your home, your bank account and anything else they can think of.
No trial, no conviction is necessary. They'll start selling your stuff before you go to trial.
This law became effective in January 2005. The state is currently being flooded with lawsuits. If there is any justice left in this country, the people will win. But the people will also lose. Once the state gets through settling the slew of lawsuits, it will turn to the people and say, sorry, we have no money left for services (as usual).
But I digress. Back to the Prince of Pot. If the U.S. succeeds in persuading Canada to let them have Emery, he can get life - for selling seeds. They say he has made $3 million selling seeds.
Translation: everything he owns is their's, and this ain't the land of the free.
Canadians are pissed:
About 200 people rallied in Vancouver on Saturday to protest the arrest of three B.C. Marijuana Party members, including leader Marc Emery.
One demonstrator sarcastically told CTV News Vancouver: "I'm an American, and I just wanted to visit our latest colony and see if all our Canadian slaves are behaving in a properly respectful way, because that's really what happened yesterday -- the Canadian police became a branch of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)."
drug war
Civil Rights
marijuana
"The search warrants were authorized at the highest levels of the provincial government in concert with a cross-border US-Canada law enforcement pact created by a US-authored Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters treaty (MLAT) between the US and Canada.
The US has issued extradition orders for Marc Emery, who was arrested while traveling in Halifax to a hemp festival; two other Emery associates, including the media icon known as “Marijuana Man,” were arrested in Vancouver.
In a major press conference held in Seattle, American officials accused Emery of “conspiracy to produce marijuana and distribute marijuana seeds, and money laundering." The DEA and other agencies are claiming that by selling seeds to pot-growing Americans, Emery engaged in a criminal enterprise with the growers.
In the eyes of his accusers, providing marijuana seeds is the same as selling marijuana produced from those seeds."Their activities resulted in the growing of tens of thousands of marijuana plants in America," claimed US federal attorney Jeff Sullivan. "[Emery] was involved, allegedly, in an illegal distribution of marijuana in [the United States.] He is a drug dealer." "
Hell, in the U.S., pretty well anybody can be classified as a drug dealer. That's how we fund government. Catch someone with marijuana seeds, or say you did, call them a dealer, seize their bank accounts, house, car. Voila! You now have funds for tax breaks for the wealthy and weapons of mass destruction, but, sorry, nothing for healthcare.
In Tennessee, if police say you have been caught with more than 42.5 ounces of pot, or a little bitty pot plant, within days armed goons in flak jackets and jack boots will appear at your door to demand your car, your home, your bank account and anything else they can think of.
No trial, no conviction is necessary. They'll start selling your stuff before you go to trial.
This law became effective in January 2005. The state is currently being flooded with lawsuits. If there is any justice left in this country, the people will win. But the people will also lose. Once the state gets through settling the slew of lawsuits, it will turn to the people and say, sorry, we have no money left for services (as usual).
But I digress. Back to the Prince of Pot. If the U.S. succeeds in persuading Canada to let them have Emery, he can get life - for selling seeds. They say he has made $3 million selling seeds.
Translation: everything he owns is their's, and this ain't the land of the free.
Canadians are pissed:
About 200 people rallied in Vancouver on Saturday to protest the arrest of three B.C. Marijuana Party members, including leader Marc Emery.
One demonstrator sarcastically told CTV News Vancouver: "I'm an American, and I just wanted to visit our latest colony and see if all our Canadian slaves are behaving in a properly respectful way, because that's really what happened yesterday -- the Canadian police became a branch of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)."
drug war
Civil Rights
marijuana
Laughing Behind John Bolton's Back
``John Bolton is a person who, in his personal relationship with government employees, has been abominable, mean, unreasonable and bizarre.'' --Harry Reid, Senate Democratic leader
Obviously, the man is well qualified to be appointed to high office by Bush. Bolton's resume is enhanced yet further by the fact that he was recently caught lying to Congress.
That's good enough for Bush:
"Bush is expected to bypass the Senate and give Bolton a ``recess appointment'' as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations as early as Monday. Bolton would be able to serve until January 2007, when a new Congress is sworn in."
Just in case the world, or the United Nations, did not already despise us, Bush is always on the job. The folks at the U.N. may have to put up with Bully Bolton, but you know they'll be laughing behind his back.
Poor John Bolton couldn't get confirmed by a Republican Senate. (heh, heh)
Tags: John Bolton
United Nations
democrats
bush
Obviously, the man is well qualified to be appointed to high office by Bush. Bolton's resume is enhanced yet further by the fact that he was recently caught lying to Congress.
That's good enough for Bush:
"Bush is expected to bypass the Senate and give Bolton a ``recess appointment'' as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations as early as Monday. Bolton would be able to serve until January 2007, when a new Congress is sworn in."
Just in case the world, or the United Nations, did not already despise us, Bush is always on the job. The folks at the U.N. may have to put up with Bully Bolton, but you know they'll be laughing behind his back.
Poor John Bolton couldn't get confirmed by a Republican Senate. (heh, heh)
Tags: John Bolton
United Nations
democrats
bush
Love-In-Action Shatters Lives
"A gay man and a straight preacher started Love in Action in California in 1973. The gay man left. Author Wayne Besen released an explosive letter today by Love In Action's co-Founder and former ex-gay John Evans, which rebukes gay conversion groups saying that they "shattered lives".
The group he started has recently made headlines because it runs a boot camp for gay teens called "Refuge" . . . Aytpical Joe has more
Tags: love in action
gay rights
gay
The group he started has recently made headlines because it runs a boot camp for gay teens called "Refuge" . . . Aytpical Joe has more
Tags: love in action
gay rights
gay
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Conservative Male Fear of a "Chick President"
Kevin Drum at Political Animal reports that conservative bloggers are obsessing over the fear that the upcoming ABC show, Commander-in-Chief, featuring Geena Davis as president, is a liberal plot to prepare the public for the reign of Hillary Clinton.
According to the Carpetbagger Report:
“James Dobson's Focus on the Family, in its daily alert to supporters, said yesterday that Geena Davis's character name, Mackenzie Allen, "sounds remarkably, poetically like" Hillary Clinton, which apparently is proof that the show is conspiring to help HRC in 2008.“
A blogger at The Colossus seems really worried:
"[T]his show is a nefarious plot to advance the notion of a Hillary Clinton presidency. The thought is that if we, the submoronic television viewers, get used to seeing a woman president on TV, we'll be more inclined to vote for one in 2008. This is what the TV industry thinks. They don't view us as being rational actors, able to vote for a President based on our own reasoning, but instead as sheep to be herded and trained."
The Corner includes a slew of posts denigrating, predicting the failure of, and just plain old worrying about the very idea of a show featuring a woman President. The site features posts with what are apparently meant to be exceedingly clever titles, such as:
THE BREAST WING [Warren Bell]
GEENA DAVIS'S EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE [John Podhoretz]
THE OVULAR OFFICE [Jonah Goldberg]
Jonah Goldberg says the show will fail. He says it so many times it begins to sound like his most fervent prayer:
"Doomed, the show is doomed."
"Doomed, doomed I tell you."
"[I]t will stink on ice."
Jonah predicts a “chick president” will be boring:
“Because a chick-president isn't remotely as controversial as Hollywood liberals think it is. A whole season of "I am woman hear me roar" plotlines will dull the pants off people, and undermine feminist arguments to boot.
It will be dull because who cares how much more difficult picking a Supreme Court nominee, raising/lowering taxes, bombing terrorist camps, whatever is for a female president? Indeed, it will grow increasingly implausible for the audience to believe that there would be any significant difference for a chick president to do anything of these things, particularly after she proved herself capable of doing the job. And the more the producers try to hammer feminist issues into every situation, the duller or more tedious it will get.
Oh, and then there's problem that Geena Davis is no longer watchable.
Doomed, doomed I tell you."
Gee, Jonah, is it really true that your worst fear is that it will be boring? What could be done to spice it up for you? Maybe the “chick president” will give everyone who does the daily work of caring for children and the elderly two votes and a hefty family allowance check to boot. Two votes for 98% of the women and one vote for 98% of the men. Think about it. Wait, hold that thought. Better yet, all women would get two votes. You might call it reparations for all those years women did without any votes.
What do you think Jonah? Would that take the edge off the dullness of a “chick president”?
Or, how about if the “chick president” declares a War on Patriarchy? With her newfound War Powers she might start by proclaiming that Feminist Studies courses will be taught in all elementary, middle, high schools and colleges with the goal of the eventual integration of feminist thought, including women’s history of course, in the school curriculum across all disciplines and grade levels.
Oh and for sure the chick president will mandate (she’ll also want to work on the language) that universal quality education across class and race will be provided by highly compensated women and men.
Certainly a chick president could not long tolerate a grossly male dominated congress in Washington or in the states. How would it look for a woman to lord it over all those men? She would have to institute measures designed to assure immediate Equal Representation (gasp).
The chick president would call it equality.
You would call it quotas.
With Equal Representation, women and LGBT persons from a multiplicity of races would set to work making scary New Rules. Equality would become the number one value of the nation. The national anthem would extol the virtues of values such as equality and cooperation.
In an effort to promote greater family and social responsibility among men, all males would be required to complete childcare courses in middle school, high school and college.
With Equal Representation in place, reproductive freedom would finally be recognized as a fundamental civil right. After all, with feminist principles taught in schools and women primed to take their equal share of power, it would become unthinkable for women to be unable to control their reproductive lives.
But in the interest of keeping things exciting, or the ratings up, expect a predominantly female Congress to turn their attention to legislation limiting the reproductive lives of all men who fail to do their best to care for the children they have produced. Great care would be taken to make the procedure as painless as possible.
The Congresswomen would call restrictions on the reproductive freedom of men fairness.
You might think of it as payback.
With women’s history and feminist thought in every classroom in the nation, it wouldn’t be long at all before the country would see a dramatic increase in the number of feminist women and pro feminist men. You might want to watch the drama with a box of Kleenex at your side, Jonah.
The sex wage gap would have to go. The U.S. Constitution would have to be completely rewritten by women and men “It might start something like this: All women and men are created equal . . . “
The workplace would be transformed into a family friendly system; all jobs would be designed for primary caregivers. Quality childcare centers would be as free and plentiful as public parks. Making money would still be important, Jonah, but it would no longer be the nation’s number one value.
There would still be free speech, so the show would feature characters such as yourself who would be free to whine and complain all they liked. They could write futile letters to their Congresswomen.
Rehabilitation centers would have to be established for patriarchal men. For men such as yourself Jonah, for those so resistant to change that they cannot function in a world in which men do not reign supreme, maximum security Refuges for Displaced Patriarchs would be provided.
It’s only a tv show, Jonah. But let's hope it's one worthy of all your fears.
Tags: feminism
Gender
right wing
progressive
Hillary Clinton
According to the Carpetbagger Report:
“James Dobson's Focus on the Family, in its daily alert to supporters, said yesterday that Geena Davis's character name, Mackenzie Allen, "sounds remarkably, poetically like" Hillary Clinton, which apparently is proof that the show is conspiring to help HRC in 2008.“
A blogger at The Colossus seems really worried:
"[T]his show is a nefarious plot to advance the notion of a Hillary Clinton presidency. The thought is that if we, the submoronic television viewers, get used to seeing a woman president on TV, we'll be more inclined to vote for one in 2008. This is what the TV industry thinks. They don't view us as being rational actors, able to vote for a President based on our own reasoning, but instead as sheep to be herded and trained."
The Corner includes a slew of posts denigrating, predicting the failure of, and just plain old worrying about the very idea of a show featuring a woman President. The site features posts with what are apparently meant to be exceedingly clever titles, such as:
THE BREAST WING [Warren Bell]
GEENA DAVIS'S EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE [John Podhoretz]
THE OVULAR OFFICE [Jonah Goldberg]
Jonah Goldberg says the show will fail. He says it so many times it begins to sound like his most fervent prayer:
"Doomed, the show is doomed."
"Doomed, doomed I tell you."
"[I]t will stink on ice."
Jonah predicts a “chick president” will be boring:
“Because a chick-president isn't remotely as controversial as Hollywood liberals think it is. A whole season of "I am woman hear me roar" plotlines will dull the pants off people, and undermine feminist arguments to boot.
It will be dull because who cares how much more difficult picking a Supreme Court nominee, raising/lowering taxes, bombing terrorist camps, whatever is for a female president? Indeed, it will grow increasingly implausible for the audience to believe that there would be any significant difference for a chick president to do anything of these things, particularly after she proved herself capable of doing the job. And the more the producers try to hammer feminist issues into every situation, the duller or more tedious it will get.
Oh, and then there's problem that Geena Davis is no longer watchable.
Doomed, doomed I tell you."
Gee, Jonah, is it really true that your worst fear is that it will be boring? What could be done to spice it up for you? Maybe the “chick president” will give everyone who does the daily work of caring for children and the elderly two votes and a hefty family allowance check to boot. Two votes for 98% of the women and one vote for 98% of the men. Think about it. Wait, hold that thought. Better yet, all women would get two votes. You might call it reparations for all those years women did without any votes.
What do you think Jonah? Would that take the edge off the dullness of a “chick president”?
Or, how about if the “chick president” declares a War on Patriarchy? With her newfound War Powers she might start by proclaiming that Feminist Studies courses will be taught in all elementary, middle, high schools and colleges with the goal of the eventual integration of feminist thought, including women’s history of course, in the school curriculum across all disciplines and grade levels.
Oh and for sure the chick president will mandate (she’ll also want to work on the language) that universal quality education across class and race will be provided by highly compensated women and men.
Certainly a chick president could not long tolerate a grossly male dominated congress in Washington or in the states. How would it look for a woman to lord it over all those men? She would have to institute measures designed to assure immediate Equal Representation (gasp).
The chick president would call it equality.
You would call it quotas.
With Equal Representation, women and LGBT persons from a multiplicity of races would set to work making scary New Rules. Equality would become the number one value of the nation. The national anthem would extol the virtues of values such as equality and cooperation.
In an effort to promote greater family and social responsibility among men, all males would be required to complete childcare courses in middle school, high school and college.
With Equal Representation in place, reproductive freedom would finally be recognized as a fundamental civil right. After all, with feminist principles taught in schools and women primed to take their equal share of power, it would become unthinkable for women to be unable to control their reproductive lives.
But in the interest of keeping things exciting, or the ratings up, expect a predominantly female Congress to turn their attention to legislation limiting the reproductive lives of all men who fail to do their best to care for the children they have produced. Great care would be taken to make the procedure as painless as possible.
The Congresswomen would call restrictions on the reproductive freedom of men fairness.
You might think of it as payback.
With women’s history and feminist thought in every classroom in the nation, it wouldn’t be long at all before the country would see a dramatic increase in the number of feminist women and pro feminist men. You might want to watch the drama with a box of Kleenex at your side, Jonah.
The sex wage gap would have to go. The U.S. Constitution would have to be completely rewritten by women and men “It might start something like this: All women and men are created equal . . . “
The workplace would be transformed into a family friendly system; all jobs would be designed for primary caregivers. Quality childcare centers would be as free and plentiful as public parks. Making money would still be important, Jonah, but it would no longer be the nation’s number one value.
There would still be free speech, so the show would feature characters such as yourself who would be free to whine and complain all they liked. They could write futile letters to their Congresswomen.
Rehabilitation centers would have to be established for patriarchal men. For men such as yourself Jonah, for those so resistant to change that they cannot function in a world in which men do not reign supreme, maximum security Refuges for Displaced Patriarchs would be provided.
It’s only a tv show, Jonah. But let's hope it's one worthy of all your fears.
Tags: feminism
Gender
right wing
progressive
Hillary Clinton
Friday, July 29, 2005
Gays Rock, GAYSROK, Gay Rights, GAYRYTS
Judge Jane Phan has ruled that Elizabeth Solomon can obtain custom license plates reading:
GAYSROK and GAYRYTS
Hey, this could be coming to your state!
The wise (woman) judge ruled:
"The narrow issue before us is whether a reasonable person would believe the terms 'gays are OK' and 'gay rights' are, themselves, offensive to good taste and decency. It is the conclusion of the commission that a reasonable person would not." [AP]
And that about sums it up. We just happen to have a heck of lot of unreasonable folks in this sad nation. But there is no reason why they should be permitted to make everyone else as miserable and unreasonable as they obviously are.
Courtesy of Lindsay at Majikthise
GAYSROK and GAYRYTS
Hey, this could be coming to your state!
The wise (woman) judge ruled:
"The narrow issue before us is whether a reasonable person would believe the terms 'gays are OK' and 'gay rights' are, themselves, offensive to good taste and decency. It is the conclusion of the commission that a reasonable person would not." [AP]
And that about sums it up. We just happen to have a heck of lot of unreasonable folks in this sad nation. But there is no reason why they should be permitted to make everyone else as miserable and unreasonable as they obviously are.
Courtesy of Lindsay at Majikthise
Tags: Politics
Harold Ford (D) Stands Up TN Dems - Again
Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D) was once again too busy to make an appearance at a Tennessee Democratic event. And, at least one delegate at the Shelby County Democratic Party Convention was pissed. (Via Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This)
Harold Ford hopes to replace Senator Frist in 2006.
Kenneth Neill, delegate from the 92nd House District, blasted Ford in a letter published online at the Memphis Flyer.
Well, it was there last night.
But when I checked the link a few secs ago, it was nowhere to be found.
I did, however, save a small excerpt:
"I would say, however, that your absence from Saturday's proceeding was more than a little embarrassing. And it was a downright insult to your friends, to those honest and sincere Shelby County Democrats who worked so diligently on your behalf to get the candidate whom you had endorsed elected as Shelby County chairman. They did not succeed, and those individuals were made to look foolish. That is neither good for you, nor good for the Democratic Party. "
Sincerely,
Kenneth Neill
Shelby County Democratic Party
Delegate from the 92nd House District
The Memphis Flyer does have a story up about the event (at least, it's there at this moment). It discusses the fact that Ford's choice for Chair of the county party lost!
Earlier this month the Congressman cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Democracy for Tennessee conference held here in Nashville. Some say that Ford will travel to your event only if you have money and lots of it. But, of course, what's really on the minds of those who are unhappy with Ford is his alarming record of voting with Republicans.
There is a rising tide of anger among rank and file Dems in this state over the fact that you can't tell a Democrat from a Republican. Many of us are fed up with Democratic candidates and elected officials who could just as easily be Republican.
State Senator Rosalind Kurita (D) - who is Ford's only opponent for Senator Bill Frist's seat - attended both events.
Harold Ford hopes to replace Senator Frist in 2006.
Kenneth Neill, delegate from the 92nd House District, blasted Ford in a letter published online at the Memphis Flyer.
Well, it was there last night.
But when I checked the link a few secs ago, it was nowhere to be found.
I did, however, save a small excerpt:
"I would say, however, that your absence from Saturday's proceeding was more than a little embarrassing. And it was a downright insult to your friends, to those honest and sincere Shelby County Democrats who worked so diligently on your behalf to get the candidate whom you had endorsed elected as Shelby County chairman. They did not succeed, and those individuals were made to look foolish. That is neither good for you, nor good for the Democratic Party. "
Sincerely,
Kenneth Neill
Shelby County Democratic Party
Delegate from the 92nd House District
The Memphis Flyer does have a story up about the event (at least, it's there at this moment). It discusses the fact that Ford's choice for Chair of the county party lost!
Earlier this month the Congressman cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Democracy for Tennessee conference held here in Nashville. Some say that Ford will travel to your event only if you have money and lots of it. But, of course, what's really on the minds of those who are unhappy with Ford is his alarming record of voting with Republicans.
There is a rising tide of anger among rank and file Dems in this state over the fact that you can't tell a Democrat from a Republican. Many of us are fed up with Democratic candidates and elected officials who could just as easily be Republican.
State Senator Rosalind Kurita (D) - who is Ford's only opponent for Senator Bill Frist's seat - attended both events.
Tags: Democrats
Bush: Flipping Off Press or America? Time to Up the Meds!
Pam at Pam's House Blend has the picture and link to the video of Bush flipping off the White House Press Corp.
Or was he flipping off America?
His all time low approval rating does seem to be making the man more testy than usual. Time to up the dose of meds!
Pam also posts one of the best, or most accurate, descriptions of our dear leader that I've come across.
Here's the teaser:
"Flipping the bird to reporters. What was that about restoring honor and dignity to the White House? Bush is a low-life piece of pseudo-Christian trash that demeans the office in so many ways it's unimaginable. . . "
Read the rest . . .
UPDATE: See Bush's Hostile Middle Finger, a response to the claim that it was his thumb.
Or was he flipping off America?
His all time low approval rating does seem to be making the man more testy than usual. Time to up the dose of meds!
Pam also posts one of the best, or most accurate, descriptions of our dear leader that I've come across.
Here's the teaser:
"Flipping the bird to reporters. What was that about restoring honor and dignity to the White House? Bush is a low-life piece of pseudo-Christian trash that demeans the office in so many ways it's unimaginable. . . "
Read the rest . . .
UPDATE: See Bush's Hostile Middle Finger, a response to the claim that it was his thumb.
Tags: bush
Seven Dem Women-4-Roe Need Your Help
Here's the link to the website set up by the Seven Democratic Women who will most assuredly (please goddess) vote against Roberts if it appears that he will vote to overturn Roe. Please go and submit the question you would like them to ask Roberts.
Obviously, it won't hurt if they go to the confirmation hearings armed with a huge number of requests for Roberts to come clean on his position on Roe.
Here's my question:
Will you vote to overturn Roe?
The seven women are:
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Mary L. Landrieu
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Maria Cantwell
Sen. Hillary Clinton
" The women said they expect Roberts to answer questions on abortion. "
Senator Cantwell commented on the upcoming politics as usual, or how once again it will be men who decide whether or not women are free to make their own friggin' decisions. This is the kind of reality tv the public needs to see.
" "I can't wait for the picture to be shown on national television consistently through the hearings ... of a group of men and one woman deciding a very important issue," Cantwell said, referring to Feinstein. "Yes, she will speaking loud and clear, and so will that picture." "
Sen. Feinstein is the only woman on the Judiciary Committee.
When the hell are women going to have EQUAL REPRESENTATION?
Obviously, it won't hurt if they go to the confirmation hearings armed with a huge number of requests for Roberts to come clean on his position on Roe.
Here's my question:
Will you vote to overturn Roe?
The seven women are:
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Mary L. Landrieu
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Maria Cantwell
Sen. Hillary Clinton
" The women said they expect Roberts to answer questions on abortion. "
Senator Cantwell commented on the upcoming politics as usual, or how once again it will be men who decide whether or not women are free to make their own friggin' decisions. This is the kind of reality tv the public needs to see.
" "I can't wait for the picture to be shown on national television consistently through the hearings ... of a group of men and one woman deciding a very important issue," Cantwell said, referring to Feinstein. "Yes, she will speaking loud and clear, and so will that picture." "
Sen. Feinstein is the only woman on the Judiciary Committee.
When the hell are women going to have EQUAL REPRESENTATION?
Tags: supreme court
Thursday, July 28, 2005
15 Democratic Sellouts: Benedict Arnolds To Campaign Against
Two of the Benedict Arnolds on the short list are from Tennessee; one of them is my Congresssman - Jim Cooper. He also voted for the Patriot Act.
It will give me great pleasure to campaign against him.
Sirotablog:
Targeting the 15 Democratic sellouts
We now know who the 15 Democrats are that each undermined their party and America's middle class by casting the deciding vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The bill passed by one vote, meaning each of the 15 Democrats cast the deciding vote. When 27 Republicans vote against their own party leadership as they did on CAFTA, Democrats have only these 15 sellouts within their ranks - and groups like the DLC that pushed CAFTA - to blame for the fact that the Democratic Party has been relegated to permanent minority status.
The 15 Democratic sellouts were:
Melissa Bean (IL)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Henry Cuellar (TX)
Norm Dicks (WA)
Ruben Hinojosa (TX)
William Jefferson (LA)
Jim Matheson (UT)
Greg Meeks (NY)
Dennis Moore (KS)
Jim Moran (VA)
Solomon Ortiz (TX)
Ike Skelton (MO)
Vic Snyder (AR)
John Tanner (TN)
Ed Towns (NY)
Let's be clear - all of these people should never get a red cent from labor unions or the progressive community again, and that goes even for the ones who represent marginal districts. The idea that this was a "tough vote" for a Democrat who represents a swing district doesn't hold water - no one is getting voted out of office over voting against CAFTA, and voting for American workers. Remember, polls show that Americans are sick and tired of Congress passing these corporate-written "free" trade deals that sell out ordinary workers.
But, let's further break this down. Which of these 15 Members has CONSISTENTLY been selling out the Democratic Party and America's middle class? The way we find that out is by looking at other recent votes on key economic issues, such as the Bankruptcy Bill, and the bill to limit citizens' legal rights and protect corporations that abuse Americans.
Starting with bankruptcy, we get the list whittled down to 12: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Jefferson, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran, Ortiz, Skelton and Tanner.
Moving to the bill that limits citizens' legal rights and protects corporations that abuse ordinary Americans, the list gets whittled down to 9: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran and Tanner.
These are the 9 Democrats who are the difference between House Democrats being in the majority and the minority - they are the people who undermine the vast majority of honest/courageous Democrats who fight for ordinary people in Congress everyday. They are the ones who make it consistenly impossible for Democrats to deliver a message that they are the party that stands up for ordinary working people in this country. The fact is, if Democrats are going to be in the minority for the forseeable future, it would be better if these folks were defeated, because they do more harm than good to a party that desperately needs unity to let America knows what it stands for.
It will give me great pleasure to campaign against him.
Sirotablog:
Targeting the 15 Democratic sellouts
We now know who the 15 Democrats are that each undermined their party and America's middle class by casting the deciding vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The bill passed by one vote, meaning each of the 15 Democrats cast the deciding vote. When 27 Republicans vote against their own party leadership as they did on CAFTA, Democrats have only these 15 sellouts within their ranks - and groups like the DLC that pushed CAFTA - to blame for the fact that the Democratic Party has been relegated to permanent minority status.
The 15 Democratic sellouts were:
Melissa Bean (IL)
Jim Cooper (TN)
Henry Cuellar (TX)
Norm Dicks (WA)
Ruben Hinojosa (TX)
William Jefferson (LA)
Jim Matheson (UT)
Greg Meeks (NY)
Dennis Moore (KS)
Jim Moran (VA)
Solomon Ortiz (TX)
Ike Skelton (MO)
Vic Snyder (AR)
John Tanner (TN)
Ed Towns (NY)
Let's be clear - all of these people should never get a red cent from labor unions or the progressive community again, and that goes even for the ones who represent marginal districts. The idea that this was a "tough vote" for a Democrat who represents a swing district doesn't hold water - no one is getting voted out of office over voting against CAFTA, and voting for American workers. Remember, polls show that Americans are sick and tired of Congress passing these corporate-written "free" trade deals that sell out ordinary workers.
But, let's further break this down. Which of these 15 Members has CONSISTENTLY been selling out the Democratic Party and America's middle class? The way we find that out is by looking at other recent votes on key economic issues, such as the Bankruptcy Bill, and the bill to limit citizens' legal rights and protect corporations that abuse Americans.
Starting with bankruptcy, we get the list whittled down to 12: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Jefferson, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran, Ortiz, Skelton and Tanner.
Moving to the bill that limits citizens' legal rights and protects corporations that abuse ordinary Americans, the list gets whittled down to 9: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran and Tanner.
These are the 9 Democrats who are the difference between House Democrats being in the majority and the minority - they are the people who undermine the vast majority of honest/courageous Democrats who fight for ordinary people in Congress everyday. They are the ones who make it consistenly impossible for Democrats to deliver a message that they are the party that stands up for ordinary working people in this country. The fact is, if Democrats are going to be in the minority for the forseeable future, it would be better if these folks were defeated, because they do more harm than good to a party that desperately needs unity to let America knows what it stands for.
Tags: Democrats
Recalling Bill Clinton's Greatest Shame
It has been 9 years since Bill Clinton sold out poor women and children in return for a little political capital with the Republicans. I haven't forgotten. I haven't forgiven. I still have stories from the aftermath of welfare reform, stories that I collected for years after he signed the welfare reform bill.
They are stories about children who died because their mom was doing important work at Pizza Hut or Burger King instead of doing the seemingly unimportant work of caring for children. They are stories about moms who were forced to report to low wage jobs even when adequate or safe childcare was unavailable.
The number one assumption of the welfare reform law (other than that single moms are the scum of the earth) is that caring for children is NOT work. People who do it full time are lazy and deserve your contempt.
People who do it are almost always women.
It was an interesting time to study our culture. Under the guise of classism, misogyny was free to rear its hideous head. Day after day, the Great Welfare Reform Debate raged on the front pages of all the newspapers. All the experts weighed in. They wrote books. They condemned the women as lazy welfare queens who lived a life of leisure. They said outrageous things like 'wherever single mothers live you will find crime and drugs.'
The experts were almost always male. They were people who have never ever been charged with the 24/7 responsibilty of keeping children alive and well. They were people who defined 'work' as something you do for money. In every analysis that counted, any job that paid a wage was deemed of far more value than the work of caring for children.
After that debate, it is a wonder that there is a woman alive in this country who is brave or foolish enough to be a stay at home mom.
This post at Our Word, a very cool feminist blog, is responsible for bringing back my memories of Bill Clinton's greatest shame:
Monday Afternoon at the Welfare Office
"So I spent a lovely couple of hours at the obligatorily ugly welfare office today, me and about 200 other moms & kids, waiting to see my worker for my yearly review in order to continue to get my monthly allotment of $152 in food stamps that comes between my family and starvation." More . . .
They are stories about children who died because their mom was doing important work at Pizza Hut or Burger King instead of doing the seemingly unimportant work of caring for children. They are stories about moms who were forced to report to low wage jobs even when adequate or safe childcare was unavailable.
The number one assumption of the welfare reform law (other than that single moms are the scum of the earth) is that caring for children is NOT work. People who do it full time are lazy and deserve your contempt.
People who do it are almost always women.
It was an interesting time to study our culture. Under the guise of classism, misogyny was free to rear its hideous head. Day after day, the Great Welfare Reform Debate raged on the front pages of all the newspapers. All the experts weighed in. They wrote books. They condemned the women as lazy welfare queens who lived a life of leisure. They said outrageous things like 'wherever single mothers live you will find crime and drugs.'
The experts were almost always male. They were people who have never ever been charged with the 24/7 responsibilty of keeping children alive and well. They were people who defined 'work' as something you do for money. In every analysis that counted, any job that paid a wage was deemed of far more value than the work of caring for children.
After that debate, it is a wonder that there is a woman alive in this country who is brave or foolish enough to be a stay at home mom.
This post at Our Word, a very cool feminist blog, is responsible for bringing back my memories of Bill Clinton's greatest shame:
Monday Afternoon at the Welfare Office
"So I spent a lovely couple of hours at the obligatorily ugly welfare office today, me and about 200 other moms & kids, waiting to see my worker for my yearly review in order to continue to get my monthly allotment of $152 in food stamps that comes between my family and starvation." More . . .
Tags: feminism
America: An UnChristian Nation
The excerpt below is from Harper's, and it's full of embarrassing and shameful statistics that you'll never hear Bush speak of. While the real 'state of our nation' is no surprise to many of us, it's interesting to see the deplorable image contrasted with the ceaseless ear-splitting Christian rhetoric.
It seems that the more unchristian our nation behaves, the more we doth protest:
"America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior.
In 2004, as a share of our economy, we ranked second to last, after Italy, among developed countries in government foreign aid. Per capita we each provide fifteen cents a day in official development assistance to poor countries. And it’s not because we were giving to private charities for relief work instead. Such funding increases our average daily donation by just six pennies, to twenty-one cents. It’s also not because Americans were too busy taking care of their own; nearly 18 percent of American children lived in poverty (compared with, say, 8 percent in Sweden).
In fact, by pretty much any measure of caring for the least among us you want to propose—childhood nutrition, infant mortality, access to preschool—we come in nearly last among the rich nations, and often by a wide margin. The point is not just that (as everyone already knows) the American nation trails badly in all these categories; it’s that the overwhelmingly Christian American nation trails badly in all these categories, categories to which Jesus paid particular attention. And it’s not as if the numbers are getting better: the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported last year that the number of households that were “food insecure with hunger” had climbed more than 26 percent between 1999 and 2003. "
There's more . . .
Courtesy of Our Word
It seems that the more unchristian our nation behaves, the more we doth protest:
"America is simultaneously the most professedly Christian of the developed nations and the least Christian in its behavior.
In 2004, as a share of our economy, we ranked second to last, after Italy, among developed countries in government foreign aid. Per capita we each provide fifteen cents a day in official development assistance to poor countries. And it’s not because we were giving to private charities for relief work instead. Such funding increases our average daily donation by just six pennies, to twenty-one cents. It’s also not because Americans were too busy taking care of their own; nearly 18 percent of American children lived in poverty (compared with, say, 8 percent in Sweden).
In fact, by pretty much any measure of caring for the least among us you want to propose—childhood nutrition, infant mortality, access to preschool—we come in nearly last among the rich nations, and often by a wide margin. The point is not just that (as everyone already knows) the American nation trails badly in all these categories; it’s that the overwhelmingly Christian American nation trails badly in all these categories, categories to which Jesus paid particular attention. And it’s not as if the numbers are getting better: the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported last year that the number of households that were “food insecure with hunger” had climbed more than 26 percent between 1999 and 2003. "
There's more . . .
Courtesy of Our Word
Tags: Politics
Cheney is a 'Liar': Quoting A Woman Who Knows
Quote of the Week:
“The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself. All we need is one more liar.” ---Helen Thomas
Hat tip to Wonkette
“The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself. All we need is one more liar.” ---Helen Thomas
Hat tip to Wonkette
Tags: bush
Hundreds of Boy Scouts Collapse While Waiting for No-Show Bush
Bush cancelled his trip to the Boy Scouts Jamboree due to bad weather.
Meanwhile, more than 300 scouts became sick from bad weather, or from extreme heat, while waiting patiently for Bush to show. The heat index was at 119 degrees!
CBC News:
"[B]efore the president's appearance was called off, many Scouts fell ill from temperatures that rose into the upper 30s C, made worse by high humidity.
One-half of those were treated and released from the base hospital, about five kilometres from the event arena. Dozens more were sent to other hospitals, where they were in stable condition Wednesday night, said Gregg Shields, a Jamboree spokesman.
Soldiers carried Boy Scouts on stretchers to the base hospital and others were airlifted from the event.
Jamboree officials called for emergency assistance from surrounding areas and ambulances transported Scouts during a storm that brought high winds and lightning. "
Meanwhile, more than 300 scouts became sick from bad weather, or from extreme heat, while waiting patiently for Bush to show. The heat index was at 119 degrees!
CBC News:
"[B]efore the president's appearance was called off, many Scouts fell ill from temperatures that rose into the upper 30s C, made worse by high humidity.
One-half of those were treated and released from the base hospital, about five kilometres from the event arena. Dozens more were sent to other hospitals, where they were in stable condition Wednesday night, said Gregg Shields, a Jamboree spokesman.
Soldiers carried Boy Scouts on stretchers to the base hospital and others were airlifted from the event.
Jamboree officials called for emergency assistance from surrounding areas and ambulances transported Scouts during a storm that brought high winds and lightning. "
Tags: bush
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Where Do Republican Women Stand on Birth Control?
Jesus General has called for the Republican women of PA to join Senator Santorum's campaign to end birth control. Santorum has recently come out with the view that the landmark ruling of Griswold v. Connecticut was wrong.
In 1965, Griswold legalized the use of birth control by married couples (gasp).
In those days no one could foresee that the white birth rate would eventually decline to such an extent that minorities are now expected to one day equal or outnumber the white population.
I have yet to find a more plausible explanation for the conservative hysteria over birth control than the fear that white males may one day be in the minority. I suspect that many Republicans are fully aware that unless something is done to stop the decline of the white (male) birth rate, the Republican Party, the party of white men, is headed for its deathbed.
Jesus General raises an interesting question: Exactly where do Republican women stand on the question of birth control?
The General's call to Republican women:
"Last night on CNN, Sen. Rick Santorum proudly stood up and declared his opposition to Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court decision that legalized contraception. Now, radical feminists, who for so many years have worked tirelessly to destroy motherhood by encouraging birth control, are mobilizing their supporters to attack Sen. Santorum. It's up to women like you to stop them."
If you'd like to ask the Republican women of PA where they stand on birth control, Jesus General has their addresses.
In 1965, Griswold legalized the use of birth control by married couples (gasp).
In those days no one could foresee that the white birth rate would eventually decline to such an extent that minorities are now expected to one day equal or outnumber the white population.
I have yet to find a more plausible explanation for the conservative hysteria over birth control than the fear that white males may one day be in the minority. I suspect that many Republicans are fully aware that unless something is done to stop the decline of the white (male) birth rate, the Republican Party, the party of white men, is headed for its deathbed.
Jesus General raises an interesting question: Exactly where do Republican women stand on the question of birth control?
The General's call to Republican women:
"Last night on CNN, Sen. Rick Santorum proudly stood up and declared his opposition to Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court decision that legalized contraception. Now, radical feminists, who for so many years have worked tirelessly to destroy motherhood by encouraging birth control, are mobilizing their supporters to attack Sen. Santorum. It's up to women like you to stop them."
If you'd like to ask the Republican women of PA where they stand on birth control, Jesus General has their addresses.
Tags: reproductive rights
Support for Roe Up; Bush Down
According to the new Quinnipiac poll:
"American voters support the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v Wade decision 65 - 30 percent, the highest level of support in two years of national polls by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
By a 61 - 32 percent margin, American voters say U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts should publicly state his position on abortion."
As suport for Roe climbs, support for our dear leader continues to hit rock bottom:
"American voters disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing 53 - 41 percent, his lowest approval rating since becoming President. This compares to a 50 - 44 percent disapproval in a May 25 Quinnipiac University poll."
Via Political Wire
"American voters support the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v Wade decision 65 - 30 percent, the highest level of support in two years of national polls by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
By a 61 - 32 percent margin, American voters say U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts should publicly state his position on abortion."
As suport for Roe climbs, support for our dear leader continues to hit rock bottom:
"American voters disapprove of the job President George W. Bush is doing 53 - 41 percent, his lowest approval rating since becoming President. This compares to a 50 - 44 percent disapproval in a May 25 Quinnipiac University poll."
Via Political Wire
Tags: bush
51% of Americans Say Bush Lied
A new poll finds that 51% of Americans believe that Bush lied or "deliberately misled" the nation about his reasons for invading Iraq.
The poll also finds that 58% of Americans do not believe the U.S. will be able to force a stable democratic government down the throats of the Iraqi people.
The poll also finds that 58% of Americans do not believe the U.S. will be able to force a stable democratic government down the throats of the Iraqi people.
Tags: bush
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Rovegate: Dems Document GOP Complicity
CIA Leak Case By the Numbers:
743 Days Without Republicans Investigating CIA Leak Case
Number of days after the article outing Ambassador Wilson's wife appeared that the White House required its staff to turn over evidence relating to the leak: 85
Approximate hours between then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez's advance notification to White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that he would require staff to turn over evidence relating to the case and formal notification to staff of that requirement: 12
Minimum number of times an Administration official leaked classified information about the identity of Ambassador Wilson's wife: 11
Minimum number of times after the beginning of the Justice Department's investigation that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed Karl Rove was not involved: 5
Number of press conferences since evidence linking Karl Rove to the leak was made public where Press Secretary McClellan has refused to comment on the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation: 7
Minimum number of hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate accusations against President Clinton involving the "Whitewater" case: 20
Total hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate the leak of the covert identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife: 0
Via Light Up the Darkness
743 Days Without Republicans Investigating CIA Leak Case
Number of days after the article outing Ambassador Wilson's wife appeared that the White House required its staff to turn over evidence relating to the leak: 85
Approximate hours between then-White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez's advance notification to White House Chief of Staff Andy Card that he would require staff to turn over evidence relating to the case and formal notification to staff of that requirement: 12
Minimum number of times an Administration official leaked classified information about the identity of Ambassador Wilson's wife: 11
Minimum number of times after the beginning of the Justice Department's investigation that White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan claimed Karl Rove was not involved: 5
Number of press conferences since evidence linking Karl Rove to the leak was made public where Press Secretary McClellan has refused to comment on the case, citing an ongoing criminal investigation: 7
Minimum number of hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate accusations against President Clinton involving the "Whitewater" case: 20
Total hearings held by Senate Republicans to investigate the leak of the covert identity of Ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife: 0
Via Light Up the Darkness
Tags: Democrat
Romney Vetoes Emergency Contraception; Says Roe is State Issue
In what can only pass for logic in a Republican mind, the Massachusetts Governor says he supports emergency contraception, just not the only emergency contraception anyone has ever heard of.
Perhaps the anti-choice Governor thinks emergency contraception is the withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation. I'd like to see that piece of legislation.
Flip-flopper Romney attempts to explain his position in an Op-ed here, in which he also takes issue with Roe, saying it should be left to the states to decide. In other words, he has presidential ambitions.
The Boston Globe: {snippets}
"Three years after expressing support for ''the substance" of Roe v. Wade, Governor Mitt Romney today criticizes the landmark ruling that legalized abortion and says the states should decide separately whether to allow it.
''I promised the people of Massachusetts that as governor I would not change the laws of the Commonwealth as they relate to abortion," Romney wrote in a veto letter to lawmakers. ''If taken soon enough, the so-called 'morning after' pill performs as a contraceptive. But in some cases, it can also act to prevent the implantation of the embryo. To those who believe that life begins at conception, the morning-after pill can destroy the human life that was created at the moment of fertilization."
As Romney touted his fulfillment of a campaign promise, supporters of the bill criticized him for breaking one.
They pointed out that on a questionnaire that abortion rights groups gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered yes to the question, ''Will you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception?" As the governor explained his decision to reporters inside his State House office, protesters in the hallway chanted: ''Mitt Romney, we want the pill. Keep your word, sign the bill!"
''Not only did he let down women and families in our state, but he has not kept his word," said Melissa Kogut, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. ''I think he's more concerned about the opinions of Iowa caucus goers than the opinion of women in our state."
Asked how yesterday's veto squares with his answer on the 2002 questionnaire, Romney argued that he supports emergency contraception, but not the sort envisioned in the bill.
''I do support expansion of emergency contraception; I have no problem with emergency contraception," he told reporters in his office. ''This product not only does that, but in some cases terminates life after conception. In that case, it ceases to be an emergency contraception bill and becomes an emergency abortion bill."
He did not elaborate. Supporters of the bill said they were perplexed by his logic, since the term ''emergency contraception" refers to Plan B or similar pills."
Perhaps the anti-choice Governor thinks emergency contraception is the withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation. I'd like to see that piece of legislation.
Flip-flopper Romney attempts to explain his position in an Op-ed here, in which he also takes issue with Roe, saying it should be left to the states to decide. In other words, he has presidential ambitions.
The Boston Globe: {snippets}
"Three years after expressing support for ''the substance" of Roe v. Wade, Governor Mitt Romney today criticizes the landmark ruling that legalized abortion and says the states should decide separately whether to allow it.
''I promised the people of Massachusetts that as governor I would not change the laws of the Commonwealth as they relate to abortion," Romney wrote in a veto letter to lawmakers. ''If taken soon enough, the so-called 'morning after' pill performs as a contraceptive. But in some cases, it can also act to prevent the implantation of the embryo. To those who believe that life begins at conception, the morning-after pill can destroy the human life that was created at the moment of fertilization."
As Romney touted his fulfillment of a campaign promise, supporters of the bill criticized him for breaking one.
They pointed out that on a questionnaire that abortion rights groups gave to the gubernatorial candidates in 2002, Romney answered yes to the question, ''Will you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception?" As the governor explained his decision to reporters inside his State House office, protesters in the hallway chanted: ''Mitt Romney, we want the pill. Keep your word, sign the bill!"
''Not only did he let down women and families in our state, but he has not kept his word," said Melissa Kogut, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. ''I think he's more concerned about the opinions of Iowa caucus goers than the opinion of women in our state."
Asked how yesterday's veto squares with his answer on the 2002 questionnaire, Romney argued that he supports emergency contraception, but not the sort envisioned in the bill.
''I do support expansion of emergency contraception; I have no problem with emergency contraception," he told reporters in his office. ''This product not only does that, but in some cases terminates life after conception. In that case, it ceases to be an emergency contraception bill and becomes an emergency abortion bill."
He did not elaborate. Supporters of the bill said they were perplexed by his logic, since the term ''emergency contraception" refers to Plan B or similar pills."
Tags: reproductive rights
Victim of Bredesen's Healthcare Axe Contemplates Suicide
"If I can't get my medication, I'm going to put a bullet in my head. I can't go through what I went through before," Atchison said. "I can't put my wife through that again. She won't let me put her through that again. She'll put the bullet in my head." -- David Atchison
David Atchison is a 52 year old man who suffers from constant pain.
He has lost his TennCare drug coverage thanks to Governor Bredesen's killer healthcare axe which aims to cut as many as 323,000 sick, elderly, disabled and poor folks from the state's expanded Medicaid program. Bredesen's axe will also severely limit the benefits of more than 200,000 more who will be allowed to remain on the program.
Governor Bredesen’s Office: Phone: 615.741.2001 Fax: 615.532.9711 phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
See Man Losing TennCare Claims Bias in the Tennessean
Geotenncare has more.
David Atchison is a 52 year old man who suffers from constant pain.
He has lost his TennCare drug coverage thanks to Governor Bredesen's killer healthcare axe which aims to cut as many as 323,000 sick, elderly, disabled and poor folks from the state's expanded Medicaid program. Bredesen's axe will also severely limit the benefits of more than 200,000 more who will be allowed to remain on the program.
Governor Bredesen’s Office: Phone: 615.741.2001 Fax: 615.532.9711 phil.bredesen@state.tn.us
See Man Losing TennCare Claims Bias in the Tennessean
Geotenncare has more.
Tags: tenncare
Monday, July 25, 2005
Jane Fonda Resumes Anti-War Activist Role
She leaves Ted Turner and suddenly she's making movies again and resuming her role as anti-war activist.
She should have left him a long time ago.
" Actress and activist Jane Fonda says she intends to take a cross-country bus tour to call for an end to U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Fonda said her anti-war tour in March will use a bus that runs on "vegetable oil." She will be joined by families of Iraq war veterans and her daughter.
Prompted by a question from the audience, Fonda said war veterans that she has met on a nationwide book tour have encouraged her to break her silence on the Iraq war.
"I've decided I'm coming out," she said.
Hundreds of people in the audience cheered loudly when Fonda announced her intentions to join the anti-Iraq war movement."
Via Talkleft
She should have left him a long time ago.
" Actress and activist Jane Fonda says she intends to take a cross-country bus tour to call for an end to U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Fonda said her anti-war tour in March will use a bus that runs on "vegetable oil." She will be joined by families of Iraq war veterans and her daughter.
Prompted by a question from the audience, Fonda said war veterans that she has met on a nationwide book tour have encouraged her to break her silence on the Iraq war.
"I've decided I'm coming out," she said.
Hundreds of people in the audience cheered loudly when Fonda announced her intentions to join the anti-Iraq war movement."
Via Talkleft
Tags: iraq
Al & Tipper Gore In Nashville
Sharon Cobb has a report from Al and Tipper Gore's appearance in Nashville over the weekend. As usual, Al Gore gave a firey speech.
Tag: democrat
Roberts: Federalist Society Member? Depends On The Meaning of 'Member'
Last week the White House called media outlets to inform them that according to the memory of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, he is not now a member and has never been a member of the right-wing Federalist Society.
The White House did not mention that Roberts has indeed been a "member of the steering committee of the organization's Washington chapter." Now that this fact has been discovered by the Washington Post, the new White House position seems to be that Roberts was not a dues paying member.
Yeah right, and Iraq had WMD programs.
Washington Post:
" Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. has repeatedly said that he has no memory of belonging to the Federalist Society, but his name appears in the influential, conservative legal organization's 1997-1998 leadership directory.
Last week, the White House told news organizations that had reported his membership in the group that he had no memory of belonging. The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Associated Press printed corrections.
Over the weekend, The Post obtained a copy of the Federalist Society Lawyers' Division Leadership Directory, 1997-1998. It lists Roberts, then a partner at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, as a member of the steering committee of the organization's Washington chapter and includes his firm's address and telephone number.
Membership in the sense of paying dues was not required as a condition of inclusion in a listing of the society's leadership, Leo said. He declined to say whether Roberts had ever paid dues, citing a policy of keeping membership information confidential.
Last Wednesday, the day after Bush announced Roberts's nomination, the officials working on the nomination asked the White House press office to call each news organization that had reported Roberts's membership to tell them that he did not recall being a member. Asked yesterday if the White House would have done so knowing about the leadership directory, Perino said "Yes.""
Via MyDD
Related Post:
Roberts & The Federalist Society: Convenient To Be A Non-member
The White House did not mention that Roberts has indeed been a "member of the steering committee of the organization's Washington chapter." Now that this fact has been discovered by the Washington Post, the new White House position seems to be that Roberts was not a dues paying member.
Yeah right, and Iraq had WMD programs.
Washington Post:
" Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. has repeatedly said that he has no memory of belonging to the Federalist Society, but his name appears in the influential, conservative legal organization's 1997-1998 leadership directory.
Last week, the White House told news organizations that had reported his membership in the group that he had no memory of belonging. The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Associated Press printed corrections.
Over the weekend, The Post obtained a copy of the Federalist Society Lawyers' Division Leadership Directory, 1997-1998. It lists Roberts, then a partner at the law firm Hogan & Hartson, as a member of the steering committee of the organization's Washington chapter and includes his firm's address and telephone number.
Membership in the sense of paying dues was not required as a condition of inclusion in a listing of the society's leadership, Leo said. He declined to say whether Roberts had ever paid dues, citing a policy of keeping membership information confidential.
Last Wednesday, the day after Bush announced Roberts's nomination, the officials working on the nomination asked the White House press office to call each news organization that had reported Roberts's membership to tell them that he did not recall being a member. Asked yesterday if the White House would have done so knowing about the leadership directory, Perino said "Yes.""
Via MyDD
Related Post:
Roberts & The Federalist Society: Convenient To Be A Non-member
Tags: supreme court
Another Brainy Girrl To Watch Out For
Check out Bitch Ph.D's Heroine of the Week:
Arfa Karim Randhawa is ten years old. She is also the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in the world.
Arfa Karim Randhawa is ten years old. She is also the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in the world.
Toyota Chooses Canada Over US: Better Education & Healthcare
“Japanese auto companies opening plants in the Southern U.S. have been unfavorably surprised by the work force's poor level of training.“
So Toyota passed up the usual hefty financial bribes from Southern states and instead chose to locate its new plant in Canada, where wages may be higher but employees are both better educated and healthier.
Here in Tennessee, we like to point to Mississippi and say ‘at least we’re not that uneducated and that unhealthy.’ But we can only just barely get away with saying that. Last year the local paper ran a front page story citing a study that found that all of 53% of adults in this state have difficulty reading. Yet the state continues to fund education with hit-and-miss tactics such as a regressive tax system (which taxes food!) and a lottery. Remarkably, the lottery helps high school students with college expenses but refuses to help adults go back to school.
Paul Krugman weighs in on the folly of the ‘Southern Strategy’ of skimping on education and health care, which is of course merely the bleak consequences of being the poorest part of a wealthy nation that prefers to spend its money on anything but the education and health of its citizens.
Toyota, Moving Northward
"Several Southern states reportedly offered financial incentives worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
But last month Toyota decided to put the new plant, which will produce RAV4 mini-S.U.V.'s, in Ontario. Explaining why it passed up financial incentives to choose a U.S. location, the company cited the quality of Ontario's work force.
What made Toyota so sensitive to labor quality issues? Maybe we should discount remarks from the president of the Toronto-based Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, who claimed that the educational level in the Southern United States was so low that trainers for Japanese plants in Alabama had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech equipment.
But there are other reports, some coming from state officials, that confirm his basic point: Japanese auto companies opening plants in the Southern U.S. have been unfavorably surprised by the work force's poor level of training.
There's some bitter irony here for Alabama's governor. Just two years ago voters overwhelmingly rejected his plea for an increase in the state's rock-bottom taxes on the affluent, so that he could afford to improve the state's low-quality education system. Opponents of the tax hike convinced voters that it would cost the state jobs.
But education is only one reason Toyota chose Ontario. Canada's other big selling point is its national health insurance system, which saves auto manufacturers large sums in benefit payments compared with their costs in the United States. . . .
For now, let me just point out that treating people decently is sometimes a competitive advantage. In America, basic health insurance is a privilege; in Canada, it's a right. And in the auto industry, at least, the good jobs are heading north. "
Read the whole thing. . .
So Toyota passed up the usual hefty financial bribes from Southern states and instead chose to locate its new plant in Canada, where wages may be higher but employees are both better educated and healthier.
Here in Tennessee, we like to point to Mississippi and say ‘at least we’re not that uneducated and that unhealthy.’ But we can only just barely get away with saying that. Last year the local paper ran a front page story citing a study that found that all of 53% of adults in this state have difficulty reading. Yet the state continues to fund education with hit-and-miss tactics such as a regressive tax system (which taxes food!) and a lottery. Remarkably, the lottery helps high school students with college expenses but refuses to help adults go back to school.
Paul Krugman weighs in on the folly of the ‘Southern Strategy’ of skimping on education and health care, which is of course merely the bleak consequences of being the poorest part of a wealthy nation that prefers to spend its money on anything but the education and health of its citizens.
Toyota, Moving Northward
"Several Southern states reportedly offered financial incentives worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
But last month Toyota decided to put the new plant, which will produce RAV4 mini-S.U.V.'s, in Ontario. Explaining why it passed up financial incentives to choose a U.S. location, the company cited the quality of Ontario's work force.
What made Toyota so sensitive to labor quality issues? Maybe we should discount remarks from the president of the Toronto-based Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, who claimed that the educational level in the Southern United States was so low that trainers for Japanese plants in Alabama had to use "pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers how to use high-tech equipment.
But there are other reports, some coming from state officials, that confirm his basic point: Japanese auto companies opening plants in the Southern U.S. have been unfavorably surprised by the work force's poor level of training.
There's some bitter irony here for Alabama's governor. Just two years ago voters overwhelmingly rejected his plea for an increase in the state's rock-bottom taxes on the affluent, so that he could afford to improve the state's low-quality education system. Opponents of the tax hike convinced voters that it would cost the state jobs.
But education is only one reason Toyota chose Ontario. Canada's other big selling point is its national health insurance system, which saves auto manufacturers large sums in benefit payments compared with their costs in the United States. . . .
For now, let me just point out that treating people decently is sometimes a competitive advantage. In America, basic health insurance is a privilege; in Canada, it's a right. And in the auto industry, at least, the good jobs are heading north. "
Read the whole thing. . .
Zach: Waiting for News of His Release
Still no word about Zach's release from the Memphis based program that promotes self-loathing among gays while calling itself "Love In Action." According to various reports the 16-year-old gay blogger was due to be released around the end of last week.
Nor has there been any recent news about the ongoing investigation by the state of Tennessee.
Zach now has more than 2,000 comments on his last blog entry. The supportive comments are from all over the world, the latest batch include comments from Brazil, Italy, India and the Netherlands. Hopefully Zach will be able to read the many supportive comments (and delete the few homophobic ones) SOON!
NPR discussed his story last Friday. You can listen to the audio clip here.
Wayne Besen has a story that documents some of the glaring credibilty problems of Love In Action's hate program:
"Look, there is no way in the short run that this is going to end well for the Stark family. They enrolled their son in a failed program where the co-founder, John Evans, dropped out after his friend Jack McIntyre, also in the program, committed suicide because he couldn’t change. I photographed Love in Action’s poster boy, John Paulk, in a seedy gay bar. The group’s youngest graduate and spokesperson, Wade Richards, is now a gay activist. Needless to say, the group has credibility problems, especially when one explores their bizarre techniques."
This story discusses Zach and Erik, a 15-year-old boy who has disappeared into a 'straight camp' somehere in California.
In case you missed it, the Washington Blade also had a story last week featuring a picture of the very cool-looking kid.
Finally, the great folks at Queer Action Coalition are still on the job:
Queer Action Coalition will be holding TWO rallies at Love in Action Headquarters 4780 Yale Rd., Memphis TN on FRIDAY, JULY 29TH...8:30-9:30am, and 4:00-5:30pm
Nor has there been any recent news about the ongoing investigation by the state of Tennessee.
Zach now has more than 2,000 comments on his last blog entry. The supportive comments are from all over the world, the latest batch include comments from Brazil, Italy, India and the Netherlands. Hopefully Zach will be able to read the many supportive comments (and delete the few homophobic ones) SOON!
NPR discussed his story last Friday. You can listen to the audio clip here.
Wayne Besen has a story that documents some of the glaring credibilty problems of Love In Action's hate program:
"Look, there is no way in the short run that this is going to end well for the Stark family. They enrolled their son in a failed program where the co-founder, John Evans, dropped out after his friend Jack McIntyre, also in the program, committed suicide because he couldn’t change. I photographed Love in Action’s poster boy, John Paulk, in a seedy gay bar. The group’s youngest graduate and spokesperson, Wade Richards, is now a gay activist. Needless to say, the group has credibility problems, especially when one explores their bizarre techniques."
This story discusses Zach and Erik, a 15-year-old boy who has disappeared into a 'straight camp' somehere in California.
In case you missed it, the Washington Blade also had a story last week featuring a picture of the very cool-looking kid.
Finally, the great folks at Queer Action Coalition are still on the job:
Queer Action Coalition will be holding TWO rallies at Love in Action Headquarters 4780 Yale Rd., Memphis TN on FRIDAY, JULY 29TH...8:30-9:30am, and 4:00-5:30pm
Tags: love in action
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Frist: Video Diagnosis Complaints Under Review By TN State Health Dept.
Whoa. People are still talking about the long-distance diagnosis practice of Dr. Frist. The Tennessee Department of Health is reviewing complaints from across the country about Dr. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's questionable medical practices. What took them so long?
The Director of Investigations for Health Related Boards Denise Moran, says they are looking into the matter because "our mandate is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Tennessee." In an earlier post I documented a number of complaints from professionals in Frist's own field. And then there was that urgent call for all the Doctor's former patients to get a second opinion, quick.
With all the complaints and questions about the not-so-good doctor, little wonder that Bush showed a lack of faith in Frist by appointing another Tennessean, now actor Fred Thompson, to do Frist's job, or to do the work of getting Supreme Court nominee John Roberts confirmed by the Senate. Obviously, even Bush has doubts about Frist's competence.
Raw Story:
The Tennessee Department of Health has responded to complaints into Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's (R-TN) 'diagnosis' of Florida's Terri Schiavo by videotape, RAW STORY has learned. Their letter, written by Tennessee Department of Health Director of Investigations for Health Related Boards Denise Moran, said that the complaint had been received and "was in the process of being reviewed."
"Thank you for reporting this to us since our mandate is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Tennessee," she continues.
The letter was sent to a Californian who complained about Frist; RAW STORY has agreed to preserve the source's anonymity. A second individual in Louisiana received an identical letter.
A deputy spokeswoman said they had received about 80 such complaints, which Investigations communications director Andrea Turner later said referred to something else, and was incorrect. Turner said they don't disclose the number of complaints in any case.
“We don’t disclose information about pending investigations, we disclose information once charges have been issued,” Turner told RAW STORY.
"When a complaint comes in, it is an allegation," she added. "Based on an allegation, the process determines whether it is substantiated or has validity.”
Frist, a renowned heart surgeon, took Schiavo's case to the Senate floor in March, said that he had reviewed a videotape of Schiavo and questioned her doctor's assessments.
"I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office," he said in a lengthy speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. "She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli."
His comments raised ire among Democrats and medical circles.
Laurie Zoloth, director of bioethics for the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University, told the Washington Post she was surprised at Frist's remarks, noting he has not personally examined the patient.
"It is extremely unusual -- and by a non-neurologist, I might add," Zoloth said.
Raw Story has a copy of the letter from:
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUREAU OF HEALTH LICENSURE AND REGULATION DIVISION OF HEALTH RELATED BOARDS INVESTIGATIONS 3RD FLOOR, CORDELL HULL BUILDING 425 5TH AVENUE NORTH NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37247-0110 1-800-852-2187
The Director of Investigations for Health Related Boards Denise Moran, says they are looking into the matter because "our mandate is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Tennessee." In an earlier post I documented a number of complaints from professionals in Frist's own field. And then there was that urgent call for all the Doctor's former patients to get a second opinion, quick.
With all the complaints and questions about the not-so-good doctor, little wonder that Bush showed a lack of faith in Frist by appointing another Tennessean, now actor Fred Thompson, to do Frist's job, or to do the work of getting Supreme Court nominee John Roberts confirmed by the Senate. Obviously, even Bush has doubts about Frist's competence.
Raw Story:
The Tennessee Department of Health has responded to complaints into Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's (R-TN) 'diagnosis' of Florida's Terri Schiavo by videotape, RAW STORY has learned. Their letter, written by Tennessee Department of Health Director of Investigations for Health Related Boards Denise Moran, said that the complaint had been received and "was in the process of being reviewed."
"Thank you for reporting this to us since our mandate is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Tennessee," she continues.
The letter was sent to a Californian who complained about Frist; RAW STORY has agreed to preserve the source's anonymity. A second individual in Louisiana received an identical letter.
A deputy spokeswoman said they had received about 80 such complaints, which Investigations communications director Andrea Turner later said referred to something else, and was incorrect. Turner said they don't disclose the number of complaints in any case.
“We don’t disclose information about pending investigations, we disclose information once charges have been issued,” Turner told RAW STORY.
"When a complaint comes in, it is an allegation," she added. "Based on an allegation, the process determines whether it is substantiated or has validity.”
Frist, a renowned heart surgeon, took Schiavo's case to the Senate floor in March, said that he had reviewed a videotape of Schiavo and questioned her doctor's assessments.
"I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office," he said in a lengthy speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. "She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli."
His comments raised ire among Democrats and medical circles.
Laurie Zoloth, director of bioethics for the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University, told the Washington Post she was surprised at Frist's remarks, noting he has not personally examined the patient.
"It is extremely unusual -- and by a non-neurologist, I might add," Zoloth said.
Raw Story has a copy of the letter from:
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUREAU OF HEALTH LICENSURE AND REGULATION DIVISION OF HEALTH RELATED BOARDS INVESTIGATIONS 3RD FLOOR, CORDELL HULL BUILDING 425 5TH AVENUE NORTH NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37247-0110 1-800-852-2187
Tags: Democrat
O'Connor Criticizes 'Some' Congress Members: Says 'Relations Strained'
Sandra Day O'Connor: Relations Strained Between Judiciary and Some Members of Congress . . . .
Well, we don't exactly need sources in high places to tell us which side of the Congressional aisle she's talking about. Are you paying attention Bill Frist and Tom Delay?
Snippets:
" Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whose retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court will likely lead to a tumultuous fight in Congress over her replacement, said yesterday there is so much "antipathy" among elected politicians toward federal judges that she worries about the future of an independent judiciary.
"I'm pretty old you know, and in all the years of my life, I don't think I've ever seen relations as strained as they are now between the judiciary and some members of Congress," O'Connor said. "It makes me very sad to see it."
O'Connor noted that Ukraine's supreme court recently overturned that country's presidential election after finding rampant vote fraud.
"I thought that was a transforming moment in the success of our efforts to promote the rule of law and the role of an independent judiciary," she said. "And yet in our country today, we're seeing efforts to prevent that — a desire not to have an independent judiciary."
Though O'Connor was appointed by one of the nation's most popular conservative presidents, she has often riled religious conservatives. She cast the deciding vote in a ruling upholding Roe v. Wade, the landmark case legalizing abortion.
Earlier this year, she joined in a 5-4 ruling that said the display of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky courthouses violated the constitutional mandate for separation of church and state.
O'Connor said yesterday that the lack of such separation has had "violent consequences" in so many other countries, "it's hard to see why we should give that up in the face of the success that we've had."
On states' rights, O'Connor said she has always viewed state governments as laboratories. "Let them try things and see how it works," she said, citing California's effort to legalize marijuana for medical purposes as a good example. She dissented on a Supreme Court ruling that said the federal government's outright marijuana ban trumped California's law.
When O'Connor attended law school, only 3 percent of law students nationwide were women, she said. Now it's more than 50 percent.
She said she was always a little reluctant about the role-model status of being the first woman on the Supreme Court. "I never expected to be that person and was pretty scared to take it on," O'Connor said, "because it's a very hard job and I didn't want to mess it up because it would make it harder for other women to follow."
Women are more than 50% in law schools, but we remain a very long way from that number in the highest offices in the land. O'Connor was appointed to the High Court in 1981, a year that followed a tremendous amount of feminist activism.
Who would have believed in 1981 that after all these years we would still have an almost exclusively male body making decisions about women's reproductive freedom or lack thereof?
Well, we don't exactly need sources in high places to tell us which side of the Congressional aisle she's talking about. Are you paying attention Bill Frist and Tom Delay?
Snippets:
" Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whose retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court will likely lead to a tumultuous fight in Congress over her replacement, said yesterday there is so much "antipathy" among elected politicians toward federal judges that she worries about the future of an independent judiciary.
"I'm pretty old you know, and in all the years of my life, I don't think I've ever seen relations as strained as they are now between the judiciary and some members of Congress," O'Connor said. "It makes me very sad to see it."
O'Connor noted that Ukraine's supreme court recently overturned that country's presidential election after finding rampant vote fraud.
"I thought that was a transforming moment in the success of our efforts to promote the rule of law and the role of an independent judiciary," she said. "And yet in our country today, we're seeing efforts to prevent that — a desire not to have an independent judiciary."
Though O'Connor was appointed by one of the nation's most popular conservative presidents, she has often riled religious conservatives. She cast the deciding vote in a ruling upholding Roe v. Wade, the landmark case legalizing abortion.
Earlier this year, she joined in a 5-4 ruling that said the display of the Ten Commandments in two Kentucky courthouses violated the constitutional mandate for separation of church and state.
O'Connor said yesterday that the lack of such separation has had "violent consequences" in so many other countries, "it's hard to see why we should give that up in the face of the success that we've had."
On states' rights, O'Connor said she has always viewed state governments as laboratories. "Let them try things and see how it works," she said, citing California's effort to legalize marijuana for medical purposes as a good example. She dissented on a Supreme Court ruling that said the federal government's outright marijuana ban trumped California's law.
When O'Connor attended law school, only 3 percent of law students nationwide were women, she said. Now it's more than 50 percent.
She said she was always a little reluctant about the role-model status of being the first woman on the Supreme Court. "I never expected to be that person and was pretty scared to take it on," O'Connor said, "because it's a very hard job and I didn't want to mess it up because it would make it harder for other women to follow."
Women are more than 50% in law schools, but we remain a very long way from that number in the highest offices in the land. O'Connor was appointed to the High Court in 1981, a year that followed a tremendous amount of feminist activism.
Who would have believed in 1981 that after all these years we would still have an almost exclusively male body making decisions about women's reproductive freedom or lack thereof?
Tags: supreme court
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