Can this man be serious? I won’t even comment on it, but I screamed a few obscenities at my computer. What a f*cking moron!
Category Archives: Society – Women
Pat Buchanan is 100% pure racist
“White men were 100% of the people that wrote the Constitution, 100% of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence, 100% of the people who died at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, probably close to 100% of the people who died at Normandy. This has been a country built basically by white folks.”
And Pat’s Klan robes will be 100% white as well.
Rachel did a fine job allowing this hardcore racist expose him so completely. There is not a single doubt remaining as to what Buchanan is about.
Will MSNBC finally stop giving this racist an almost daily platform to spew his hateful rhetoric? Afterall, there are no self-proclaimed neo-Nazis employed as “regular contributors” on any other reputable news organizations — as far as I know. What makes Pat Buchanan so different? Wearing a nice suit and combing his hair?
Please…
HT: ThinkProgress
Where Are They Now? Norma McCorvey
Who Were They Then?
Norma Nelson was born Sep 1947 in a small town in Louisiana and raised in Houston, Texas. From the age of ten she was in and out of trouble with the law and at the age of sixteen she married Woody McCorvey, a sheet-metal worker. When he learned she was pregnant, he turned violent and she left him after only two months. She gave birth to a little girl, Melissa, who was adopted by Norma’s mother, against the baby’s father’s wishes. In 1967, Norma gave up another child, Paige, for adoption and hasn’t seen her since. Then, in 1969, after a casual fling, Norma found herself pregnant for the third time. Working in a circus, not knowing where her next meal would come from or where she would spend the night, she could not imagine bringing another child into the world. As she would later write of this time, Continue reading
Jimmy Carter: The words of God do not justify cruelty to women
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status …” (Article 2, Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when th e convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief – confirmed in the holy scriptures – that we are all equal in the eyes of God.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. It is widespread. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths.
Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries. The male interpretations of religious texts and the way they interact with, and reinforce, traditional practices justify some of the most pervasive, persistent, flagrant and damaging examples of human rights abuses.
At their most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.
Go here to read the rest of this excellent article.
Dr Tiller, The Law, and the “Fear of God”
Last weekend, after years of attacks by religious anti-abortion groups against himself his property and his staff, lawful abortion specialist Dr. Tiller was finally killed in the foyer of his church; long-time religious militant abortion opponent Scott Roeder is now charged with his murder.
Two years ago in Denver, Colorado, another abortion protest incident occurred in the foyer of a place of worship which also involved militant abortion opponents. In that particular case the local police responded immediately and no-one was killed.
In the subsequent trial of the accused, the litigant’s spokeswoman asked the judge to “consider the safety of ministry employees and visitors” when handing down the sentences.
Did you catch that?
The incident that the police so efficaciously reacted-to did not involve a confrontation between legal abortion providers and abortion opponents, but rather between two factions of the anti-abortion movement and with the aggrieved party asking for future protection from harassment and possible violence.
WTF?!!
After years of vandalism, fire-bombing, death threats and an assault with a deadly weapon by members of religious groups, Scott Roeder was observed by eye-witnesses and recorded on videotape in felony acts by attempting to sabotage the locks on Dr Tiller’s clinic—a federal offense under the FACE act.
The clinic provided the local police with the evidence of Roeder’s felony and the police did absolutely nothing.
That left Roeder free to take his anti-abortion crusade to the next level in which he “allegedly” murdered Dr Tiller in a church foyer a few days later.
…
Wichita police were provided with all the evidence they needed to arrest Scott Roeder immediately and charge him with a federal crime. They could have involved the FBI. Roeder could have been held on bail and if he made bail he could have been monitored by the FBI whilst awaiting trial.
Instead, nothing was done.
Dr Tiller is now dead, his clinic now closed, his employees now unemployed and women are further denied their legal and medical rights.
Meanwhile radical officially ‘religious’ groups use the particulars and principles of secular law for their own convenience and benefit even as they refuse to abide by them and seek to overthrow them, actively or passively abetted by supposedly secular authorities.
Scott Roeder was encouraged by religious leaders, his actions given justification by certain media authorities, his act enabled by the criminal negligence of the Wichita police and culpable Federal authorities.
When a religious organization in Colorado felt threatened by another more militant religious group, secular authority acted on mere trespass, but when a secular organization in Kansas had been attacked multiple times with vandalism, fire-bombings and assaults with deadly weapons and given clear evidence to act, Wichita authorities did nothing.
Read the rest of 5th Estate’s post on his blog here.
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
: 
A tour of the frothing at the mouth, head-spinning, spittle-flecked wingnut hate machine
: : : : : : : : : :
I’ve noticed something lately. Racism, fear, and hate are running rampant in this country.
Well, not just lately, it’s been bubbling under the surface for years — it just seems much worse and “in your face.” I would pinpoint the escalation at or about the time of the nomination of Barack Hussein Obama for the office of President of the United States. Little by little, insinuations and fear-mongering became the order of the day for some people. “He’s a Muslim!” “He’s not an American!” He’s a Socialist!!” Cue the scary music!
Recently, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to take the place of Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor has a typical American “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” story — the kind we all love so well — and she’s totally qualified for a seat on the Supreme Court, having more experience than anyone currently sitting on that Court. But who cares about all that!? Apparently, she’s really a super-scary racist white-hating Mexican who wants to take away our guns! Eeeekkk!!!!
How about a little walk on the darker side of wingnuttia? Come on, I’ll hold your hand…just make sure you hold mine, ok?
Hal Turner, a white supremacist and anti-Semite internet radio talker/blogger, has been arrested for inciting violence against two Connecticut lawmakers, because they want to pass a bill changing how the Catholic Church operates in that state. Turner posted this on his blog:
“It is our intent to foment direct action against these individuals personally,” the blog stated. “These beastly government officials should be made an example of as a warning to others in government: Obey the Constitution or die.”
He also promised to list the home addresses of the Connecticut lawmakers. I’m thinking jail is a great place for Mr Turner right now.
Next, we have Rob Williams and Arnie States of the KRXQ radio station in Sacramento, California. These organisms (I hesitate to called them men — or human) went on a sickening rampage against gender dysphoric CHILDREN, calling them “freaks” and “idiots.” States even made the claim that if his own son put on a pair of high-heeled shoes, he would beat him with the shoes and mentally degrade him. Here’s a sample:
“I’m not open-minded once I look into sumpin’” one of the two men grunted at the beginning of the segment, their voices interchangeable. “I have every right to call you a freak and judge you on that. It makes me sick. ‘Mommy, I’m a girl trapped in a boy’s body,’” he simpered, mimicking an effeminate little boy. “I want to wear a dwess.”
It’s not good enough to shred adults they deem “effeminate” or “girly,” these two creepazoids are so inadequate that they have to go after children.
Are you still with me? Ok, let’s descend a bit further into this pit of horrors…
Bill O’Reilly: The Opera
For your viewing pleasure, here’s a little piece of “Mackris v. O’Reilly,” composed by Igor Keller. The words are taken verbatim from the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against O’Reilly in 2004.
NOT WORK FRIENDLY!
That coat! — Open thread
I don’t usually get all that excited about coats, but damn, this is the best coat EVER!
UPDATE: This is a good open thread for a Monday. Enjoy!!
We care — unless you’re “teh gay”
As her partner of 17 years slipped into a coma, Janice Langbehn pleaded with doctors and anyone who would listen to let her into the woman’s hospital room.
Eight anguishing hours passed before Langbehn would be allowed into Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. By then, she could only say her final farewell as a priest performed the last rites on 39-year-old Lisa Marie Pond.
Jackson staffers advised Langbehn that she could not see Pond earlier because the hospital’s visitation policy in cases of emergency was limited to immediate family and spouses — not partners. In Florida, same-sex marriages or partnerships are not recognized. On Friday, two years after her partner’s death, Langbehn and her attorneys were in federal court, claiming emotional distress and negligence in a suit they filed last June.
Jackson attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case on grounds that the hospital has no obligation to allow patients’ visitors.
Jackson Memorial Hospital took this stand, in spite of the fact that Ms Langbehn had the proper legal documents in hand, which allowed her to make medical decisions for her partner.
I looked up the Mission Statement of Jackson Memorial Hospital, and this is what I found:
Mission Statement: To build the health of the community by providing a single, high standard of quality care for the resident of Miami-Dade County.
Vision Statement: Our strategic vision is to be a nationally and internationally recognized, world-class academic medical system and to be the provider of choice for quality care.
Values: Service Excellence and Quality, Commitment, Compassion, Teamwork and Communication, Respect, Confidentiality, Integrity and Stewardship, Inclusion.
Wow. That brought a tear to my eye.
But then I remembered what Jackson Memorial Hospital did to the Langbehn/Pong family, and would suggest an addendum to JMH’s “Mission & Vision” page: UNLESS YOU’RE GAY.
Bull pucky!!
Rachel Maddow addresses “the know nothings” in Congress, regarding the jobs bill.
Joan Walsh slaps down the Dick
Joan Walsh penned a column, responding to Dick Armey’s bizarre verbal attack on Hardball.
Dick must be hiding his head in shame — the woman he tried to put in “her place” feels sorry for him.
The most charitable explanation I can come up with for former GOP Rep. Dick Armey’s wild retro outburst at me on Wednesday’s “Hardball” is that he knows I’m a huge “Mad Men” fan, and wanted to throw me back into the sad straitened sex roles of the early 1960s, but without the afternoon cocktails or Joan Holloway’s hot dresses.
Apparently I’ve been lucky. I’ve never before had a man try to win an argument – public or private – by saying “I am so damn glad that you could never be my wife,” as Armey famously did, when he ran out of arguments about President Obama’s recovery bill. But I should have known that the guy best known for calling Barney Frank “Barney Fag” would throw me a strange curveball. As far as I can tell, it flew around and hit Armey in the face. Just like the Rush Limbaugh insults we were supposed to be debating, it showed the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the right wing political project in 2009. Judging from my email and blogosphere reaction, Armey’s attack on me was as effective as the House Republicans voting unanimously against the stimulus bill that passed the House overwhelmingly without them. (Glenn Greenwald links Armey’s crazy assault with his impotent former House minions’ latest moves very well, here.)
Like Barack Obama, I want to be magnanimous, mostly. A lot of people have asked why I wasn’t meaner in my comeback to Armey. Mainly, I felt sorry for him; he’d clearly run out of arguments, and he wasn’t raised to know how to argue with female opponents as well as male. The thing is, for guys of Armey’s generation and backward political views, once you’ve rigged the world so that women and non-white people can’t compete with you on equal terms, life is easy: You’re always up against a bunch of white guys you’ve grown up with, and you know how to win. When late in life the game changes, and you find yourself having to argue with a whole new cadre of smart, opinionated women, black people, Latinos, Asians, gays, well, it’s gotta suck.
Even when Dick tried to demean/joke about Bill Clinton’s troubles in the White House, he managed to demean his wife.
“If I were in the President’s place I would not have gotten a chance to resign. I would be lying in a pool of my own blood, hearing Mrs. Armey standing over me saying, ‘How do I reload this damn thing?”
I guess I’m less generous than Ms Walsh. I think he’s a terminal idiot.
Read the whole article here.
Dick Armey, Being A Dick
: : : : : : : : : :
Can you believe the nerve of this misogynistic asswipe?
ARMEY: I’m so damn glad that you can never be my wife because I surely wouldn’t have to listen to that prattle from you every day.
WALSH: Boy, that makes two of us sir. That was really an outstanding comment.
ARMEY: That’s what I’m talking about — she’s making a political malarkey here.
Dick Armey must belong to the “He-Man-Woman-Hater Club.” But his entire display of rudeness should offend any person of civility, regardless of their sex. And at no point does he apologize for what he said. And this is what the Republican Party has to offer as an alternative? A “Shut up, you hag!” approach to political discourse? Is it any wonder they lost so big in the last elections? As Bob Herbert said later, this man owes Joan Walsh, and the viewers of Hardball an apology for his offensive remarks. And it better not be one of “to anyone who was offended by what I said, I’m sorry.” This time, the apology has to show that he understand why what he specifically said and did was wrong. Anything less is not a true apology.
LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT PASSES SENATE
With the 14th Roll Call Vote of the 111st Congress, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed, 61-36. Five Republicans crossed lines. Finally. A good start for Congress.
Vote
Alabama
Nay AL Sessions, Jefferson [R]
Nay AL Shelby, Richard [R]
Alaska
Yea AK Begich, Mark [D]
Yea AK Murkowski, Lisa [R]
Arizona
Nay AZ Kyl, Jon [R]
Nay AZ McCain, John [R]
Arkansas
Yea AR Lincoln, Blanche [D]
Yea AR Pryor, Mark [D]
Continue reading
Legal Abortion in America: 35 36 Years (Updated)
AP, by David Crary / via International Herald Tribune.
On January 22, 1973, 35 36 years ago today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of Roe v. Wade, establishing the legal right to abortion for women in America. Since that time there have been about 50 million abortions performed in this country, with an estimated one-third of adult women having had at least one abortion.
Who are these women? The numbers may surprise you…
Half of the roughly 1.2 million U.S. women who have abortions each year are 25 or older. Only about 17 percent are teens. About 60 percent have given birth to least one child prior to getting an abortion.
A disproportionately high number are black or Hispanic. And regardless of race, high abortion rates are linked to hard times.
That’s right, folks. It’s not primarily very young, irresponsible women who are obtaining abortions. Most women seeking abortion are already mothers.
“It doesn’t just happen to young people, it doesn’t necessarily have to do with irresponsibility,” said Miriam Inocencio, president of Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island. “Women face years and years of reproductive life after they’ve completed their families, and they’re at risk of an unintended pregnancy that can create an economic strain.”
Over the years, the number of abortions has decreased. There were 1.2 million abortions in 2005, which was an 8% decrease from 2000.
Why do some women choose to have abortions?
The Journal of Family Issues published a report earlier this month asserting that women often choose abortion because of their wish to be good parents.
That means women who have no children want the conditions to be right when they do, and women who already are mothers want to care responsibly for their existing children, said the lead author, Rachel Jones, a researcher with the Guttmacher Institute.
“These women believed that it was more responsible to terminate a pregnancy than to have a child whose health and welfare could be in question,” Jones said.
The abortion rate for women living below the poverty line is four times higher than for women in the middle or upper classes.
Of all U.S. women getting abortions, about 54 percent are doing so for the first time, while one-fifth have had at least two previous abortions. Of those over 20, the majority have attended college. Almost a third have been married at some point. About 60 percent have at least one child; one-third have two or more.
“I don’t think most people understand that these are women who have families, who are making a very serious decision about their reproductive health,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “The stereotype is that the decision is made lightly. It is not.”
Simply, we need to care for the children we already have, and it is our right to make reproductive decisions in private. Women had abortions long before Roe v. Wade, and if it is overturned, women will continue to have abortions. I would prefer that septic abortion wards remain a thing of the past.
Proper sex education and effective, available birth control are key. Abortion should be safe, legal, available and rare.
UPDATE: Now that George W. Bush is no longer in office, things are being shaken up in the world of personal choice.
The anti-choice crowd is beginning to foam at the mouth, in anticipation of their upcoming loss of political power and influence. Read about it here.
Obama is expected to repeal the global gag rule, which has impacted women’s health all over the world by cutting off funding for international family planning programs that do counseling about abortion, or provide the procedure. Read about it here.
: : : : : : : : : :
Why Does God Hate Democracy?
Sarah Palin believes that God will intervene in the upcoming election in order to ensure her victory, regardless of prevailing voter opinion. In an interview with James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Palin said:
“I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”
“It is that intercession that is so needed. And so greatly appreciated. And I can feel it too, Dr. Dobson. I can feel the power of prayer, and that strength that is provided through our prayer warriors across this nation. And I so appreciate it.”
She also described herself as “hardcore pro-life” and said that “John McCain is solidly there on those solid planks in our platform that build the right agenda for America.”
: : : : : : : : : :
John McCain’s Newest Rape Joke
During the debate last night John McCain was trying to be funny again. Early in the debate when they were still discussing the economy he was talking about earmarks and pork barrel and pulling out his “old” pen threatening to veto them and using the line “you will know their name” whatever that means. I’m not sure if he’s talking about politicians or projects. But I digress.
At approximately 4:50 into this segment McCain says, “We spent $3 million to study the DNA of bears in Montana. I don’t know if that was a criminal issue or a paternital [sic] issue but the fact is that it was $3 million of our taxpayers’ money.” Well I don’t know exactly what he meant by paternital since it’s not really a word. I assume he meant paternity issue but with the two linked together it implies discovering who the father is whether by force or consent. He’s subtle but still inappropriate and it’s clear he was looking for a laugh.
“
John McCain has a Heart attack
If you can’t read it, click here.
I don’t know if the letter is real, but I know the sentiment is accurate, as the Wilson’s have publicly stated so.
If you can stomach it, watch this conservative radio talk show gasbag (below the fold) go off on Ann and Nancy Wilson’s releasing their statement that Palin in no way represents anything they believe in and they were, indeed, donating all of the funds paid for Barracuda to Obama.
Continue reading
NOW Endorses Obama-Biden Ticket
: : : : : : : : : :
That would be the National Organization for Women and usually they don’t endorse in a presidential election. Oh the irony. How bad does the ticket that includes a woman have to be to get NOW to come out against them? Bad probably doesn’t describe it. Maybe disastrous, catastrophic, horrific is a better description of the results of a possible win by McCain and Palin.
That being said it is the possitive attributes of Senator Obama that led NOW to endorse him. Kim Gandy, Chair, NOW Political Action Committee, had this to say:
Although it is very unusual for us to endorse in a presidential election, this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country. The NOW PAC reviewed Sen. Obama’s record and public statements on issues that disproportionately affect the women of this nation, and I spoke with him at length about his commitment to women’s equality. For example:
On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.
On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.
On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act — of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor — as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.
On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush’s extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women’s rights,
For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said “yes” to women’s rights, while John McCain has consistently said “no” – NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women’s rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.
NOW supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary, and now we join with her in saying “NO” — No Way, No How, No McCain! And we proudly stand arm-in-arm with her in putting our hopes and our dreams, our hard work and our hard-earned money, behind the next President of the United States — Barack Obama, and his running mate, longtime friend and ally of women, Sen. Joe Biden.
Listen to Kim Gandy’s announcement at NPR.
H/T Marie at TP
Mayor Palin Billed Rape Victims
While Palin was Mayor of Wasilla, the Wasilla Police Department billed rape victims for the cost of the rape kit used to gather evidence. The cost would range from $300 to $1200 per victim and Wasilla collected between $5,000 to $14,000 per year from rape victims!
You can get a good idea of how many women in Wasilla were victims of sexual assault just by doing the math. And remember, Palin is opposed to allowing rape victims the choice of whether or not to get an abortion, forcing them to incur even more expenses.
Baby, Baby, Who’s Got the Baby?
According to the “official story” Palin had her baby at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center on April 18, 2008. If that’s the case, it should be listed here:
Baby Name Born Parents
Ava May 18-Jul-08 Melissa Joy & Jeffrey Michael
Kaden Cameron 18-Jul-08 Samantha Jean & Dustin Tyler
Jacob Lee 17-Jul-08 Maria Elena & Justin Lee
Dinah joy 15-Jul-08 LIsa Janelle & Jamy David
Dylan Patrick 14-Jul-08 Raquel Morgan & Robert Patrick
Lacey Jane 14-Jul-08 Jamie & Justin Dale
Asieh 12-Jul-08 Tesa Daphann
Teagen Douglas 10-Jul-08 Chandra Pauline & Larry Robert
Gracie Ann 8-Jul-08 Jenae Colleen & Justin Lee
Jenna Lynn 8-Jul-08 Christina Lynn & Joshua Aaron
Miky Sue 8-Jul-08 Mary LaVella & James Robert
Dax Terrance 30-Jun-08 Jennifer Anne & Jonathan E.
GOLDIE RICHELLE 29-Jun-08 STEPHANIE RAE & WAYNE ALAN
Annebelle Joy 25-Jun-08 Crystal Marie & Joseph Edward
Emily Ann 20-Jun-08 Lisa Maureen & Thomas Phillip
Gavin Wesley 20-Jun-08 Kayla Danielle
Kendahl Marie 20-Jun-08 Christy Lynn & Tommie Everette
Wyatt Timothy 16-Jun-08 Joy Lynn & Daniel Edward
Leland Wayne 15-Jun-08 Chrystal Dawn & Joseph Randall
MAYME GRACE 15-Jun-08 DAWN & RICHARD
Kiriana Lena 14-Jun-08 Elena & Larett
Braiden Anthony 11-Jun-08 Angela Marie
Deagan Eric 11-Jun-08 Marie DeeAnan & Danil Eric
ELIJAH KENNETH 10-Jun-08 kRISTA MICHELLE & ARLEY GLENN
Levi Daniel 10-Jun-08 Michelle Licht & Nicholas Hoots
Allynn Jayne 7-Jun-08 Kyleigh Ann & Jordan Lee
Jolene Marie 5-Jun-08 Renee Marie & Mark Ronald
Gabriel John 4-Jun-08 Heather Lee & James Woodward
Graceann Emily 4-Jun-08 Julie Ann & Armand Michael
Andrew Michael 3-Jun-08 Marion Elizabeth
Baby Name Born Parents
Avery Grace 28-May-08 Allison Michelle & Dwayne Harry
Macy Jo 26-May-08 Charisse Marie & Cody Joe
Gabriel Arlo 25-May-08 Nancy & Darren
Kyle Theodore 24-May-08 Sarah Hope & Josiah Paul
Melanie Pauline 24-May-08 Sarah Pauline & Martin Dean
Lillian Rae 23-May-08 Kristi Ann & Glenn Steven
Emily Grace 18-May-08 Brandy Lynn & John Christopher
Kruze Eric 17-May-08 Emily Jane & John Paul
Jacob Ryan 15-May-08 Jessica Michelle & Branden Ray
Austin Ray 7-May-08 Ruth Ann & Andreas
Devon Brent 5-May-08 Elizabeth Margaret & Scott Tyler
Jessie Jaymes 5-May-08 Brenna Jalene & Eli David
Kyler Christefer 3-May-08 Heather & Chris
Alahna Sahar 1-May-08 Melissa & Tim
Amber Kathleen 1-May-08 Sally Martha & Anthony Rene
Zoe Arianna 1-May-08 Jennifer Anne & Patrick Allen
Avigail LeeAnn 28-Apr-08 Danica Marie & Billy Shade
John Michael 28-Apr-08 Amie Marie & Michael John
Makenna Amor 28-Apr-08 Kathleen Amor & Jeremy Loyd
Maria-Ann Louise 28-Apr-08 Amy Louise & Jason Alan
Natalie Ann 26-Apr-08 Desirae & Trevor
Sophia Nicole 25-Apr-08 Ashley Ann
Peyton Robert 24-Apr-08 Candice Joy & Shawn Robert
Jordyn Lisa 23-Apr-08 Kari Lyn & Timothy Louis
Maya Lena Belle 23-Apr-08 Laura Elizabeth & Alvin Jacob
Kassandra Marie 21-Apr-08 Jessica Lee & Ryan Alan
Hannah Grace 20-Apr-08 Heidi J. & Chris B.
Isaiah Travis 18-Apr-08 Erin Chantal & Justin Travis
Kayden Lexus 18-Apr-08 Amanda Frances
Christian Alexander 15-Apr-08 Leslie Ann & Adam Wade
Baby Name Born Parents
Jayden George 13-Apr-08 Jessica Winona & Brandon Lee
Jianna Mai 13-Apr-08 Tasa & Primo Joseph
Rachel Marie 13-Apr-08 Rebekah Sue & Gary Allen
Rachel Marie 13-Apr-08 Rebekah Sue & Gary Allen
Carlyn Anne 12-Apr-08 Rachel Ann & Farren Miles
Elayna Mae 12-Apr-08 Laura Jeanette & Daniel Steven
Macallister Louise 6-Apr-08 Marcey Louise & Daniel Paul
Derrick John 5-Apr-08 Mandy Jo & Derrick John
Emily Clair 5-Apr-08 Laura May & Michael Joseph
Lilli Marie Ann 5-Apr-08 Lisa Marie & Steven Charles
Lowman 5-Apr-08 Cara & Samuel
Madison Paige 5-Apr-08 Fawn Elise & Daniel Martin
Sierra Lynn 31-Mar-08 Suzanne Elizabeth & Frank Author
Gavin James 28-Mar-08 Lynelle & Adam
HALINA JULIA LYNN 27-Mar-08 ELICIA JUNE & FRANCOIS JULES
Owen Ray 27-Mar-08 Jennifer Elissa & Randy Ray
Seanan Michael 26-Mar-08 Bronica Jean & Kent Andrew
Kyana Aralyn 21-Mar-08 Kira Marie
Sheridan Darryl 20-Mar-08 Annie Lorie & Eric Michael
Timberlyn Rae 20-Mar-08 Jessica Kristine & James Malcolm
Julien Michael 19-Mar-08 Samantha & Michael
Kyrus Leigh 19-Mar-08 Melinda Lane & Harold Eugene
Trenton River 19-Mar-08 Rayana Lynn & Michael Shawn
Anderson Reed 18-Mar-08 Lucina & Guy LaMar
Emerson James 16-Mar-08 Amanda Sue & Adam Charles
KiAna 15-Mar-08 Michelle & Keith
Bridget Mabel 5-Mar-08 Kris & Dan
Maleiya Marie 5-Mar-08 Christina Marie & Matthias Wayne
Brayden 3-Mar-08 Holly Eden & Mario Joel
Paris Brandi 3-Mar-08 Valorie Janine
Food for Thought on the Palin-Baby Story
: : : : : : : : : :
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “I don’t know where she’s traveled to…But it’s not meeting people that matters. You know, President Bush met President Putin. And I don’t think it matters just meeting people. You look at people’s judgment.”
If the “official story” about Palin and her baby is true, then I question her judgment.
Her water breaks while she is in Texas. She chooses not to get medical attention, but to stay and give a speech. (Did anyone mop up after her?)
Then she gets on a commercial aircraft for a several-hour flight, without telling the flight attendants that her water had broken earlier that day. (How did she keep her seat dry?)
This was a premature delivery, and she did not seek medical attention for several hours, and endangered her baby by getting on board an aircraft where there would be no emergency facilities available for hours (or she would have forced an emergency landing enroute).
For someone “pro-life” she certainly showed a callous disregard for the health and safety of her baby.
A little perspective…
Wasilla, Alaska
Here’s some interesting — and local — insight into Gov Sarah Palin by Mudflats:
“Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean, we’re sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’….but seriously? Sarah Palin for Vice President? Yes, she’s a popular governor. Her all time high approval rating hovered around 90% at one point. But bear in mind that the 90% approval rating came from one of the most conservative, and reddest-of-the-red states out there. And that approval rating came before a series of events that have lead many Alaskans to question the governor’s once pristine image.
There is no doubt in my mind that many Alaskans are feeling pretty excited about this. But we live in our own little bubble up here, and most of the attention we get is because of The Bridge to Nowhere, polar bears, the indictment of Ted Stevens, and the ongoing investigation and conviction of the string of legislators and oil executives who literally called themselves “The Corrupt Bastards Club”.
So seeing our governor out there in the national spotlight accepting the nomination for Vice Presidential candidate is just downright surreal. Just months ago, when rumors surfaced that she was on the long version of the short list, she was questioned if she’d be interested in the position. She said she couldn’t answer “until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day. I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here….”
There is no doubt that Palin has fierce territorial loyalties. When elected governor there was much concern because she came right out and said she would favor her own home town of Wasilla (where she was mayor) and its surrounding environs collectively known as “the Valley” while leading the state. And it’s obvious from her statement that Alaska was on her mind when accepting the VP nod (see my emphasis above).
So what is it that we’re “trying to accomplish up here”?
Go read the rest of this post here. Very enlightening…
McCain’s female problems
: : : : : : : : : :
The McCain campaign has an active fantasy life — one that includes the fantasy of feminist women flocking to the polls to vote for him. As if!!
In The Nation, Katha Pollitt put it simply: “[T]o vote for McCain, a feminist would have to be insane.”
There are a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters out there who are angry and disappointed, but they are not stupid or insane.
Much of the recent talk has focused on PUMAs (the acronym stands for “Party Unity My Ass”), a group supposedly so angry about the Democratic primary that they won’t vote for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). But as blogger Amanda Marcotte reported, PUMA PAC was started by a McCain donor, according to the Federal Election Commission.
McCain counts on his constant pandering and flip-flopping to keep people confused about his actual record on ANYTHING, let alone women’s issues.
In 1999, McCain said he backed Roe: “Certainly, in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.”
But on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in May 2007, responding to a question about his statements in 1999, McCain said: “Well, it was in the context of conversation about having to change the culture of America as regards to this issue. I have stated time after time after time that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision.”
McCain has also voted in support of “backdoor” and “parental rights” pro-life issues.
[I]n 2004, he supported the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which makes it a criminal offense to harm or kill a fetus while committing a violent crime – essentially deeming the fetus a person in the eyes of the law.
In July 2006, McCain voted for legislation that would fine and/or imprison physicians who perform abortions on out-of-state minors if there are parental notification requirements in their home state. In October 2007, he voted for legislation that would cut Health and Human Services grants to organizations that perform abortions.
Regarding sex education, contraception and healthcare for low income women and children, McCain is positively midevil.
He opposed legislation requiring that abstinence-only programs be medically accurate and based in science. He voted to abolish funding for birth control and gynecological care for low-income women, and against funding for public education on emergency contraception.
He also voted against a measure that would require insurance companies to cover prescription contraception, despite the fact that many currently fund male reproductive pharmaceuticals, such as Viagra.
This exchange between McCain and Adam Nagourney of the New York Times is chilling:
In March 2007, the New York Times’ Adam Nagourney asked McCain whether grants for sex education in the United States include instructions about using contraceptives, or if they should abide by Bush’s abstinence-only policy.
After a pause, McCain responded, “Ahhh. I think I support the president’s policy.”
Nagourney followed up: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception? Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”
After another pause, McCain replied, “You’ve stumped me.”
House Republicans vote against their own Mothers.
Obstructionist Republicans continue doing everything in Washington DC except their jobs, including voting against their own resolutions.
On Wednesday, the House took up the seemingly uncontroversial H. Res. 1113, “Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother’s Day.” The resolution initially passed 412 to 0, until Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) rose in protest:
Mr. Speaker, I ask for a recorded vote because I’m sure every member wants their mother to know that they have supported the goals of Mother’s Day.
Well, 177 mothers of House Republicans will be disappointed to know their sons and daughters voted against them — or maybe they won’t, these moms must know by now what kind of children they raised.
House Minority Leader John Boehner dismissed the bizarre vote of his Republicans saying, “Oh, we just wanted to make sure that everyone was on record in support of Mother’s Day.” By the way, Boehner is against his mother as well.
In the comments section of this post on ThinkProgress, MsJoanne reported on her conversation with Rep Tiahrt’s staff:
I just got off the phone with Mr. Tiahrt’s office in DC. Apparently, they are going to stop votes on EVERYTHING until they get what they want in the Emergency Supplemental Bill. The goopers will be doing Motions To Reconsider every bill presented until they get what they want in the supplemental.
Great…thugs, thugs, and more thugs.
She expands on that conversation in another comment:
The guy I talked with said that they are going to use this procedural motion to stop everything “to bring to light” what they want in the bill. This man said that they have no say in it. I asked if this was a war funding bill and he replied that it was war, medicare, science, etc. (That made me a bit afraid in that they probably want to further reduce everything but the war.)
He also said that Mr Tiahrt’s district fully supported the war.
This is your government at work, folks. Not only do they throw trillions of dollars at a war which can never be won, but they piss away time and tax dollars on petty obstructionist games. This is how they “represent” us.
Both of the Representatives from my state voted against their mothers as well. How does your Rep feel about his/her mother?
ThinkProgress has video of this shameful waste of time here.
Funerals and abortions
By Christopher Brauchli, CommonDreams
But optics sharp it needs, I ween,
To see what is not to be seen.
— John Trumbull, McFingal (1782)
What does George Bush have in common with prostitutes? For the answer see the end of the next paragraph.
As was observed in last week’s column, photographs of French president François Mitterand’s funeral, showed his widow, mistress and their daughter, all gazing sadly at the casket. Had Eliot Spitzer died while consorting with prostitutes there would have been no photographs of the prostitutes standing sadly by the coffin with Mr. Spitzer’s wife and daughters. That’s because prostitutes don’t do funerals. Here is the answer to the riddle. Neither does George Bush.
George Bush doesn’t even like to be in the presence of coffins even though it is thanks to him that the sad remains of more than 4000 service personnel have found resting places in coffins.
Unlike other presidents who in time of war have shared the grief of families of fallen soldiers by attending funeral or memorial services as time and location permit, Mr. Bush has avoided such displays of respect for the fallen and has barred the media from photographing the coffins of fallen service people returning from Iraq lest the sad sights create hostility towards Mr. Bush’s legacy war. What the American public doesn’t see or recall, Mr. Bush believes, probably hasn’t happened. That explains the most recent events involving Johns Hopkins University.
The Johns Hopkins episode involves “abortion” something George Bush opposes. That is why, for most of the years of the Bush reign, funding from the United States for family planning clinics in Africa that provided abortion counseling was reduced or eliminated even though the reduction in funding meant the clinics would be unable to distribute condoms, devices that are intended to reduce the need for abortion or provide protection against AIDS. Mr. Bush’s most recent attack on abortion was an attempt to remove information about abortion from a prominent Internet site.
Johns Hopkins manages POPLINE, the world’s largest database on reproductive health. According to Robert Pear of the New York Times, it has more than 360,000 records and articles “on family planning, fertility and sexually transmitted diseases. The database is funded by USAID, an agency that imposes severe restrictions on funds being given to any NGO that performs abortions or actively promotes it in foreign countries as a means of family planning.
As a result of brilliant and thorough research, out of the 360,000 articles in the data base, Sandy Jordan, director of communications in USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health, discovered two articles that, said she, “were one-sided in favor of abortion.” As a result, the organization asked that the articles be removed from the database. Explaining what might otherwise seem like the mindless act of another Bush “You’re doing a great job Brownie”, she said: “We are part of the Bush administration, so we have to make sure that all parts of the story are told. The administration’s policy is definitely anti-abortion and the administration does not see abortion as a part of family planning policy.”
Big Brother will decide what’s best for you…even to the detriment of your own health or education. If you cant find information about it — it doesn’t exist!
When the Dean of the Public Health School, Dr. Michael J. Klag, learned of the restrictions in early April, he ordered the restrictions lifted saying: “I could not disagree more strongly with this decision, and I have directed that the POPLINE administrators restore ‘abortion’ as a search term immediately. I will also launch an inquiry to determine why this change occurred.”
I wish there were more Dr Klags around, we really need them.
