From SaveRoe

At a recent sit down with the Associated Press, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida made the following statement: "There are 90,000 abortions in this state every year, and that troubles me more than I can describe. But I don't have some secret powers." (Knight Ridder Tribune News Services, March 26, 2005)

Governor, I’m here to tell you that you do have “secret powers” and you don’t even need to sprinkle fairy dust to activate them. To reduce the number of abortions, try reducing the number of unintended pregnancies.

You see, there is nothing secret about it. If you are really concerned about reducing the number of abortions in your state, you could work with the several Planned Parenthood affiliates in Florida to support the Prevention First Act sponsored by state Senator Steve Geller. You could also support improved access to medically accurate sex education, which includes teaching about abstinence. Next, you could help ensure that contraceptives are accessible to all who desire them. And you would most definitely join us in urging the FDA to grant over-the-counter status to emergency contraception. Last, but not least, you could support full funding for family planning programs in your state budget.

Governor, I think you found your secret power. It’s called Planned Parenthood, and you can contact us anytime at 1-800-230-PLAN. We are ready, willing, and eager to work with you — and while you’re at it, let your brother know about us. We'd like to work with him, too.

Quote of the day

From Bitch PhD:

If I want to be preached at, I'll go to church. If I'm in a pharmacy, what I want is my prescription filled.

If you have a problem providing health care to anyone, on moral grounds, then do something else for a living.

(via Shakespeare's Sister)

Why Can't George Do Math?

I'm very worried about George Will. As fantastic a columnist as he is, he just doesn't seem to have a head for numbers.

He must be a product of the public school system.

Today, Mr. Will discusses the "Fair Tax." Now, I don't consider myself an expert on taxation, but I did read the Fair Tax website many months ago, the same site where Mr. Will seems to have gathered most of his material. I wrote a diary about it here.

My favorite fallacy of the "Fair Tax" is the actual tax rate itself:

His bill would abolish the IRS and the many billions of tax forms it sends out and receives. He would erase the federal income tax system -- personal and corporate income taxes, the regressive payroll tax and self-employment tax, capital gains, gift and estate taxes, the alternative minimum tax and the earned income tax credit -- and replace all that with a 23 percent national sales tax on personal consumption.

Now, where do they come up with that rate?

Here, in the FAQ's, they point out that the tax rate is "23 cents out of every dollar."

But that's not a 23% sales tax. A 23% sales tax is paying a dollar and being charged $1.23. This is spending $0.77 and getting charged a dollar, which makes it a 29.9 % tax.

Why are you lying to us, George? That's not very fair.

The Un-Apologetic Atheist

Yesterday, he went to see Ann Coulter speak. His whole post is definately worth a read, but my favorite are his Ann-Quoter's:

Some other juicy Coulter quotes (copied down as best was managable via pen-and-paper) from the evening:

"It can be documented that government grows in response to women being given the vote. Women see the government as their husband, as they divorce more, women look to the government to take care of them. The more sexually licentious the society, the more the women look to the government to protect them."

"Because liberals are women, they're hysterical, they hide in the background, they won't step forward and speak."

"We don't need police, we have College Republicans!" (in response to the aforementioned action)

"What about the liberals' war on poverty? When do we get an exit strategy from that quagmire?"

"Liberals are always complaining about being oppressed-- I say let's do it, let's oppress them!"

She's so pretty.

Oh, Frat Boys

They are absolutely convinced that the planting of GOP talking points was a Democrat dirty trick. That the fact that no one knows where it come from is very suspicious. How it just magically appeared, only to make them look bad

If it was a Democrat trick, that would be very "special olympics" of them...

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the leaflets, which Lauderdale County Democrats said were dropped off at their headquarters on the county square last week by an unidentified man.

Volunteers there said they found the leaflets offensive and threw them into a trash can where at least one Lauderdale County man says he retrieved one.

Quote of the Day

From Norwegianity:

"Two-thirds of world’s resources ‘used up’. It’s nice to know the world’s in approximately the same shape I’m in."

Curiouser and Curiouser

ick:

"There's no indication at this time of the motives behind the stealing of the plastinated fetus," Render said. "There had been no threats."

The theft was the first ever involving "Body Worlds" displays, which have been seen by millions of people worldwide.

"We are deeply concerned and disappointed by the theft of this invaluable and irreplaceable specimen," Angelina Whalley, director of the Institute for Plastination, said in a statement.

"Although it is a tragedy that the fetus never made it to life, it is a teaching treasure and educational tool which we preserved for the benefit of public knowledge," she said.

A Post I Cannot Hold In

I said I would no longer post about Terri Schiavo, and have been resisting. Even when I watched Crossfire yesterday and heard Bay Buchanan and her cohort explain that this is a civil rights issue, and that troops should be sent in to feed Terri, just like troops were sent in to integrate schools in the 60's, I kept my trigger finger under control.

But today we've got all of our Minnesota connections. On one side, we have Dr. Ronald Cranford pointing out all of the inaccuracies the media is reporting,. And as a neurologist who actually examined (and not by video, Dr. Frist) Schiavo, I have to believe him.

DANIELS: Well, with all due respect, Doctor, it sounds like you think that you know what you are talking about, so let's ask you about that.

CRANFORD: Sure.

DANIELS: Are you 100 percent correct in your opinion that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state? Do you agree with that?

CRANFORD: I am 105 percent sure she is in a vegetative state. And the autopsy will show severe irreversible brain damage to the higher centers, yes.

DANIELS: Why are you so sure, Doctor?

CRANFORD: Because I examined her. The court-appointed guardian examined her. Four neurologists at the hospital where she was has said she's carried a diagnosis of vegetative state for 12 years. Every neurologist that examined her, except for Dr. [William] Hammesfahr [a neurologist selected by Terri Schiavo's parents], who is a charlatan, has said she is in vegetative state. That's what the court found. Just because you don't like --

[crosstalk]

DANIELS: Doctor, was a CAT scan -- Doctor, your critics would ask you, was a CAT scan used? Was an MRI taken? Were any of these tests taken?

CRANFORD: You don't know the answer to that? The CAT scan was done in 1996, 2002. We spent a lot of time in court showing the irreversible -- you don't have copies of those CAT scans? How can you say that?

The CAT scans are out there, distributed to other people. You have got to look at the facts. The CAT scan is out there. It shows severe atrophy of the brain. The autopsy is going to show severe atrophy of the brain. And you're asking me if a CAT scan was done? How could you possibly be so stupid?

On the other hand, we have local State Politicians cashing in on the cause of the day:

Rep. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, said Monday that he and Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, are researching possible legislation at the group's request. The first step, he said, is to determine the current state of the law in Minnesota in cases like Schiavo's.

With deadlines for committee action on bills approaching next month, Vandeveer added, there may not be time to change the law this year. "This is legislation we'd want to be extremely careful about," he said.

Said Bachmann: "It's far more complicated than we had thought. We don't want to bind family members in a difficult situation."

Just keep on campaigning, Michele.

It's Some Kind of Wonderful

Online quizes annoy me as much as emailed chain letters. But then I saw Fecke's "What john hughes Character Are You?" link and I was sucked in.


You are Andie Walsh (from Pretty In Pink)!
Misunderstood and full of angst, you are
intelligent, talented and will probably go on
to do great things...once you're out of the
hell of high school.


Which John Hughes Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I always knew I was pretty.

The Light Rail Lost Me

I'm a tireless advocate of the mass transit system, but I think I am going to have to withdraw my support from the Hiawatha.

Who decided to turn the cars bright pink? Seriously, it is a shocking eyesore on the beauty that is my beloved downtown.

Now lilac I could have gotten behind....

Jerry Falwell

Hospitalized.

I sure it was just overexcitement.

Anyone Else Starting to Feel Like

God might just be getting a little ticked off at the world?

An earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 struck off the coast of Indonesia Monday -- on the same fault line that originated a December 26 earthquake that launched a deadly tsunami.

The director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said scientists there feared another tsunami might hit the area.

Culture of Life

Except for Homosexuals, of course...

(via New Patriot)

Michigan Preparing To Let Doctors Refuse To Treat Gays

The bill allows health care workers to refuse service to anyone on moral, ethical or religious grounds.

The Republican dominated House passed the measure as dozens of Catholics looked on from the gallery. The Michigan Catholic Conference, which pushed for the bills, hosted a legislative day for Catholics on Wednesday at the state Capitol.

The bills now go the Senate, which also is controlled by Republicans.

The Conscientious Objector Policy Act would allow health care providers to assert their objection within 24 hours of when they receive notice of a patient or procedure with which they don't agree. However, it would prohibit emergency treatment to be refused.

The key bit of the bill is as follows:

Sec. 5. (1) A health care provider may assert as a matter of conscience an objection to providing or participating in a health care service that conflicts with his or her sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.

There are other bills that would exempt health insurers or health facilities from providing or covering a health-care procedure that violated ethical, moral or religious principles reflected in their bylaws or mission statement.

The level of denial, hypocrasy, blasphemy, groupthink, it takes to create and pass such abhorrent legislation is a mystery of evil. What is the appeal here for people of good faith and mercy? Did they direct their donations to tsunami aid towards only those of the appropriate sexual orientation? This is profoundly corrupt.

Bills to allow medical professional to deny patients based on their moral code regardless of their Hypocratic Oath have been gaining popularity. A ntional version of the bill is begining to make it's way through Congress again:

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act was once again introduced in Congress last week, and an array of U.S. Jewish groups are hoping that the eighth attempt for the legislation will finally achieve success.

The measure would require employers to accommodate the religious observances of their employers as long as providing such accommodations will not impose an "undue hardship" upon the employer nor impair an employee from performing the "essential functions" of a job.

Current Supreme Court precedent, say the bill's supporters, permits employers to deny employees time off for religious holidays and refuse to accommodate requests to wear religious garb, for instance.

The bill unites politicians from across the political spectrum, most evident by its Senate sponsors -- Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Reps. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced the legislation in the House.

But the legislation has languished for more than a decade because of opposition by the business community. Another stumbling block emerged last year when the National Council of Jewish Women, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups pulled out of the bill's coalition of supporters, worried that the legislation could allow pharmacists to refuse to carry "morning-after" birth control pills and nurses to bow out of caring for women receiving abortions, for instance.

Some Jewish groups have called such worries overblown.Others say they are legitimate, but are better dealt with legislatively.

I'm longing for the days when Conscientious Objecting was used to fight actual injustices.

He's the friend to the common man

Especially if they are on the boards of the Fortune 500....

Fortune 500 companies that invested millions of dollars in electing Republicans are emerging as the earliest beneficiaries of a government controlled by President Bush (news - web sites) and the largest GOP House and Senate majority in a half century.
...
MBNA Corp., the credit card behemoth and fifth-largest contributor to Bush's two presidential campaigns, is among those on the verge of prevailing in an eight-year fight to curtail personal bankruptcies. Exxon Mobil Corp. and others are close to winning the right to drill for oil in Alaska's wildlife refuge, which they have tried to pass for better than a decade. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., another big contributor to Bush and the GOP, and other big companies recently won long-sought protections from class-action lawsuits.
...
Wal-Mart, the retailer many experts consider the most-sued company in America, stands to benefit from the new class-action law, which is designed to cut down on lawsuits and big verdicts by steering some cases into federal courts, away from state courts with track records of siding with plaintiffs and awarding multimillion-dollar verdicts, according to policy experts.

The company, which expressed disdain for Washington politics in the 1990s, changed its tune dramatically after then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) sat down with the company's managers in Bentonville, Ark., in the late 1990s and warned them of the perils of sitting on the sidelines.

Soon after, Wal-Mart became a major player in GOP politics, funneling money to groups such as the U.S. Chamber to lobby on its behalf and creating a political action committee. In the elections last year, the company's $2.4 million PAC was the third-largest corporate PAC in the country, with nearly 80 percent of its money going to Republicans. Wal-Mart officials contributed more than $30,000 to Bush last election, according to Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan organization that prepared the fundraising data for this article.
...
Like the class-action law, hundreds of companies stand to benefit from changes in the bankruptcy law, even though it will include new mandates on business, including one requiring credit companies to tell consumers how long it will take to pay off their balance if they make only the minimum payments. Credit card and banking companies, who are leading the lobbying effort, were top financers of Bush's two campaigns. MBNA, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. were among the top 20 contributors to Bush, contributing more than $300,000 apiece.

MBNA Corp., the credit card behemoth and fifth-largest contributor to Bush's two presidential campaigns, is among those on the verge of prevailing in an eight-year fight to curtail personal bankruptcies. Exxon Mobil Corp. and others are close to winning the right to drill for oil in Alaska's wildlife refuge, which they have tried to pass for better than a decade. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., another big contributor to Bush and the GOP, and other big companies recently won long-sought protections from class-action lawsuits.

Republicans have pursued such issues for much of the past decade, asserting that free market policies are the smartest way to grow the economy. But now it appears they finally have the legislative muscle to push some of their agenda through Congress and onto the desk of a president eager to sign pro-business measures into law. The chief reason is Bush's victory in 2004 and GOP gains in Congress, especially in the Senate, where much of corporate America's agenda has bogged down in recent years, according toRepublicans and Democrats.

"These are not real high-profile, sexy issues like the war or Social Security (news - web sites), but these are issues that have huge economic consequences," said Charles R. Black Jr., a GOP lobbyist and one of the president's top fundraisers. "And there is more to come on that score."

Bush and his congressional allies are looking to pass legal protections for drug companies, doctors, gun manufacturers and asbestos makers, as well as tax breaks for all companies and energy-related assistance sought by the oil and gas industry.

With 232 House seats, Republicans have their largest majority since 1949. This is the first time since the Calvin Coolidge administration in 1929 that the GOP has simultaneously held 55 or more Senate seats and the presidency. Senate Republicans are only five votes shy of the 60 needed to break the most powerful tool the minority holds in Congress -- the filibuster.

Over the next four years, the GOP hopes to use this enhanced power to approve the president's judicial nominees, some of whom Democrats lambaste as too conservative, and restructure Social Security and the tax code. But in the early days of the 109th Congress, it is corporations, which largely bankrolled the GOP's resurgence that began a decade ago with the Republican takeover of the House, that are profiting.

As recent Senate votes on bankruptcy and class-action lawsuits showed, corporations rely on a number of Democrats in the House and Senate and continue to contribute generously to both parties. But in the 2004 elections, Republicans received 66 percent of corporate political action committee (PAC) money, which reflects a trend of businesses tilting support toward the GOP over the last decade. In 1993-94, business PACs gave slightly more to Democrats.

R. Bruce Josten, top lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (news - web sites), said businesses feel a sense of urgency to enact as many pro-business laws as possible before a fight over judicial nominees or a Supreme Court opening brings legislative action to a "screeching halt."

Wal-Mart, the retailer many experts consider the most-sued company in America, stands to benefit from the new class-action law, which is designed to cut down on lawsuits and big verdicts by steering some cases into federal courts, away from state courts with track records of siding with plaintiffs and awarding multimillion-dollar verdicts, according to policy experts.

The company, which expressed disdain for Washington politics in the 1990s, changed its tune dramatically after then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) sat down with the company's managers in Bentonville, Ark., in the late 1990s and warned them of the perils of sitting on the sidelines.

Soon after, Wal-Mart became a major player in GOP politics, funneling money to groups such as the U.S. Chamber to lobby on its behalf and creating a political action committee. In the elections last year, the company's $2.4 million PAC was the third-largest corporate PAC in the country, with nearly 80 percent of its money going to Republicans. Wal-Mart officials contributed more than $30,000 to Bush last election, according to Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan organization that prepared the fundraising data for this article.

In many cases, companies such as Wal-Mart spend significantly more money hiring Republican lobbyists and helping fund groups such as the U.S. Chamber and other GOP-dominated trade associations that are not required to disclose their donors than they devote to political candidates. Wal-Mart, for instance, has contributed at least $1 million to the Chamber of Commerce, according to chamber documents.

Marty Heires, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said the company did not want to comment for this report. "They want to play it low-key on this," he said. Wal-Mart is only one of scores of businesses that sought the class-action law. The companies, which included technology firms such as Intel Corp. and pharmaceutical giants such as GlaxoSmithKline Plc, did much of their lobbying quietly though a group called the Class Action Fairness Coalition, which is run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform. Both refused to disclose their donors.

In the end, the companies prevailed because the larger GOP majorities were joined by several pro-business Democrats, who were comfortable with the compromises they negotiated that limited the effects of the bill. Many of these Democrats also received substantial campaign contributions from companies concerned about class-action cases, the Center for Responsive Politics found. The story is the same for the bankruptcy bill, which recently passed the Senate and appears headed to easy passage in the House and to Bush's desk this spring.

United Republicans are counting on the support of enough Democrats to pass a bill that has been stalled since the mid-1990s. It would require many people filing for bankruptcy to repay more of their debt. Under current law, tens of thousands of people file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which erases all of their debt. The new law makes it harder to file for the more generous Chapter 7 protections.

Most Democrats and consumers groups say the new law is too hard on the sick, divorced and unemployed. Supporters argue that it is a necessary and long-overdue way of preventing people from shirking their debts when they could repay at least a portion of them.

Like the class-action law, hundreds of companies stand to benefit from changes in the bankruptcy law, even though it will include new mandates on business, including one requiring credit companies to tell consumers how long it will take to pay off their balance if they make only the minimum payments. Credit card and banking companies, who are leading the lobbying effort, were top financers of Bush's two campaigns. MBNA, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. were among the top 20 contributors to Bush, contributing more than $300,000 apiece.

The legislation includes several provisions benefiting specific industries. Retailers such as Target and Nordstrom, which help fund the National Retail Federation, a trade association lobbying for the bill, will benefit because they lose substantial money each year when people erase their debt through bankruptcy. "Retailers who offer credit card programs are left holding the bag on bad debt," said Craig Sherman, spokesman for the retail federation. "This legislation will get us out of this situation." Target contributed 80 percent of its $300,000-plus PAC money to Republicans last election.

Ford Credit Co. and others would benefit from a provision that stipulates that all automobile loans be repaid in full by people who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or the auto will be repossessed. Under current law, only the present value of the car must be repaid. Ford Motor donated more than 80 percent of its PAC money to the GOP.

Bless Me Blogger, For I have Sinned

It's has been two days since my last posting. Smartie's birthday party bowlathon was fantastic, and today we went to the future in-laws for Easter dinner and some wedding planning (an hour in the car in each direction makes you really appreciate cool people who stop by the bowling alley with presents, even when they make fun of how bad you bowl). After getting home, Smartie went straight to bed. It appears that a week of two birthdays, Easter and a proposal was just too much for him. I'm hoping he'll come back to before the actual ceremony, especially since he is in charge of the honeymoon arrangements.

I must admit, the bed seems like a really good idea to me as well. I will be back tomorrow in full snark mode, although the posting may be a little less frequent until I find and book a hall for the reception. Surely it can't be that hard to find a place on a Saturday night in Omaha almost six months out, right?

Something to ponder before you sleep:

A British graffiti artist who goes by the name "Banksy" went one step further, by smuggling in his own picture of a soup can and hanging it on a wall, where it stayed for more than three days earlier this month before anybody noticed.

Stork Theory 'Born'

Shhhhh....stop talking about birth control.

LeMahieu has begun drafting legislation to prohibit university health centers from promoting or providing the medication, known as the morning after pill. But because the pill is just a higher dose of the contraceptive hormones found in birth control pills, LeMahieu said he also will seek to block the university from prescribing all birth control pills.

Extreme? Not to this father of three college graduates, who maintains the university has no business helping students with family planning.

"Sometimes to get somebody's attention, you hit him over the head with a 2 by 4," LeMahieu said. "Here comes the 2 by 4."

It appears to have had the intended effect. Health professionals, women's rights activists and students expressed shock at a proposal that revives what they said was an outmoded notion that denying young people access to birth control will stop them from having sex.

"This is what I'm now calling the stork theory of reproduction that the Republicans are pushing," said Rep. Therese Berceau, D-Madison. "They would prefer to believe that if we just tell people not to have sex, they won't have sex. And maybe people will then also believe that babies come from the stork."

...
The [Spring Break Sexual Preparedness] ads - like Health Services itself - are paid for with student fees. No state tax dollars were used.

UW-Madison senior Le'Andrea Vernon, 21, said she shares LeMahieu's concerns about promiscuous students but wouldn't support a ban on distributing birth control pills on campus.

Vernon is president of the UW-Madison chapter of Proverbs 31 Women, a Christian organization that works to help young women be virtuous. The group supports abstinence, but it realizes that some students will be sexually active, she said.

"If they're going to think that way, they should be safe about it," Vernon said.

Some women saw in the legislation a return to an era, not too long ago, when birth control was outlawed altogether. It wasn't until a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision that birth control pills and devices could be sold to unmarried couples. Wisconsin was the last state to repeal its ban on such sales, in 1976.

"I feel like it's the 1950s," said senior Amy Osgood, 22, who called LeMahieu's efforts ridiculous. "I don't understand where he's coming from. These are women who are adults. They're 18 years old. They should be able to take care of their health any way they choose to."

Senior Jane Benzschawel, 22, who coordinates support groups for the Campus Women's Center, said she is frustrated by lawmakers trying to limit women's access to birth control. That approach is self- defeating for people who, like LeMahieu, also oppose abortion rights, she said.

"Instead of helping to create more options for women, they're helping to create more situations in which women will need to have abortions," she said.

Although not introduced as an anti-abortion measure, LeMahieu's bill is one of several in recent years to blur the lines between abortion and birth control, said Lisa Boyce, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

While birth control pills - including the morning after pill - operate mainly by preventing ovulation or interfering with fertilization, in some cases they can also prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine wall, which some liken to abortion.

Abortion opponents are split on the proposal. Barbara Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, said her group has never taken a position on birth control.

But Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, enthusiastically backs the ban, saying birth control promotes a "contraceptive mentality" hostile toward life. She acknowledged science can't always say how the pill works but said "we advocate always erring on the side of life."[emphasis mine]

Good to see the new catchphrase is, well, catching on.

In honor of this week's momentous events, I give you Friday catblogging love. 

Update: I will have you know that this was posted by Smartie, the cheeseball.

Question of the Day

Are children suicidal because they are on meds, or on meds because they are suicidal?

I think that there is an overabundance of doctors medicating children rather than try and discover what the real problem is. But medication for emotional disorders is generally a good thing, especially when the child is also getting therapy at the same time. I hate that this has the potential to turn into another crusade that will scare families of children with depression into not seeking help.

New Addition

The chicks in the MAWB Squad are being added to the blogroll after Sandy passed the first test: discussing politics for over 30 minutes without throwing a drink in my face.

(Why did you think my blogrolls are so short?)

And Smartie was right. I did come up with three hours of retorts once I got home. And I made him listen to them all.

I don't think he'll ever come to trivia again.

Some Pre-Easter Fun

From Slate last year:

Candy historians speculate that the Peeps' link to Easter has more to do with the pagan origins of the holiday than its Christian roots. Eggs, and consequently chicks, are a long-standing symbol of fertility and rebirth, an appropriate image for a holiday that celebrates the coming of spring. Originally part of a pagan fertility ritual symbolizing new life, the egg became incorporated into Easter as pagan rites were absorbed into Christianity with the Christianization of Central Europe.

That the Rodda Candy Company was based in Pennsylvania is also of note because German immigrants, many of whom settled in the state, are largely credited with popularizing the Easter Bunny tradition in America. Eastre was a Teutonic goddess of the dawn who was able to change a bird into a rabbit, a creature known for its fertility. In the 19th century, Germans gave a related gift during the Easter season: a basket of eggs with figures of bunnies placed in it. The Easter basket, and the Easter Bunny, really became popular in this country following the Civil War, and as one candy historian noted, it would have required no great leap of imagination for Rodda (or earlier candy makers) to place a few chicks among the eggs.

Trivial Matters

For all of you who had discussed making a "Team Liberal" at Keegans tonight, I will be there around 7:15 - 7:30 to grab a table. I'll have on a Drinking Liberally button for ID purposes, and I'll try to make Smartie wear one, too.

Just picture your average internet geek, and that will be me.

(Yes, Centerists are allowed, too.)

Quote of the day

"[You can] hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace..."


Barry McGuire, Eve of Destruction

Fetal Pain Bill

I suppose that as the rabid pro-choicer that I am, you would expect me to raise some sort of stink about the fetal pain bill. So here I go:

I really hate the name.

No, really. That's all I have.

I think that if we could ever hit the point where we could pick a definite point in which abortion is illegal except for the health of the mother, I would be willing to let that be the rule. I believe that 20-24 weeks is a good place for it, both scientifically and religiously. I also believe in sexual education and birth control, and nothing should ever supersede those teachings.

So the fetal pain bill doesn't seem to bad. Except for the title: "Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act." Thank you once again for taking something that your dissenters might agree with and tweaking it into something I have to feel like I should fight against. You could have had my total support with "Fetus Pain Act." Now I have reservations.

My last post on Shiavo

I will no longer be posting on Shiavo. Fecke tends to have excellent posts on the issue. I may be forced to see this on tv every where I go, but I no longer feel the need to feed into this media frenzy by talking about her here.

There is no moral highroad in reinserting the tube, or in keeping it out. The only real moral highroad would be to stop reporting on it and let her live or die in private.

See Dick Run

I tend to go through periods where I avoid Powerline like the plague. But after a few weeks my curiosity gets the best of me and I run through a few posts.

Today I saw this:

Cheney's willingness to run will depend in the first instance on his health. Beyond that, I still believe what I suggested in October -- if it is put to the vice president that he needs to run in order to avoid the election of a Democrat in 2008, and if he believes this to be true, there's a good chance that he will answer the call.

Oh, please, PLEASE run!

I have to be honest

Jim Gukert - Super-Blogger is starting to grow on me:

March 17, 2005

For decades, gay activists have insisted that the government should stay out of the bedroom. Now we know it was because they didn't want anyone in their way when they invaded someone's bedroom to practice the politics of personal destruction. To them, privacy is a one-way street and a principle to be easily abandoned when it doesn't suit their political agenda. In the 1990s, liberals said sex didn't matter, but now it is an obsession for them.

Isn't privacy (a word that doesn't appear in the Constitution) the basis of the Lawrence v. Texas decision? Thought so. Just more liberal hypocrisy. No link here, just an observation.

7:36pm

Diagnosis: Video

Via Norwegianity:

Speaking of mugging for the cameras…

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has championed the “rescue” of Terri Schiavo, is a renowned heart surgeon who has pulled the plug on a “regular basis,” his office acknowledged yesterday.

But Frist (R-Tenn.) ended life support only when the patient was ruled brain-dead, and he is convinced Schiavo is not brain-dead.
Frist, the driving force behind the Senate bill to move Schiavo’s case to federal court and a likely 2008 presidential candidate, is under fire for declaring she is not brain-dead after reviewing a video of Schiavo.

Frist isn't the only one to do this, from what I've seen. I caught CNN during my lunch yesterday, and they were speaking with their resident health expert Dr. Sanjay Gupta. I heard Dr. Gupta state, "That doctor appointed by the court says she has no EEG. Now, I haven't examined Terri, but I've seen the video, and it sure looks like she must."

So there you go. The medical profession now does diagnosis by video. It's obviously 100% reliable, and you never have to sit in a crowded waiting room again.

Who wants to sign up first?

One more shameless selfish post

Smartie has decided to make an honest woman of me. You can read all of the gooey details at www.imabigsappygirlnow.blogspot.com.

Today's lesson: even us crazy commie pinkos can get swayed by a really big rock.

Meanwhile, in Texas

While most of the country is paying attention to one trial with potential pro-choice ramifications, another trial has finished.

Appeals Court Rules On Planned Parenthood Funding
State May Withhold Federal Money From Clinics That Perform Abortions

Read the mainstream version of the story here:

A federal appeals court has ruled that state health officials may withhold federal money from Planned Parenthood clinics that perform abortions, so long as the clinics can create independent affiliates that continue receiving money to provide other services.

The decision last week by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects a ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, who said a state law approved by the Legislature in 2003 does not allow for the creation of affiliates.

The restriction to withhold federal money for breast exams and other services from clinics that perform abortions was written by Sens. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Steve Ogden, R-College Station.

Six Planned Parenthood chapters sued, claiming it was unconstitutional and conflicted with federal laws.

Thirty-three Texas Planned Parenthood clinics serving 115,000 women provide abortions and health services. Planned Parenthood pays for abortions with private donations but uses federal money for other reproductive health services.

Or, if you are a glutton for punishment, go here:

"We think it's a huge victory," Shackelford notes. "I mean, it's millions of the taxpayers' dollars, and the idea that Planned Parenthood can force the people of Texas to give them money to kill unborn children is outrageous."

Or, simply take the first story and insert the phrase "abortion mill" every few sentences.

Backburner

With everything else that has been dominating the news, I almost forget that President Bush is still out campaigning.

It must be difficult to campaign though, when even your supporters have no idea what you are talking about:

Bush, Vice President Cheney and other officials are making "60 stops in 60 days," as their campaign says, to promote private accounts across the country. "It doesn't matter how long it takes," Bush said. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to tell the people, these are the facts."


Interviews with 15 people from Tucson found that his message hasn't reached everyone:


• Administrative assistant Mary McAllen, 51, said she's glad that people 50 and up wouldn't be affected by Bush's plan. Actually, she could be - the cutoff is people who are 55 or older.


• Karen Grainger, 50, a substitute teacher, said she thought people would have to hire brokers to manage their accounts. But Bush's idea would have them choose from investment packages that would be set and run by the government. "I'm not over 55, so it makes me a little nervous," Grainger says.


• Bill Hughes, 47, who works for a defense contractor, said he thought workers who chose to invest in private accounts would be guaranteed a certain rate of return. They wouldn't.

Once again

I find myself reading a First Ringer article and feeling his analysis is spot on. Some analysis needs no party lines, I guess.

Go check out his take on Giuliani for President.

While Giuliani’s social views are often mentioned as a disqualifier for his seeking the GOP nomination, the camel with it’s nose under the tent is the scrutiny of Giuliani’s management team while Mayor of New York---call it the Bernard Kerik factor. The smell of cronyism is hard to escape and while the issue may play less harshly in New York, where memories of Giuliani’s positive impact on NYC are still remembered fondly, the Kerik issue could easily play as a convenient rationale for social conservatives looking to fight his candidacy on grounds other than his pro-choice stance.

Moment of Shameless Selfishness

Happy Birthday to me.

(What, you didn't get me anything? No cake for you!)

update: in honor of shameless selfishness day, I shall honor all requests. So go check out Matt's blog at MN Publis. Consider it my birthday present.

Strawmanners

Straw-Manners - proper political debating etiquette.

e.g. "He seems to think a strawman agrument is any argument he disagrees with. He has poor strawmanners."

I am abnormal and wrong

According for Students for Bachmann, Michele Bachmann stated at an event on Saturday that ".. her campaign is made up of 'Normal people doing the right thing.'"

I guess all of her detractors then must be placed in the "other" category.

In case anyone has forgotten

Remember Afghanistan?

Afghan Parliamentary Elections Delayed Until September; Bomb Blast Kills Five

3/18/2005 - Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced that the parliamentary elections that were scheduled to take place in May will be postponed until September, citing technical problems for the delay. The parliamentary vote has been delayed several times over the past year due to security and logistical concerns.

According to the Associated Press, minutes before US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Karzai held a joint press conference announcing the delay, a bomb exploded in the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least five people and injuring 32. The Afghan police are blaming Taliban-led militants for the attack.

At the press conference, Secretary Rice stated that the US “will stand by the Afghan people as they go through the next state in their democratic development, the parliamentary elections that will take place this fall.” However, Rice did not mention that security continues to be a major obstacle to the rebuilding of democracy and reconstruction of the country. Winter weather in Afghanistan has claimed more than 600 lives, mainly children, due to a lack of roads for aid workers and military units to reach remote villages in the western and north-eastern parts of the country, reports . Reports have also been received that 1.5 million Afghans in Kabul are without shelter, with many dying from the brutal cold this winter.

Bo Gritz

Bo Gritz is one of the protesters recently trying to bring food and water as a show of support for Terri Schaivo.

Not often mentioned in the papers is this:

• Bo Gritz, patriot movement leader. Gritz had a popular radio show and in 1994 founded a “covenant community” in Idaho called Almost Heaven, a Promised Land for patriots where people could live free from government intervention. He made a living traveling the country, training people how to be survivalists in preparation for Y2K...Gritz now is a follower of the Christian Identity religion, which teaches that Jews are Satanic and nonwhites are inferior.

Last week, Gritz immersed himself in the controversy over removing the feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged Florida woman. Gritz reportedly went to Florida to make a citizen's arrest of the judge who was handling the case.

Money where your mouth is

Via Norwegianity, looks like they are upping the age cap on joining the Reserves. I do believe there are a few rightie tighties who have mentioned lately that they would go fight if they weren't too old (don't make me name names, I'll link you if I have to,) so here is your chance. Unless you're still too old, in which case you can just wait another two years until they up it again.

Moreover, military leaders are taking steps to ease stress on the troops by temporarily boosting ranks; rebalancing forces to add badly needed infantry, military police and civil affairs troops; and employing civilians where possible. Yesterday, defense officials worried about recruiting announced that they will raise the age limit, from 34 to 40, for enlistment in the Army Guard and Reserve.

Just a reminder

The same President who would not stop clearing brush to make a statement after the tsunami cut his vacation short and flew back to the White House to sign the Shiavo Bill.

Update: Fecke has a reminder of his own:

So when your local conservative starts whining about how the liberals killed Terri Schiavo, you may want to remind them that in 1999, Gov. George W. Bush signed a law allowing hospitals to withdraw treatment even over the objections of family. The latest person to face a death sentence because of this? Spiro Nikolouzos.

Having mostly survived

the "not-the bachelorette-party" girl's night (Flirtinis? What was I thinking?), today is Wacky Wedding Sunday (not mine, however). Will there be objections, or will everyone hold their peace?

Kidding. It's should be a simple ceremony and good fun and good eats to be had by all. I will be back tomorrow.

In the meantime, be sure to update your blogrolls or favorites to include this new site hosted by Fecke from Blog of the Moderate Left. It's only a skeleton today, but that should change very shortly. I have been asked to spend some time posting over there as well, once the Flirtini haze is gone.

Frat Boy Fumble

The Frat Boys note that the Star Tribune is looking for a conservative columnist, and suggest Mr. Sticks for the job, which is funny, since they apparently don't even read him.

So much for the Boys being so far ahead of the MSM.

Oddly enough

The best breakdown of the DFL quest to take over for Dayton appears on a conservative website. Needless to say, I don't come to the same conclusions as Ringer regarding how the winner will play out against Mark Kennedy, but he seems to have the internal battle pretty spot on:

Both Hennepin Country Attorney Amy Klobuchar and missing children’s advocate Patty Wetterling have their U.S. Senate websites up and running and especially in Wetterling’s case, raising money. Wetterling is aiming to raise $25,000 by March 20th and is already at $16,000. Klobuchar isn’t countering with such a public appeal for funds, but rather demonstrating her support. 49 DFLers in the legislature have already endorsed Klobuchar’s yet-to-be-formally-announced candidacy. Will someone charge the DFL with queen-making?

Maybe there’s another word to describe the 2006 race on the DFL side---bloodbath.

If DFLers were privately rejoicing at not having to defend Sen. Mark Dayton in a reelection effort, they certainly can’t be blamed for gnashing their teeth at the thought that two of their best candidates may exhaust themselves not against the opposition, but against each other. Before Wetterling’s entrance, Klobuchar appeared on the fast track to wrapping up most of the institutional support from office-holding DFLers. Not unlike Rep. Mark Kennedy, Klobuchar had put in years of grassroots campaigning---learning all the names of senate district leaders, making endless speeches, enduring numerous chicken dinners---only to see the mantle of frontrunner snatched away by a political novice in Wetterling.

Other blogs and bloggers from the Gopher State have tried (including The First Ring) to explain the appeal of Patty Wetterling to those unfamiliar with her. Gary’s description of her as ”Saint Patty” over at TBFKADVK fairly well describes it. Wetterling has nearly a 100% name ID, a gentle demeanor and an apolitical aura around her. Unfortunately for DFLers, as a candidate in the 6th Congressional District in 2004, Wetterling needed to be excessively managed as she was most definitely “not ready for primetime.” Her command of the issues was sub-par to be generous and often Wetterling seemed to fall back on whatever the position held by the advocacy groups financially supporting her. Klobuchar, on the other hand, is a far more experienced campaigner, but expect the DFL activists to argue the age-old question about whether a candidate is more electable with or without a political record.

I don't believe a candidate necessarily needs a political record, but I want more than name recognition and a "gentle demeanor." A DFL senator needs to be someone who shows she/he can hold her/his own up against the DeLays and Frists of the body politic, and Wetterling will definitely need to show more clearly that she can before the primaries.

Mr. Hogan's Opus

If anyone is looking, the battle between good and evil has moved over here. Feel free to join.

Last time I checked

If you do the minimum of what the law says, you are in fact obeying the law:

In recent years, most women seeking an abortion have complied with the state's consent law by calling a recorded message from a physician telling them the procedure rarely causes medical complications or mental distress.

"I thought that was seedy," said Rob Regier, executive director of the South Dakota Family Policy Council. "Planned Parenthood was doing the bare minimum to follow the law."

I would like to go on record as stating that I have decided Mr. Rob Regier is seedy as arbitrarily as he has decided Planned Parenthood's following of the law is "seedy."

New abortion restrictions that have just passed in South Dakota are rules requiring doctors who perform abortions in the state to tell women scheduling the procedure that "it ends the life of a human being and could leave them depressed or suicidal," and "that it will terminate the life of a 'whole, separate, unique, living human being.'"

Also, "Doctors also will have to outline risks women face from abortion and give them the addresses and phone numbers of adoption agencies."

Friday Catbloging update: Here's the skinny black one 

Sometimes a headline is enough

Who even needs to read the story?

Prison: Two women want to marry Peterson

The Ring Two: Electric Bugaloo

I was a huge fan of the first Ring movie. Not immediately, mind you. Actually, I walked out of the theater hating it. Then I started thinking about it a little more, and I didn't hate it quite so much. Then I realized I was on my seventh day after watching the film, and I was a little creeped out. Then I made it through the ordeal alive, and I still couldn't stop thinking of it. So I figured it must be a good movie, if I was still thinking about it two to three weeks after I saw it. I bought the DVD and have never failed to get bored when I re-watch it.

I guess I should have known the sequel would be no good. From what I've read, the sequel to Ringu was not very good, either. I was surprised that it had so little interesting in it that the reviewer was reduced to talking about himself:

On a personal note, it never fails to dumbfound me how inaccurately most films portray people who work at newspapers. One of Rachel's newsroom subordinates addresses her as Miss Keller. They might do that in Japan, but here it's about as common as doing a curtsey. Because a lot of the film's menace is water-borne, the characters all have palatial bathrooms in grand, lovely homes no one on a newspaper salary could dream of affording. And they all seem so true blue, with none of the graveyard sarcasm that's a signature of the trade. The only moment of realism pops through when someone picks up a police scanner report about a mysterious death, big news in this sleepy town. "Maybe it's a murder," she says. "We should be so lucky." smirks a colleague. Surprising that a movie that gets so much wrong would get that right.

In the immortal words of the old Reese Peanut Butter Cup commercials, "You got your columnist in my movie review."

More shipping out again

From the Star Tribune:

About 2,000 Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers have been notified that they could be deployed to Iraq or another part of the Middle East next year.

Lt. Shannon Purvis, a Guard spokeswoman, said Thursday that the notification is preliminary; deployment plans are not set.

The Minnesota Guard members put on notice for deployment belong to the First Brigade Combat Team, which is based in Stillwater and fills its ranks from around the state.

Guard units in Minneapolis, Duluth, Mankato, Brainerd, New Ulm, Willmar and Moorhead could be affected by the call-up.

"There's not a lot of information we can give at this point," Purvis said. "All we can say is that the deployment would be in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Purvis said the Guard made the early announcement to give the part-time soldiers and their families at least a year to prepare for probable overseas duty.

More than 1,700 Minnesota Army and Air National Guard members are now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait on lengthy and at times dangerous missions. That number is the highest it has been since the war began.

My good friend told me last night her brother was being shipped out soon. He had participated in hazardous duty in Kosovo and was told he would not have to go to Iraq because of it. Until now.

Saturday will be the 2 year aniversary of the begining of the war in Iraq. Be sure to save a moment to honor everyone involved.

Friday cat blogging

I understand it's a bit of a tradition to toss up a picture of your cat on Fridays. I'm a sucker for tradition, but I don't know how to upload photo, so here's my Friday cat blogging post:

Big fat calico, skinny little black one.

Thank you.

Third time's a charm

Welcome to the blogroll, Tom!

anwr
I hear there are a bunch of deteriorating fossils in the US Senate. We should sieze them and drill in their most sensitive areas for precious natural resources.

I have a request

Never let it be said I don't give the fans (heh) what they want. Kerry has asked that I reply to his comments in a new post, so here it comes (I'll let him be bold, because bold is sexy):

"It is no suprise that I am against the war." Would you elaborate on your meaning here? This phrase is a continual puzzle to me. (I am not laying traps for you.) To be against something one can infer a person then to be "for" something. So you agree? If so, in the context of your quote above, what are you for?

You are actually quite correct here. I should have made it more clear in tense. I was against the war, in the sense that I did not think that Iraq posed a clear and imminent threat to our country. I was, however, very supportive of the battle in Afghanistan. There was a direct cause and effect retaliatory relationship that made sense in that case. Some people like their wars proactive, I prefer mine reactive. You may say "But look at all the innocent lives lost if you wait for someone to strike first." I say, "Are you saying our troops' lives aren't innocent? How do you know that those deaths were necessary?"

If I may postulate that one of the things you might be for is the attending chorus "bring the troops home now",then what thought have you taken with regard to the impacts and repercussions such a move might bring? For example, suppose oe might agree that our MP's training their police procuces desireable results. Would your desire to bring them home include provisions to perpetuate those good results?

Surprisingly enough, I'm not a 'bring them home now' kind of girl. I am a 'bring them home soon and safely' kind of girl. I want peace as much as the next person, and at this point peace will come about only if we can successfully transfer power into the Iraqis' hands. We did not do this successfully in Afghanistan, and we need to learn that lesson. But transferring power is a difficult thing to do, especially when the people we are giving it to keep ending up dead, possibly by our own troops. (Yes, I did put possibly.)

I support our troops. Gathering to rally against the war is the greatest show of support for the troops possible. No one wants the war to keep going any moment longer than necessary on either side, I hope. War protesters are for the most part peace-loving people who want the troops safe, not "Pro-Hussein, Pro-rape" America-haters. If we hated America we wouldn't care what happened in the war.

Contrarily, if you see only bad results and outcomes, do those outweigh any and all other considerations and arguments? In a parallel vein, one cannot reasonably dispute the evil which evil men are doing against the Iraqi people, and the countervailing force against this evil American troops, (plus Poles, Ukranians,et.al.) are providing. Does your opposition to "the war" make any provisions in this case? Or do you deny that proposition on its face? If so, on what basis or with what reasoning?

Good and evil. Okay, now this just got fun, since we have officially moved beyond politics and into theology.

I see gray. As in tune as I am with the concept of Good and Evil, especially in its End Days/Zoroastrian theme of Good Versus Evil with Man the only one who has the freedom to choose a side, I still find myself seeing in shades of gray. One man's evil is another man's good, and vice versa.

Heaven as I understand it comes with the ability to have all knowledge. Being one with God upon death gives Man the omniscience missing from life here on Earth. There is a possibility that once I die and am all knowledgeable, I will find out that had their been no war, there would have been an attack so violent it would have killed nearly every person on the face of the earth. Boy, would I have egg on my face.

We are humans limited by human knowledge. We can never know everything. What can seem like Evil can actually be a greater good. What seems like Good may be evil to others. And the devil has a pleasing face.

Of course, maybe you just meant good and evil in this world, in a physical sort of way, in which case sorry for the tangent. You can take the girl out of the religion classes...

This thread of questions might be elongated, as there are many skeins here to be wound and unwound. I hope you might respond in a post. I would be glad to post in kind. I'd have begun there had I known where these questions headed, but I'm off to work. Thanks.

Feel free to elongate. I haven't enjoyed a debate this much since Mr. Sticks got too busy to write.

Portrait of a Serial Attackist

MNGOPWatch has a great post up about the three step attack process used by Minnesota Republicans to attempt to shift attention when under scrutiny:

Step one: Imply wrongdoing.

The Republican Party of Minnesota called the latest DFL Party attack on Governor Tim Pawlenty by Rep. Tom Rukavina "absurd" and highlighted how websites of the House DFL Caucus and Senate DFL Caucus should be of concern to Rukavina.

Step two: Present some shaky evidence based on nothing more than speculation.

[W]ho pays for the cost of maintaining the [House DFL Caucus] website is unknown. ... [I]t is unclear who pays for the cost of maintaining the [Senate DFL Caucus] website.

Step three: Issue a carefully worded statement that sounds damning, but actually says nothing.

"If Rep. Tom Rukavina were actually concerned about the potential use of state taxpayer money for political purposes, he would tell his own caucus and the Senate DFL Caucus to clean up their act," said Miltimore.

The Republican Party of Minnesota wants us to think that it's really the Senate and House DFL Caucus web sites we should be worried about; as they correctly note, both sites contain partisan material. But the Republican Party of Minnesota presents absolutely no evidence whatsoever that these web sites are funded by taxpayer money. Without that evidence, they have no attack, and that's why they resorted to the misleading tactics detailed above; note that they say it is "unknown" and "unclear" where funds for the Caucus web sites came from, and that there is merely the "potential" that taxpayer funds were used. It would take just seconds to call the House and Senate DFL Caucuses and ask if taxpayer funds were used, but apparently that's far too much work for the Republican Party of Minnesota's attack poodles.

(By the way: neither site was produced using taxpayer money)

Drinking Liberally - Minneapolis

Well, I've officially been given the keys on Drinking Liberally Minneapolis. Notices about the relaunch on April 13th (6:00-9:00 pm) will be going out shortly. If you aren't on the mailing list, be sure to go here and get signed up.

I promise good times, good booze, and Norwegianity in a hat.

Question of the day

What is Flash going to do now that the Robert Blake trial is over?

Taking the highroad?

I often hear that conservatives want discourse, and liberals are too busy spewing ugliness to engage. I'll let this post from Shot in the Dark speak for itself:

Protest Too Much
The local far-left is going to be out in "force" this coming weekend.

Pro-Hussein demonstrators will gather in (if memory serves) Loring Park and near the Capitol to express their regret for the end of juvenile prisons, institutional gang-rape, and thousands of bodies dumped into mass graves.

The pro-rape, pro-genocide demonstrations will be taking place during the Northern Alliance broadcast this weekend. We'll have team coverage on the scene. If you can't be there and involved with one of the counterprotests (assuming you're so inclined, and I know that not all of my readers are), tune in and join us.

UPDATE: I removed "Moonbat" from the post. It is inflammatory, which doesn't bother me as such, but it inflames without any reason attached to it. It's no better than the morons who chant "wingnut" everytime they refer to conservatives.

I do indeed believe the demonstrators are marching in support of dictators and thugs. I should keep my criticisms to the specifics, and leave the name calling to people more attuned to such.

It is no suprise that I am against the war. It should also come as no suprise to anyone who reads this blog that I am probably not pro-genocide, and most definetly not pro-rape. And if the above is what qualifies as "leaving the name calling to people more attuned to such," then I questions what is defined by "name-calling." Cause "Pro-Hussein" does not sound like a sweet nothing to me.

Wow

Smartie owes someone a lot of money.

Of course, I would have been more impressed if he had voted against it AND it didn't pass.

Let's give a cheer for Norm Coleman, folks. It may be our only chance to do so.

Why I will never be able to take David Strom seriously

Tim Pawlenty is likely to go down in history as the best and most significant Governor in Minnesota history. His instincts, his impulse to do good, and his ability to connect directly with Minnesotans give him the power to do so much good. His legacy will be one of reform and improvement, and the empowerment of citizens.

His most lasting legacy, I hope, is revitalizing the faith of Minnesotans in their government.

Read it all here.

Anyone got pancakes, cause there's a whole lotta syrup dribbling around...

Conswervative

Conswervative: The act of playing both side of an issue so no one can report that you changed your mind.

Ex: "Where does that conswervative Coleman stand on Social Security?"

"I countered it by being very clear that I supported personal accounts and opposed privatization."

inspired by Flash

I had someone ask me why I hate moderates

For the record, I do not hate moderates. To prove it, I have added, The Blog of the Moderate Left to the Blogroll.

I like a good facelift as much as the next girl.

Bus and Light Rail vs Toll Lanes

Both systems are supposed to exist in order to reduce congestion during rush hour.

The theory behind the toll lane is to put the cost at a maximum to bring ridership to a premium. The cost of using the toll lane will vary from 25 cents to 8 dollars, depending on how many people are willing to ride it at that cost to make it most effective. Should ridership decrease, the cost will decrease until ridership reaches the optimal level again.

The buses, on the other hand, have decreased in ridership. Because of this, they are cutting down service and raising fares. The Met Council has already admitted that this is going to decrease ridership. Assuming these people do not stay at home, this will be adding more cars to road congestion. The council states that part of the reason for the budget shortfall is that ridership decreased from the last time they raised fares. Raising fares to try and meet budget shortfalls decreases ridership which causes budget shortfalls.

Both systems are using payment costs to affect the level of users, but the toll lanes are allowed to decrease fares in order to maximize ridership. Why can't the mass transit be allowed the same privilege?

Wish I'd thought of it

This really needs to be added as an Honorary Liberal-Linguist:

Credit-Card Conservative: someone who has not learned "If you can't pay for it, don't put it on the credit card."

From Thom Miller in the Letters section:

Credit-card Conservatives. That's the label I'd like to offer up for our current Republican state and federal leadership.

Our nation is in the unenviable position of owing the most debt in our history. The situation is due to a simple money-managing mistake about which one can learn from any Saturday-morning radio show or seventh-grade textbook: "If you can't pay for it, never put it on your credit card!"

I respect -- though don't invariably share -- true conservative economic values: small government, lower taxes, self-reliance, fiscal conservatism. But now we're running our government like a down-and-out bankrupt guy paying for rent and groceries on his Visa, just hoping for a day when he can pay off his credit cards.

Worse yet, now that his creditors are calling and expenses growing, he hopes to dig out of his hole by turning to his only remaining option: gambling.

Thom Miller, St. Louis Park.

Abortion bills in action

Finally, some legislation I can back:

Agencies eligible for funds would no longer be limited to those whose "sole purpose" is to assist and encourage women in carrying their pregnancies to term, under an amendment passed by the Senate Health and Family Security Committee.

The amendment also would allow funding for organizations that mention abortion as an option for pregnant women, but do not encourage it or arrange for it. The original bill would deny funding to any group that mentions abortion.

"This means that places that have been doing great work for years, such as Lutheran Social Service, Children's Home Society and some African-American adoption agencies, would be able to compete for funding," said committee chairwoman Sen. Becky Lourey, DFL-Kerrick.

The Positive Alternatives Act would help finance a network of mainly small, nonprofit groups around the state that counsel pregnant women and teenagers to give birth; they also offer help or referrals for medical care, housing and other services.

and even more good news:

An alternative abortion-prevention bill, sponsored by Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, also was approved by the committee. It would offer after-school enrichment programs for teens to keep them out of trouble, and comprehensive sex education classes at Minnesota schools.

The bill also would require the Minnesota Department of Health, whose website now contains information on the risks of abortion, to include information on contraceptives and family planning.

The most effective way to stop abortion is to reduce pregnancies.

Congratulations Ms. Bachmann

This is who you want to hitch your star to?

Federal privacy laws barred Reynolds from releasing more information, she said. But she said that the information she did provide came from a file compiled by university officials after the student complained. And Reynolds said that everything in the file was inconsistent with the story Horowitz has told about this incident.

"The claim that Horowitz makes is incorrect," she said. "That didn't happen."

Additional context comes from Robert Dunkley, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Northern Colorado who was identified by Horowitz as the professor involved. In an interview, Dunkley said that politics had nothing to do with the student's grade, and that the context of his course has been distorted.

For instance, Dunkley said that the course focused on the relationship between deviance and being classified as a criminal. "We talked in class about how George Washington was considered a war criminal to the British," he said. "We were going into the idea that different people define criminal behavior differently."

And in case there's any confusion, Dunkley wants it known that he does not think the father of our country was a war criminal. "I'm an American citizen and I thank God for George Washington. Without George, we wouldn't be here."


Dunkley said that he's angry about the way Horowitz and his supporters have made him an example of alleged liberal bias in academe. Dunkley said that he comes from a Republican family, is a registered Republican and considers himself politically independent, taking pride in never having voted a straight party ticket.

He said that he would have explained himself or his course to Horowitz or his backers, but was never asked. "He's cooked this whole thing up," Dunkley said.

Bias Bias Everywhere

Noodles over at PRofM has an interesting article up about media bias in the 2004 elections.

It comes as no surprise to those who watched any of the big media coverage of last fall's election that there was a decided amount of bias for Kerry and against Bush. What is surprising is to see the amount quantified. This story from My Way shows just how bad it was.

U.S. media coverage of last year's election was three times more likely to be negative toward President Bush than Democratic challenger John Kerry, according to a study released Monday.

The annual report by a press watchdog that is affiliated with Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism said that 36 percent of stories about Bush were negative compared to 12 percent about Kerry, a Massachusetts senator.

The study looked at 16 newspapers of varying size across the country, four nightly newscasts, three network morning news shows, nine cable programs and nine Web sites through the course of 2004.

Claims of objectivity by the MSM have always been laughable and also apply to more conservative venues as this data [emphasis rew's]about Fox News illustrates.

The three network nightly newscasts and public broadcaster PBS tended to be more negative than positive, while Fox News was twice as likely to be positive as negative.

Bias is difficult if not impossible to avoid and by now many of us reading stories whether in the MSM or blogs keep that fact in mind. What drives me crazy is when media outlets absolutely deny bias in their reporting when it is blatantly obvious that their personal/organizational leanings whether liberal or conservative are very plain to see.

See, we speak of objectivity here, but in order to make his point more prominent, Noodles has cut out an important paragraph:

The study looked at 16 newspapers of varying size across the country, four nightly newscasts, three network morning news shows, nine cable programs and nine Web sites through the course of 2004.

Examining the public perception that coverage of the war in Iraq was decidedly negative, it found evidence did not support that conclusion. The majority of stories had no decided tone, 25 percent were negative and 20 percent were positive, it said.

The three network nightly newscasts and public broadcaster PBS tended to be more negative than positive, while Fox News was twice as likely to be positive as negative.

See, the original article was stating that the public's perceptions of the war in Iraq were that the media was mostly negative. The statistic about nightly news and PBS being more negative than Fox was in regards to the war in Iraq.

But I'm sure Noodles didn't cut that out on purpose, as that would make his piece about media bias a biased piece.

Gazing into the Crystal Ball - Smartie Addition

Oh my god! Norm Coleman is going to oppose the White House! What a headline.

Okay, now that he's grabbed a headline let's see how he actually votes.

I'm giving 10-1 odds it's whichever way Bush wants him to. Hell, I'll give you 20-1 odds. Step right up, ladies and gents.

We've been watching a pattern where Norm says he's going to vote against the White House on something, gets his Strib headline, then quietly votes for the Bill anyway. To be updated should the leopard actually change his spots.

Did I mention my new hot boyfriend?

Oh, yeah, I did. Well, I'm mentioning him again. I'd blogroll him, but I'm afraid he thinks I'm easy...

Now is not the time for our state government to shove their social agenda down our throats. Our state's infrastructure is in need of repair, our schools are no longer setting the bar for the rest of the nation, and our government lacks a budget and a reasonable source of income (sorry, state run gambling facilities in lieu of repealing tax cuts are not acceptable).

It would be great if Michele Bachmann had a plan to bring the jobs back to the Iron Range, or a plan to get the mercury out of the lakes, or improve the rural educational opportunities, but she doesn't. Michele Bachmann has absolutely nothing to offer the people of Minnesota and is more interested in pushing her own ideological agenda than she is in representing all the people of this state.

Abortion and politicians

From, of all places, The Washington Times:

The pro-choice views of some popular Republicans -- such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani -- likely will undermine their ability to win the party's presidential nomination in 2008, party strategists say.

"I don't think there is anything happening in the party per se on this issue. We are a pro-life party and will remain so," said Republican campaign strategist Bill Dal Col, who managed Steve Forbes' 2000 presidential campaign.

"At the end of the day, only the pro-life social conservative will be the nominee in 2008."

Still, other strategists argue that a candidate like Miss Rice, who last week told editors and reporters at The Washington Times that she is "mildly pro-choice," but who is considered very strong on national security and foreign policy, could indeed win the top slot on the Republican ticket.

"It's certainly being discussed, and I think there is concern within the pro-life activist community that there may be a candidate who's not acceptable to them who could emerge as a victor," said Republican consultant Cheri Jacobus.
....

Richard Lessner, executive director of the American Conservative Union, said being pro-life is essential to nationwide success in the Republican Party.

"I anticipate whoever the nominee is, he or she will be pro-life," Mr. Lessner said.

But Ms. Jacobus said there will indeed be an internal fight over what the priorities for a 2008 presidential candidate should be. She said it is "realistic" that foreign policy "will take precedence" over other issues, like abortion...

I think you will see Republicans move away from abortion as a hot topic simply because inherently, they do not want to see Roe v Wade overturned anymore than Democrats do. Abortion is their rallying cry, "We are a pro-life party and will continue to be so," as it says above. If you take away abortion as a wedge issue, republicans might have to start taking a look at the environment, the deficit, and other major issues. They may notice that the government has out of control spending, that schools aren't teaching children. Once you take the babies out of the equation the soccer moms might start wondering what republicans are doing for the children who are there. Suddenly protecting the children means something entirely different.

Rpublicans need Roe V Wade. It is never going to be overturned.

More "Not Planning"

Pat Garofalo has done quite a bit of 'not planning' for a 2006 Pawlenty Presidential run:



pawlenty2006.com
Garofalo, Patrick
ns1.digitalnorth.net ns2.digitalnorth.net



pawlenty.org
Patrick Garofalo
ns1.digitalnorth.net ns2.digitalnorth.net



pawlenty2006.org
Patrick Garofalo
ns1.digitalnorth.net ns2.digitalnorth.net




timpawlenty.org
Patrick Garofalo
ns1.digitalnorth.net ns2.digitalnorth.net



pawlentyforpresident.net
Patrick Garofalo
ns1.abac.com ns2.abac.com



pawlenty.com
Garofalo, Patrick
ns1.digitalnorth.net ns2.digitalnorth.net



pawlentyforpresident.com
Patrick Garofalo
ns1.abac.com ns2.abac.com

Oldly enough, he has not purchased any versions of PatGarofalo.com under his name. So we definately know one person who is NOT running for President in 2006.

Update: I was told to clean up this post and to mention that my whois mole did not state that Mr. Garofalo did not have a website, simply that he did not purchase patgarofalo.com. I regret being so assumptious.

And Amy Klobuchar as The Machine

Rumor has it that Amy Klobachar will officially declare her candidacy for senate before Easter.

I would like to suggest she take the nickname The Machine and make it her own.

From the Power Liberal Spam Box

Call out Gouranga be happy!!!
Gouranga Gouranga Gouranga ....
That which brings the highest happiness!!

(Love, Neateye)

Disclosure

I'm a chick. Feel free to use me as your token Bloggirl.

Poetry Corner

From Shakespeare's Sister:

Oh, how I look forward to the beautiful day,
That marks the end of his powerful sway,
When he’s found guilty as charged and taken away,
And the House can commence without further DeLay…

She truly is the Belle of the Bard.

A Step in the Right Direction

From Planned Parenthood of Maryland:

Support Increased Access to Emergency Contraception

The Maryland General Assembly is considering legislation that would greatly increase access to Emergency Contraception (this is NOT the abortion pill, it's a high dose of birth control pills that can prevent unintended pregnancy AFTER unprotected sex). The bill would allow women to access Emergency Contraception (EC) from a pharmacist. Currently a woman needs a prescription from a physician in order to get EC which causes delays. TIME is critical when using EC since it works better the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. If this bill passes, unintended pregnancies and abortion will be reduced in Maryland. EC is so safe that 2 FDA scientific panels have recommended making the product available "over the counter". Unfortunately, the FDA has failed to act, and there is no indication they will act soon. Let's act NOW in Maryland.

Of course, Wendy Wright and her buddies are up in arms. They are only primarily concerned for the safety of the women, mind you...

"Concerned Women for America (CWA) opposes the bill because the MAP is potentially harmful to women; moreover, in some cases it causes the abortion of a very tiny embryo."

One would think that a group worried about harm to women would want to encourage access to safer contraception, thus avoiding the alleged dangers of abortion.

Just in case anyone is wondering

I am a VERY proud member of The Machine

Why 'The Machine'? We found it descriptive of the amalgamation of the DFL, Star Tribune editorial page, most local broadcast media, educational establishment (which values tenure, retirement benefits and political correctness more than education), AFSCME, SEIU and various and sundry other tentacles of the status quo.

I would also like to give a shout out to the apparently unrealized oppression of upper middle class men.

Seriously, I have a great deal of respect for the people at TBFKADVK. I hope to have the same amount of respect for them once they move into their new shell like the rapidly growing hermit crabs that they are (add that step into the Ecosystem, Truth Laid Bear). But I respect them for their straight-forwardness and honesty. Don't pretend KennedyvMachine is synonymous with RepublicansvWorld.

The one thing that bothers me most about the set up of the current power structure is the fact that Republicans are claiming the right to be both the power and the oppressed, the top dog and the underdog. I'm no longer willing to let them have it both ways.

Interesting Michele Bachmann fact

SInce the begining of this month, there has only been 3 days in which she has not gotten her name in the Minneapolis Star Tribune (March 1st, 2nd and 6th.)

Congratualtions, Michele! Your campaign manager is doing an excellent job!

As Dumping Bachmann appears to be an effort both parties can get behind, I have decided to add it to the blogroll.

Is Pawlenty running in 2008?

Maybe yes, and maybe no. All I know is, the same man who held onto www.timpawlenty.com starting in 1999 already has registered a variation on a theme. Perhaps Pawlenty's former campaign technology director knows a little something he's not saying.

Now he just needs to work on these cybersquatters to get them to give up the goods. Although Burton Buffaloe sounds like an excellent addition to the campaign staff.

Update: D'oh! Should have known there are people out there who are a lot smarter than me...

Recorded for posterity

Just want to make sure this is kept somewhere, in case the Rocket changes his mind about whether Supreme Court Justices need to follow stare decisis once Thomas is made justice and a challenge to Roe v Wade comes up.

Soon there will be a vacancy on the Supreme Court; President Bush will nominate a new chief justice. Among other things, Senate Democrats will likely demand that the nominee pledge fealty to stare decisis--the legal doctrine holding that with rare exceptions, issues once decided should stay decided--as it relates to Roe v. Wade. No Democrat will complain about the abandonment of stare decisis in Roper. That doctrine has been consigned, apparently, to the ever-growing list of principles that can only be understood as one-way streets.

It is often said that our government is one of laws, not of men. The Roper decision shows how far we have abandoned that vital principle. Indeed, in a sense we have turned it on its head. The Founders envisioned the judicial branch as the guarantor that we would have a government of laws; they saw the judiciary as a bulwark against the usurpation of authority by "men" in the other branches. See, for example, Hamilton's Federalist No. 78, where he wrote: "[T]hough individual oppression may now and then proceed from the courts of justice, the general liberty of the people can never be endangered from that quarter." The Founders failed to foresee, unfortunately, an era in which unelected, unaccountable judges ignore the written words of the Constitution and the laws, and impose their own policy preferences by fiat.

Wingrut

Wingrut - When conservatives talk about the same topic over and over and over again.

Example: "Oh. The MOB is talking about Nick Coleman again. They are totally in a wingrut."

Should NOT be confused with the liberal attempt to beat one over the head with talking points known as Moonbattery.

Action Alert

From Planned Parenthood MN/ND

We Need Your Help to Put Prevention First.

1. SPEAK OUT!

A key committee of the Minnesota Senate is scheduled to vote on two important pieces of legislation on Tuesday, March 15: the Putting Prevention First Act (SF 581/HF 646) and the MCCL's Positive Alternatives Act (SF 910/HF 952) . Please take a second to urge the committee members to approve the Putting Prevention First Act and reject the MCCL's Positive Alternatives Act.


Get more information on:
Putting Prevention First Act
MCCL's Positive Alternatives Act

2. SHOW UP!

The Putting Prevention First Act and the MCCL's Positive Alternatives Act are scheduled to be heard by the Senate Health and Family Security committee on Tuesday, March 15 at noon. We welcome you to come demonstrate your support for responsible family planning programs in person!

WHAT: Senate Health and Family Security Committee Hearing
WHERE: Room 15, Minnesota State Capitol (map)
WHEN: Tuesday, March 15 at 12:00 PM

Meet My New Boyfriend (2)

Yes, Ben Seymour is gone. Meet my new boyfriend Tom:

who will speak up for crotchety white males?

This past Monday, a couple of thousand school children of all ages staged a rally at the Minnesota State Capital in support of education. The rally was intended to serve as a reminder to legislators that education is a priority in our society, and in need of constant improvement as well as funding.

I see other obvious benefits in organizing school children for such causes. It helps them find their voice, it helps them understand how our democracy works, what freedoms our democracy allows us, and it teaches them that being civically engaged is an important part of living in a democracy.

But one voice is lost in all of this hoopla, the voice of the crotchety, old, white male. So meek, so powerless, so removed the centers of power. Who, oh who, will stand up for these poor souls?

Joe Soucheray of course.

There wasn't a kid standing in front of the state Capitol on Monday afternoon, or parent for that matter, who could have passed a test on why they were there. They think they were there because somehow they have it in their heads that the state of Minnesota has abandoned public education.

Just look at the signs the kids were holding. "This is my footure.'' "Put education first.'' "Keep Minnesota Smart.'' "Minnesota educators care about kids.'' And my all-time favorite, which made the front page of the Enemy Newspaper, "Put kid #1.''

Thank goodness someone had the bravery and courage to stand up to these school children, and make fun of them.

I don't want to suggest that the kids who assembled for the rally on Monday are being lied to or misled. They are just horribly misinformed. Same with the parents who are whining and carrying on about the fees they pay or the bake sales they have attended. I guess if you want every kid in every classroom to have a notebook computer and you don't think parents should pay for it, you will have to throw a bake sale.

Well, that was some nice subtle whining about your taxes Joe. I guess President Bush hasn't done enough for you over the past few years. However, there must be more people to blame for this disgraceful show put on by these so-called "shoal children."

OK. Well, just to show that I am a modern, caring, sensitive male, I will agree with those who think we underfund education if your goal is to involve the state in an always-expanding role in the life of the child. If that's the case you will never have enough money because you are asking the state to replace, well, you.

Ah yes, the libertarian angle. All that these school children and their parents want is for the government to handle everything in their lives. Can you believe the government has to feed these children too? Those lazy parents, avoiding raising their children because they're too busy working their jobs to pay their bills so they can provide for their family. Yet, I still feel that their are more individuals deserving of Joe's wrath.

The dirty little secret, of course, is that school boards negotiate contracts with teachers for amounts of money they don't have and when it comes time to pay the piper they end up selling this balderdash about how we have cut education spending. No, we haven't. The school boards should negotiate contracts based on the amount of money they know they can afford, not the amount of money they hope they can coerce out of the next legislative session.

Of course! I forgot about those overpaid teachers. Who do they think they are? Why must they be paid $18,000 a year? They only went through six years of college. They're the real problem.

Using kids like they were used Monday is a bit tawdry. What do they know? Singing songs and carrying signs beats doing homework.

Yeah, using those ungrateful and lazy kids to make a point sure is an awful thing to do Joe. Thanks again for sticking up for the self-serving white male.