What would you call someone whose actions intentionally harm their own best interests? A religious backed effort to strangle women's access to abortion has been spreading through Republican controlled state legislatures like the whooping cough. Georgia passed the "Women as Livestock" bill, so named when a GOP Representative compared pregnant women to "cows and pigs on (his) farm," sparking fist-fights between lobbyists and a walk-out by Democratic women who wrapped themselves in crime scene tape. Commonly called the "Fetal Pain Bill," Georgia criminalized abortion after 20 weeks, down from the current 26 weeks, without exceptions. Similar "Fetal Pain Restrictions" have passed in seven additional states, placing roadblocks toward a womans' right to a legal, and safe, abortion. In Mississippi, the legislature passed a bill mandating that physicians have "admitting privileges" at local hospitals before performing abortions. Since Mississippi's sole abortion clinic is the Jackson Women's Health Organization, the new law would effectively shut it down, fulfilling Gov. Phil Bryant's pledge to "make Mississippi abortion free." The obvious consequences would force the state's women seeking reproductive rights into Tennessee. However, Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood has co-sponsored a bill in Congress prohibiting "bringing minors across state lines for the purpose of abortion."
Behind the scenes is the anti-choice group, Operation Save America, which has targeted states with only one abortion clinic, including North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and Arkansas, virtually making them also "abortion free." If all this sounds eerily like the 1800s, when states were divided into "slave states" and "free states," that is the purpose of the stealth campaign to criminalize abortion through local, rather than federal law. After Virginia passed the mandatory ultra-sound bill, nine states followed suit, including Oklahoma, whose state Supreme Court just struck down the law as unconstitutional. Of all the states attempting to bypass the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, perhaps the most zealous jihadists are right here in the Republican controlled Tennessee Statehouse. They adopted the Mississippi bill concerning physicians' "admitting privileges," 93-0 in the House, and are currently being sued by Planned Parenthood to re-instate grant funding stripped by the wing-nut legislature. The most frightening thing is that Republicans are poised to dominate the state's legislative bodies well into the foreseeable future, emboldening the anti-abortion crusaders.
Tennessee State Rep. Matthew Hill, a religious broadcaster from Jonesborough, a town of 5,220 near Johnson City, introduced legislation that would require the Tennessee Department of Health to publish detailed information about every woman in the state who has an abortion, including "age, race, county, marital status, education, number of children, location of the procedure, and how many times the woman has been pregnant." In addition, Hill called for the online publication of the names of doctors performing the procedure. After a citizens' uproar, Hill withdrew the proposal, accusing his opponents of "spreading lies about the bill, slandering his reputation, and inciting threats of violence against him." Not to be dissuaded, Hill then proposed a law authorizing Tennessee counties to "erect monuments of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and on their grounds as parts of displays of other historical documents." To paraphrase the late, great Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement, "How long, O Lord, must we be held hostage by these rural legislative rubes?" Along with the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill, the legislature has passed an "abstinence first" sex education law with legal penalties for instructors who stray from the curriculum. Nashville Democrat Mike Turner said, "They've got a real thing with sex. We're about ready to...put the women in burqas here if we keep going at this rate."
Barack Obama is going to beat Mitt Romney like a conga drum in 2012, and that's not just because he has natural rhythm. The Republicans richly deserve the pounding they are about to receive at the polls, and the Tea Party cultural warriors who were voted in in 2010 will just as vigorously be voted out; and the difference will be women. Polls already show that women see right through the transparent attempt by Republicans to pander to the evangelical, Christian right with new laws restricting reproductive freedom. The self-proclaimed, anti-big government activists are attempting the biggest experiment in religious zealotry since Prohibition; and all this at a time when the major concerns of the electorate are jobs and the economy. As soon as uber-patriot Rush Limbaugh said, "I hope he (Obama) fails," the Republicans had their marching orders. GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell publicly stated that, "Our main priority is to ensure that this president is a one-term president." From that day on, the Republicans have stonewalled, filibustered, blocked, or opposed every initiative put forward by the Obama administration, even those first proposed by the GOP. Cap and Trade? John McCain's idea. Individual mandate? Bob Dole's idea. The EPA? Richard Nixon's creation. Their grand design is to bring down this president regardless of the damage done to the country. Consequently, the only way to put this nation back on the path to progress is to crush them utterly and make these right-wing reactionaries rue the day they chose partisan politics over principle. Only, where is Gloria Steinem now that we need her?
24 comments:
Nice work, Randy, parroting the current Democratic talking points, with this made-up "war on women." While you were writing this, Emanuel Cleaver, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, was busy condemning this exact attack. I guess it had not been polling as well among independents as they would have hoped.
The hubris of progressives is staggering. They really seem to believe that all ideas that run counter to their own are evidence of a primitive mindset. I guess that wiil never change. There are some 'primitives' who take exception to the jihad against the unborn. They actually feel that they have civil rights, too. So, there are two sides to the issue. Those who feel that there is a jihad against women and those who feel that there is a jihad against the unborn. Personally, I wouldn't want the blood of 50 million human beings on my hands, or for that matter, on my soul. If you feel comfortable with that indictment, so be it. Pray that there is no God who will hold you accountable. But, that is a very tenuous thing to hold to when it comes to your eternal soul. Iknow, I know...I am a knuckle-dragging primitive. But the Arbiter is waiting. And, neither of us has much time left, Sput.
You speak of abortions like it is the equivalent of pulling a tooth. By the way, Rush said many times that it was Obama's socialist agenda that he hoped would fail. How about presenting the full context so that your readers can have a small hope that they are being told the truth rather than editorialized, slanted, distortions? You don't even attempt to hide your prejudice and scorn for 'rural rubes'. Will they be allowed to live under the coming regime? I thought that you were for 'the people'. Apparently you are only for those people who hold the same values that you do. That is not democracy. It is more like totalitarianism. Do you have any hopes for a 'final solution' for those who differ with you politically? Will you be in favor of a latter day 'Reign of Terror' once your people take power? Or, maybe just send them to the gulags? Self-appointed elitists who dogmatically scorn all other points of view are dangerous and have been throughout history.
"I can think of only a few possble reasons that a woman would stick with the Republicans: either they are indoctrinated, propagandized, misinformed, or motivated by a simmering hatred for our mixed race president with the foreign sounding name". That is an example of some of the most condescending, misogynist demagoguery I have ever heard. So, all women who don't agree with your assessment are either just plain stupid or they are haters. I am going to see if I can get this out to the larger blogging audience. I would especially like to see what Independent women think of this assessment of their intelligence and their morality by a representative from the 'tolerant' Left. Talk about hubris. Don't ever think about running for public office. That statement would stop you in your tracks. But, maybe not with the Molotov cocktail, Occupier crowd.
How about a bit of self-disclosure? Where do you draw the line on abortion...after delivery? Obama is OK with that and that makes him infanticidal, not just a fetus or embryo killer. What is next, extending the death mandate till the age of two, or higher? Like most uber-liberals, you don't seem to care much for the Tenth Amendment which deals with state's rights. If people don't like a given state's abortion laws they can move to another state. But maybe I am thinking of America back when she was a free country, and paid a little bit of attention to the Constitution. You mentioned Prohibition. Do you not know that Prohibition was an idea of the Progressives of the day? For that matter do you not know that Democrats were the biggest obstacle to getting rid of Jim Crow prior to LBJ? Check your history. One of the most absurd things that you said was in regard to Republicnas putting partisan politics above principle. What a laugh. As though the Democrats don't do the same thing. For that matter, putting partisan politics above principle is just about all that you do on this blog.
"They love you;they really,really love you!" --
Put down the Hoouka- turn off MSNBC -Go for a walk -Use that extraordinary ability(gift) you have evoke laughter to brighten the canvas,
Ah! Cousin Cliff, a voice for sanity, truth, and balance on this hopelessly one-sided blog. You must have received all of the genes for clear-sightedness and character in the family. Hearing truth is so refreshing. I hope that we can also hear from Alan who is another purveyor of true and knowledgeable commentary.
Dear Cuz,
I think you need to read the article again. Nowhere in it do I use the term "war on women." I only refer to the rights' blatant crusade against matters that were settled decades ago. Also, you confuse the term "talking points" with "facts." I accurately listed the aggresive legislation being passed in GOP controlled state legislatures. Disagree with my position and if I'm incorrect on the facts, take me to task. But after the time, research, and verification that I do with every article, it's insulting for you to trivialize my efforts by accusing me of repeating "talking points." That's something Frank Luntz creates for the GOP so that everyone can say the same thing on the same day. I know you disagree with me, but at least give me credit for doing my own research. Did I mention that I love you?
I have to assume that all the comments written here are by abunch of "swinging dicks", am I right? As I have said before.. unless you have a uterus then you really have no idea what the
hell your talking about. I'm just saying. And I do still have to wonder why all of you feel the need to attack Mr. Haspel personally. What happened to being able to have a civil disscusion? Why all the haters? This would be what Mr. Haspel has to say and think, not what YOU believe. I just don't get the personal attacks. Lighten' up assholes. Oh and as far as taking a walk.. WTF, really?
My take on the motivation behind much of the aggressive campaign to restrict legal abortion and female contraception is much like what motivates participants in any holy war. There are always those who identify themselves as the good guys, the role of hero, standing up for their righteous cause. In this case the righteous cause is preventing the murder of the purest of the purest, the unborn “child.” The villains are the women of loose morals who get themselves pregnant (hmm, how does that work?) and of course deserve ridicule and punishment, which these “heroes” seek to provide. The punishment serves also to strike fear in others preventing them from succumbing to these weaknesses. (How is that working out for you?) This is classic mental trickery of the ego aggrandizing itself in the name of a nobel cause, ignoring both the pain and suffering that results, and the real need to support what, in most cases is a difficult decision under trying circumstances.
“The road to hell is paved with good intention.”
The same has held true for many of history’s atrocities perpetrated ignorantly and arrogantly by people not paying attention to their loving, fearless hearts. Campaigns have been waged against racial groups, religious groups, homosexual behaviors, drinking alcohol, and any number of other behaviors or characteristics deemed to be inferior. The mind excels at rationalizing and justifying about anything it wishes to.
It does seem to me that these atrocities are taken up more frequently by those who tend toward being fundamentalist or conservative minded. This seems very unfair unless one holds to the conviction that every soul passes through this stage. Knowing this can help one have compassion for those who get caught up in some form of this aggressive, and often violent, behavior.
That was a very constructive response to your cousin. Not that you would care, but I respect what you said and the way that you said it. Perhaps I should tone my rhetoric down. It is a noble thing to be able to tell someone that disagrees with you that you love them. That is very disarming and puts things in a different light. I wish you wouldn't do that because it makes it harder to criticize your commentaries. I hate it, but it even makes me want to apologize for some of my heavy-handedness. It makes me realize that there is more to life than political bickering. Having said that, let the sparring continue, but with a lighter touch. If it weren't for different points of view, this blog wouldn't be nearly so interesting. And yes, you are a wordsmith and an accomplshed journalist. If I were to know you personally I would probably like you. I admire intelligence even if I don't agree with what that intelligence espouses.
Thank you Jerry. That was an unexpected but most welcome bit of kindness.
Now, to A Patriot:
My views and opinions about abortion are totally irellevant. It's a privacy issue.
To Performs: Most eloquent.
So just how many of you "men", and I use the term loosely, have ever had an abortion? That's what I thought. So untill you have one then I'm not so sure you have a right to let such crap fly out of your mouths. Calm down and quit being so damn mean. It's just a disscusion, can't you go yell at your meek little wives or something? Lighten up dudes.
And I love you too, cousin!
There's no end to questions when it comes to religion and sex.
A man wonders if having sex on the Sabbath is a sin because he is not sure if sex is work or play. He asks a priest for his opinion on this question. The priest says after consulting the Bible," My son, after an exhaustive search I am positive sex is work and is not permitted on Sundays."
The man thinks: "What does a priest know of sex?" He goes to a minister... a married man, experienced... for the answer. He queries the minister and receives the same reply..Sex is work and not for the Sabbath! Not pleased with the reply, he seeks out the ultimate authority: a man of thousands of years tradition and knowledge... A Rabbi.
The Rabbi ponders the question and states," My son, sex is definitely play." The man replies," Rabbi, how can you be so sure when so many others tell me sex is work?!" The Rabbi softly speaks, "If sex were work... my wife would have the maid do it."
This is where progressivism is taking us...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL905282D38506F15F
Biggirlsdon'tcry, I am sure that you are an even-handed and just person. Based on your comment, that would mean that when it comes to issues affecting only men that you would encourage women to shut their pie holes, because women don't have dicks, and that disqualifies them from any input. Actually though, men are involved in the abortion issue even if only emotionally. The women go through the physical ordeal, but both are witness to the murder of the innocent ones. I heard a pro-choice woman speak about her abortion. After the abortion, she picked up the bloody mass of body parts that would have been her child in her hands, fell to her knees on the hospital floor and begged God's forgiveness. She now is a pro-life crusader. It would probably be instructive even to the most hardened pro-abortionist if the child's screams could be heard as it was being murdered by its own mother.
Performs, you are revealing once again your dearth of knowledge. Most of the atrocities of history were not committed by conservatives, but by progressives. This is certainly true of the revolutions of the late 19th century and the 20th century. The French Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution, Nazism, Leninism, Stalinism, Castro, Mao, Pol Pot were all progressives of their day and progressives to this very day do not hide their admiration for these monsters. Globalism is the current fetish of progressivism. Just wait till the entire Earth is under the control of a central government. Then you will learn something of atrocity. It will make the likes of Hitler seem like child's play. At that time you will wish that conservatives had done more to prevent such a thing from coming to pass.
Anonymous, you sound obsessed with your notion of progressive vs conservative conflict. It makes no sense to me that all the evil people and regimes the world has known are progressives (look up the definition,) while only "conservatives" can save us from evil progressiveness.
What might help me to gain some clarity, as regards your rhetoric is for you to name a few of your personal heroes and enumerate their conservative attributes.
Performs, to begin with, not every progressive is of the destructive variety. In another post I said that any honest conservative would have to admit that (benign) progressives have done much to alleviate human hardships and suffering. The destructive type of progressives are sometimes called 'coercive utopians'. This type feels that they know better than everyone else, and because of this they feel that they should rule the less enlightened...sort of latter day monarchists. In America they see the Constitution as an impediment to the implementation of their superior plans and do everything possible to subvert it. I might add that they have done a damn good job of that. These people are utopians and feel that their vision of the future must be implemented regardless of any ideas to the contrary, hence their mottos are 'by any means necessary' and 'the end justifies the means'. It is because of these positions that all kinds of horrific crimes against humanity have been committed by them throughout history. Many of them have resorted to genocide to solve supply and demand problems, to squelch dissidents, and for any number of other reasons. For instance, during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution they felt that France had too many people to allow a democracy to work effectively, so they began a depopulation campaign. They butchered tens of thousands of completely innocent peasants and felt justified in doing so in order to make their plans for democracy work better...'the end justifies the means'. Hitler believed that he was doing humanity a service by getting rid of what he considered undesirable genes from the human gene pool. He meant to do good for humanity...after a little 'surgery' to remove the 'gangrene'. He only started with the Jews. He was going to wipe out what he called the 'mud races' (blacks and Hispanics), and all physically and mentally deficient people...again, 'the end justifies the means' and, in his sick case, 'it was by any means necessary'. The same can be said for the rest of the draconian coercive utopians. They let NOTHING get in the way of implementing their 'superior' plans. Are you getting the picture? And the worst of it is that they are alive and well and have utopian plans for the entire world, which is not going to be good. Have you heard of their plans for the 'useless eaters' of the world? Here is one of my favorite sayings for folks like you...'If you are able to keep your head while all about you people are losing their's, perhaps you don't understand the situation. Finally, I do not go along with conservatives merely because they are conservatives. Some of them are about as bad as the coercive utopians. For instance, I had a discussion with one rabid conservative who believed completely in Social Darwinism. For conservatism to work, it must have both a brain and a heart. It boils down to the philosophy of the most constructive way to help people. Some types of 'help' can be very destructive to the human sprit. We have all known well meaning parents who have over indulged their children, thereby raising spoiled brats for instance. Their 'kindness' wasn't kind at all.ddent cdthesi
When are you big government liberals going to wise up? Do you not realize that, given enough time, politicians throughout history have always destroyed every country that have attempted to govern? This is because regardless of their position on the political spectrum they tend to be self-serving, power mongers who really care nothing about 'the people'. They play the people like a fiddle in order to get the votes to stay in power so that they can continue raping and pillaging. If they govern a democracy they buy votes with entitlements until the country is bankrupt. If they run a totalitarian system they oppress the people until there is a revolution and then those who revolt become the new oppressors and con artists. This is the whole point of Orwell's 'Animal Farm'. Don't be gullible dupes. The powers that be love to see the people at each other's throats, each believing the bullshit that their oppressors are superior to the other side's oppressors. The oppressors just keep amassing power and wealth, colluding with big money and laughing up their sleeves at the gulliblity and stupidity of the herd that supports and sustains their own rape by this class of thugs. The fundamental problem is that politics is so sleazy that honest, moral men avoid it. This leaves the lying, conniving predators to run things. Which gets back to my point. Why give the bastards more rope to hang us with by perpetually growing government? The end of that tack is ultimate bankruptcy and chaos. Don't believe it? Just watch the farce in this country unfold for a while longer. You may finally understand why it has been said that that government is best which governs the least...but it will be too late. After much suffering by the people, things will eventually be re-organized and the game will continue with a new bunch of thugs. The trusting bovines that make up the poplace never learn. They just 'moo' for their handouts while their keepers screw them in the ass. It will never change.
I can hear some of you laughing at what I am about to say, but the only solution to this problem is constitutional government. Our Contitution, as unsatisfactory as it may be to some, was originally designed to thwart governmental tyranny. But, the progressives naively believe otherwise, and have rendered it just about ineffectual. We shall see how wise this is. Just give it some more time for things to play out. Unbrideled government is a mean, immoral mother____er and will crush anything or anybody that gets in its way. It just takes a while for the momentum to grow to that point. Ask the WWII Germans. The evil that has oppressed humanity from the beginning is still alive and well and looking for an opportunity to bring hell to Earth, like in the Middle East. Can you imagine a greater evil than to nuke the nation of Israel? I know that the last statement will shock Performs into another fit of New Age incoherent blather. Don't believe in evil? Just take a late night stroll alone through any inner city while the gangs are looking for prey. Up for that, Performs? Do you think that your talk of cosmic oneness will dissuade the predators from tearing you limb from limb?
Anon, I need to add to your statement: Our Constitution, as unsatisfactory as it may be to some, was originally designed to thwart governmental tyranny. The addition is: the tyranny of a few, or of a majority, that seeks to dominate, oppress or exploit others for their own selfish purposes. True democracy needs to be instituted both into government and business sectors. Leadership that respects and considers equally the interests of all concerned not some defined elite, ownership class will be the way once humanity has suffered and become fed up with the self-interest paradigm (illusion). Too much government interference is no worse than too little. The real goal is attainable and practical: just enough. Instead of competitive fighting we can have cooperative tinkering.
As regards your feared predators seeking to tear you limb from limb, I suppose your blather will dissuade their wrong doing. Or maybe you prefer the legalized murder, “stand your ground” law approach made famous recently. I am not saying that there is no fear in the world with many reasons to wallow in it, preach it, and have it foster your values. Nevertheless, it remains the opposite of love, which when learned and exercised can solve all our problems. Reacting from fear worsens and creates more problems. It all starts with courage, the father of all virtues.
WTF!? An appropriate into to the last statement would be, "This is your mind on drugs...". Are you capable of any kind of coherent thought? I give up.
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