The Uncaring Of The Right

The Gadflyer: Fly Trap: "Let's see, we've got the ridiculous hypothesis that giving a teenage girl an immunization against HPV will make her say, 'Woo-hoo! Now my worries are over! Come on boys, let's get busy!', something I can't even believe that the Family Research Council believes. On the other hand, you've got young women dying of cervical cancer. Which is a more pressing problem?"

See, this is the problem. The right holds some reasonable positions. It IS reasonable to not want teens having sex. It is reasonable not to want people getting abortions. The problem is they are wrongheaded and authoratiarian in how they go about promoting their positions. This story is yet another example.

Pragmatism is a gift the religious right could stand to learn. Having an immunization to HPV would save lives...even if it did increase casual sex (though there is no proof it would.) The benefit far outweighs the costs to their cause...right? Birth control and Plan B and condoms all provide great benefits and lessen abortions and deaths...certainly they are worth the sacrifice the possibility of increased sexual activity. Besides, while they can be principled in saying they do not approve of premarital sex, they have no right to make it harder for others to have it. Trying to limit another's freedom based on your own views is the ultimate threat to democracy.

Corrupt, Oh, and Incompetent

Does the President really believe this?

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that, John. I am concerned about the economy[.] I hope we can get an asbestos reform bill out of both the House and the Senate. There's some positive noises on Capitol Hill as to whether or not we can get an asbestos reform bill (in case you missed that the first time - Z.). That will be an important reform in order to make sure that our economy continues to grow.

Now, why would the President be concerned with such a seemingly small issue? Asbestos has been known to cause cancer for years - without a doubt, and has been taken off the market as well. Does he know something Warren Buffet, Alan Greenspan, and John Snow don't know about our economy?

Maybe Dick Cheney, who as Chairman of Halliburton bought another company with a huge backlog of asbestos suits from their dying workers, has something to do with it. Well la-dee-da, he does. It's right here. And how much did Dick Cheney make last year, as Vice Presidentof these United States, from previously owned Halliburton stock options? A measly $194,852. Sheesh, I hope he doesn't have any holes in his socks.

Now travel with me, folks, back through the magical time machine, 5 looooooooong years to Bill Clinton's presidency. OK, now sit down. Now imagine the complaints, the special prosecutors, the lawsuits, Larry Klayman, Ken Starr, Travelgate, Whitewater, and the Buddhist Temple.

Now imagine Bill Clinton proposing legislation (!!!! - that's the law of the land) to help Al Gore's former company that will also improve his financial well being. The people, all the people, not just the rabid right wingers, would have rightly been outraged and demanded both of their resignations.

But, it's 2005, and the press doesn't care anymore about that kind of stuff. Liberal media my a**.

Resolute

Ah, the President gave a news conference last night. I hate to admit it, but I feel he did ok. I'm sure all the Righties are ecstatic. I guess after 5 years on the job almost anyone can improve. Other bloggers were more critical.

One thing stuck out for me - the President doesn't feel he should listen to the people with regards to his attempt to cripple Social Security:

THE PRESIDENT: Polls? You know, if a President tries to govern based upon polls, you're kind of like a dog chasing your tail. I don't think you can make good, sound decisions based upon polls. And I don't think the American people want a President who relies upon polls and focus groups to make decisions for the American people.

But Pooty-Poot should listen to his people:

THE PRESIDENT: Condi Rice, our Secretary of State, just came back and she briefed me that she had a very good discussion with Vladimir about the merits of democracy, about the need to listen to the people and have a government that's responsive.

To paraphrase the President: Do as I say, not as I do, folks. Move along now, nothing to see here...........

Backlash

Ted Haggard stepped in it this time. The esteemed and oh-so-important leader of New Life Church has tried to blame Memorial Hospital for a horrible tragedy that happened where a mother killed her children then herself. Letter writers to the Gazette take him to task:

"Why is this pastor behaving like a lawyer rather than a man of God?"

"If the reverends and pastors of the churches in this area had their feet planted firmly into the care and feeding of their congregations, rather than politics, tragedies such as the Rifkin family might not happen."

"The question is, where was the good reverend when Julie Rifkin needed him?"

I think the letter writers made some great points. And to highlight the fact that they are dangerously mixing religion and politics, another letter says this about Focus:

"It is time for Focus on the Family to start paying taxes."

I applaud the Gazette for printing these tough letters.

How Dare They?

Al Gore, our greatest candidate never to become President, rejected by a blatantly political and shortsighted decision that will be mocked by history, gave a speech yesterday. In it he detailed the craven power grab by Bill Frist in his preparation to run for President in 2008, and the complicity of the religious fundamentalists who are egging him on and who are betraying the concepts our Founding Fathers enshrined in the Constitution.

Read it here*, and weep for the loss to our nation of a strong leader and deep thinker.

Some day in the future, James Dobson, Tom DeLay, and Bill Frist will be seen as the charlatans they are. Their yelps of outrage will turn to wimpers. History will look on this time as the dark ages for our democracy. If we can survive the fiscal recklessness and national security failures of George Bush's presidency, the Social Progress made in the last two centuries will continue in this. The inalienable rights or all men and women will continue to grow, and the Freedom to live a productive, safe, and happy life, idealized in our Constitution, will come to fruition and extend to every member of this society, once and for all.

(* - Salon mag one day pass required, I couldn't find it anywhere else in our "liberal media". Whaddya know - it's on the Al Gore '08 Website!)

Need a Laugh?

Fafblog interviews James Dobson

......and The Constitution.

One of them has some good things to say.

By the Numbers #2

Stolen Wholesale from Americablog - written by Joe in DC:

I did a little quick math (at the suggestion of Dan in LA). I looked at the populations in the states using 2000 census data. Then, I compared that to Senate representation.

There are 13 states with split delegations so I didn’t count them. Of the remaining states:

16 states have two Democratic Senators

21 states have two Republicans

Population of the states represented by two Democrats:

117,650,000

Population of the states represented by two Republicans:

112,848,000

Democrats are preserving the filibuster to protect the majority of American citizens they were elected to represent.

(my emphasis and a bit of editing - Z)

By the Numbers

Good thing the President doesn't read polls. I guess that explains why they are extending the Social Security Bamboozlepalooza Tour™- with Tom DeLay added as an opening act - even as the numbers tank......Keep ignoring the polls, George, it's just numbers.

Springtime Politics
Bush on Social Security	Approve	Disapprove
	31%	64
Senate Rules on Judicial Nominations	Change	Don't Change
	26	66
Tom DeLay	Step Down	Remain
	41	32

(poll table stolen from ABC News)

You Talkin' To Me?

"Unelected and unaccountable and arrogant and imperious and determined to redesign the culture according to their own biases and values." - James Dobson, describing himself, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and their henchmen who are working to eliminate the seperation of Church and State and fulfill their lifelong lust to destroy the infallible work of our Founding Fathers.