Proposal Could Punish Women for Miscarriages

I think this bill is wrong-headed, (Georgia Lawmaker's Anti-Abortion Proposal Could Punish Women for Miscarriages - FoxNews.com), but it is quite apparent that Planned Parenthood is hoping to seize on the bill (which has been introduced and rejected--by the GOP, for the past 8 years) to distract from the organization's negative publicity of late. And how's this line from the PPFA spokesperson for IRONY:

"This type of initiative in Georgia and the recent attacks on publicly funded contraceptive programs nationally are out of step with the needs of women and families and out of step with American values," she added.

More vital services from PPFA . . . not

From the FRC newsletter . . .

Planned Parenthood's Mammosham

Before you sign up to race for the cure, maybe it's best to get up to speed on what, exactly, you're running for. A few years ago, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which raises millions of dollars a year for breast cancer research, admitted that it gives a portion of its proceeds to Planned Parenthood. When people grilled the Foundation on their partnership, Komen tried to tamp down the controversy by saying that Planned Parenthood "provides vital services." Considering the latest news, they might want to change that statement to "refers for vital services." Apparently, Planned Parenthood doesn't need our tax dollars for free mammograms--because they don't offer them! Pro-lifer Jill Stanek did some digging, and it turns out that one of the organization's biggest arguments for government funding is completely invalid. "If [the pro-life provisions in this budget] ever becomes law," Cecile Richards has warned, "millions of women in this country are going to lose their health care access, not to abortion services, to basic family planning--you know, mammograms, cancer screenings, cervical cancer."

That's interesting, Stanek says, because not one Planned Parenthood in America performs mammograms. Even the organization's website tells women to "ask your local health care provider, health department, or staff at your local Planned Parenthood center about where you can get a mammogram in your area." Obviously, Richards and friends will stoop to any level of deceit to keep the government checks rolling in. Meanwhile, what business does Susan G. Komen have funneling money to an organization that a) does nothing to prevent breast cancer, and b) lies that it does? There are plenty of respectable health clinics out there (1,200, in fact) that would host the screenings without promoting abortion--a procedure that may have more to do with causing breast cancer than curing it.

Indiana temper tantrum . . .

Wow. Any parent will tell you that you never win giving in to temper tantrums. Indiana kills 'right-to-work' bill - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com:

"Republicans in Indiana’s state senate on Wednesday killed a proposed “right-to-work” bill that would have reduced the power of unions in the state.
. . . .
"Democratic legislators fled the statehouse on Tuesday to block a vote on the proposed bill, following a similar move by Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin over that state’s proposed legislation to limit collective bargaining rights for public sector unions."

Democrats only believe in majority rule when they're in the majority.

Democracy=negotiate? Who says?

Wisconsin governor calls on Democrats to come home | Reuters:

Wisconsin Democratic senate minority leader Mark Miller told CBS' "The Early Show" on Monday that public employees had agreed to economic concessions and the governor needed to be open to a compromise on other matters.

"The governor has not done anything except insist that it has to be his way, all or nothing," Miller said. "The governor needs to recognize that this is a democracy and in a democracy you negotiate."

"The unions, the public employees, have agreed to the economic demands, all they ask is they be able to retain the workers' rights and we are supporting them on that," he said.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, a nonpartisan advocacy group, said that while the Democrats won't want to stay away for too long, there's nothing the Republicans can do to compel them to come back if Walker is unwilling to negotiate.

"There doesn't seem to be a lot of pressure from the districts for the senators to come back," Heck said. "And let's face it -- it's a budget repair bill that doesn't have to be done until June. There's no rush."

The GOP senate needs to start voting on all the things that don't need more than a simple majority to make a quorum. Seems like these Democrats are sore losers.

Nice signs, false sick notes from Wisconsin

'Fake' Sick Notes Given to Wisconsin Protesters Amid Anti-Union Bill Faceoff - FoxNews.com: Nothing like integrity to bolster your position; and here were two nice slogans from the counter protestors in Wisconsin:

"Your Gravy Train Is Over . . . Welcome to the Recession" and "Sorry, we're late Scott. We work for a living."

SOME of the WI union's collective bargaining privileges . . .

There's quite a bit of sloppy reporting on Dems' WI tantrum. In particular, most news outlets are leading or headlining with the phrase "stripping public workers of collective-bargaining rights." That's not accurate, though it certainly bolsters the argument for calling the proposed legislation "controversial." From the WSJ:

The governor's proposal, part of a bill aimed at overcoming a $137 million deficit in the current budget and a projected $3.6 billion hole in the next two years, would allow collective bargaining on wages, but not pensions and health care. Workers would be required to pay more for both. And raises would be limited to the inflation rate, unless voters approved steeper boosts.

For Democrats, the end justifies the means

Budget Battle: Democrats Who Left State are Located:

They play hooky, we get the shaft

Where Does the Left Get the Time? - By Jay Nordlinger - The Corner - National Review Online:

As I look at the union members swarm the Wisconsin capital, I have a familiar thought: A great advantage of the Left is that they are organized and determined — and have a lot of time. Paid time. The taxpayer is funding these “days of protest,” engaged in by the public-school teachers. They are using their “sick” leave, provided by the taxpayer, to go rallying.

And what are the other citizens of Wisconsin — the majority — doing? What they always do. Going about their business, or businesses; providing for their families. As we speak, some are having to stay home with their school-aged children, who have been locked out of their classrooms by their teachers — their “teachers.”

Proud to be a Republican

This kind of report makes me proud to be a Republican . . . amazing: In a State of Sticker Shock, Stores Try to Sell Public on a Radical Idea - WSJ.com:

After a decade of lobbying, retailers in Michigan appear close to winning a repeal of the state's notorious Item Pricing Law. The law requires all stores to affix a price sticker to every jar of baby food, every box of Jell-O and every slithery bag of frozen spinach in their stores.

Interdependence and Tobacco-Free Hiring

Fascinating debate about one potential downside of collectivism (or state-mandated interdependence):Tobacco-Free Hiring in Workplaces - NYTimes.com:

More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living.

Rep. Lee is a loser, but . . .

Again with the "hypocrisy" rationale. Maureen at gawker.com attempts to justify/qualify her rubbernecking of train wreck Christopher Lee with the following Married GOP Congressman Sent Sexy Pictures to Craigslist Babe:

Yesterday, we reached out to Rep. Lee, whose support for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and vote to reject federal abortion funding suggests a certain comfort with publicly scrutinizing others' sex lives.

But I don't see the "scrutinizing" angle here, especially with the allusion to taxpayer funding of abortion. Ms. Maureen, I guess you believe that opposition to abortion is motivated by interest in the "sex lives" of the person seeking to perpetrate the abortion rather than the innocent, yet-to-be-born human?

More about the science-denying Left

More about the science-denying Left:

This [story] from Spain -- Madrid's mayor proclaimed massive air pollution reductions except, ah, "The state prosecutor's office found that in 2009 the Madrid municipality had quietly moved nearly half its pollution sensors from traffic-clogged streets in the city centre to parks and gardens" -- reminds us of the cheapest way to cool the planet . . . :

A couple things about the O'Reilly Obama interview

1. Bill O'Reilly is rude and self-important. Interrupting and stepping on the statements of the President (or, heck, any interviewee) is annoying and unprofessional. If he wasn't able to do the interview without "having" to interrupt, etc. he shouldn't have done the interview.
2. Obama did a good job and stayed on point. That being said, I disagree with his policies and presuppositions, and think that he is--like most liberals, a master of image over substance,

Watch the entire interview here . . . Video - Bill O’Reilly interviews President Obama before Super Bowl XLV - National Political Buzz | Examiner.com.

In case you missed the expose on a NJ Planned Parenthood franchise . . .

Ken Whitehouse's op/ed about electing atty general

This is a disappointing piece of journalism from Ken Whitehouse on bills being filed to require election of the attorney general.
Ken Whitehouse--"State Republicans move to make attorney general an elected office" | Nashville City Paper:

As the new Republican legislature eases into its first legislative session under Gov. Bill Haslam, some lawmakers are trying to make fast use of their overwhelming majority. In an opening act of sorts, state Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, has introduced legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to popularly elect the state’s attorney general.

First, it is disingenuous to characterize filing of these bills as opportunistic or power-hungry or over eager with the phrase, "fast use." They have to file the bills for the entire session within the next few weeks. And this is not the first session that a Republican has filed such a bill. Bill Dunn has filed this type of bill every session he has been in office if I'm not mistaken. That's long before Obama or Democrats' socialized medicine or the Tea Party Movement or Bachmann or Palin or blahblahblah. Stupid statement Ken.

And concluding the "article" with the phrase "entities that poured untold financial resources into the [neighboring state's AG] race"? That's kind of sloppy if it is supposed to be journalism? I guess he could have said "gosh awful amounts," or maybe "obscene amounts."

Former Attorney General Paul Summers, now a partner at the Nashville law firm Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, tells The City Paper, “I can’t say I agree with what they want to do, but I do agree with the procedure.”

And though I don't necessarily agree with Gen. Summers' view about the best way to choose an AG, I commend him for acknowledging that Beavers and Co. are following the correct procedure . . . contrast that with the way that folks tried to take over control of judicial selection.