Misogynists are hijacking the health care reform proposal -- STOP THEM AT ONCE!

NEW YORK CITY -- On Saturday, Planned Parenthood's Action Fund sent out a urgent alert to everyone who supports comprehensive health reform. And they speak of a hidden and well-orchestrated plan by the anti-choice extremists to derail health care reform.

This, despite the anti-choice extremists suffering four defeats in the US Senate already before the House even gets a chance to vote on it.

Take action in the link above, or call Congress at 1-202-224-3121 and tell the Congress that you will not support any health care reform bill if it does NOT cover abortion services for women.

People of the week for July 18

The best people of the week are all of those who are speaking out about female-on-male domestic violence and calling out those in the domestic violence establishment who spread lies in order to minimize the rapid rise in the epidemic of violence against men. After the killings of Steve McNair and Arturo Gatti, we need to make sure that male victims of domestic violence are being given their fair shake and are given access to shelters that take in domestic violence victims. We also need to make certain that abused men are not being led on some wild goose chase by these shelters.

Assholes of the week for July 18

The first asshole of the week is Amanda Rodrigues. She cold-bloodedly killed her former boxer husband Arturo Gatti while he was asleep on July 10.

The second asshole of the week is Norma McCorvey. She was and other anti-choice nuts distrupted a Congressional hearing for Sonia Sotomayor.

The third and final asshole of the week is the Democrats for Life. They kicked Tim Ryan out of the group for wanting to reduce abortions.

About Forbes's Most Influential Women's list

I believe that this list is the most influential Women in Media. And Oprah is number 1, far and away. Diane Sawyer is second, Barbara Walters ranked third, Ellen DeGeneres is number four and Tyra Banks rounds out the top five. However, Ms. DeGeneres and Ms. Banks ranks number 2 and number 3, respectively, in monetary earnings.

My take on this ranking? It is not a overall interpretation of the mass influence these women have on us. There are a lot of Davids like Jessica Valenti and Nina Hartley that influence us, but they are not on this list full of Goliaths like Tyra Banks.

For more on this listing, read more here.

Rep. Tim Ryan kicked out of Democrats for Life

WASHINGTON -- So much for common ground.

Rep. Timothy Ryan of Ohio was jettisoned from the Democrats for Life's advisory board because he supports contraception.

Upset by what is sees as U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan abandoning his pro-life position, Democrats For Life of America removed the congressman from its national advisory board.

"DFLA gave Congressman Ryan ample opportunities to prove he's committed to protecting life, but he has turned his back on the community at every turn," said Kristen Day, the Washington, D.C.-based pro-life organization's executive director.

Ryan of Niles, D-17th, insists he's still a strong pro-life advocate, but grew frustrated with Democrats For Life of America and other pro-life groups that refuse to accept contraceptives as an option to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

"We're working in Congress with groups that agree with preventative options while [the DFLA] is getting left behind," Ryan said. "I can't figure out for the life of me how to stop pregnancies without contraception. Don't be mad at me for wanting to solve the problem." (Emphasis that of just about every feminist)

Judging from Rep. Ryan's words, he is kicked out because he wanted the group to support contraception as a way to stymie unwanted pregnancies.

Transactions just like the one that was taken against Rep. Ryan is precisely why we refer to anti-choice activists as such. They absolutely fucking hate to see women have any kind of control over their own bodies. Contraception is something that 49 out of every 50 women will use in their lifetimes.

Again, we see why 100% of the worst people are those who call themselves as 'pro-life', party notwithstanding.

BREAKING NEWS: Norma McCorvey arrested for disturbing Sotomayor's hearing

WASHINGTON -- My, my. How much difference 36.5 years makes.

Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe in the January 22, 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, was apprehended outside of the Supreme Court where hearings for Sonia Sotomayor was ongoing. Jessica Wakeman of the Frisky has more.

Norma McCorvey, the woman who served as the plaintiff in the Roe vs. Wade decision which effectively legalized abortion across America, was arrested today with anti-abortion protesters outside of Sonia Sotomayor‘s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Capitol Police told That Washington Post that McCorvey and her pro-life cohorts made it into the chambers of the confirmation hearing and started yelling during Sen. Al Franken’s opening remarks.

As a divorced 21-year-old mother with an unwanted pregnancy, McCorvey sought an abortion in Texas at the same time lawyer Sarah Weddington was looking for a pregnant woman to represent so she could challenge the state’s laws against abortion. McCorvey, who was protected by the pseudonym “Jane Roe” in the lawsuit, ended up carrying her pregnancy to term and giving the baby up for adoption. But Weddington’s lawsuit went all the way to the Supreme Court and eventually became the “Roe vs. Wade” decision. In 1995, McCorvey wrote publicly about her true identity when she published the memoir, I Am Roe: My Life, Roe vs. Wade, And Freedom Of Choice.

But McCorvey, who is now 61, turned sharply against abortion later in her life and has become a public face of the anti-choice movement. In 2007, she appeared in the documentary “I Was Wrong,” and she speaks passionately against freedom of choice and regrets that she inadvertently became the impetus for the abortion movement. [The Washington Post]

Ms. McCorvey is a turncoat. And I'll leave it at that.

Dwight DeLee's trial begins today

SYRACUSE, NY -- The trial of Dwight DeLee gets underway this morning.

He is the person accused of killing Lateisha Green, a trans woman, at a party last year. He is alleged to making hateful remarks about her sexual identity and sexual orientation prior to gunning her down. Her brother was also injured in the attack.

Cara has more on this.

Also, if you can, you can follow this case on this site: Justice for Teish Facebook page.

Gatti killed by wife; media blames DV victim for his own murder

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Amanda Rodrigues, 23, has been arrested and charged with the premeditated murder of her boxing champion husband Arturo Gatti, 37.

She first stabbed Mr. Gatti in the back of the head. When that did little more than make him defenseless, she then strangled him to death with a strap of her purse.

On Sunday, Brazilian police detained Arturo Gatti’s wife after the former boxer was found dead and bloodied in a hotel room at a seaside resort.

Amanda Rodrigues, 23, was taken into custody after interrogators found inconsistencies in her statements to police.

Gatti, 37, also known as “Thunder,” was apparently strangled with a purse strap, found blood stained at the scene. According to The Washington Post, Gatti also had a head injury.

Rodrigues denies any involvement in her husband’s death, but was unable to explain how she spent 10 hours in the hotel room without noticing her husband was dead.

Milena Saraiva, a spokesperson for the Pernambuco state civil police said authorities are investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk by the time they returned to their room on Friday night.

Saraiva also said that Rodrigues and Gatti were jealous of one another and he incessantly complained about the clothes she wore when she traveled to Brazil.

The Gatti's had apparently traveled to Brazil with their 10-month-old son for a second honeymoon.

Their son was unharmed and is being cared for by Rodrigues’ sister.

Brazilian boxer, Acelino “Popo” Freitas told local media he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate," but said he didn’t know they were in Brazil.

Gatti retired from boxing in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

That right there tells you what you need to know in a nutshell. And notice, once again, the media is trying to defame another domestic violence victim (Mr. Gatti), just like what they have been doing with Steve McNair. Case in point, this blatant victim-blaming article from the same site that first broke the story of Ms. Rodrigues's arrest.

And per usual when commenting on such stories are permitted, the victim-blaming from the commenters are rampant. We don't know what Mr. Gatti did or did not do to Ms. Rodrigues before she cold-bloodedly killed him. This is just more tabloid nonsense coming from a media whose main agenda is to assassinate the character of a male victim of domestic violence.

People of the Week for July 11

The best people of the week are the 253 people in the 111th Congress who are co-sponsoring the Local Radio Freedom Act. This bill, like so many others that are currently pending, is so badly needed. The RIAA and the Big Four record labels are trying to silence local radio by taxing every song -- old and new -- that is played on the radio. This is yet another attempt by the fascists at the RIAA to monopolize music and we will not stand for it!

Assholes of the week for July 11

The first asshole of the week is Tom Taber of Augusta, GA. His letter smacks of communism and fascism.

The second asshole of the week is Anna Amador. She has filed a frivolous lawsuit against McSwain Elementary School over a shirt her daughter wore that the school flagged as inappropriate because of the pictures on it.

The final asshole of the week is the government of Ukraine. They have banned all pornography in that country.

Fascist of the Day: Tom Taber of Augusta, GA

AUGUSTA, GA -- Tom Taber is a coward who wants to turn America into a dictatorship. His letter in today's Augusta Chronicle reveals his true, anti-American character:

Read his letter and you'll know why I called him and the other conservatives fascists.

Mr. Taber conveniently forgot that under Bush, anyone who openly opposed the Iraq war was arrested -- from San Francisco to Columbia; from Seattle to Miami, FL; from San Diego to Presque Isle, ME; and everywhere in between.

While conservatives are busy making baseless accusations against progressives on why Gov. Palin will be resigning, let's not forget that the conservatives callously attacked Greame Frost, 12, and his family for doing the Democrat Radio address just days after the failure of the House to override a Bush veto of State CHIP.

The far right wing extremists such as Mr. Taber want to control our lives and the way we think. Mr. Taber and his cohorts want to take away all women's rights. Mr. Taber and his cohorts want to take away our right to vote, take away our right to be educated and our right to dissent.

As long as fascists like Mr. Taber are still here attacking us just for disagreeing with them, we will continue to call them out.

Fascist is what fascists are. And Mr. Taber is a fascist -- right here in the CSRA.

Can't get pornography in Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine -- Infuriating news from the international world.

Ukraine has banned pornography. Via Lori, the newest blogger on Feministing.

Possession of pornography is now a criminal offense in Ukraine, Lenta.ru reports, after Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a law to that effect today. Human rights activists and members of the Ukrainian artistic community had asked the president to veto the law.

The draft of the law was prepared by the Ukrainian government. It was passed by the Ukrainian parliament, the Supreme Rada, on June 11.

Now pornography can be kept only “for medical purposes,” according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice. The ministry also warns that possession of a large number of identical images will be considered evidence of trading in pornography, which is also criminalized.

Punishment for possession of pornography will include fines and imprisonment for up to three years.

Yeah, so that. Again. For medicinial purposes. Or, you can import the porn from other countries, including the good old USA. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you live in Kiev and you want your porn -- do like the people in US State of Alabama do if they want sex toys.

Once the storm stops, I'll get me some alone time. Excuse me.

Girl's lawsuit against McSwain Elementary School is frivolous and without merit

SAN FRANCISCO -- A 13 year old girl and her mother are suing a school district over its dress code that deems certain clothing as inappropriate.

A mother is suing a California elementary school on behalf of her 7th grade daughter who she claims was asked by school administrators to remove a t-shirt with a pro-life message on it.

The 13-year-old student was wearing a shirt with two pictures of a growing fetus with the words "growing, growing, gone," on it as part of "National Pro-life T-shirt Day," FoxNews.com reports.

The mother, Anna Amador, says in the complaint that her daughter was treated unfairly and was humiliated when she was forcefully dragged to the principal's office at McSwain Elementary School to remove the shirt.

According to the complaint, the school's administration defended its actions by citing the school's dress code, which does not allow clothing to make reference to "tobacco, drug, or alcohol use, sexual promiscuity, profanity, vulgarity, or other inappropriate subject matter."

The t-shirt's message did not disrupt the work and discipline of the school. Nor was it inapporpriate for her to have worn a shirt that promotes the sanctity of life. There is nothing inappropriate about supporting life," said William J. Becker Jr., a first amendment attorney representing Amador. "The student doesn't forfeit her First Amendment free speech rights at the schoolhouse steps."

The legal precedent for free speech in schools was set during the Vietnam War. Students wore black armbands in passive protest against the war despite school policy such armbands were not allowed. The Supreme Court ruled that students were allowed to engage in political speech so long as the speech "did not materially and substantially disrupt the work and discipline of the school."

"The bottom line standard is that passive political speech is ok," said Jane Spinak, a professor at Columbia Law School. "Wearing a t-shirt could be seen as passive political speech and it will depend on whether the photo on the shirt steps over the line."

Amador's complaint says her daughter had worn similar shirts to school before and there had never been a problem. Attorney Mark A. Thiel, co-counsel for the girl, says the images on the shirt were the same images found in a science text book, FoxNews.com reports.

"There is no evidence in this case that the shirt was disruptive," said Becker Jr.

Let me say this: this was NOT passive speech. Not even close. This crossed the line into not just a distruptive environment, but also crossed the line into such a shirt being inapporpriate.

There is nothing inappropriate about supporting your beliefs, but what is inappropriate is wearing a shirt with a fetus on it. Remove the pictures of the fetus and the shirt is fine to me. How hard is that to do?

Imagine if someone showed up with a shirt that says "pro-choice" with a picture of Gerri Santoro, the way she was found on June 8, 1964 (below), with the words "because women DIE from childbirth".



Do you honestly think that any shirt with that pic of Santoro would be allowed at schools here in South Carolina? No, it wouldn't.

Which is why Ms. Amador's lawsuit against McSwain Elementary School is 100% frivolous to say the least.

The only reason why Ms. Amador and her daughter are doing this is to indoctrinate our children to HATE women and girls. Nothing else.

Every judge that gets this case should throw out this lawsuit and publicly rebuke those who are trying to shove their misogyny down the throats of our schoolchildren.

Thoughts on Gov. Palin resignation

WASILLA, AK -- Gov. Sarah Palin will resign on Friday, July 25. The reasons are unknown, but I can tell you that while the media is to blame for attacking her in a misogynist way, the media is NOT the reason for her swift and sudden resignation.

To make matters worse, Gov. Palin threatened to sue Shannyn Moore, a blogger from the Last Frontier State.

My thoughts?

First and foremost, Gov. Palin abandoned the Last Frontier people with this decision. The people of Alaska elected her as the state's first female governor over two men -- Frank Murkowski in a primary and Tony Knowles in the gubernatorial election. If her family was so damn important to her that she could no longer continue on as governor, then why Palin even ran for governor in 2006? Everyone in politics know that family is important to him/her, but they can easily multitask.

So, why is that a big problem for Palin, the very woman that conservatives called strong-minded?

Secondly, there is probably something bad that is going to happen. There are rumblings of some wrongdoing by Palin. I don't know what it is, but I know that there was no mentioning of wrongdoing on Palin's part since her announcement of resignation.

Finally -- and perhaps most troubling, is Gov. Palin's misogynist legacy. As mentioned on several blogs, Palin jettisoned two well-respected public health experts, Bev Wooley and Jay Butler, for interfering in her jihad against Alaskan women.

Both [Wooley and Butler] made the critical mistake of wanting to present scientific evidence on the impact of parental consent laws to the state Senate. They never got the chance; the Senate “ran out of time.” From the Anchorage Daily News:

Wooley said she also intended to answer questions from legislators and said she would rely on data, not anyone’s personal beliefs. Whether she personally agreed with the governor is beside the point, Wooley said.

She intended to refer to studies from states that already had passed similar legislation, she said. Some of the research shows that, with parental involvement requirements, girls tend to get abortions later in their pregnancy, which is riskier and more expensive, she said. Other research shows fewer girls get abortions, which abortion foes like Palin likely would applaud. Wooley cautioned that the studies are small and not definitive because such laws are still fairly new.

…

That was enough to get her canned. And guess what? The next day, the very day that Palin resigned:

A proposal to require parental notice or consent before a female younger than 18 could have an abortion was certified Thursday by the state so that its backers can seek enough signatures to get the initiative before voters next year.

So, Sarah Palin may be gone soon. But her policies live on.

Palin's anti-choice policies is something that the Dems must expose in 2012 if Palin is nominated as the GOP nominee. This is not just something that can be shoved aside in favor of the economy or national security.

We need to remember that women's lives are on the line. And we must beat back any and all attempts by anti-choice forces to have the government control women's lives.

Anti-choice activists don't know when to take a hint

DENVER -- The anti-choice activists will attempt to put a 'personhood' amendment back on the Centennial State ballot on November 2, 2010.

This is the very same 'personhood' amendment that 18 out of every 25 people voted against on November 4, 2008.

The anti-choice people say that the word 'fertilization' will not be on the ballot this time, claiming that voters were 'confused' between a chicken egg and a human egg. I don't buy that at all. People can tell a difference between a human egg and a chicken egg.

This thing was voted down 73-27 because of the great ground operation of the feminist movement. Ellie Smeal, Shelby Knox, Kim Gandy, Cecile Richards, Nancy Keenan -- a native of the Rocky Mountain region, and others who are fighting for women's civil rights.

And speaking of, the Colorado Right to Life president Leslie Hanks compared support for the proposal to the struggle for civil rights. Her use of the word is ironic, because it is people like Ms. Hanks who are VERY OPPOSED to civil rights. Anti-abortion laws deny women their civil rights. If Ms. Hanks support civil rights -- then she would OPPOSE any and all anti-abortion laws -- no matter what.

Monica McCafferty, the Planned Parenthood of the Rockies spokeswoman, tells it like it is: this ballot measure is very little different from IM 48.

"The language certainly remains vague and is up to interpretation by the courts," she said, "but it does appear to have the same aim as Amendment 48. The fact remains Colorado has voted on this issue, and a 73 percent majority said they don't want this."

Toni Panetta, the NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado political director, said a legal nightmare would occur if the amendment is added into the state's Constitution.

"Like Amendment 48, which Colorado voters rejected by a 3-1 margin, this amendment looks like it would have far-reaching consequences on important life decisions that should be made by individuals, their doctors and their family."

My point exactly. This proposed amendment would allow the government of Colorado to control women's lives from the time they are born to the time they die. This 'personhood' proposal is akin to the Middle Eastern sharia laws.

We, the People, have an absolute obligation to OPPOSE anti-abortion laws, no matter how much support such laws have.

Simply put, we need to keep the government out of women's lives by all legal means necessary.

Tell Congress to JUST SAY NO to this tax

NEW YORK CITY -- While the recent deaths of Farrah Fawcett, Dr. George Tiller, Michael Jackson and Steve McNair have been dominating the news lately -- there is a new tax that is currently being considered -- one that has the backing of none other than the Recording Industry Association of America and the Big Four record labels.

What makes the Performance Tax even more damning is that all of the major record labels except for the Warner Bros.-owned Warner Music Group is based outside of the United States. And two of the three overseas record labels -- Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment -- have "tax havens". Tax havens are areas where certain taxes are levied at a low level or where there are no taxes of that sort.

According to the National Association of Broadcasters, the opposition to the Performance Tax is widespread. There are 253 co-sponsors of a bill called the Local Radio Freedom Act, including seven of the eight representatives of the South Carolina Congressional delegation. Jim Clyburn is currently the only person in the delegation who is not a co-sponsor, although I truly believe that he will vote aye on the Local Radio Freedom Act when it comes up for a vote.

"NAB salutes these members of Congress for recognizing the important role played by radio stations across America. From promoting music to providing airtime for important public service initiatives, radio broadcasters reach an unparalleled audience of 235 million listeners every week," said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. "While the growing bipartisan opposition to RIAA's performance tax campaign is certainly welcome news, we are encouraging radio broadcasters to remain steadfast and continue educating lawmakers on this important issue."

The Local Radio Freedom Act, unveiled at a February Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11). In March, an identical resolution was introduced in the Senate (S. Con. Res. 14) by Sens. Blanche Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY).

"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," reads The Local Radio Freedom Act.

The bipartisan House resolution's 237 cosponsors are:

Robert Aderholt (AL-4) Rob Andrews (NJ-1) Todd Akin (MO-2) Rodney Alexander (LA-5) Jason Altmire (PA-4) Mike Arcuri (NY-24) Steve Austria (OH-7) Michele Bachmann (MN-6) Spencer Bachus (AL-6) Gresham Barrett (SC-3) John Barrow (GA-12) Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) Melissa Bean (IL-8) Shelley Berkley (NV-1) Marion Berry (AR-1) Judy Biggert (IL-13) Brian Bilbray (CA-50) Gus Bilirakis(FL-9) Sanford Bishop (GA-2) Roy Blunt (MO-7) Jo Bonner (AL-1) John Boozman (AR-3) Dan Boren (OK-2) Leonard Boswell (IA-3) Charles Boustany (LA-7) Allen Boyd (FL-2) Kevin Brady (TX-8) Robert Brady (PA-1) Bruce Braley (IA-1) Bobby Bright (AL-2) Paul Broun (GA-10) Corrine Brown (FL-3) Henry Brown (SC-1) Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5) Vern Buchanan (FL-13) Michael Burgess (TX-26) Dan Burton (IN-5) Steve Buyer (IN-4) John Campbell (CA-48) Shelly Moore Capito (WV-2) Ken Calvert (CA-44) Anh "Joseph" Cao (LA-2) Mike Capuano (MA-8) Russ Carnahan (MO-3) Christopher Carney (PA-10) Andre Carson (IN-7) John Carter (TX-31) Michael Castle (DE-AL) Ben Chandler (KY-6) William Lacy Clay (MO-1) Mike Coffman (CO-6) Tom Cole (OK-4) Mike Conaway (TX-11) Jerry Costello (IL-12) Joseph Courtney (CT-2) Ander Crenshaw (FL-4) Henry Cuellar (TX-28) John Culberson (TX-7) Elijah Cummings (MD-7) Artur Davis (AL-7) Danny Davis (IL-7) Geoff Davis (KY-4) Lincoln Davis (TN-4) Charles Dent (PA-15) Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21) Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) Norm Dicks (WA-6) Joe Donnelly (IN-2) Steve Driehaus (OH-1) John Duncan (TN-2) Chet Edwards (TX-17) Vernon Ehlers (MI-3) Brad Ellsworth (IN-8) Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8) Bob Etheridge (NC-2) Mary Fallin (OK-5) Chaka Fattah (PA-2) John Fleming (LA-4) Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1)

Bill Foster (IL-14) Virginia Foxx (NC-5) Elton Gallegly (CA-24) Scott Garrett (NJ-5) Jim Gerlach (PA-6) Phil Gingrey (GA-11) Kay Granger (TX-12) Sam Graves (MO-6) Al Green (TX-9) Gene Green (TX-29) Parker Griffith (AL-5) Brett Guthrie (KY-2) Ralph Hall (TX-4) Deborah Halvorson (IL-11) Phil Hare (IL-17) Alcee Hastings (FL-23) Doc Hastings (WA-4) Dean Heller (NV-2) Wally Herger (CA-2) Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL) Baron Hill (IN-9) Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15) Pete Hoekstra (MI-2) Tim Holden (PA-17) Duncan Hunter (CA-52) Bob Inglis (SC-4) Lynn Jenkins (KS-2) Timothy Johnson (IL-15) Walter Jones (NC-3) Jim Jordan (OH-4) Steve Kagen (WI-8) Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) Dale Kildee (MI-5) Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) Ron Kind (WI-3) Jack Kingston (GA-1) Mark Kirk (IL-10) Larry Kissell (NC-8) John Kline (MN-2) Frank Kratovil (MD-1) Doug Lamborn (CO-5) Leonard Lance (NJ-7) Rick Larsen (WA-2) Tom Latham (IA-4) Steve LaTourette (OH-14) Robert Latta (OH-5) Jerry Lewis (CA-41) John Lewis (GA-5) John Linder (GA-7) Chris Lee (NY-26) Frank Lucas (OK-3) Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) Dave Loebsack (IA-2) Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) Ben Ray Lujan (NM-3) Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL) Don Manzullo (IL-16) Kenny Marchant (TX-24) Betsy Markey (CO-4) Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) Michael McCaul (TX-10) Tom McClintock (CA-4) Patrick McHenry (NC-10) John McHugh (NY-23) Mike McIntyre (NC-7) Howard McKeon (CA-25) Cathy McMorris Rogers (WA-5) Kendrick Meek (FL-17) Charlie Melancon (LA-3) Michael Michaud (ME-2) Brad Miller (NC-13) Candice Miller (MI-10) Gary Miller (CA-42) Jeff Miller (FL-1) Walt Minnick (ID-1) Harry Mitchell (AZ-5) Dennis Moore (KS-3) Jerry Moran (KS-1) Sue Myrick (NC-9)

Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) Devin Nunes (CA-21) James Oberstar (MN-8) Pete Olson (TX-22) Solomon Ortiz (TX-27) Frank Pallone (NJ-6) Erik Paulson (MN-3) Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) Ron Paul (TX-14) Mike Pence (IN-6) Tom Perriello (VA-5) Tom Petri (WI-6) Pedro Pierluisi (PR-At Large) Joe Pitts (PA-16) Todd Platts (PA-19) Ted Poe (TX-2) Earl Pomeroy (ND-AL) Bill Posey (FL-15) David Price (NC-4) Tom Price (GA-6) Adam Putnam (FL-12) George Radanovich (CA-19) Nick Rahall (WV-3) Charles Rangel (NY-15) Dennis Rehberg (MT-AL) Dave Reichert (WA-8) Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) Phil Roe (TN-1) Harold Rogers (KY-5) Mike Rogers (AL-3) Mike Rogers (MI-8) Peter Roskam (IL-6) Mike Ross (AR-4) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) Edward Royce (CA-40) Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2) Paul Ryan (WI-1) Tim Ryan (OH-17) John Sarbanes (MD-3) Jean Schmidt (OH-2) Aaron Schock (IL-18) Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) David Scott (GA-13) Pete Sessions (TX-32) John Shimkus (IL-19) Carol Shea-Porter (NH-1) Heath Shuler (NC-11) Bill Shuster (PA-9) Mike Simpson (ID-2) Albio Sires (NJ-13) Ike Skelton (MO-4) Adrian Smith (NE-3) Christopher Smith (NJ-4) Zack Space (OH-18) Mark Souder (IN-3) John Spratt (SC-5) Cliff Stearns (FL-6) Bart Stupak (MI-1) John Sullivan (OK-1) Harry Teague (NM-2) Lee Terry (NE-2) Mike Thompson (CA-1) Glenn Thompson (PA-5) "Mac" Thornberry (TX-13) Todd Tiahrt (KS-4) Pat Tiberi (OH-12) Dina Titus (NV-3) Mike Turner (OH-3) Fred Upton (MI-6) Peter Visclosky (IN-1) Greg Walden (OR-2) Timothy Walz (MN-1) Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3) Ed Whitfield (KY-1) Charlie Wilson (OH-6) Joe Wilson (SC-2) Rob Wittman (VA-1) Frank Wolf (VA-10) Don Young (AK-At Large)

An identical Senate resolution, S. Con. Res. 14, has sixteen co-sponsors, including:

John Barrasso (WY) Max Baucus (MT) Jeff Bingaman (NM) Christopher Bond (MO) Sam Brownback (KS)

Richard Burr (NC) Mike Crapo (ID) Michael Enzi (WY) Judd Gregg (NH) Kay Hagan (NC)

Mike Johanns (NE) Blanche Lincoln (AR) Benjamin Nelson (NE) Pat Roberts (KS) Jon Tester (MT) Roger Wicker (MS)

Call the Congressional Switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 and tell the House and Senate to vote yea on the Local Radio Freedom Act!

NY Daily News: Air McNair killed by girlfriend

NASHVILLE -- Steve "Air" McNair was shot multiple times and killed by a 20-year-old woman, who killed herself just minutes later during the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Former NFLstar quarterback Steve McNair was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a Nashville condominium Saturday - and authorities hinted he was murdered by a girlfriend who then turned the gun on herself.

Cops discovered McNair's bullet-riddled body slumped on a sofa inside his rented condo's blood-spattered living room, authorities said.

A woman McNair was reportedly dating, identified as Sahel Kazemi, 20, was found dead only a few feet away with a single bullet wound to the head. A gun was lying nearby, Nashville police said.

"At this moment nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no," Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said.

It remained unclear what might have triggered the slaying, Aaron added.

See that? They don't know what led up to the murder of McNair. But, I do. A love triangle is what led to this.

When people think of football players, they think of strong men who are able to defend themselves from abusive girlfriends. Often, that is not the case. As mentioned on March 10, Geno Hayes was a victim of domestic violence by an abusive girlfriend, despite the fact that he is a big burly linebacker for the Tampa Bucs.

Tommorrow, ironically enough, is the ninth anniversary of Fred Lane's slaying. He was killed by his abusive wife, Deidra. She was released from prison just last year.

These cases perfectly illustrate that size does NOT matter. Anyone of any size of any weight can become a domestic violence victim.

There are a lot of victim-blaming comments on the forums of the major newspapers. Newsflash to all of the jackasses engaging in blatant victim-blaming: Mr. McNair is not to blame for what Ms. Kazemi did. Only Ms. Kazemi is to blame for what she did. She cold-bloodedly killed Mr. McNair over a love triangle.

Oh and yeah, I can imagine that the MRAs are going to have a field day tommorrow in light of this new detail.

People of the week for July 5

The first best person of the week is Carolyn B. Maloney. She is clearly the best Congressperson in the 111th Congress, and she now wants to serve the people of New York State in the same selfless manner as a US Senator that she has proudly served Queens with in 16+ years as a US House of Representative.

The final four best people of the week are Kristin Maun of Leawood, KS; Robert Lewis of Independence, MO; Chris Hamill of Baldwin City, KS; and Judy Bruder of Blue Springs, MO. They all had great letters in the Kansas City Star.

Assholes of the week for July 5

The first asshole of the week is the Augusta Chronicle. They insulted one of the best Senators in America, Barbara Boxer, in typical sexist fashion.

The second asshole of the week is Shannon Price. The wife of Gary Coleman was arrested for domestic violence against him in Utah.

The third asshole of the week is Bernie Madoff. America's Next Top Swindler got 1.5 centuries behind bars for his big time Ponzi schemes.

The fourth and final asshole of the week is Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). His proposed office is misogyny at its worst.

Hey, New Yorkers: Stand with Carolyn Maloney in primary against Kristen Gillibrand

NEW YORK CITY -- Carolyn Maloney has announced that she will challenge Kristen Gillibrand for the open US Senate seat in New York State. Via.

Rep. Maloney says that Sen. Gillibrand has flipped on gun control and immigration, among other issues.

The Democratic establishment want Rep. Maloney to stay out for the sake of unity. This blog stands with Rep. Maloney and proudly endorse the Queens congresswoman in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat.

With all due respect to Sen. Gillibrand, I think that she is just not willing to challenge the Democrats who bow down to the far right in the upper chamber. An example of this was on the chamber's opposition to Obama's plan to close the Lil' Shop of Torture that is called Guantanamo Bay. Instead of calling out the Dems for voting in favor of a proposal that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced, Sen. Gillibrand instead voted right along with Graham, DeMint and most of the chamber -- against the American public's demands to shut Gitmo down. Unlike Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Maloney will throw down the gauntlet to anyone who supports laws that violate our Constitutional rights. Rep. Maloney has made that known since January 6, 1993 -- the day she first came to Congress.

Shannon Price arrested for domestic violence

SALT LAKE CITY -- Shannon Price, 23, the wife of one of the world's shortest men and actor Gary Coleman, was arrested for criminal domestic violence for smashing some of her husband's belongings.

Shannon Price, 23, was booked on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct charges before her release on $1,205 bond, the Web site said Thursday.

The 4-foot-8 Coleman was apparently not injured in the incident at the couple's home in Santaquin, Utah.

Price - she's 5-foot-7 - wed Coleman in August 2007, shortly after they met on the set of the 2006 comedy "Church Ball."

Mr. Coleman was part of Different Strokes back in the late 1980s.

Also, I hate it when the media tries scurrilously to dig up dirt on victims of domestic violence. They did that to Rihanna. And now, they are doing it again, this time, to Mr. Coleman.

It doesn't matter what Mr. Coleman did in the past, he is now a domestic violence victim.

NOTE: In case you're asking, the pic on top is from the couple's appearance on the Tyra Banks Show.

New York Times, Aiken Standard and Times and Democrat all call for Sanford's resignation

COLUMBIA -- The New York Times, the Aiken Standard and the (Orangeburg) Times and Democrat are just three of a number of newspapers across America calling for Mark Sanford to resign as governor.

First, the Grey Lady:

If ever a chief executive rendered himself inoperative, Gov. Mark Sanford did so in skipping out on his responsibilities to South Carolina’s four million citizens for six days on a secretive personal fling in Argentina. In the process, Mr. Sanford failed to transfer emergency powers to the lieutenant governor, as provided in the State Constitution, leaving his state vulnerable to all manner of crises while the governor was nowhere to be found.

This is a compelling reason that Mr. Sanford should resign from office. There are others. He lied to the state and his staff in concocting a false trail to mask his trysting. He tapped taxpayer funds to drum up a trade mission last year that allowed him to see his lover.

It’s not encouraging that the governor compared himself on Friday to King David, the adulterous and murderous Biblical king who fell out of God’s favor “but then picked up the pieces and built from there.”

Any attempt by Mr. Sanford to retain power will prolong the civic shambles he has made. The real issues of government, beginning with the state’s grave economic problems, will be relegated to an afterthought as further details spill out about the governor’s personal lapses. The repair of Mr. Sanford’s family life, while ardently hoped for by empathetic supporters, should not be confused with restoring responsible government.

There is every indication that Mr. Sanford would have maintained his cavalier abuse of the governorship but for the discovery of his official recklessness by the newspaper The State in Columbia. In his mystery odyssey, the governor eluded his security detail and drove a state car to the airport with the whereabouts locater turned off. Surprised by a news photographer in returning from Buenos Aires, the governor countered with his rambling public confession. (How public officials of both parties expect they can indulge themselves without some enemy revealing their hypocrisy is one of the running mysteries of politics.)

Since Mr. Sanford thought enough of his political peers to resign as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, he has a comparable duty to South Carolina voters. Unfortunately, his spinners are emphasizing contrition, not competence, in describing a new mission of “building back the trust” of the people. Mr. Sanford should get out of the way of the need to build back the government he undermined.

Now, the Times and Democrat of Orangeburg:

The tone of the conversation about Gov. Mark Sanford changed markedly from Monday’s revelation that he was out of the state and out of touch to Wednesday’s news that he was in Argentina and his public admission to an extramarital affair.

Initially, there was criticism of the governor for leaving the state on a “vacation,” said to be a hiking adventure on the Appalachian Trail. Following came the news that he had been to Argentina. The outcry about irresponsibility grew. Then came Sanford’s bizarre news conference, during which he admitted to an affair with an Argentinian woman that led to a separation from his wife and children. Reaction shifted from outrage to sympathy, with friend and foe alike calling for prayers for the governor and his family as they try to reconcile the situation and reshape their lives together.

We join in hoping the Sanfords are able to work through their problems, acknowledging they need the privacy so many are urging the media to give them.

That is but one reason Sanford should resign as governor of South Carolina.

Sanford is the state’s chief executive. He can no more expect unique privacy in this situation than he can be out of the state and out of touch with the government. The CEO of a private company disappearing for nearly a week, unreachable and not in command, would be fired. No doubt.

The governor cannot run the state effectively as he deals with the personal issues that led him to irresponsible and irrational behavior.

He says he will work to regain the trust of South Carolinians during his final year and a half in office. A governor on a personal repair mission is not what South Carolina needs at this critical juncture. We agree with his critics making that point.

We do not agree with those calling for or hinting at impeachment of the governor. Leaving the state without a chief executive in charge was reckless, but the action does not warrant impeachment — though there are bound to be questions and inquiries as to any use of state funds in regard to Sanford’s Argentina trips and connections.

As to those who would remove the governor on moral grounds: An extramarital affair is a personal, not governmental, matter.

Sanford should exit not because of his personal problems but because in dealing with those problems, he has shown clearly that he cannot be an effective leader. The entire episode vividly illustrates irresponsibility and poor judgment. He could not have handled the situation worse.

Sanford decided Wednesday to step aside as leader of the Republican Governors Association. If he cannot be an effective leader of that organization, how can he expect to be effective as the state’s chief executive?

Sanford indicated Wednesday he will remain in office. He should not.

To subscribe to the print edition of The Times and Democrat, click here.

And finally, the Aiken Standard:

For several months S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford gained national attention for his stubborn stance on the use of federal stabilization funds. Now he is receiving national scrutiny again in a far more troubling way. With about 18 months remaining in his second and final term, Gov. Sanford should resign from office.

In a press conference Wednesday following his baffling disappearance of nearly a week, the governor acknowledged he had been in Argentina, where he said he has ended an affair with a woman there that began about a year ago. As a husband and the father of four young sons, Sanford's first responsibility has to be his family. He cannot fulfill those family obligations while remaining governor of a state that's in severe economic crisis.

His affair, however, is a personal matter and should be treated as such. His bizarre missing governor act is of greater concern to this state and why he should leave office.

Governors, of course, don't have the intense security detail that would follow a sitting president. During his visits to Aiken, Sanford was often accompanied by a single staff member or two. Even when traveling alone or with his family, he would always be available to his chief of staff and other top people in his office.

It is simply astounding that the governor deliberately would withhold his location from his own staff and SLED - putting his spokesman in the inadvertent position of misleading the media and other public officials. Out of the country and unavailable to anyone, Sanford had made no provision to transfer power temporarily to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. As Bob McAlister, former chief of staff for the late Gov. Carroll Campbell said in published reports, "From a professional standpoint, this can't happen. It's very disconcerting."

For the past seven years, the tenure of Gov. Sanford has been continually frustrating. He has promoted some reasonable reforms, among them government restructuring and eliminating the practice of attaching legislation to unrelated bills at the last minute. But the governor's ceaseless unwillingness to communicate and compromise earned him only enmity from most legislators of both parties. He has never supported public education and has generally tried to undermine it - most recently with his efforts to turn down badly-needed federal funds for schools after major state cuts.

Tragically, Wednesday's news conference presented a different Gov. Sanford - perhaps for the first time - revealing himself as a human being with real emotion of sorrow and regrets. If he had brought emotion and empathy to his work as governor, the state would be better off and Sanford would be better off as a politician and public official. Now it may be too late.

What makes this interesting is that with the exception of the New York Times, nearly every newspaper that has called for Sanford's resignation is conservative. The Aiken Standard, the Times and Democrat, the Greenville News, Rock Hill Herald, The (Sumter) Item, and the very first newspaper in the country to call for Sanford's resignation, the Spartanburg Herald Journal -- which is owned by the New York Times -- are all conservative. The most liberal newspaper in the state, the Greenwood Index Journal, has not called for Sanford's head.

The Florence Morning News is the only liberal newspaper in South Carolina to date that has called for Sanford's resignation.

Person of the Month for June

Sorry I am late on this.

The best person for the month for June is Notre Dame University.

They invited Obama to speak, simply because he is the current commander-in-chief. In fact, each of the previous four CICs spoke there with little to no protest as I mentioned in a May 16 post.

ND did the right thing here.

Asshole of the Month for June

Sorry for being late on this.

The Asshole of the Month for June is Attorney General Henry McMaster. His witch hunt against Craigslist in the month of May is the straw that broke the camel's back.

I hope that pols will consider the ramifications of their actions instead of trying to score political points.

Now, Sanford LIED about the number of women he's seen...

COLUMBIA -- Ladies and gentlemen, we have a smooth talker in South Carolina.

Now, Gov. Sanford has made it known that he has crossed lines with other women.

SC gov 'crossed lines' with women

Associated Press

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:21 p.m.

Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:45 p.m.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress - but never had sex with them.

The governor said he "never crossed the ultimate line" with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed his once-promising political career.

"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story," Sanford said. "A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day."
During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife.

He said that during the encounters with other women he "let his guard down" with some physical contact but "didn't cross the sex line." He wouldn't go into detail.

Sanford said the casual encounters happened outside the U.S. while he was married but before he met Chapur, on trips to "blow off steam" with male friends.

Sanford also admitted he saw Chapur more times than previously disclosed, including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.

He described five meetings with Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up.

He said he saw her two other times, including their first meeting in 2001 at an open-air dance spot in Uruguay.

"There was some kind of connection from the very beginning," he told The Associated Press, though he said neither that meeting nor a 2004 coffee date in New York during the Republican National Convention were romantic.

His interview was the first disclosure of any liaisons with Chapur in the United States and contradicted a public confession last week during which he admitted to a total of five encounters over their eight-year relationship.

He previously announced he would reimburse the state for money spent during a government trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008 when he saw Chapur. It was then, he said, that their relationship became physical, and the e-mails they'd exchanged for years reflected their anguish over what they had done.

"Now I am frightened," he told the AP, describing his state of mind at the time. "It was before safe. But now it's not safe. We gotta put the genie back in the bottle."

He insists no public money was used for any other meetings with her.

He saw Chapur again in mid-June of this year, visiting Argentina without telling his staff he was going to be out of the country. He instead led them to believe he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

By the time he returned to a puzzled public, staff and family, his public image and emotional state had unraveled. He admitted the affair at a rambling press conference.

Now Sanford is attempting to salvage his personal and professional lives. He and wife Jenny, parents of four sons, say they are trying to reconcile their 20-year marriage but have not been sharing the same house for several weeks. Jenny Sanford found out about the relationship in January when she discovered a letter the governor had written to his mistress. She did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday.

The governor said he met Chapur in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in 2001 after his final term in Congress and before his first term as governor. He said the two struck up an e-mail correspondence after meeting on a dance floor - a chance encounter during which he counseled her into the night about her failing marriage.

For the next seven-plus years, Sanford said, the two exchanged messages, sometimes sporadically.

They met in New York two more times in 2008: two nights in Manhattan in September and three nights in the Hamptons in November. Each time, Sanford claims he flew coach, paid for it himself, paid for the hotels in cash and told his staff he was reachable via cell phone.

"At that point I was very careful, everything was paid for in cash," Sanford said. "And you won't find a credit card record."

In early 2009, after Jenny Sanford discovered the affair, the couple went into counseling. She has told The Associated Press that he asked her several times to visit the mistress and she refused.

But the governor claims he wanted to end the affair in person and, with his wife's permission, went to New York with a "trusted spiritual adviser" serving as chaperone. The three went to church and dinner together and parted ways the same night.
But he visited Chapur again in Argentina on June 18, the trip that brought the whole affair to light.

From the Tuesday, June 30, 2009 online edition of The Augusta Chronicle

He has betrayed Allendale County. He has betrayed South Carolina. And now, he has betrayed Jenny Sanford.

I wonder what will Jenny do next?

Candy Crowley suggests that Jenny should throw out his belongings.

I suggest that Jenny burn his underwear...

So, Sanford LIED about the number of times he saw Maria Belen Chapur...

COLUMBIA -- Mark Sanford must be really drawing blanks these days.

He can't even get the number of times he made out with Maria Belen Chapur right.

He revealed that he not only had affairs with her in Buenos Aries, but he also additional trysts with Ms. Chapur on American soil as well.

From the Augusta (GA) Chronicle:

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Tuesday that he saw his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed, including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.

In a lengthy and emotional interview with The Associated Press in his Statehouse office, the governor described five meetings with Maria Belen Chapur over the past year, including two romantic, multi-night stays with her in New York before they met there again intending to break up.

He said he met her two other times - their first meeting in 2001 at an open-air dance spot in Uruguay and a coffee date in New York in 2004 during the Republican National Convention. He said neither time was romantic.

It was the first disclosure of any liaisons with Chapur in the United States and contradicted a public confession last week during which Sanford admitted to a total of four encounters over their eight-year relationship.

He previously announced he would reimburse the state for money spent during a government trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008 when he saw Chapur. He insists no public money was used for any other meetings with her.

He saw Chapur again in mid-June of this year, visiting Argentina without telling his staff he was going to be out of the country. He instead led them to believe he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

By the time he returned to a puzzled public, staff and family, his public image and emotional state had unraveled. He admitted the affair at a rambling press conference.

Now Sanford is attempting to salvage his personal and professional lives. He and wife Jenny, parents of four sons, say they are trying to reconcile their 20-year marriage but have not been sharing the same house for several weeks. Jenny Sanford found out about the relationship in January when she discovered a letter the governor had written to his mistress.

The governor said he met Chapur in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in 2001 after his final term in Congress and before his first term as governor. He said the two struck up an e-mail correspondence after meeting on a dance floor - a chance encounter during which he counseled her into the night about her failing marriage.

"There was some kind of connection from the very beginning," he told The Associated Press.

For the next seven-plus years, Sanford said, the two exchanged messages, sometimes sporadically.

He took a state economic development trip to South America in 2008 and the relationship became physical, after which their e-mails reflected his anguish over what they'd done. "Now I am frightened," he told the AP, describing his state of mind at the time. "It was before safe. But now it's not safe. We gotta put the genie back in the bottle."

The two met in New York two more times in 2008: two nights in Manhattan in September and three nights in the Hamptons in November. Each time, Sanford claims he flew coach, paid for it himself, paid for the hotels in cash and told his staff he was reachable via cell phone.

In early 2009, after Jenny Sanford discovered the affair, the couple went into counseling. She has told The Associated Press that he asked her several times to visit the mistress and she refused.

But the governor claims he wanted to end the affair in person and, with his wife's permission, went to New York with a "trusted spiritual adviser" serving as chaperone. The three went to church and dinner together and parted ways the same night.

But he visited Chapur again in Argentina on June 18, one final trip that brought the whole affair to light.

From the Tuesday, June 30, 2009 online edition of The Augusta Chronicle

This brings back the old adage: once a cheater, always a cheater. Once a liar, always a liar.

So, Gov. Sanford first met Ms. Chapur in Urugray. Then, it was only a matter of time before it got sexual between the two.

Like the summer of 2008.

Three of the affairs happened in a place that the GOP hates the most: New York City.

This affair really revealed one damning secret: cheating on their spouses -- that is real family values for the conservatives.

America's Next Top Swindler gets 1.5 centuries in prison

NEW YORK CITY -- Bernie Madoff, America's Next Top Swindler, has received 1.5 centuries behind bars for his Ponzi schemes.

From the NY Daily News:

Ponzi kingBernie Madoffgot the max Monday - 150 years in prison - for engineering a $65 billion fraud scheme that made his name synonymous with unbridled greed.

The judge threw the book at Bernie after Madoff finally apologized saying "I'm sorry is not enough" - and after some of his furious victims publicly savaged him.

Loud cheers, whoops, and a few sobs, echoed through the courtroom afterManhattan Federal CourtJudge Denny Chindelivered a devastating sentence for what he called a "staggering" fraud.

"Here, the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff's crimes were extraordinarily evil," the judge said. "This kind of manipulation of the system is not just a bloodless crime that takes place on paper, but one instead that takes a staggering toll."

Chin said he was especially moved by a letter he got describing how Madoff conned an 86-year-old widow by putting his arm around her "and in a kindly manner told her not to worry, that the money is safe with me."

Chin also noted he had not gotten a single letter from friends or family testifying to Madoff's good deeds.
"The absence of such support is telling," he said.

I feel that the sentence was way too light. I feel that Mr. Madoff should have been sentenced to 65 billion years in jail -- that is one year for every dollar that he bilked from his victims.

The only good news is that we will not see Mr. Madoff again.

Augusta Chronicle insults Sen. Boxer in typical SEXIST fashion

AUGUSTA, GA -- The Augusta Chronicle is the most revolting media outlet in America. The misogynists at 725 Broad Street have no decency and they have no shame.

The latest Boxer-bashing episode at the Chronicle is blatant sexist insults at its worst.

Boxer was right to call out Brigadier General Michael Walsh for calling her "ma'am". She is a Senator, NOT a civilian.

So, in the meantime, it is Senator Boxer, not "ma'am". When Sen. Boxer retires, then you can call her "ma'am".

I'm pretty sure that the Augusta Chronicle would be up in arms if a female soldier who reads Feministing called Sen. Jim DeMint as "sir" instead of Senator DeMint. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.

Another tired sexist insult on Boxer by the Augusta Chronicle is a call for action. Call the newspaper at 1-706-724-0851, call Michael Ryan at 706-823-3366, send a fax at 1-706-823-3345, or email Mr. Ryan and raise a stink.

Jenny Sanford is a closet progressive

COLUMBIA -- Take one look at the picture above.

What does it tell you?

If you don't know, I'll be more than happy to tell you.

The two women flanking either side of the picture have more than just their ties to New York City in common. Dina McGreevey and Silda Spitzer were both at the disgraceful news conferences of their husbands in Trenton, NJ and Albany, NY when the men revealed that they had affairs, and then resigned weeks later. Dina has since divorced from the former New Jersey governor.

You saw no such thing in Columbia on Wednesday and Thursday.

Maybe it was watching WACH all the time, watching all the men who cheated on their women appear in New York City on Povich's show. Or better yet, watching the cable news channels of all the political sex scandals since James McGreevey's in October 2004.

No matter what it was, it did make one thing official: we saw a closet liberal/progressive woman stand up to her cheating family vaules husband made him face the music -- or should I say the cameras -- all alone.

Progressive women have no tolerance for infidelity. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for women who are right-of-center. Silda Spitzer being one example.

So that means that Jenny Sanford is a closet progressive. Everyone across the nation now knows it from her not being in the picture above.

Maybe this will be the new trend for all First Spouses -- political leanings notwithstanding.

Tell Congress to DEFEAT Coburn's proposed "Office of Unborn Children's Health"

WASHINGTON -- Well, looks like Tom Coburn just keeps on with his anti-woman agenda.

Case in point: his proposal for an "Office of Unborn Children's Health".

This is the most outrageous propsal to have ever come up in any kind of legislation. Furthermore, this is the most intrusive proposal by someone who claims to be for less government in people lives.

Nancy Keenan, a former Montana Congresswoman, has more on this:

Last week, Congress began the formal process of overhauling the nation's health-care system as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee began to mark up** its health-care reform legislation - the Affordable Health Choices Act. This committee is one of five congressional panels with jurisdiction over this broad policy area.

During this first stage of the mark-up process, Republicans filed 300-plus amendments that address women's health in some way, approximately a dozen of which are anti-choice. Which one do you think jumped out at us right away? An amendment from (whom else?) Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to establish a federal "Office of Unborn Children's Health."

Yes, you read that correctly.

I did a little perusing of the amendment's language, and it goes from unreasonable to absurd in under 20 seconds. Still, it's hardly shocking, given the sponsor. Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma is one of the most unrelentingly anti-choice members of Congress. During his 2004 Senate campaign, Coburn told the Associated Press, "I favor the death penalty for abortionists and other people who take life." Coburn is also on record as opposing abortion even in cases of rape or incest. And this "Office of Unborn Children's Health" proposal is one of justnine amendments he's filed on the health-care reform bill thus far. With so many Americans lacking basic health care, it is unconscionable that Sen. Coburn continues to use legislation on this important issue as a means to continue his ideological attacks.

It's important to note that, at this time, this amendment has not yet been offered - but the mark-up continues so we'll update you as we learn more. It's going to be a long summer...

Tom Coburn is destroying Oklahoma and America with his misogyny. Sen. Coburn and the rest of the anti-abortion crowd are no different than the Taliban -- they all hate women and this proposal is very evident of that.

Like the Taliban, the anti-abortion movement want to force their own sharia laws on women. Like the Taliban, the anti-abortion movement want to force their extremist agenda on others.

Dr. Hern said it correctly: the difference between the Taliban and the anti-abortion movement is 8,000 miles.

CALL THE CONGRESSIONAL SWITCHBOARD AT 1-202-224-3121 AND TELL THE 111TH CONGRESS TO DEFEAT SEN. COBURN'S PROPOSAL!!!

Best letters to the editor

Today, I am featuring great letters from the Kansas City Star since last Friday.

First up, Kristin Maun of Leawood, KS writes this letter that has the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in it:

Slaying of Dr. Tiller

Ross Douthat (6/14, Opinion, “Rational debate could consider abortion limits”) argues that we should restrict abortion access to prevent anti-abortion terrorism like the assassination of Dr. George Tiller. Essentially, he is suggesting we should give anti-abortion terrorists what they want so they will not feel the need to kill or commit violent crimes again. He claims this is a “place where morality meets custom, compromise and common sense.”

I think that is ridiculous. It is not moral or customary to kill people because you disagree with them. It is not a compromise to murder a man in his church because of a political opinion. And it is certainly not common sense to terrorize a community and a country so people will meet your demands out of fear.

It is not the pro-choice community assassinating political opponents or threatening to bomb sites of anti-abortion activity. Yet, you have someone like Ross Douthat suggesting that women should give up some of our hard-won rights so maniacs with guns might not pull the trigger.

For true compromise, perhaps people should consider what Dr. Tiller said: Until one understands the heart of a woman, nothing else about abortion makes any sense at all.

Next up is Bernadine Kline of Liberty, MO:

Remember: Words matter

Our pastor started his recent homily with the Gospel of John, “And the word became flesh ...” God’s word became incarnate, a human being, his son, Jesus. Words matter.

Parents use words when they teach their children. Loving words create compassionate human beings. Our prisons, however, are filled with those who heard years of abusive, hateful words. Words matter.

Hate speech has not only been used by Islamic fundamentalists to justify their war against the West. Hate speech has also filled the airwaves of our nation with words that foster confusion, suspicion, division, fear, anger, and, most troubling, justification for murder. Dr. George Tiller’s murder is a reminder that words matter.

As our pastor spoke, my thoughts were on our new president and his speeches on racism, torture, abortion, the Muslim world and the sacrifices of our military. President Obama’s eloquent speeches are beginning to move hearts and minds to solve problems. Words matter.

Our pastor left us with one final thought. When seeking words of wisdom, we need to look no further than to the Gospel of Matthew, 5:1-11, the Beatitudes, and live accordingly.

Next up is Robert Lewis of Independence, MO, who tells the real truth: Bush didn't keep us safe at all.

Bush didn’t keep us safe

Graham Marcott (6/16, Letters), tries to convince Star readers that George W. Bush kept us safe. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In spite of the fact Bush was warned on a daily basis of the threat posed by al-Qaida, including a memo titled: “Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the U.S.,” Bush did nothing, and the nation suffered the worst attack since the Civil War. Nearly 3,000 died.

After invading Afghanistan, Bush allowed Bin Laden to escape into Pakistan, and then diverted forces into an ill-advised invasion of Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. This unnecessary war has killed more than 4,300 U.S. troops.

Bush doubled the national debt and failed to regulate the financial sector, leading directly to the present economic disasters. He is clearly the worst president in the nation’s history.

Now, Chris Hamill of Baldwin City, KS:

Fed up with GOP

Kansas’ right-wing “representatives” in Congress are out of power. So, it seems worth pointing out that Republican groveling before corporate money results in direct betrayals of many constituents in Kansas. Particularly their bellicose interference in U.S. stances toward the Iranian election protests and their knee-jerk opposition to improvements in health care do not represent the interests or views of many.

Clearly, President Obama is a cooler and more thoughtful actor than his predecessor. This already shows signs of improving America’s standing and its diplomatic options. Republicans need to back off and demonstrate some of their vaunted respect for the executive branch.

My own insurance company refused to release funds from a “savings account” they had sold me for checkups. Corporate interests know that a public insurance option would end their gravy train. The only criterion where America leads in health care is what we pay, both per capita and as a total dollar amount.

The corporate lapdogs of the Republican Party have proven unworthy to be a voice in these matters.

And the BEST for LAST, Judy Bruder of Blue Springs, MO:

‘Pro-life’ or ‘anti-women’s rights’?

A letter writer (6/21) states she is “very pro-life.” I am very anti-government interference in our private lives, especially women’s rights. The pro-life people insist on referring to us as “pro-abortion,” when we really are anti-government interference in our private lives. Maybe we should refer to the pro-life people as “anti-women’s rights.” With good family planning agencies, women can be shown there are alternatives to abortion.

I didn’t see these pro-life people marching in the streets to stop George W. Bush and Dick Cheney from starting an illegal war that has killed and maimed thousands of our young men and women who would have liked to live out the rest of their lives, and the thousands of innocent Iraqis who suffered the same fate.

Women have fought for centuries for the right to vote, equal rights with men and equal pay. This is one more right they are trying to keep away from women.

Mrs. Bruder says the EXACT same things I say. I support women's right to abortion because the government should not interfere in women's lives. I am opposed to government interference in anyone's private lives. Those who oppose abortion are for more government intrusion into women's lives. In fact, those who are anti-abortion are the most big government people I've come to know.

I am for less government and will always vote for those who support women's right to abortion. The fact and the matter is this: supporting unrestricted abortion rights for women means that you are opposing government intrusion into women's lives.

People of the week for June 26

The first best person of the week is Elizabeth Barnes. She describes in great detail what real OB-GYNs do.

The second and final best person of the week is Marla Patrick. She demonstrated against the anti-choice terrorists and opportunists on Saturday.

Assholes of the Week for June 26

The first asshole of the week is Chris Brown. The 20-year-old R&B singer escaped a jail term even after pleading guilty to hitting hip hop songstress Rihanna.

The second asshole of the week is Patrick Mahoney. He is using Dr. Tiller's assassination for political gain, even after warning us not to do so.

The third asshole of the week is David Emory Paul. He will not serve jail time for molesting two 14-year-old girls.

The fourth and final asshole of the week is Gov. Mark Sanford. He not only lied about his whereabouts, but he also cheated on his wife Jenny.

Emails between Sanford and the Buenos Aires mistress revealed

COLUMBIA -- The State newspaper has compiled a list of emails between Sanford and his mistress in Buenos Aires. Here is the entire list of email exchanges:

From Gov. Sanford,
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 12:24 a.m.

“One, tomorrow leave at 5 a.m. for New York and meetings. Will think about you on its streets and wish I was going to be there later in the month when you are there. Tomorrow night back to Philadelphia for the start of the National Governor's Conference through the weekend. Back to Columbia for Tuesday and then on Wednesday, as I think I had told you, taking the family to China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand and then back through Hong Kong on world wind tour. Few days home then to Bahamas for 5 days on a friend’s boat for the last break of the summer. The following weekend have been asked to spend it out in Aspen, Colorado with McCain - which has kicked up the whole VP talk all over again in the press back home ...

Two, mutual feelings .... You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night’s light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details ...

Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true - at the same time we are in a hopelessly - or as you put it impossible - or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. As I have said to you before I certainly had a special feeling about you from the first time we met, but these feelings were contained and I genuinely enjoyed our special friendship and the comparing of all too many personal notes ...

Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before - so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know... In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul.”

--------------------

From Maria,
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:14 p.m.

“As I told you I shouldn't have done this trip but I would have felt worst if I wouldn't have come because it was too over the date, he is a very nice guy, great heart ... but unfortunately I am not in love with him ... You are my love ... something hard to believe even for myself as it's also a kind of impossible love, not only because of distance but situation. Sometimes you don't choose things, they just happen... I can't redirect my feelings and I am very happy with mine towards you.”

--------------------

From Gov. Sanford,
Tuesday, July 8, 1:42 a.m.

“Got back an hour ago to civilization and am now in Columbia after what was for me a glorious break from reality down at the farm. No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day's labors. Though I have started every day by 6 this morning woke at 4:30, I guess since my body knew it was the last day, and I went out and ran the excavator with lights until the sun came up. To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the back ground, the tranquillity that comes with being in a virtual wilderness of trees and marsh, the day breaking and vibrant pink coming alive in the morning clouds - and getting to build something with each scoop of dirt.”

Another Republican hypocrite: Sanford was cheating on wife Jenny

COLUMBIA -- Another Republican hypocrite has been outed -- and this one happens to hit right at home.

And not surprisingly, Pamela Spaulding is all over this one. One of the first media outlets to break the story about Sanford's cheating on Jenny Sanford was, surprisingly enough, Eagle 105.7 -- a classic rock radio station from Augusta.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who has been seen as a potential candidate for the 2012 U.S. presidential election, tearfully admitted on Wednesday he had been unfaithful to his wife and resigned as chairman of the Republican Governors' Association.

Sanford apologized at length for his actions at a news conference after he returned from a secret, private trip to Argentina and ended days of speculation about his whereabouts.

Sanford, shedding tears, said he had "developed a relationship" with a "dear friend" from Argentina. He apologized repeatedly to the people of South Carolina and to his wife, family and friends.

"I met this person a little over eight years ago, very innocently .... What I did was wrong. Period. End of story," Sanford said.

"I'm going to resign as chairman of the Republican Governors' Association," said Sanford, who is a prominent fiscal conservative and has been talked about as a potential presidential candidate for his party.

When media reported Sanford's whereabouts were unknown since last Thursday and that even his wife did not know where he was, his aides had said he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States to get away for a break after a tough state legislative session.

During his absence, some South Carolina politicians accused him of abdicating responsibility to the state.

Sanford flew back from Argentina to Atlanta early on Wednesday. He told a reporter for The State, South Carolina's biggest newspaper, that he had changed his earlier plans for a trip and had decided at the last minute to go to Argentina and drive along its coastline.

If the cons can impeach a sitting president for infidelity (William Jefferson Clinton), then how come we are allowing this to slide?

Given all the damage that Sanford has done to the state, an impeachment should be in order.

Question is, will anybody in the state House or state Senate take up the task?

Marshall G. Sanford, just like David Vitter, just like Larry Craig, and just like John Ensign, is another hypocrite who touts family values and cheats on his wife.

Asshat Sanford doing what he does best: betraying the people of South Carolina

COLUMBIA -- Daisy nailed it on her post last night: Mark Sanford was nowhere near the Appalachian Trail.

Instead, the stupid idiot from Sullivan's Island was in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Meaning that the sack of shit from Morris Communications -- the Augusta Chronicle -- led all of us on a wild goose chase.

Gov. Sanford was in Argentina, not hiking, report says

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was in Argentina during a dayslong unexplained absence, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff told the public when state leaders raised questions about his whereabouts, the governor told a newspaper.

The State reported that Sanford arrived Wednesday morning at Atlanta's international airport on a flight from Buenos Aires.

Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer declined to comment Wednesday morning to The Associated Press. The governor did not return cell phone messages seeking comment and his critics slammed his administration for lying to the public.

"Lies. Lies. Lies. That's all we get from his staff. That's all we get from his people. That's all we get from him," said state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia. "Why all the big cover-up?"

The Republican governor told the South Carolina newspaper he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country. The governor says he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail but wanted to do something "exotic."

Sanford was last seen at work Thursday. On Monday, a state legislator raised questions about where he was after hearing reports from security officials that the governor could not be contacted and his whereabouts were unknown. The governor's wife, Jenny Sanford, told The Associated Press she had not seen him since Thursday but was not concerned because he'd told her he wanted to get away and do some writing.

Late Monday, Sanford's staff said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. They said Tuesday that he had called in and planned to cut his trip short and return to work Wednesday because of all the attention his absence was getting.

The governor's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said Sanford wanted to get away to clear his head after the legislative session, during which he lost a key battle. Jenny Sanford said Tuesday, "Leave us to our privacy."

Sanford told The State he was alone on the trip to Argentina. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.
Trying to make such a drive could frustrate a weekend visitor to Argentina. In Buenos Aires, the Avenida Costanera is the only coastal road, and it's less than two miles long. Reaching coastal resorts to the south requires a drive of nearly four hours on an inland highway with views of endless cattle ranches. To the north is a river delta of islands reached only by boat.

A spokesman for Argentina's immigration agency wouldn't comment Wednesday on whether Sanford entered the country, citing privacy laws.

When The State asked Sanford at the airport why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, "I don't know."

Sanford later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he was concerned that the governor's staff lied about Sanford's whereabouts, adding that if they didn't know where he was they should have said so.

"For his staff to lie to the people of South Carolina and say he was one place when in fact he wasn't, that concerns me," Bauer said.

Sanford has been a fan of Argentina for years. While in Congress and since he's said that nation's Social Security system has a model the U.S. should follow.

Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said. State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff, said he visited with Sanford last Wednesday and could tell the governor was ready for a break.
"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," Davis said. "It's part of what makes him him."

The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.
But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.

Who was in charge became the political and practical question.

Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, said the state's law needs to be clarified. He said state residents want important decisions to be made by elected leaders.

"In an emergency," he said, "it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around."

As I mentioned on the comments section below the article, it is time to impeach Sanford. Lies, lies and more lies. Sanford has lied about everything since he became governor in 2003. Hopefully someone in Columbia will have enough common sense to impeach him and try him for perjury.

Sable Communications vs. FCC: 20 years later

WASHINGTON -- Twenty years ago today, the US Supreme Court ruled that banning phone sex is unconstitutional and it violates the First Amendment rights of adults.

The case is found here.

This was a big win for free speech and for our Constitution.

Any thoughts?

RADAR's Half-Truths and outright lies about VAWA

I was just checking out the web page for an "anti-domestic violence" organization called RADAR. They cite 12 reasons why VAWA is out of control. I looked at it, and could only find three reasons at most (out of the twelve that they posted) to even remotely make a claim that VAWA is out of control. And only one of those three being legitimate reason at why VAWA is very flawed.

The main reason that VAWA is flawed is because the law illegally discriminates against male victims of abuse

That is the only valid reason I could come up with to challenge VAWA. Two more reasons that are posted -- Spreads one-sided and biased information, and Biases the judiciary -- may be true, but RADAR conveniently leaves out the fact that a significant number of battered women are also denied justice in the courtroom. The other nine reasons that RADAR says that VAWA is out of control are out and out lies, and thus will not be posted on here.

One out of twelve is 8.3% -- meaning that RADAR is epic FAIL when it comes to their info and cold, hard facts.

Man will get no jail time for child rape

AIKEN -- A man will not serve any jail time for child rape due to his age.

David Emory Paul, 74, pled guilty to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of criminal solicitation of a minor.

Paul could have spent years in jail but on Monday he received probation after pleading guilty. He admitted to giving alcohol to two 14-year-old girls at his apartment back in January. He also admitted to asking one of the girls to have sexual relations. The incidents happened back at the Verandas on the Green.

Much like me here in Williston, the residents of Aiken are concerned and outraged over the sentence of Mr. Paul.

"Makes me want to get out of my lease," Stacie Cobb said.

"I think that's crazy. I mean I think that's a sick person, sick really sick," Carla Littlejohn said.

This is a travesty. This guy raped the 14-year-old girls by giving them alcohol and then touching them in an inappropriate manner. But again, Mr. Paul will not serve a single minute in jail for child rape. Folks, this is just the latest example of a child rapist getting away with raping middle school aged girls.

Investigators say Paul offered the teens money and then asked one of them to perform sex acts on him. Paul also took illegal pictures of one of the girls.

If there is any good news (if you can call it that), Mr. Paul must now register as a sex offender in the state of South Carolina.

But sadly, the girls will never see the justice that they so rightfully deserve.

Chris Brown pleads guilty, escape jail time

LOS ANGELES -- On Monday evening, Chris Brown abruptly changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in hitting his former hip-hop girlfriend Rihanna on February 8.

Just like Kelly Bensimon, however, Mr. Brown will not serve any jail time for domestic violence.

From the Times and Democrat of Orangeburg:

Brown will be sentenced on Aug. 5, but the terms of the plea deal call for him to serve five years of formal probation and six months -- roughly 1,400 hours -- of community labor. Brown will be able to complete his probation in his home state of Virginia; he will have to do either graffiti removal or roadside cleanup for his service.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said the terms were in line with what others receive when they're charged with similar crimes and who have no prior criminal history.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also ordered the singer to stay away from Rihanna.

After Brown entered his plea and left the courtroom, Rihanna entered and was addressed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg, who explained to the Barbados-born singer that she had issued a stay-away order.

Rihanna, 21, had not been seeking a stay-away order, but the judge imposed one. The order requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

The judge also told Rihanna it's not a one-way order and she will be in violation if she gets closer to Brown than the order allows.

Rihanna was informed of the deal about an hour she could have been called as a witness, her attorney, Donald Etra, said. He said the singer "did not object" to the terms of the deal.

Schnegg accepted Brown's plea, but expressed some concerns because Brown is not a California resident. She said Brown likely will be allowed to do his community service in his home state of Virginia. He'll have to return to California for updates every three months. He'll also be required to attend domestic violence classes.

Brown spoke softly throughout the hearing as he waived his rights and told the judge he understood the gravity of his plea.

"I think it's commendable you took responsibility for your conduct," Schnegg told Brown.

She said she hoped "the terms and conditions of your probation will have some meaning."

The deal provides an end to a case that sparked intense media interest and severe backlash against Brown. Sponsors and radio stations dropped him, and the singer had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including a performance at the Grammys.

The singer once known for his squeaky-clean image now has a substantial blemish on his record. He must now also remain out of trouble for the foreseeable future.

Lawyers for Brown and Rihanna have refused to discuss the status of the pair's relationship.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8, hours after police say he hit and threatened Rihanna after leaving a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles. He was later charged with felony assault likely to produce great bodily harm and making criminal threats.

If convicted, the singer faced sentences ranging up to nearly five years in prison.

Brown, 20, rose to fame after the 2005 hit "Run It!" and his popularity has only grown. He was nominated for a Grammy for "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and named Billboard's top artist in 2008.

In the months since the incident, both musicians have gradually appeared in public more frequently. Lately they have been photographed separately, including at a National Basketball Association finals game between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

Rihanna, 21, recorded one of 2007's most popular songs with "Umbrella" and has numerous other hits. Her looks have made her a cover girl for magazines, as well as a pitchwoman for Cover Girl cosmetics.

Why the order of protection against Rihanna? She did nothing wrong on Feb. 8. What Judge Schnegg's order means is that if Rihanna gets closer than one-half of a football field to Mr. Brown, then she will be arrested and subject to proescution and jail time.

That is not fair! She was not the one arrested on the night of February 8.

Shame, shame, shame.

A victim has now been made a potential criminal because of Judge Schnegg's order.

Again, shame on Judge Schnegg.

Caps on awards from medical malpractice claims are NEVER the answer

The New York Times had an editorial on Wednesday about medical malpractice, saying that the only way to reduce cost is to put a maximum cap on awards in such suits.

Andrew Rosenthal and company couldn't be more wrong about that.

Putting a maximum cap on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits will do nothing to drive down the costs. Furthermore, a cap will deny victims of malpractice the justice they deserve.

We need to make patients our top priority. The only way to lower premiums is to have patient safety initiatives. Also, to improve care, we need to hold health maintenance organizations accountable and protect victims of malpractice and take the burden off doctors.

In Texas and other places where there is a cap on medical malpractice lawsuits, the quality of health care in those places has gotten much worse, not better.

And thousands of victims of malpractice will never be able to pay the extra bills they now have as a result of the crippling injuries they suffered due to a doctor's 'mistake'. And hundreds more now don't have the money to pay final expenses for their loved ones after that person died due to medical malpractice.

Laws such as the ones in Texas, South Carolina and other locales that limit damages in medical malpractice cases are exactly why our health care is in the sorry state of affairs it is currently in.

We need to pressure Congress into eliminating limits on how much a victim can get in medical malpractice cases.

Or maybe, we should get Congress to move medical malpractice cases out of civil court and into criminal court.

By moving medical malpractice cases to criminal court, it would keep premiums down. It would hold accountable those responsible for the malpractice.

We need to do something. Because what we currently have is unacceptable.

A must-read at the Feministing Community

PHILADELPHIA -- Elizabeth Barnes, a worker at the Philadelphia Women's Center, posted a must-read on the Feministing Community. I'll try to get excerpts from the posting.

Why are we abortion providers? Abortion is all about reality. There is nothing theoretical about being faced with the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Whether at five weeks, at eleven weeks, at twenty six weeks... these decisions are made with the "realness" of your life staring you in the face. Pregnancy puts a bright light onto our lives, every time. Dr. Tiller lived in this reality and so do the rest of us in abortion care. Dr. Tiller knew that no one walks into a clinic and says "I am here to exercise my constitutional right to an abortion." He knew how messy abortion could be, just like everything else in life, and helped us all navigate this, talk about it, do it better, and even celebrate it.

I have heard many times that the risk of violence comes with the territory of being an abortion provider. I do not accept this. I will live with it, but I do not accept that this risk comes with the territory. I do not accept the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I train staff how to evacuate after a bomb threat as casually as the average person at work might show someone where the coffee pot is. I do not accept that I have become an expert in combating domestic terrorism, that my gut instincts are so finely honed due to a concerted expenditure of effort and energy and fear. I do not accept that this is our lot. I challenge this expectation and I ask you to do the same. I can live with it, but I do not accept it.

The fact is being an abortion provider carries a host of blessings and challenges- that is what makes it a compelling and wonderful and my life's work. Abortion providers are privileged to serve, care for and be challenged by very complex patients at very complex points in their lives- we move on the edges of life and death, and when we do things well, we ease passages, provide space for transformation and second chances, provide safe haven, and treat many who have never been treated so before as deserving of dignity and compassion. We believe women can be trusted with the most difficult moral challenges and we live this belief every day.

Yet, we are living in such fear of violence that I was afraid to bring my one year old son to Wichita so that my husband and I could attend our friend's funeral. And then, I looked at my son and knew I had no choice but to go to Wichita, and that he would have to come because he was too little to be left behind- because what kind of world am I choosing for him if I do not go to recognize the loss of my friend and hero? If I do not stand up and be counted for Dr Tiller, who will? How do I live in a world where I would be too afraid to go to the funeral of someone I loved? How do we live in a world where we allow terrorism, slowly but surely, to whittle away our ability to live freely? To choose how best to care for our own? To make the choices we need to make to live every day?

This is often, incorrectly, framed as a war. But in a war, both sides have weapons. Our only weapons as providers are dedication, knowledge, courage, compassion, trust, respect, justice and dignity- the bedrocks of care Dr. Tiller preached to us.

So, how did we end up here? We are health care providers, already signed up to do something complicated and difficult without the threat of violence lurking. We ended up here because of a concerted, real effort on the parts of thousands of people who mask benignly under the guise of being "pro-life" as they breed violence with constant threats, the dehumanization of all of us who work in abortion care, and the funding and support activity that goes far beyond simple, legal and harmless protest.

It's easy to lose hope, but I believe that goodness will reign. That the outrage over Dr. Tiller's murder will spark change. I hear it already- in the voices of the providers who have gone out and started websites, have spoken out on TV and in the press about our experiences- and then next day walked through yet another picket line to care for their patients. I believe in the possibility of the 45 million women living in the United States who have had an abortion sharing their story and breaking their unspoken code of silence. I believe in humanity, just like Dr. Tiller did- and that is why I am an abortion provider.

That is what people who perform abortions do: they live in the real world. Not in some kind of fantasyland like the anti-choice activists. The real world is so much more complex than fantasyland.

Republicans are aiding and abetting terrorism

WASHINGTON -- It is official: the Republican Party is aiding and abetting terrorists -- in the United States Senate.

Here is the resolution:

Whereas Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, Kansas was shot to death at church on Sunday, May 31;

Whereas there is a history of violence against providers of reproductive health care, as health care employees have suffered threats and hostility in order to provide crucial services to patients;

Whereas the threat or use of force or physical obstruction has been used to injure, intimidate, or interfere with individuals seeking to obtain or provide health care services; and

Whereas acts of violence are never an acceptable means of expression and always shall be condemned:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) Expresses great sympathy for the family, friends and patients of Dr. George Tiller; (2) Recognizes that acts of violence should never be used to prevent women from receiving reproductive health care; and (3) Condemns the use of violence as a means of resolving differences of opinion.

That is all the resolution said.

It said NOTHING controversial at all.

But yet, an "anonymous" Republican in the Senate put a hold on the bill.

What that means is that the Republican Party is now aiding and abetting terrorism -- no doubt about it.

We know for a fact that the GOP -- and esp. those such as Phill Kline, Tom Coburn, and Jim DeMint -- are just as responsible for the assassination of Dr. Tiller as the terrorist currently in jail, Scott Roeder.

This rhetoric began in 2003, soon after Eric Rudolph was arrested for the terrorist bombing of a women's health clinic in Birmingham and for the bombings at a lesbian bar and at Olympic Centennial Park during the 1996 Summer Games, both of which happened in Atlanta.

In short mainstream anti-choice groups and the Republican Party as a whole are aiding and abetting terrorism. They are aiding and abetting violence against women. Even if they were nowhere near Wichita on May 31.

As a sidebar, I just wrote to President Obama (and I strongly urge you to write one as well, using my letter as an example):

After the events of May 31, 2009; I strongly urge you NOT to seek common ground with terrorists who would bomb women's health clinics. There has been a 27-year history at least of this kind of violence.

And given the events of June 18, 2009; with the refusal by the Senate to pass the resolution condemning the assassination of Dr. Tiller, there should be no doubt left that the GOP would rather protect the terrorists who bomb women's health clinics instead of protecting the OB-GYNs who perform safe, legal abortions.

There is no room for common ground here. Not when those opposed to abortion sympathizes with terrorists who bomb such clinics and assassinate those who perform a legal medical service.

Again, I urge you NO LONGER seek common ground with those who oppose abortion, since those opposed to abortion are sympathetic towards terrorists such as Paul Hill, Eric Rudolph and Scott Roeder. Thank you.

Hey Kansans and Kansas City area residents! Join the Kansas NOW in a counter demonstration!

WICHITA, KS -- The Kansas chapter of the National Organization for Women will hold a counter demonstration on Saturday. They will be demonstrating against the anti-choice terrorists from the Christian Defense Coalition and Operation Rescue, who is holding a vigil at the place where the late Dr. Tiller used to work.

Marla Patrick will be leading this event.

The Kansas National Organization for Women will counter-protest the “prayer vigil” organized by the Christian Defense Coalition and Operation Rescue on Saturday, June 20th outside of Women’s Health Care Services located at 5107 E. Kellogg in Wichita.

Kansas NOW is disturbed that anti-choice activist Patrick Mahoney would plan such an event after stating in regards to Dr. Tiller’s murder, “No one should use this tragedy for political gain”.

State Coordinator Marla Patrick stated, “I am astounded at the sheer hypocrisy of the anti-choice groups. They are using Dr. Tiller’s murder as an opportunity to grandstand their extremist beliefs. While they claim they will be praying for the end to abortion, I would recommend they pray for forgiveness. Their inflammatory rhetoric played a part in Dr. Tiller’s murder.” She also stated, “They routinely speak of blood on people’s hands. By the rules that they have set and claim to follow, it is very evident that they are the ones with blood on their hands.”

Marla Patrick

KS NOW State Coordinator

785-227-3854

785-212-0162

coordinator@ksnow.org

The hypocrisy of anti-choice groups is profound, and on Saturday we plan to hold signs demonstrating that. We know there are many pro-choice activists and who would like to join us on Saturday, but can’t. In spirit we are asking for you to submit your favorite hypocritical anti-choice quote by anti-choice leaders and sponsor a protest sign for a $5 donation to KS NOW.

If you or someone you know is in the state of Kansas or is in the Kansas City metropolitan area, tell them to come and join the Kansas NOW in this counter demonstration against the anti-choice terrorist groups!

Via Matt.

People of the week for June 20

The first best person of the week is Alan Roberts of Augusta, GA. He really puts Troy Howard, the person who wrote this despicable LTE on June 14, in his rightful place.

The second and final best person of the week is Miriam. She is the youngest Feministing moderator at 25 and she has this video that you must see.

Assholes of the Week for June 20

The first asshole of the week is Rusty DePass of Columbia. The former chairperson of the South Carolina Election Commission compared First Lady Michelle Obama to a gorilla that attacked a worker at Riverbanks Zoo.

The second asshole of the week is Scottie Murphy of Augusta, GA. He killed his soon-to-be ex-wife so that he could avoid a messy divorce settlement next month.

The third and final asshole of the week is Kelly Bensimon. She has gotten away with abusing a boyfriend.

These are the last assholes of the week for the spring of 2009. The first round of assholes of the week for the summer of 2009 will be nominated on Thursday, NOT Friday.

Man stabs woman after being told that he made a wrong turn

WEST COLUMBIA -- This is an outrage.

A West Columbia woman was stabbed around 5 a.m. by 30-year-old Nelson Alejandro Colon when she told him that he made a wrong turn. Via The (Columbia) State.

trigger warning

A man has been arrested after Lexington County sheriff’s deputies found a woman Wednesday morning on Creekside Road suffering from several stab wounds, a Lexington County Sheriff’s Department news release said.

Nelson Alejandro Colon, 30, of West Columbia, is charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, the release said. The woman was taken to Palmetto Health Richland with non life-threatening injuries.

She had been working at MOJO Lounge, a club on Knox Abbott Drive, and accepted a ride home from Colon, the release said.

Colon stopped his truck when the victim told him he made a wrong turn, the release said.

Witnesses saw the victim lying in front of the truck and called 911 about 5 a.m., the release said.

It is a good thing that the woman will survive. All she wanted was a ride back to her home.

But the stupid asshole intentionally took her the wrong way. And stabbed her.

Mr. Colon KNEW exactly what he was doing, just like most other men who pick up women after a night at the local bar.

Maybe Cara is right, after all. Maybe women do need to start taking the bus.

Woman killed by husband at home, then body found in North Alabama

AUGUSTA, GA -- Thirty-year-old Jessica Murphy was found dead in Alabama near Interstate 65, along with her soon-to-be ex-husband Scottie.

Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's deputies say that Ms. Murphy was actually killed by her husband inside of her Tubman Road home in south Augusta, and then her lifeless body was transported by her husband to the I-65 rest stop near Coneuth County, AL.

More from News 12:

A missing woman and her estranged husband were found dead at an Alabama rest stop today. Richmond County investigators went back to the couple's former home on Tubman Street in Augusta's Harrisburg neighborhood.

"We're back making sure nothing's been missed," said Lt. Scott Peebles. "We do have evidence that she made it here, but nobody actually saw her that we could find."

Investigators believe Jessica Murphy was headed to the home Saturday afternoon (June 13) before going into work at the Augusta Chronicle.

Investigators now suspect Jessica's estranged husband Scott Murphy attacked her at the home, possibly strangling her, then put her body in her car and drove away, at some point ending up in Conecuh County, Alabama.

"There was no indication of where he was going. Probably, he didn't even know where he was going," Lt. Peebles said.

Jessica's car was found parked at a rest stop off I-65. Interstate 65 runs between Montgomery and Mobile in an area about 320 miles southwest of Augusta.

Jessica's body was found in her trunk. Investigators think she had been dead for several days.

Deputies found Scott Murphy shot to death in the drivers seat and ruled the case a murder-suicide.

"There were indications she was fearful of him," said Lt. Peebles.

And that's why Jessica's family says she was divorcing Scott. They say she'd moved out and changed her phone number, trying to avoid harassing phone calls and emails.

Her family says Jessica's divorce would have been final next month. Instead, their tragic fate is the real finality.

An autopsy is planned to determine Jessica Murphy's exact cause of death.

I've heard of cases very similar to this before, but mainly the other way around (women killing husbands during divorce proceedings). Cases such as this are now becoming all too common in America. The spouse who is about to lose everything gets very desperate and kills the person who would have gotten everything from the divorce.

I do not know how in the hell Scottie got into Jessica's home. I also do not understand why abusive men cannot take a hint. The hint that the woman don't want him anymore.

Scottie was jealous of the fact that Jessica was finally getting freedom. Freedom on her own and away from him and his abusive ways. The primary reason Jessica wanted to divorce Scottie was because he constantly abused her throughout the marriage. The divorce would have been final on July 13.

Fuck you, Scottie Murphy. You can't stand the thought of losing a woman to another man, so you go and kill her. I really hope you burn in hell for what you did, Scottie.

Augusta Chronicle worker missing

AUGUSTA, GA -- Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff's deputies are looking for Jessica Murphy, a 30-year-old woman who works at the Augusta Chronicle.

Law enforcement says that Ms. Murphy's disappearance is suspicious and that she may be in grave danger.

They are looking for her estranged husband, Scottie.

Ms. Murphy was supposed to report to her job at the Chronicle on Saturday, but never did.

WJBF has more:

According to Lt. Scott Peebles, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of 30-year-old Jessica Lynn Murphy, of Tubman Street, in Augusta.

On Saturday afternoon, Murphy left her mother’s residence in South Augusta, headed to her job at the Augusta Chronicle. Murphy was first going to stop by the residence she shared with her estranged husband, on the 500 block of Tubman Street, before reporting to work at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.

At about 1:45 p.m., Murphy was seen on Mike Padgett Highway at Brown Road. This is the last that anyone has heard from Murphy, who never made it to work. Based on evidence at the residence, investigators believe that Murphy did make it to the Tubman Street residence. Investigators are still looking for Murphy’s estranged husband, 37-year-old Scottie Murphy. Scottie Murphy had reportedly moved out of the Tubman Street residence about two weeks ago.

Murphy was last seen operating her green 2003 Kia Rio, bearing a GA tag of 2215 ALL. The vehicle has a white replacement door handle on the front passenger side.

Man beats up girlfriend for laughing at him

Severe trigger warning

BAMBERG -- This just want to make sane people quit life altogether.

A man here was arrested for domestic violence 2d offense after he spat on and then violently beat up his girlfriend (and mother of his child) just because she was laughing at him.

From the Times and Democrat of Orangeburg:

A Price Street man was charged with second offense criminal domestic violence after he allegedly struck his girlfriend with whom he has a child, according to a Bamberg Police Department incident report.

The 22-year-old victim contacted police on June 8 to report that she had driven the man home and had laughed at something he said, the report said. She said the man spit in her face and hit her in the right eye and mouth, causing her to seek medical attention, the report said.

This is just insane.

People beating up their spouses just for laughing at them.

The last time I checked, laughing at your spouse was NOT a criminal offense.

And that begs another question. If this was the man's 2d offense for DV, then how come he wasn't on probation or in jail for the first time he hit the woman?

Again, this is outrageous in every way possible.

Men hitting their girlfriends all because she is laughing at him.

Sad and pathetic.

Sexism and racism rolled up in one

COLUMBIA -- I am so glad that this guy is no longer the chair of the state's Election Commission.

After a gorilla jumped some bamboo and then attacked a worker at Riverbanks Zoo, Rusty DePass then compared one of Michelle Obama's ancestors to that gorilla.

From the Aiken Standard:

A former chairman of the South Carolina Election Commission has apologized after his posting on Facebook suggested a gorilla that escaped form a Columbia zoo was an ancestor of first lady Michelle Obama.

Minutes after the gorilla's escape was reported Friday, Rusty DePass posted: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless."

The comment has since been deleted, but DePass confirmed to WIS-TV that he made it, apologizing and saying it was a joke about statements Obama has made about evolution.

DePass, an aide to state Attorney General Henry McMaster who is running for governor in 2010, is a former chairman of the Richland County Republican Party. DePass didn't respond to a phone message Saturday from The Associated Press.

Former state Republican chairman Katon Dawson says the comment was sad and disappointing.

So this is what they do in private. They post these racist, sexist attacks and then want to hide it. It is an outrage. No wonder why people look at South Carolina in such bad light. We need to rid this state of the racists, the sexists and the homophobes if we are to improve our image.

Thanks to Laura Bagwell for the info.

Charges against Kelly Bensimon are dropped

NEW YORK CITY -- This is fucking stupid.

On Tuesday, all charges against Kelly Bensimon were dropped, even after admitting to badly beating her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Stefanov.

A claws-out cougar from "The Real Housewives of New York City" accepted a deal yesterday over charges she belted her much younger beau.

As part of the deal -- in which she did not have to plead guilty -- Kelly Bensimon, 40, will have the assault charge against her dropped if she can stay out of trouble for one year. Judge Michael Yavinsky said she also has to serve two days of community service.

"I'm very pleased. Justice was served," a beaming Bensimon said after 'fessing up to her March assault on Nick Stefanov, 30.

The model wasn't very apologetic about the beatdown.

"I learned that if a man is in your apartment and he won't leave, that you should absolutely do whatever it takes," the 6-foot stunner said.

While she and Stefanov had reportedly gotten engaged before the bust-up and he had reportedly acted as surrogate dad to her two kids, Bensimon pooh-poohed their previous romantic ties.

"We don't have a relationship. He was someone in my home who wouldn't leave," she said.

As part of her deal, Bensimon was also slapped with a yearlong partial order of protection, which means that while she can have contact with Stefanov, she will face stiffer penalties if she attacks him again.

The resident bad girl on the hit Bravo reality show, Bensimon painted herself as the victim in this instance, saying, "Bad things happen to good people."

She said she was happy to put the incident in the past.

"I'm just very grateful" to go back to "my awesome career" and "beautiful children. I'm a very lucky woman," she said.

She also took aim at speculation that the whole fight with Stefanov was a publicity stunt.

"I don't need attention," she sniffed.

Stefanov could not be reached for comment.

Bensimon's ex-husband is fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon.

The brassy brunette has written a book on bikinis and was a columnist for Page Six Magazine. She has also modeled for Elle, Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar.

This story just makes me want to hit something. I am furious that the DA dropped charges against Ms. Bensimon. I am even more furious that female-on-male domestic violence is not taken seriously in America.

Fuck you, Kelly Bensimon. And a quadruple fuck you to everyone who thinks that female-on-male domestic violence is funny.

People of the week for June 13

The first best person of the week is Dr. Leroy Carhart. He has announced that he will perform final trimester abortions for women who need them.

The second and final best person of the week is Hannah Storm. The Sportscenter anchor, also one of the first women to do interviews with male athletes while the men were still butt-naked, will be 47 years of age on Saturday.

Assholes of the week for June 13

The first asshole of the Week is anti-American Lee Benedict of Augusta, GA. He basically insulted America in his letter to the Augusta Chronicle's editor on Sunday.

The second asshole of the week is American terrorist Randall Terry. Also, the founder of Operation Rescue.

The third and final asshole of the week is American terrorist Scott Roeder. Also, an active member of Operation Rescue.

Dr. Leroy Carhart should BUY the late Dr. Tiller's clinic

WICHITA, KS -- Cara Kulwicki, who is doing double duty these days at Feministe and The Curvature, gave us some good news: Women's Health Care Services in Wichita will re-open, and Dr. Leroy Carhart will perform final trimester abortions for women who need them.

A Nebraska doctor said Wednesday that he will perform third-term abortions in Kansas after the slaying of abortion provider George Tiller, but would not say whether he will open a new facility or offer the procedure at an existing practice.

Dr. LeRoy Carhart declined to discuss his plans in detail during a telephone interview with The Associated Press, but insisted “there will be a place in Kansas for the later second- and the medically indicated third-trimester patients very soon.”

“I just think that until everything is in place, it’s something that doesn’t need to be talked about” in detail, Carhart said a day after Tiller’s family announced his Wichita clinic was permanently shutting its doors.

Tiller’s clinic was one of the only facilities in the country that performed third-trimester abortions. Carhart has run his own clinic in Bellevue, Neb., since 1985, but had performed late-term abortions at Tiller’s clinic because of Nebraska’s more restrictive abortion laws.

And then there were three...again.

I am pleased that women in Jayhawk and Wildcat Country now have a place to go when their lives depend on it.

Which brings me to an excellent idea: Dr. Carhart should buy Dr. Tiller's clinic from his family.

Anything to keep Dr. Tiller's clinic from falling into the clutches of the evil terrorists at Operation Rescue.

Dr. Leroy Carhart, another true American Hero. Thank you so very much for keeping this clinic operating. I'm sure that somewhere way up there in Heaven, Dr. Tiller is smiling this evening.

Best letter to the editor: Danny McNeal of Fort Wayne, IN

I hardly read newspapers that are outside of South Carolina or are not nationally known. But this great letter in the (Fort Wayne, IN) Journal-Gazette from Danny McNeal of Fort Wayne piqued my interest:

Religion spurs abortion foes

George Richard Tiller, Kansas physician and abortion services provider, was gunned down.

Enemies of the Constitution are making medical abortion procedures for those who need them ever more impossible to obtain, and enemies of the Constitution are murdering those who escape their net and dare perform them.

Though there are certainly anti-choice activists from other religions as well as those who are non-religious, let’s be honest: It is an essentially Christian sociopolitical position in this country. The practice of employing religious belief as the basis of the laws that govern us all must be fought.

Tiller’s life was a celebrated life of service. It is my sincere hope that his death will also serve – to help raise awareness about the fact that the “pro-life” movement is not about the sanctity of life but about control, and that religion is as incapable of bringing peace to Americans (Tiller was gunned down in church) as it has been in bringing peace to the Mideast.

Mr. McNeal's letter is spot-on. We must fight the anti-choice, misogynistic, Christofascist movement with all we got.

Third domestic terrorist attack in eleven days

WASHINGTON -- Oh My Fucking God.

A guard at a Holocaust museum became the third person to be slain in eleven days by a domestic terrorist. On back-to-back days (May 31 and June 1), we had domestic terrorist attacks which killed Dr. George Tiller and Private William Long, respectively.

Dana Goldstein has more:

A World War II veteran and resident of Maryland, Von Brunn is the author of a pamphlet entitled "Kill the Best Gentiles: A new, hard-hitting exposé of the JEW CONSPIRACY to destroy the White gene-pool." He is a Holocaust denier who has written that "Hitler's worse mistake" was that "he didn't gas the Jews."

She also points out like Dr. Tiller's assassination, this was also an act of domestic terrorism.

And how about the criticism by Michelle Malkin, the Thomas Moore Law Center and the other right wing extremists of Janet Napolitano's April 15 report on right wing terrorists?

These three terrorist acts have proven Secretary Napolitano correct. The right wing terrorist are a major threat to democracy.

Anti-choice terrorists want to buy closed women's clinic

WICHITA, KS -- As you may well saw on here yesterday, Dr. Tiller's clinic will not reopen again.

Now comes word that one of the terrorist organizations that wanted to (and ultimately) put Dr. Tiller out of business, Operation Rescue, wants to buy the space that was vacated less than 24 hours ago. (Thanks to Jessica Valenti and Cyril for the heads up)

Operation Rescue president Troy Newman said that his group has discussed the idea of buying the tan, windowless clinic in east Wichita. He made the comment after the Tiller family announced that the clinic would be closed permanently.

"I would love to make an offer on that abortion clinic, and that's some of the discussion that we're having," Newman said in a telephone interview Tuesday from his group's headquarters in Wichita.

These terrorists have no shame. Because that is exactly what the anti-choice movement is. A terrorist movement. And now comes word that a terrorist group wants the space vacated by the Tiller family just makes me angry.

Selling the Women's Health Care Services P.A. in Wichita to Operation Rescue is just like selling the space for the World Trade Center to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

In fact, the anti-choice movement is very similar to al-Qaida and the Taliban. The only difference between al-Qaida, the Taliban and the anti-choice movement is nine time zones and 8,000 miles.

Domestic terrorists have accomplished their goal: Wichita clinic to be shut down

WICHITA, KS -- This is so infuriating and sad: the women's health care clinic in Wichita will be closed permanently.

The Wichita abortion clinic run by a doctor who was shot and killed will remain closed permanently, his family said on Tuesday.

Dr. George R. Tiller’s clinic was one of the few in the country to provide abortions to women late in their pregnancies, and for decades, women had traveled there from all over the nation and from overseas. It was also the only remaining abortion clinic, even for first trimester abortions, in the Wichita region.

“The family of Dr. George Tiller announces that effective immediately, Women’s Health Care Services, Inc., will be permanently closed,” according to a statement issued on Tuesday morning by the family’s lawyers. “Notice is being given today to all concerned that the Tiller family is ceasing operation of the clinic and any involvement by family members in any other similar clinic.”

After Dr. Tiller was shot and killed on May 31 as he served as an usher at his Wichita church, abortion rights advocates – including at least one abortion provider in Nebraska – had said they hoped others might step in and keep Dr. Tiller’s clinic open to provide late-term abortions. Abortion rights advocates had the loss of such a clinic would be devastating to families of women who learned late in pregnancy of catastrophic health issues.

Even some abortion opponents, who had long devoted their efforts to closing down Dr. Tiller’s clinic, said they did not wish to see it happen under these circumstances. Last week, Troy Newman, the leader of Operation Rescue, had said that closing the clinic now would send a worrisome message. “Good God, do not close this abortion clinic for this reason,” he said in an interview with The New York Times. “Every kook in the world will get some notion.”

Scott P. Roeder, an outspoken opponent of abortion, is in a Wichita jail, charged with murder in Dr. Tiller’s death.

Immediately after the shooting, the Tiller family had announced that the clinic was closed for the moment, but provided no long term plan until Tuesday.

In the statement, the Tiller family said it wished to assure his previous patients that it would work to keep their medical histories and patient records “as fiercely protected now and in the future as they were during Dr. Tiller’s lifetime.”

The family also said Dr. Tiller’s work would be honored through private charitable work. “We are proud of the service and courage shown by our husband and father and know that women’s health care needs have been met because of his dedication and service,” the statement said. “That is a legacy that will never die.”

Abortion rights advocates said they believed the nearest abortion provider to Wichita may now be about three hours away, near Kansas City.

I wonder if the anti-choice terrorist movement is proud of themselves for shutting down this vital women's health clinic. Because that was their goal for 24 long years. And the terrorists have finally accomplished their goal.

This is a sad day in America.

The terrorists have defeated the United States -- on our own soil nonetheless.

Anti-choice terrorist in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL -- Larry Jones's letter to the Tuscaloosa News proves that the entire anti-choice movement had everything to with the assassination of Dr. George Tiller. (h/t to Jill Filipovic)

Dear Editor: It should come as no surprise that the director of Tuscaloosa’s own abortion clinic, Gloria Gray, admired her murdered colleague, Dr. George Tiller. What a role model he must have been to those who are in the business of taking innocent lives. With tens of thousands of confirmed kills, he made ordinary serial killers look like rank amatures.

I have to disagree with her statement that the anti-abortion groups were directly responsible for his death, though. The only person directly responsible would be the individual who shot him, as well as Dr. Tiller himself, for choosing to engage in an activity that stirs compassionate people to react like Mr. Roeder did.

I don’t think that one murder (or approximately 60,000, for that matter) should be answered by another one, but I also wonder how many babies lives have been saved by this action. “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.”

Larry Jones

Now you know why I mentioned all the things that I did last week? Because they are damn true!

Racist attack on Obama by the hacks at the Augusta Chronicle

AUGUSTA, GA -- Apparently misogyny is not the only thing that the Augusta Chronicle is good at. Thanks to Lowell Greenbaum, the Augusta-Richmond County Democratic Party, the newspaper is good at racism. Cartoon that appeared in Saturday's Augusta Chronicle below (trigger warning):

So, Treyarch and Activision LIED about why they patched spawntubes on Call of Duty WAW...

[NOTE: I was originally scheduled to post this last week. But due to the assassination of Dr. Tiller, it was delayed until today.]

Well, you wanna know why I no longer play Hardcore Search and Destroy and why I no longer trust Activision and Treyarch? Well, someone on youtube named Zercof dropped a big time bombshell, and it exposes how far Treyarch and Activision will go to deprive fans of the Call of Duty franchise great matches.

Man, I saw my name in there quite a few times...

I do miss the tubes. It wasn't "griefing," as Activision put it, it was just another level of challenge at the start of the game.

Instead of telling the truth, Activision and Treyarch lied in the most blatant manner about the patch that happened on the day BEFORE the March 18 release of the map pack 1 that included Station, Nightfire and Knee Deep.

It shows that the two gaming companies put on a self-serving PR campaign that served only their interest at the expense of their fans and hardcore gamers.

Call Activision at 1-310-255-2000 and email Treyarch at info@treyarch.com
and demand that either restore the spawntubes or tell the whole truth about the patch!

Ending the darkest week in America since 9-11 on a lighter note...

Allendale-Fairfax, Barnwell, Blackville-Hilda and Williston-Elko all graduated their senior pupils on Friday night. One of the brightest future stars is Brittini Adams, Williston-Elko's valedictorian.



She plans to become a nurse. It is not known which college she plans to attend.

Also, it is not known if Ms. Adams is related to Kendra Adams, who was the school's valedictorian in 2000.

If there are any members of the Williston-Elko Class of 2000 that knows the relation between Brittini and Kendra, please post your comments on the blog!

My letter in today's Augusta Chronicle

My letter appears in today's newspaper. I usually will post just the link, but this time, I will post the whole letter here (with breaks at the appropriate points):

While at his church on Sunday, Dr. George Tiller was assassinated by Scott Roeder, an anti-choice terrorist who had been plotting to assassinate OB-GYNs who performed abortions for over five years.

These acts of terrorism against those who performed abortions began in 1982. The acts of terrorism against Dr. Tiller began less than three years later in 1985. Prior to Dr. Tiller's assassination on Sunday -- after 24 years of anti-choice violence, he was harassed and stalked -- and his women's health clinic bombed on numerous occasions. The acts of terrorism also included anti-choice activists leaking the addresses of not just the women's clinics themselves, but also leaking the addresses of the doctors who worked at these clinics and the addresses of the doctor's family members, thereby putting not just the doctor, but also the doctor's entire family in grave danger.

The anti-choice movement claims that they support nonviolence protests. We now know that they are lying when they say that. Also the 'condemnation' coming from the anti-choice groups are totally insincere and is a way from these groups to avoid taking responsibility for the events that led to Dr. Tiller's assassination. This was a deliberate act of domestic terrorism. The FBI and the Department of Justice should get involved in this case.

The Fairness Doctrine you DIDN'T know about -- and it is way past time to get rid of it

As promised, I will post on why the "balancing" out of abortion coverage should be eliminated.

Twenty-two years ago, the Reagan-led Federal Communications Commission and activists on both the right and left reveled in the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine after 37+ years.

Not. so. fast.

The Fairness Doctrine is still active. And Americans may not know it.

What am I talking about, you may ask?

I'm talking about a rule that explicitly muzzles pro-choice activists from giving factual information to the media and, in most cases, to women. I'm talking about the rule that forces all broadcast television news, all broadcast radio news and cable news stations to give equal amount of time to opponents of abortion as they would supporters of the procedure.

That became an issue in December 2008, when NPR had originally backed out of an interview with an OB/GYN who provided abortions because they were unable to find someone who opposed abortion to be on the program (they later did the interview with the OB/GYN).

Keep in mind that the "balance" rule only applies to the issue abortion -- no other issue. Even after the supposed-elimination of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, pro-choice activists are being muzzled like never before by our country and by our media. Those of us who want to give pregnant women basic information to help them make a choice that satisfy her are basically being silenced in a conspiracy that is being led by the anti-abortion movement and by the conservative mainstream media outlets like Fox, NBC and CNN.

That is totally unfair and sexist and this rule should be eliminated by all legal means necessary, including its elimination by the FCC and by Congressional legislation.

Call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-202-418-2000 or email them at fccinfo@fcc.gov, or flood the Congressional switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 and tell them to get rid of the "balance" rule that is currently being used for the issue of abortion!

Assholes of the Week for June 6

The assholes of the week are the entire anti-choice movement, everyone in the mainstream media and all of our politicians in America.

There is no explanation needed as to why the anti-choice movement was named as such.

The mainstream media outlets on both the right and left were named as such because they helped the anti-choice movement in giving the anti-choice movement a platform to spread their misogyny, lies, slander and misinformation for the last 29 years (although the first seven years were with the Fairness Doctrine). I'll have more on why the mainstream media needs to end this draconian practice of giving equal time to anti-choice activists for abortion-related issues later.

Every state House member, state Senator, state judge, state Supreme Court judge, state Governor, federal judge, the nine Supreme Court judges, the 535 people in the United States Congress, the Cabinet, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the President and the Vice President were nominated because of their total failure to protect women and their OB-GYNs at women's health clinics from harassment, intimidation and death threats. While they are focused on the slowly dwindling international threat of terrorism, the political leaders all over this nation have blatantly and willfully ignored the rapidly growing threat of domestic terrorism fomented by the anti-choice movement.

NOTE: There will be no best Person of the Week nominations this week. I feel that no one in America deserves such a honor right now.

Dr. Hern, Part III

Doctor Warren Hern, one of the two remaining true OB-GYNs left in America, was on the Rachael Maddow Show on Tuesday Night. Here is the interview:



Dr. Hern says it correctly in the video: the difference between the anti-abortion movement and the Taliban is 8,000 miles.

Call the FBI and tell them to prosecute Jill Stanek for terrorism!

CHICAGO -- From Jill Filipovic and RH Reality Check comes Jill Stanek's (and Operation Rescue's) latest disgusting act of aiding and abetting the terrorists.

Just because she didn't pull the trigger doesn't mean that Jill Stanek's actions should be excused. Like I have been posting here all week, every single anti-choice activist is guilty of aiding and abetting terrorism, and Ms. Stanek is certainly no exception.

This is from Emily Douglas, the RH Reality Check blogger who posted the above:

Anti-choice groups across the nation are busy insisting that since they didn't personally pull the trigger, their protests, harassment, and hate speech are not to blame for the murder of Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Yet some anti-choice activists -- even now -- seem only too happy to aid and abet the crazy ones who will resort to violence. Or else why, three days after the assassination of a medical doctor who provides late-term abortions, did Jill Stanek post on her blog photographs of the clinic of Dr. LeRoy Carhart, another physician who provides late-term abortions and who has said he is willing to take over providing services at Dr. Tiller's clinic?

By way of introduction, Stanek writes, "Let's take a station break to view photos of Carhart's "nondescript building," taken in March 2009 on the day it reopened following refurbishment after a fire (NOT blamed on pro-lifers). It was almost immediately shut down because Carhart reopened without getting an occupancy permit, as I previously reported, and was running his electricity off a generator..." She and her readers just want "to take a look." Why? She wants to prove her point that it's a dingy building? Over Carhart's safety, and the safety of his staff and patients?

Combine that with Operation Rescue senior policy advisor Cheryl Sullenger's admission, just reported by McClatchey, that she provided information to suspect Scott Roeder about Tiller's planned court appearances when Tiller was tried for performing illegal abortions. (Sullenger's name and the Operation Rescue phone number were found on a note in the dashboard of Roeder's car.) "[Sullenberger] said Roeder’s interest was in court hearings involving Tiller. 'He would call and say, "When does court start? When’s the next hearing?" ' Sullenger said. 'I was polite enough to give him the information. I had no reason not to. Who knew? Who knew, you know what I mean?'”

Who knew? When Tiller was on trial in mid-March of this year, local police had -- thirteen years ago -- found materials to make a bomb in Roeder's vehicle. On Operation Rescue's own website, in a page dating back to 2007, a person identifying as Scott Roeder had posted a comment saying, "Bleass [sic] everyone for attending and praying in May to bring justice to Tiller and the closing of his death camp. Sometime soon, would it be feasible to organize as many people as possible to attend Tillers church (inside, not just outside) to have much more of a presence and possibly ask questions of the Pastor, Deacons, Elders and members while there? Doesn’t seem like it would hurt anything but bring more attention to Tiller."

In other words, Roeder had a clear history of intention to commit violence and an avowed commitment to "bring[ing] justice to Tiller and the closing of his death camp." And Sullenger was still "politely" handing him information about Tiller's whereabouts? Just as Jill Stanek is now still posting photographs of Dr. Carhart's clinic? As if they needed reminding, the antis now know exactly how low their brethren can stoop. Should they really be giving them more ammunition? What does the so-called pro-life community say about the posting of these pictures now?

If another act of violence is committed, will they disavow that?

This is why the FBI and the Department of Justice should be arresting and prosecuting these anti-choice terrorists instead of sitting on their asses.

Call the FBI at 1-202-324-3000 or 1-800-225-5324 tell them to charge Jill Stanek with terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering! Call the Department of Justice at 1-202-514-2000, 1-202-353-1555 or email Attorney General Holder at AskDOJ@usdoj.gov and tell him to prosecute Jill Stanek for terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering as well!

Scott Roeder DID NOT act alone

In the lead editorial from yesterday, the Augusta Chronicle asserted that Scott Roeder acted all alone in assassinating Dr. Tiller.

The Augusta Chronicle is telling a bold-faced lie, and in doing so, the Augusta Chronicle is aiding and abetting terrorism.

The Chronicle's editorial was infuriating, but not surprising. This is a prime example of the type of extremism that exists in the anti-abortion movement.

Also commenters on the Augusta Chronicle forums such as Fiat_Lux, dinohntr, milton1874, and carcraft are basically terrorist sympathizers, just like the Augusta Chronicle. And it further proves the point I've been hitting on all this week.

The anti-choice movement is a terrorist movement. Those who oppose abortion are no different than al-Qaida and the Taliban in this regard.

This is why the White House, the FBI and the Department of Justice should get up off their asses and investigate the entire anti-choice movement, arrest every leader of every anti-choice organization and prosecute the anti-choice leaders for terrorism and racketeering. They also need to arrest every Congressperson and reporter that aided and abetted Mr. Roeder and prosecute all of them for terrorism and racketeering.

By prosecuting every leader in the anti-choice movement, we will send a clear message that domestic terrorism will not be tolerated.

More from Dr. Hern

Remember this post from yesterday? Well, Dr. Warren Hern was also on MSNBC on Monday. On the air, he rightfully says that terrorists are in our back yard, killing our doctors. Vid below:

A big thank you to Dr. Warren Hern for calling the anti-abortion movement a fascist movement

DENVER -- Dr. Warren Hern gets it right: the anti-choice movement is a fascist movement. Here is the entire article from the Colorado Independent:

Hours after the Sunday morning shooting death of late-term abortion doctor George Tiller in Wichita, Kan., a Boulder physician — who says he could be the only doctor in the world still performing the procedure — said Tiller’s assassination was the “absolutely inevitable consequence” of decades of anti-abortion fanaticism.

“I’m profoundly sad and I’m furious and I think the American people need to understand that we have a fascist movement in this country,” Dr. Warren Hern told The Colorado Independent on Sunday. “We don’t have to invade Iraq to find terrorists. They’re right here killing abortion doctors.”

“Every doctor that does abortions has been under an assassination threat for decades,” Hern said. “The anti-abortion movement message is, ‘Do what we tell you to do or we will kill you,’ and they do. This is a fascist movement.”

Hern laid blame for Tiller’s death at the feet of the anti-abortion movement’s encouragement of violence against abortion providers and the Republican Party’s “exploitation” of the extremist rhetoric.

“Dr. Tiller is dead by an anti-abortion assassin, and this is the absolutely inevitable consequence of 35 years of anti-abortion fanatic rhetoric and intimidation and assassination violence and exploitation by the Republican Party of this movement,” Hern told the Independent.

Hern, who described Tiller as “a good friend of mine,” said he doesn’t “know of any other doctors in the world doing late abortions like I am.” The Boulder Abortion Clinic, run by Hern since he founded the practice in 1975, has as its motto “Specializing in Late Abortions for Fetal Disorders”.

Hern declined to say whether he planned any changes to his security precautions after the killing of Tiller, who was shot to death while ushering at his Lutheran church.

Noting that Tiller is the “fifth American doctor to be assassinated,” Hern told the Los Angeles Times he’s well aware of the dangers. “I get messages from these people saying, ‘Don’t bother wearing a bulletproof vest, we’re going for a head shot.’ ”

A statement on the Boulder Abortion Clinic’s Web site addresses Hern’s concerns about safety for the clinic’s patients:

By its name and continued existence, Boulder Abortion Clinic makes a statement that women are free to make their own choices about their own lives, bodies, and family needs. I have been personally involved from the beginning of my medical career in advocacy of reproductive freedom, and I continue in this commitment. We have survived anti-abortion harassment and violence and shown our determination to provide these services in spite of everything. As a result, our patients are protected by the highest standards of safety and security when they come to my office.

CLARIFICATION: Dr. Warren Hern’s claim that he is the last late-term abortion provider is not factually correct, according to reproductive health experts. While there are few physicians who publicly advertise these rare services as Dr. Hern does, third trimester abortions are available, by physician referral, to women experiencing serious, life-threatening medical conditions and in the event of a stillborn or gravely ill baby. - Ed.

Dr. Hern tells the whole truth in that article. The terrorists are right here in America, killing OB-GYNs just for giving women life-saving abortions.

Simply put, the enemies of freedom (and especially, women's rights) walk right among us on our streets.

Contact the FBI and tell them to arrest Bill O'Reilly and Tom Coburn for aiding and abetting terrorism

NEW YORK CITY -- For those who have not been following other blogs, Bill O'Reilly has now given comfort to terrorists, namely Scott Roeder.

Take his segments against the late Dr. Tiller from the past. Thanks to Arianna Huffington for the info.

Mr. O'Reilly said on Monday night that he had nothing to do with the death of Dr. Tiller.

Well, Bill O'Reilly is telling a bold-faced lie and the American people know it.

Not only does Bill O'Reilly deserves full blame for the assassination of Dr. Tiller, the Fox News pundit should also be arrested for aiding and abetting terrorism.

Another person that should be arrested on the same charges is US Senator Tom Coburn. His statements in the 2004 general election about executing OB-GYNs for performing abortions essentially set the stage for the assassinations.

And that is where you, the readers of this blog, come in.

Call the FBI at 1-202-324-3000 or 1-800-225-5324 tell them to charge Bill O'Reilly and Tom Coburn with terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering! Call the Department of Justice at 1-202-514-2000, 1-202-353-1555 or email Attorney General Holder at AskDOJ@usdoj.gov and tell him to charge Mr. O'Reilly and Sen. Coburn with terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering as well!

Tell the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate ALL anti-abortion groups for terrorism

WICHITA, KS -- Very early this morning, we learned what I knew long in advance about the suspect in the assassination of Dr. George Tiller: Scott Roeder, 51, was in fact a member of several anti-abortion terrorist groups, including Operation Save America (formerly known as Operation Rescue). OSA is, of course, denying it.

Folks, Troy Newman and his ilk are telling a bold-faced lie about Mr. Roeder and his ties to the group. Mr. Newman knew that Mr. Roeder was part of his group. And Mr. Newman, like every other anti-abortion activist in America, blatantly aided and abetted Mr. Roeder in his terrorist crime spree.

Which is why the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice should investigate every single anti-abortion group and charge all of them with terrorism, racketeering and being an accessory to terrorism.

The anti-abortion terrorists were not really expressing regret over the events of yesterday. They are only sorry that they all have blood on their hands because they protected the terrorists who worked alongside them instead of turning them in like they should have done a long time ago.

Call the FBI at 1-202-324-3000, 1-800-225-5324, or locally in Columbia at 1-803-551-4200 and tell them to charge every anti-abortion group with terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering! Call the Department of Justice at 1-202-514-2000, 1-202-353-1555 or email Attorney General Holder at AskDOJ@usdoj.gov and tell him to charge all anti-abortion groups with terrorism, being an accessory to terrorism and racketeering as well!

Anti-choice terrorists assassinate America's OB-GYN

WICHITA -- I am absolutely livid right now with this brazen act of terrorism by the anti-abortion activists.

Dr. George Tiller, the person who I called America's OB-GYN for all the great work he did for women all over the nation, was assassinated by a 51-year-old man who was a member of numerous anti-choice terrorist organizations.

Dr. Tiller was shot around 11:05 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (10:05 a.m. Wichita time). He died instantly from the wound.

Along with the rest of the people who work for Planned Parenthood collectively, Dr. Tiller was named #7 on the list of the 106 best people of the year by this blog in 2008.

The terrorist was apprehended just after 3 p.m. EDT nearly 180 miles away from the crime scene.

Again, I am furious at these anti-abortion activists. Every anti-abortion activist in America bascially aided and abbetted this cold-blooded terrorist. They are the ones who fomented this violence for the last 27 years -- spending 24 of them plotting to assassinate Dr. Tiller.

Which brings me to another sickening trend: these doctors get terrorized by the anti-abortion movement every single hour for saving pregnant women from certain death during childbirth.

Yet, the anti-choice activists get mad whenever they are called out for their acts of terrorism, such as the case in 2007 in Albuquerque.

The anti-choice activists are now "condemning" this act. Let me tell you what they are doing right now. They are trying to avoid any responsiblity for their role in this blatant act of terrorism. Every single anti-choice activist in America has blood on their hands right now because every last one of them are equally as responsible for this terrorist attack as the 51-year-old man currently being questioned by Wichita authorites.

The anti-abortion movement likes to say that they are peaceful. Bullshit. The anti-abortion movement is a movement that engages in acts of terrorism on a strikingly similar scale to that of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

In fact, the anti-abortion movement is America's al-Qaida.

[cross-posted from BlueProgFemBlog]

Happy Elite Eighteenth, Kristen Alderson!

Kristen Alderson, the woman who plays the lovely Starr Manning on the Disney soap opera One Life to Live, turns Elite Eighteen today. She is all grown up now! Her character was part of a controversial plot in early 2008 when the character became a teen parent.

Person of the Week for May 31

The first best person of the week is Julie Lumpkin of Columbia. She wrote a great letter to the State newspaper.

The second and final best person of the week is Laura Katzive. She truthfully describe the sorry state of our world when it comes to women's rights.

Asshole of the Week for May 31

The first asshole of the week is Liberty University. One week ago, they banned toe College Democrats from their campus.

The second and final asshole of the week is Mark Sanford, this state's governor. While he got to celebrate his 49th birthday with family and friends, the people in this state are suffering because of his autocratic, fascist agenda.

Kris Allen and Mike Huckabee show their blatant disrespect for the Beatles

LOS ANGELES -- I'm just appalled right now at this story I ran into.

Kris Allen and Mike Huckabee on the latter's show last night performed a rendition of the Beatles' "Yesterday".

I am appalled at what I read because both Mr. Allen and Gov. Huckabee goes against everything that Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stands for. The Beatles stood for equal justice for all, both Mr. Allen and Gov. Huckabee are against equal justice for all. The Beatles stood for peace, both Mr. Allen and Gov. Huckabee are for more war and destruction. The Beatles stood for basic human rights for all people even when they were ostracized for their liberal views, Mr. Allen and Gov. Huckabee do not favor human rights for all people.

It is sickening that the very people who oppose everything that the Beatles stood for are playing their music. It is really nauseating.

I'll bet that Cara Kulwicki is also just as appalled as I am with this.

For all of you who switch to DTV on June 12, look at this!

This is a video from February 18 at exactly 12:01 a.m., when some markets -- including the Augusta-Aiken market -- carried out the death sentence to analog television. This video is from Orlando, FL:

Best letter to the Editor: Julie Lumpkin of Columbia

COLUMBIA -- There was one letter that stood out above the rest in today's State newspaper. It is written by Julie Lumpkin:

• Sanford actions could ruin our state

I agree with Gov. Mark Sanford: The dispute over accepting stimulus money is about power — his power to reign supreme.

As citizens, we are disenfranchised. This governor is not behaving as a representative of the people. He is behaving like an autocrat who refuses to be checked by the checks and balances inherent in a democracy.

He patronizes senators and citizens alike, insisting that he is right and we are wrong. He wages war on the state budget, subverting services most fundamental to citizen welfare: public education, children’s health, safety and security, and emergency preparedness, among others. He revels in cutting government waste and taxes, while ignoring unraveling lives. Now, with state unemployment at 11.5 percent, he files a federal suit to bar the very money that would help South Carolinians keep their jobs.

It is time for the governor to do the decent thing and abandon this chicanery. His federal lawsuit is pure hubris, not civic concern for his successors’ power.

Welcome to South Carolina — the state that again has separated from the Union. Only this time, the people are held hostage by the governor. As he stands enrapt in delusions of grandeur, we cringe, horrified, seeing our state in ruinous decline.

Person of the Month for May

The best person of the month for May was an easy choice -- it is Janeane Garofalo. She told the truth and was ostracized by the far right for it. Keep telling it like it is, Ms. Garofalo!

Asshole of the Month for May

The asshole of the month for May is Carrie Prejean, the current Miss California. She has blatantly violated the policy of the Miss California pageant by participating in political events (anti-gay legislation being one of those events).

From what I understand, the Miss USA (and the 52 pageants that pick a winner to go to Miss USA) put the policy in place that prohibits its winners from participating in political campaigns and events because the winners are supposed to represent all of the country. This is not to silence Ms. Prejean, like she claimed on the day Donald Trump let her keep her crown. This is to avoid the exact situation like the one Ms. Prejean herself caused.

Imagine if there was a Miss USA contestant that answered a question about women's reproductive rights and stated that she supported a woman's right to abortion and she ended up losing the pageant.

The very people who are now complaining about Ms. Prejean losing the pageant over her question to same-sex marriage would have been gloating if a Miss USA contestant ended up losing the crown because she is pro-choice.

I can see why one official with the Miss California pageant resigned over the flap.

Miss Prejean could have waited until her reign as Miss California is over before she campaigned against gay marriage (which is well within her right). But now, she is paying the price for violating the rules by being featured in a National Organization for Marriage ad.

Female Psychiatrists and Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and did you know that people with mental health problems are the most stigmatized group of people in our society on basis of health care? Yup. Most states do not give mental health the same coverage as say, prostate cancer.

Also here are some more stats:

While women are four times more likely to attempt suicide, men are four times more likely to succeed in doing so.

More women than men suffer from depression.

With stats like that, I beg to ask the question. Why are there so few female psychiatrists?

At Aiken Psychiatric and Psychotherapy Associates P.A., there were only three women working there between 1999 and 2003. Compare to six or seven men.

At Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health's Polly Best Center in Barnwell, there are only two women working there as actual psychologists currently.

And stats have proven that female psychiatrists understand mental health problems more than male psychiatrists.

This field needs more women like Mary Cunningham working in it. Our lives depend on it.

Discrimination is enshrined in California Constituton

SACRAMENTO -- The California Supreme Court has officially enshrined discrimination in California's Constitution, eliminating the Equal Rights Amendment the state passed in upholding Proposition Eight. The decision was 6-1.

The 18,000 marriages will be allowed to continue as planned, but the Court also banned LGBT divorces in their ruling.

Today’s opinion, written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George for a 6-to-1 majority, said that same-sex couples still have the right to civil unions, which gives them the ability to “choose one’s life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially recognized, and protected family relationship that enjoys all of the constitutionally based incidents of marriage.” But the justices said that the voters had clearly expressed their will to limit the formality of marriage to heterosexual couples.

Justice George wrote that Proposition 8 did not “entirely repeal or abrogate” the right to such a protected relationship, but argued that it “carves out a narrow and limited exception to these state constitutional rights, reserving the official designation of the term ‘marriage’ for the union of opposite-sex couples as a matter of state constitutional law.”

Heated reaction to the decision began immediately, with protestors blocking traffic in front of San Francisco City Hall, their hands locked.

Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the decision “a terrible blow to the thousands of gay and lesbian Californians who woke up this morning hoping and praying their status as equal citizens of this state would be restored.” The decision, he added, “made it painfully clear that we must go back to the voters to restore equality.”

Ms. Minter is correct. The LGBT rights activists must put an initiative to repeal this amendment that put legal discrimination against LGBT couples in the CA Constitution back to the voters between now and November 2, 2010. Failure to repeal this ban would mean that LGBT people would NOT be recognized as human beings.

Carlos Moreno, the court's lone Democrat, rightfully dissented.

He wrote that Proposition 8 means “requiring discrimination,” which he said “strikes at the core of the promise of equality that underlies our California Constitution” -- and, he added, “places at risk the state constitutional rights of all disfavored minorities.”

And that is exactly why these amendments taking away rights from a certain group of people should never, ever be constitutional -- even if 100% of the voters approve of these amendments.

The California Supreme Court today just showed all of America that the words in the Declaration of Independence means absolutely nothing when LGBT people are barred from marrying their same-sex partners.

Laura Katzive's letter in the New York Times tells it like it is

NEW YORK CITY -- Laura Katzive of the Center for Reproductive Rights has a must-read letter in the New York Times today.

“This Mom Didn’t Have to Die” (column, May 17):

Nicholas D. Kristof is right that most maternal deaths can easily be prevented. When a lack of will and resources results in the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of women, governments must be held to account. Their persistent failure to take necessary steps to save pregnant women’s lives violates fundamental human rights, including the right to life.

My point exactly.

Time to revoke Liberty University's tax-exempt status

LYNCHBURG, VA -- Liberty University on Friday cut the College Democrats, saying that the group goes against the university's "religious values".

Jerry Falwell Junior, the son of the late founder of the university, says that the club supported the pols who were also endorsed by the national party, and said that was the violation that caused him to make this decision.

Mr. Falwell Junior said this:

“That club still has a right to exist, and they can still meet on campus. We have not disbanded the club.”

Bullshit. Mr. Falwell Junior did in fact disbanded the College Democrats. So, Mr. Falwell Junior is telling a bold-faced lie right there.

Matt Staver, the dean of Liberty, said this:

“We are not looking at clubs because of their political affiliation. We are looking to make sure they are consistent with the mission of the university, which includes core values such as being pro-life and pro-marriage.”

Mr. Staver is too a bold-faced liar, just like Mr. Falwell Junior. This was done because of the political affiliation of the club. The club had the political views that was different from the front office people at the university and that led to the disbandment of the club. Mr. Staver said that the only way the club can come back to the university is if it takes a misogynist and homophobic position on the issues.

Also, I catch Mr. Staver in another bold-faced lie, not surprisingly:

“Liberty University strongly stands for free speech, and we believe in free speech. This is not about censorship. What it is about is not using the name of the university and receiving funds from the university to advance a mission that is contrary to the university’s purpose and doctrine.”

Liberty University has never stood for free speech, not in the least bit. Liberty always has been a university that censors anything and everything that the leaders of the school doesn't like. And to this day, Liberty continues to engage in blatant censorship of any opposing philosophy.

In short, Liberty University is the Taliban University of America.

Like the Taliban, Liberty U. has an extreme misogynist agenda. Like the Taliban, Liberty University has an extreme homophobic agenda.

Liberty supports the Christian sharia laws being forced on all Americans.

And Liberty is officially a pro-Republican university.

Since it likes to endorse certain political candidates and certain political parties, the Internal Revenue Service should revoke Liberty's tax-exempt status.

There's more than enough cause in this case for the IRS to do so.

People of the week for May 23

The first best person of the week is Ethan McNamee of Denver. He organized a pro-LGBT rights rally after some of his fellow pupils made homophobic slurs during school hours.

The second best person of the week is Danny Dunaway of Williston. He wrote a great letter demanding the impeachment of Mark Sanford.

The final two best people of the week are John Brown Junior and Phil Cook, both of Columbia. They had great letters, both of which appeared in Tuesday's the State newspaper.

Assholes of the week for May 23

The first asshole of the week is Don Matthews of Augusta, GA. His misogynist letter claims that more would be in the system if not for abortion services.

The second asshole of the week is Greg Delleney (r-Chester). He stripped a provision out of the dating violence bill that would have included teaching pupils about domestic violence in LGBT relationships.

The third and final asshole of the week is Gov. Mark Sanford. He filed a frivolous lawsuit against Henry McMaster claiming that the state legislature is trying to force him to get $700,000,000.00 in stimulus funds for our kids and our schools.

This is just totally refreshing

DENVER -- A third-grade pupil named Ethan McNamee organized an LGBT rally here, lining up speakers and even going on stage himself at the rally. Via.

McNamee got the idea to organize the event after hearing kids make anti-gay remarks on his school’s playground and learning that a same-sex couple in his neighborhood couldn’t get married.

"Everybody is different in a good way," he told reporters, saying he believed if two people love each other, that is the only issue to consider.

Parents at Montclair Elementary were notified about Ethan’s project and only pupils who wanted to get involved participated. A few of his classmates helped him to make signs.

Ethan’s teacher Kyle Kimmal helped McNamee to organize the event but told reporters that he was careful not to impose his own views on the kids.

Here is the video:

Best letter to the Editor: Danny Dunaway of Williston

I am so glad to see that there is somebody here in Williston (besides me, of course!) that sees Gov. Mark Sanford as the snake in the grass that he is. Here is Danny Dunaway to the rescue:

• Lawmakers: Override veto, impeach Sanford

I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican, conservative nor liberal. Politically, I’d call myself moderate. However, even we moderates can and do become riled on occasion to facilitate an agenda more in line with one of the aforementioned groups.

I am encouraged that our state Legislature will override Gov. Sanford’s vetoes of the proposed spending proposal. Although there are certainly no guarantees.

If the Legislature overrides his vetoes, hooray! But please, wait; any celebration will only mask a greater and sadder concern for all of us who are citizens of South Carolina: We obviously have an inhumane and unqualified governor. How else could or would a governor position himself as Sanford has?

After overriding his veto, our Legislature must take the next step. Impeach Sanford. Impeachment is the only way South Carolina can send a message to Sanford and any future prospects for governor and, for that matter, to the rest of this nation that inhumane, politically self-serving means and radical ideological agendas will not be tolerated by the people of South Carolina.

State senators and representatives, I eagerly await your actions.

BREAKING NEWS: craigslist files lawsuit against McMaster and solicitors

CHARLESTON -- Guess it was only a matter of time, huh.

craigslist filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday, saying that McMaster and the sixteen solicitors were blatantly violating the company's constitutional rights.

In the 34-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charleston, the San Francisco-based company said that, given McMaster’s “persistent and continuing public threats,” it faces the “untenable choice of either completely shutting down” the S.C. portion of its Web site or “else putting itself and its management at risk of imminent criminal prosecution.”

The suit — the first of its kind in the U.S. by Craigslist — also names the state’s 16 solicitors as defendants, contending they are “subordinates of defendant McMaster” who “may be directly or indirectly influenced to follow through on his threats to prosecute Craigslist and its management.”

Good for craigslist for filing this suit. I am a South Carolinian (currently live in Williston), but I hope that this suit serves the crooked politicians in this state right. Threatening to prosecute an out-of-state business for "prostitution" is about as frivolous as it gets. Not to mention that this would have been done with our taxpayer dollars -- which makes the actions of Mr. McMaster, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott and others all the more appalling and disgusting.

craigslist also mentioned that if the prosecutions were to go forward, the San Francisco-based company would have had to completely shut down its Palmetto State portion of the site. Not just the brand new "adult services" section, but the entire South Carolina portion of craigslist. What that would have meant is simply put -- no ads about sex, no ads about selling cars, no ads about babysitting, no ads selling monaural 45s, no ads about ANYTHING in the state.

Mr. McMaster issued this statement:

“overnight they removed the erotic services section from their Web site, as we asked them to do. And they are now taking responsibility for the content of their advertisements. If they keep their word, this is a victory for law enforcement and for the people of South Carolina.”

Mr. McMaster could not be even more wrong in his assessment. It may be a victory for law enforcement, but it is a big-time LOSS for the people of South Carolina. And I need not to remind you of our very high unemployment rate.

USC's law professor, Ann Bartow (yes, the same person that co-owns the Feminist Law Professors blog), said that Mr. McMaster would definitely lose a lawsuit in federal court.

“He’s going to get his head handed to him on a platter, based upon pre-existing case law.”

James Buckmaster issued this statement prior to filing the suit:

“Mr. McMaster’s repeated threats of criminal prosecution should we refuse to shut down Craigslist for South Carolina have left us little choice but to seek declaratory relief before the court.”

Donnie Meyers, who is the solicitor for Edgefield County, was puzzled that he was named as a defendant in the suit, saying that his office doesn't deal with victimless "crimes":

“I’ve never had a prostitution case in general sessions court.”

craigslist points to the 1996 Communications Decency Act in making the case that they cannot be held liable for ads posted on the site, even if it is illegal in 49 states.

Ms. Bartow adds:

“(McMaster) can go after the posters, but he can’t go after Craigslist. If you bought a car from Craigslist and it didn’t work, would you blame Craigslist?”

I have another good one: should craigslist be blamed for the death of a woman who answered an ad on its site about babysitting in 2007? Think about that one.

Carl and Danielle Long receive record punishment for cheating -- in a NON-POINTS race

DAYTONA BEACH -- This is just incredible. NASCAR has just punished a driver and his car owner wife for an infraction in a NON-POINTS race.

Carl Long was penalized 200 driver points and suspended for exactly one-third of the season, or 12 races. His wife and car owner, Danielle Long, was penalized 200 owner points. And his crew chief, Charlie Swing, was docked $200,000.00 and suspended for one-third of the season as well.

The 200 point penalty is the largest in NASCAR history in any of their three series. The previous record for points deduction was 151 points. That occurred on May 2, 2000 when Jeremy Mayfield, now suspended for a failed drug test, was penalized 151 points after NASCAR found an illegal additive in the fuel cell of his Penske Blue #12 car during an extensive post-race inspection after the Aaron's 499 on April 16, 2000.

My take on this? I think that this was all-out excessive, because there were NO POINTS on the line. Had Mr. Long had the illegal engine in the Coca-Cola 600 or in the Southern 500, then the penalty NASCAR doled out on Wednesday would have been completely justified.

It is clear that NASCAR was trying to send a message. At least they could have waited until a points paying race to enforce penalties against those who cheat.

Children are no longer safe at our parks, thanks to the National Rifle Association

WASHINGTON -- The credit card bill is no longer a legitimate piece of legislation.

And for all practical purposes, the thugs at the National Rifle Association and the other pro-gun lobby groups have blatantly put our children in grave danger in national and state parks.

The gun-at-parks amendment that was snuck into the credit card bill at the last minute is pork at its worst. This bill would allow for people to engage in shootouts with others at our parks. And add in small children, and the stage is set at our parks for a massacre strikingly similar to the one Herod committed against children. All thanks to the pro-gun lobby.

Since 1976, approximately 100,000 children in America die annually from gun violence. That is a stat that should not be ignored by anyone of the 535 pols in the Congress. Children should be protected in our parks, not afraid to go to the park of their choosing. Because of the reckless disregard for children's safety that the NRA has repeatedly displayed, parents across America will most likely not take their children to any park in this country. And I don't blame those parents one bit. I would not take any of my younger family members to any park here in America, either. The NRA, along with Congress, has made our communities more dangerous than ever before.

Best Letters to the Editor: John Brown Junior and Phil Cook, both of Columbia

I wonder why the State newspaper always put great letters in the same edition? It would be nice if they had put a great letter in each edition of its newspaper. It would give me so much more to blog about.

Anyways, two letters that appeared in Tuesday's paper really nailed the spot on the head about the religious right. The first is from John Brown Junior. The second is from Phil Cook.

• Anti-Obama crowd protest too much

This relates to the University of Notre Dame controversy about President Barack Obama’s address there.

How can anyone claim to be a Christian and have the following beliefs? 1. That it is OK to be selfish. 2. It is OK to ignore the needs of the poor. 3. That there is a God-given right to buy an AK-47 assault gun for protection. 4. That it is OK to be greedy. 5. That it OK to support people such as Rush Limbaugh.

The conclusion is obvious to true believers in Christ. These people are not Christian.

If Republicans were serious about abortion, they could have done something about this issue long ago. I believe that as long as they allow people such as Limbaugh to speak for them, this will keep them separated from God.

Notre Dame protesters, I suspect your protest was not valid.

• Christians should embrace liberalism

Why is being a liberal such a bad thing? A liberal is someone who is generous with his or her time and money. A liberal is your neighbor who helps you jump-start you car when your battery dies, who drives your kid to the hospital when he breaks a bone while you are still at work and who changes your grandmother’s tire when you don’t have the time to do it.

Liberalism has been under assault for years now. The battering of this grand political philosophy has altered the contemporary definition of liberal to the point that conservatives use it as a profane word. They use it to paint a political opponent as anti-God and anti-American.

Jesus was the ultimate liberal, progressive revolutionary. The conservative religious and social structures that he defied hated and crucified him.

He aligned himself with the poor and the oppressed. He challenged the religious orthodoxy of his day. He advocated pacifism and loving our enemies. He liberated women and minorities from oppression.

I have some questions for the Christian right. Why have you not held your elected officials accountable for their failure to address the full spectrum of Christian issues? Why would you vote for them again?

It is time for Christians of conscience to stand up to religious and political hypocrisy. Christians should proudly proclaim progressive values today and should advocate for the Christian liberalism that is our heritage and our legacy.

Misogynist Jerk of the Day: Don Matthews of Augusta, GA

AUGUSTA, GA -- Another day, yet another misogynist asshole.

This time, it is Don Matthews.

- We need to stay on our elected officials about issues of concern to us. You hear a lot today about Social Security and Medicare going broke in the near future. Had we not killed the millions of unborn children over the past 30-plus years, a lot more would be paying into the system. If going broke, how can Medicare bankroll an insurance company to sell Part B supplements?

What this misogynist fail to realize is that had hundreds of thousands of women not died from anti-choice laws prior to January 22, 1973, about $238,142,006,650.00 in additional money would be in the Social Security system today. So Mr. Matthews should think about that the next time he decides to write another sexist letter.

James Buckmaster demands apology from South Carolina

SAN FRANCISCO -- The showdown between craigslist and South Carolina has taken an ugly turn.

James Buckmaster has ordered that Henry McMaster apologize for threatening to prosecute his company.

South Carolina’s top prosecutor needs to answer “hard questions” about why he is targeting Craigslist officials for possible criminal charges, the head of the world’s largest Internet classified-ad service told The State on Monday.

“If it’s a crime for us to be doing it, it’s a crime for everyone else to be doing it,” Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said in a telephone interview from his San Francisco-based company. “I’m sick and tired of being singled out.”

Buckmaster on his company blog Monday and in his interview with The State called on S.C. Attorney Henry McMaster to apologize for threatening to prosecute him and other company officials for violating state prostitution and obscenity laws by running sexually explicit online ads.

“I’m anticipating an apology for these wrongful accusations and an affirmative statement that no such proceedings will be brought against me or other CEOs,” Buckmaster told The State.

He contended that Internet phone directories and other publications routinely carry online ads for escort services and that search-engine sites such as Yahoo and companies such as Microsoft carry “more graphic images on their servers than you will find on our site.”

Buckmaster noted McMaster — a former S.C. Republican Party chairman who is a probable gubernatorial candidate next year— is the only state attorney general to threaten him with criminal prosecution.

“He cannot be allowed to hide behind ridiculous statements maligning us,” Buckmaster said. “That is just unacceptable.”

Asked if he believed McMaster was targeting his company for political gain, Buckmaster replied, “You’ll have to ask him that.”

He wouldn’t comment directly about whether he or his company planned a possible lawsuit against McMaster or the state, saying only, “Threats are not really my style. I’ll just leave that right where it is.”

Quite frankly, I think that Mr. Buckmaster should serve the Palmetto State with a lawsuit for slander. Because that is exactly what Mr. McMaster did on May 6 when the state's top cop threatened to prosecute craigslist for prostitution. There's an old saying, and that saying was the name of one of the Power Star hints on the 1996 video game Super Mario 64: Bully the Bullies. By bullying Mr. McMaster, Mr. Buckmaster would send a loud message that his company will not stand idly by and allow for Mr. McMaster or any of the other 49 state Attorney Generals to slander his company like they have done since Julissa Brisman was slain by Philip Markoff.

Mr. McMaster's office only had this to say about when called by the State:

“Any local advertisers that knowingly promote prostitution are certainly at risk of criminal investigation and prosecution.”

And McMaster is not the only one that have been engaging in frivolous, baseless and meritless shenanigans. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, already known nationally for his threat to prosecute Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, has arrested 121 people in connection to sex work ads on craigslist.

Mr. Buckmaster also mentioned cited the Electronic Frontier Foundation, among others, in pointing out a 1996 law that gives online companies such as his legal immunity from prosecution for prostitution, as protected under the First Amendment.

Buckmaster said legal experts have said that under the 1996 federal Communications Decency Act, Internet service providers, including his company, cannot be held liable for content posted by users of the sites. He said experts also believe McMaster’s threat of prosecution constitutes a “prior restraint on speech” in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

That's very important. Also what is important is that any legal action will be held in the prosecution's/plaintiff's home state. Any criminal case against craigslist here in South Carolina will most certainly be struck down because of the aforementioned 1996 law. However, any civil action against South Carolina that is conducted in San Francisco will be upheld mainly because of the malicious intent on Mr. McMaster's part.

This is why we need law enforcement officials who will serve and protect the public, not engage in meritless, slut-shaming campaigns against sex work.

About that Pew Polling

For those who have not heard or seen about it, a majority of the American public now identify themselves as pro-life, the first time in the history of Pew Polling that a majority of Americans call themeselves this, and the first time since the 1980s that this has become.

But, it is not all bad news, of course. As Cara points out, the people who say that they are personally opposed to abortion, but do NOT want to criminalize it are in fact, pro-choice by political definition.

However, anyone who supports freedom should be very concerned about this portion here:

It turns out that a vast majority think it should be legal in at least some circumstances, if hardly tilted in the end in the favor we’d like.

What that means is that the majority of the American public supports taking away women's rights in some form.

Which makes it all the more important to support equality for women, even if the majority of the American public opposes equal rights for women.

Which is why I totally agree with what KTK at Lean Left had to say:

First off, it doesn’t matter who call themselves what - bodily autonomy is a fundamental part of women’s freedom and moral independence, and must be protected regardless of public opinion. Laws trampling women’s freedom are unjustified no matter how many people support them. To the extent that the political balance shifts - or is even seen to shift - the legislative practicalities of safeguarding women’s status as citizens and full moral persons becomes complicated, but that is only a measure of the misogyny of a political system that puts some citizens’ freedom at the hazard of other citizens’ whims and prejudices.

Second, it’s interesting to note that, while the supposed balance between self-identifying pro- and anti-choicers has shifted, the same poll of the very same respondents shows almost no change in opinion on the broad spectrum of options regarding the legality of abortion. (It does show that those holding the extreme anti-freedom position - no abortions ever for anyone - slightly outnumber those holding a full pro-freedom position - abortion legal under all circumstances - also for the first time, and that in general attitudes toward women’s freedom have harshened slightly across each category, but those shifts are only a few percentage points.) So, what has changed is the labels people apply to themselves, not so much what they actually think in practical terms.

Let's put this another way, shall we? If, for example, 55% of the American public supports a ban on procreation, does that mean we should ban procreation?

With that said, abortion is a basic human right that women must have in a free country. There's no justification whatsoever for banning abortion in the free world.

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Now playing: Pink Floyd - Echoes
via FoxyTunes

Notre Dame does right thing in inviting Obama to speak

SOUTH BEND, IN -- President Barack Hussein Obama will be speaking tomorrow at Notre Dame University.

And a vocal minority out there, as an editor of the university newspaper calls it, are doing everything they can to keep Notre Dame from inviting a pro-women leader at its university.

About 15 to 250 people -- all of them with a misogynistic agenda -- protested in the past seven days against Obama's visit.

They are protesting because Pres. Obama is an ardent supporter of women's rights. The university has not officially taken a stance of women's rights. Those crying foul are the most vociferous opponents of women's rights.

If the misogynistic protesters are so concerned about "life" as they claim to be, then how come they allowed Obama's five predecessors -- all of whom supports state-sanctioned murder (i.e. capital punishment) -- to speak at the university with nary an objection?

This protest is not about making Notre Dame protect life. This protest is all about forcing Notre Dame to embrace the misogynistic agenda of the Catholic Church. Plain and simple.

Kudos to Notre Dame for not taking the bluff from Alan Keyes and others. And triple kudos the university for inviting the sixth straight commander-in-chief to speak there.

This is not a political issue. And inviting Obama is certainly not a "scandal".

Having a president that disagrees with the ideology of the graduates -- most of whom actually want to hear what he has to say -- is a miracle.

Letter to Henry McMaster RE: Craigslist

[Alert taken from Audacia Ray of Waking Vixen with changes to template]

Dear Attorney General McMaster,

I am writing to express concern about your intent to prosecute Craigslist, even though they announced they were shutting down advertising for erotic services. I am also concerned about shutting down advertising for erotic services through the internet, especially through sites like Craigslist.

Policing the masseuses, phone workers, pro-dominants, and escorts using Craigslist fails to protect people who are coerced into the sex industry. Preventing the use of Craigslist advertisements also eliminates the advantage of screening clients online, which makes for a safer work experience by filtering out potentially dangerous individuals. Furthermore, keeping sex workers offline hinders police investigations of violent crime. In the Boston murder of Julissa Brisman, it was online tracking that enabled the police to identify the suspect.

I urge you to consider a harm reductionist approach to online prostitution. According to “Behind Closed Doors,” a report on indoor prostitution in New York City released in 2005 by the Sex Workers Project, online advertising has enabled many sex workers to operate independently, without the interference of third parties or “pimps.” Prostitution is not going to be abolished when advertising becomes less publicly visible, but independent workers who make their living in the sex industry may be forced to rely on networks of third parties, thereby giving up their autonomy and control over their bodies. Supporting legal and advocacy services such as those provided by the Sex Workers Project can help to keep sex workers safe and protected from violence and exploitation, as is their right as human beings.

Sincerely,

Jovan Byars

Williston, South Carolina

People of the Week for May 16

The first best person of the week is Home Box Office spokesperson Tobe Becker, for refusing to allow a wife-killer with a badge on Cathouse.

The second and final best person of the week is Rachael Maddow. She is one of the few freedom fighters that is willing to take on Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Assholes of the Week for May 16

The first asshole of the week is Henry McMaster. He plans to prosecute Craigslist in the most malicious manner possible. Coming up sometime next week, I will write a piece about why the State House must impeach McMaster as Attorney General and why keeping him as Attorney General of South Carolina through the end of his term is NOT an option.

The second and final asshole of the week is Paul Rosenthal of Augusta, GA. His (latest) misogynist letter is proof that he wants regressive policies that treat women and gays as second-class citizens.

McMaster to continue blatant witch hunt against Craigslist

COLUMBIA -- Henry McMaster has rejected the best deal Craigslist had on the table, claiming that "the offer does not work".

“That offer doesn’t work,” McMaster said of Wednesday’s agreement. “That does the same thing on a different location on the Web site. We want it off the site in South Carolina.”

Now, McMaster plans to prosecute Craigslist within 26 hours. And his strategy is to label the company as a haven for criminal activity and obscenity.

This should infuriate not just the people of South Carolina, who will foot the bill for McMaster's witch hunt, but also every constitutional scholar in America.

The fact and the matter is that McMaster is doing this not for the people of South Carolina, but for his own political ambitions.

Henry McMaster is evil scum just like his Kansas counterpart for four years, Phill Kline.

Both of these men are engaging in political persecutions of companies that they don't like. For Kline, Planned Parenthood was the target. For McMaster, it is Craigslist.

McMaster thinks he knows what is best for us. Adolf Hitler thought he knew what was best for Germany back in the 1930s as well.

McMaster's thinking and reasoning is just the same as Hitler himself.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has more here.

I really hope that craigslist takes the state of South Carolina to the cleaners for McMaster's blatant persecution of the company. That would be justice for all of America.

Judicially activist US Supreme Court to rule in favor of allowing massive voter supression

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is now hearing arguments when it comes to Section Five of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And, as the New York Times Editorial Staff reports, that is NOT good news.

It is hard to imagine an area in which Congress has more express constitutional authority to act than in protecting the right of minorities to vote.

When the Civil War ended and the hard work began in creating a nation with a single standard of citizenship, the 14th Amendment was adopted to make it clear that blacks had equal rights. The 15th Amendment said the right to vote could not be denied or abridged on account of race.

Both amendments gave Congress the “power to enforce” them “by appropriate legislation.”

But that is not how much of the current Supreme Court — perhaps a majority — seem to see it. The case — widely considered this term’s most watched — is a challenge to the heart of the Voting Rights Act, its Section 5. The court may be on the brink of ruling that Congress did not have the power to reauthorize it.

The post-Civil War amendments were a turning point. The first 11 amendments were a list of things the government could not do, and the 12th Amendment was a technical fix.

The 13th Amendment, which barred slavery, the 14th Amendment and the 15th Amendment were the first to give the federal government new powers. The nation had a large problem, eradicating the vestiges of slavery and racial inequality, and it knew that Congress needed potent tools to get the job done.

When the framers drafted these amendments, they were worried that Congress would have too little power to get the job done, not too much. Senator Lyman Trumbull warned that if Congress’s authority were interpreted too narrowly, “the trumpet of freedom that we have been blowing throughout the land has given an ‘uncertain sound,’ and the promised freedom is a delusion.”

It was not until the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s that Congress got serious about the assignment laid out in the post-Civil War amendments. It passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 when about 7 percent of blacks in Mississippi were registered to vote. The act outlawed literacy tests, directed the attorney general to challenge poll taxes and, in Section 5, required certain covered jurisdictions to “pre-clear” any new election rules with the Justice Department or a federal court to ensure that they did not disenfranchise minorities.

The following year, the Supreme Court upheld the Voting Rights Act, and it did so in three more cases. Congress has also been steadfast in its support for the act over the years, as have the presidents who have repeatedly signed laws renewing and extending it. Before renewing the act in 2006, Congress held 21 hearings and collected 16,000 pages of testimony to determine that it was still needed. The Senate then voted in favor of renewal by 98-to-0, the House by 390-to-33 and former President George W. Bush signed it.

So what is the problem? The Voting Rights Act has run smack into the “federalism” crusade of the court’s conservative bloc. For more than a decade, it has been ruling in an array of areas that Congress’s power to pass laws is far more limited than it has long been thought to be. Judge John T. Noonan Jr., who was appointed to a federal appeals court by former President Ronald Reagan, has lamented that as a result, the Supreme Court has begun “monitoring Congress the way appellate courts monitor administrative agencies.”

At the oral argument in the Voting Rights Act case last month, the conservative justices were full of their own ideas about what would be good voting rights policy. Chief Justice John Roberts seemed unhappy that the act applies to more states in the South than the North. Justice Antonin Scalia seemed to think that Virginia should not be covered by the act since it was “the first state in the union to elect a black governor.”

Justice Scalia even asked, “Do you ever seriously expect Congress to vote against a re-extension of the Voting Rights Act?” Apparently, the fact that there is such overwhelming support for the act is an argument for why the Supreme Court should strike it down.

There is a lot of talk in conservative circles about judicial modesty and deferring to the political branches. That view of judging often overlooks the important role that courts have in protecting people’s rights. But if there was ever a time to defer, it is when Congress is protecting voting rights in the exact way the Constitution directs it to.

Who do these judicial activists like John Roberts and Antonin Scalia think they are? Why do they think that such provisions like Section 5 is unconstitutional? The South is not the only ones covered under Section 5. In fact, America's largest city -- New York City -- is covered under Section 5.

I'll tell you why Roberts and Scalia don't like Section 5.

They don't want to see African-Americans, the elderly, and young women participate in the voting process. They know what will happen if these three constituencies participate in our political process. November 4, 2008 was just an example of the fear conservatives have of African-Americans and young women.

Furthermore, Section 5 gets in the way of a conservative dictatorship in America. Without that thoughtful provision, the far right would have brought back Jim Crow laws and the poll tax.

We know how contemptuous the far right judicially activist Supreme Court is of the Voting Rights Act. Which is why Congress should introduce a bill that would order the states and areas covered under Section 5 not to pass any law that would violate voting rights unless the Justice Department has looked at it first.

BREAKING NEWS: School 'choice' bill defeated!

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina state Legislature has killed a proposal to allow private schools to essentially rob taxpayer money from public schools.

South Carolina legislators have again killed a bill to use taxpayer money to help parents send their children to private schools.

The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday sent the bill back to a subcommittee, essentially killing the proposal. The subcommittee had advanced the bill two weeks ago with a negative recommendation.

Senators unanimously approved a bill requiring districts to expand choices within public schools. Sen. Larry Grooms says he will try to attach private school choice to the measure on the Senate floor. An effort to do that in committee failed 11-4.

The idea of helping parents afford private tuition through tax credits and scholarships has failed repeatedly in the Legislature since 2004. The latest version provided tax credits of up to $4,900.

From the Wednesday, May 13, 2009 online edition of The Augusta Chronicle

I am glad that this latest effort was voted down 11-4. Now, we need to make sure that Sen. Grooms does not succeed in derailing a clean school choice bill.

Our money should only go to public schools. That is the way it has been since May 23, 1788. To give our tax money to private schools is akin to a person robbing First Citizens Bank of $1,000,000.00. Giving our taxpayer money to private schools is theft of the worst kind.

We need to be vigilant and join our state Legislature and fight against Gov. Sanford's plan to allow private schools to steal our money.

We need to permanently defeat Sanford's private school 'choice' agenda, for our children's sake.

Tell Dennis Hof: Drew Peterson SHOULD NOT be allowed to enter the Moonlite Bunny Ranch!

MOUND HOUSE, NV -- There are reports that Drew Peterson wants to come to the Moonlite Bunny Ranch. And that is raising the ire of HBO and sex worker rights' activists alike.

Tobe Becker, the spokesperson for Home Box Office, says that she would cancel Cathouse in order to keep the suburban Chicago wife-killer with a badge off the show.

Mr. Peterson killed two of his wives at minimum.

And that hasn't stopped Mr. Hof from discussing a possible gig at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch for Mr. Peterson.

I am disappointed that Mr. Hof would even contact Mr. Peterson at all, let alone try to give him a gig at the Bunny Ranch. I know that other sex workers' rights activists are just as upset about this as I am.

Call Mr. Hof at 1-775-246-3825 and demand that he revoke an offer he gave to Drew Peterson to appear at the Bunny Ranch!

Misogynist Jerk of the Day: Paul Rosenthal of Augusta, GA

AUGUSTA, GA -- The misogynists are way to busy blaming our 21st century culture for a decay in our nation. Paul Rosenthal of Augusta is the latest misogynist asshole to do so.

For moral decisions, there cannot be contradictory truths. Our decadent culture illustrates the point. Only one statement can be true: killing innocent human beings is murder, vs. killing innocent human beings is morally acceptable if the victims' lives are inconvenient - i.e. the unborn or elderly. Another example: Stealing your neighbor's money in a burglary is a crime, vs. government taking your neighbor's money and giving it to you is moral.

Historically, sexual intercourse is moral only between one man and one woman in marriage. Given our liberal government's assault against objective moral truth, one may soon be able to "marry" one's dog.

By reducing the Ten Commandments to mere suggestions, we are no longer "one nation under God," but a polarized nation in amoral chaos. Now, that's a man-made disaster!

So, Mr. Rosenthal mentions that before 1930, our society we "moral". Let's not forget what it was like 79 years ago. Women still had no personal rights whatsoever, ten years after the all-important 19th Amendment gave them to right to vote. African-Americans were still being lynched by Caucasians. Public schools were still segregated by race (and possibly by gender).

Folks, is this the kind of country we want? Unless you are a misogynist like Mr. Rosenthal, that would be an emphatic no.

Mr. Rosenthal and others on the religious right think that government control of women's lives is morally correct. They think that executing LGBT people just because they are different from the rest of us is morally correct.

Well, what is morally correct to Mr. Rosenthal and the right is not only legally wrong. It is also ethically wrong as well.

That is why we are a nation of laws, not men. That is why women have meaningful rights -- such as the right to abortion. To deny a woman her right to abortion is to deny her of the right to life. Denying a woman the right to abortion also denies her of the right to her liberty. And to deny a woman the right to abortion is to deny her the right to her pursuit of happiness.

And Mr. Rosenthal is also a homophobe. Filed under typical, he makes a bullshit comparison to LGBT marriage and marrying someone's dog. Here is a newsflash to the jackasses: even if LGBT marriage is legal in ALL 50 states, BESTIALITY will be still be a criminal offense. PEDOPHILIA and INCEST would still be felonies. And the minimum age requirements in marriage laws would also apply to LGBT couples just like it currently applies to straight people wanting to get married.

There is a good reason why our Founding Fathers made America a Constitutional republic and not a theocratic dictatorship. If people like Mr. Rosenthal had their way, this nation would be the Iran of the Western Hemisphere!