so. blog.: January 2011

(i'm copying / moving a lot of contraception/abortion stuff into the Acornification thread - check there)

Maddow has been excellent on this topic, so a category just for her

Maddow and Michael Steele on whether culture war still exists (Jan 28 2011)

Resurrecting Abortion Restrictions

Irked by abortion bill, Va. senator adds rectal exams for men | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com (1/30/2012)
Big gov! Red tape! Bureaucratic nightmares!

For abortion providers, sonogram law a complication | Emily Ramshaw - TheMonitor.com (1/29/2012)

New Restrictions On Abortion Almost Tied Record Last Year : Shots - Health Blog : NPR (1/19/2012)
Mainstreaming Anti Contraception, Economist, 3/2011
"Will Women Fight Back?" Bos Phoenix, 3/2011
Limiting rape exceptions for abortion ONLY for "Forcible Rape" (MoJo on Republican legislation intro'd Jan 2011)

(by the way, the New England Journal of Medicine has a new report (Jan 2011) saying abortions do not cause mental health risks. Duh)
(Update: that "forcible rape" language has been taken out after intense public pressure)
Another update: 2/9: language still in there!

"the Protect Life Act" would allow Doctors to refuse to save mother's life if it'll kill the fetus (Alternet, 2/2011)

Mother Jones 2/8/2011

"Senate Showdown Over Abortion" 2/9/2011 Motherjones

[ More "Keeping Track of the 112th Congress" in separate blog entry]
Big Government / Libertarians and Abortion

Gunfire Deaths in Children vs Pro-Life: A Political Double Standard « Art on Issues (1/31/2012)
Rand Paul: I Have Less Choice In Toilets Than Women Have In Abortions (VIDEO) | TPMDC (3/2011)

Feb 8, 2011 (on Teaparty blocking vote 1 on Patriot act extension):

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Women, Mothers, Motherhood, Contraception

Legal or Not, Abortion Rates Compare - NYTimes.com (2007)- http://goo.gl/3rb2r -- Worldwide abortion rates same, regardless of prohibitions.

A comprehensive global study of abortion has concluded that abortion rates are similar in countries where it is legal and those where it is not, suggesting that outlawing the procedure does little to deter women seeking it.
Moreover, the researchers found that abortion was safe in countries where it was legal, but dangerous in countries where it was outlawed and performed clandestinely. Globally, abortion accounts for 13 percent of women’s deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, and there are 31 abortions for every 100 live births, the study said.

Just the Facts: Churches and the Contraceptive Coverage Mandate | Truthout (2/2/2012)
Why New Birth Control Benefits are the Right Choice and Why Religious Conservatives Have it Wrong | Sex & Relationships (1/29/2012) | AlterNet
Facts on Unintended Pregnancy in the United States (Jan. 2012) - Guttmacher Institute
Law Fuels Contraception Controversy on Catholic Campuses - NYTimes.com (1/28/2012)
Mother Jones Graph: Abortion rates tend to be lower in subregions that have liberal abortion laws (1/23/2012)
The Rev. Chuck Currie: "Observe the Roe v. Wade Anniversary by Staying Vigilant and Taking Action" (1/22/2012)
Who gets abortions in the US? (YouTube/it's not who you think), Guttmacher Inst., May 2011
Teen Moms Look for Support, But Find Only Shame - COLORLINES 5/2011
Gail Collins, Behind the Abortion Wars (= war on contraception), Apr 2011

RELIGION

Catholic Church: Eaten Alive by Hypocrisy « Tales of the Imperium - Alternet - (3/9/2010)
Contraceptive Use Is the Norm Among Religious Women (4/13/2012) (98% of Catholic women use non-rhythmmethod contraception)
Blahblahblah... First, They Came for the Catholics - Michelle Malkin - Townhall Conservative (2/1/2012)
VM -- The Religious Exemption to Mandated Insurance Coverage of Contraception, Feb 2012 ... Virtual Mentor - American Medical Association -
Catholic Leaders Challenge Gingrich and Santorum on Divisive Rhetoric Around Race and Poverty | Faith in Public Life (1/19/2012)

'FAMILY VALUES'

Truly interesting piece because it comes from conservative/"small gov"-er Ross Douthat: The Cratchit Tax Credit - NYTimes.com (12/24/2011)

"Sanctity of Marriage"

What Gingrich's Open Marriage Debate Hissy Fit Says About GOP Family Values - Politicus (1/20/2012)
Congrats to Rush Limbaugh on his fourth traditional marriage - Salon.com (1/20/2012)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

It's the Economy, Stupid

from: Doing the math on Obama’s deficits - Washington Post (2/1/2012)

Obama’s and Bush’s effects on the deficit in one graph

I am fascinated by the Tea Party, in micro and macro forms.
(when you have 4 minutes, definitely check this link out: Truth for tea baggers | Under the Mountain Bunker-- a collection of political cartoons, commentary)

Deregulation! Free Markets!

Gingrich Admits Deregulation Of Wall Street In The '90s Was 'Probably A Mistake' | ThinkProgress (Nov 2011)

Stateless in Somalia, and Loving It - Yumi Kim - Mises Daily (2/21/2006)

Liberty! Freedom! Limited Government

"Teapartyers Don't Actually Care About Liberty", Salon, 1/2011

"The Tea Partyers' fiery hatred of redistribution and resentment of societal "leeches" is certainly real, but it's apparent at this late date that most self-identified Tea Party supporters are libertarians in sound bite form only, and certainly no supporters of "liberty" as broadly defined by Reason magazine and the Cato Institute. The Tea Parties believe "liberty" means "not being governed by Democrats" -- a sentiment most libertarians would probably agree with -- but they don't seem to get the whole "live and let live" part of the deal."

Perceptions/Polls

CNN Poll: Unfavorable view of tea party on the rise (3/2011)

Enemies from the Chalkboard

See this post: so. blog.: Enemies from the Chalkboard

Birthers

"Donald Trump, birther" - David Weigel, Slate (also: "Orthodox" vs. "reform Birtherism" (3/2011)
HI lawmakers intro bill to charge $100 for copies of birth certificate (1/28/2011)
"HI's governor said the birth certificate doesn't exist!" -- No, he did not say that. (1/30/2011)
MoJo: The Birthers have a Plan..And it May Not Be Crazy (1/30/2011)

The GOP 2012 Pres Campaign+Teaparty

Mitt Romney will pretend Teaparty doesn't exist (1/2011)

Facts Have a Well-Known Liberal Bias

Columbia Journal Review fact-checks the fact-checkers (post SOTU 1/2011)

Libertarians, Ayn Randism, The Market, and Other Inconsistencies

Racism in Progress: Rush Limbaugh, post-Tucson, and "The Chinese Threat"

(1/21/2011)

Tea Party vs. Grand Ol' Party

See separate posts: Tea Party vs. the Grand Old Party and Keeping Track of the GOP/Teaparty Leadership in 112th Congress
GOP Chair of CO quits: "Sick of the crazies" (TPM, 2/7/2011)

Tea Party Welfare Queens

News Corpse » Palin’s Canceled Reality Show Gets Millions in Gov Subsidies (3/2011)
Yasha Levine: Michele Bachmann: Welfare Queen - Truthdig (12/2009)
Tea Party Hypocrisy? - ABC News (3/2011) , at least 23 current members of congress or their families have received government money for their farms -- combining for more than $12 million since 1995

(3/2011, ABC)

Heavy handed, but fun/satisfying: Newsroom: American Taliban
//

Massachusetts and Health Care Reform (and don't forget Vermont)

In a development that ought to make conservatives everywhere tingle with thrill, states like Massachusetts and Vermont are innovating health care solutions. (MA's individual insurance mandate, signed by Republican Gov Romney and based on conservative Heritage foundation's ideas, is of course the precursor to the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate).

This blog entry is to track coverage and information about Mass health care reforms. Ongoing.

Oy vey, Sarah Palin.

It pains me to have a Palin post, but honestly, it's inevitable.

The Real Victim of the Tucson Murders: Sarah Palin

Public Reaction to Palin's speech not good (poll, 1/17/11)
Howard Stern: Palin's speech "makes you want to vomit" , praises Obama's speech (Jan 2011)

Blood Libel
General Critique of her use of "blood libel"

New Republic: "Beyond Comparison: what Blood Libel really means" 1/28/2011
Howard Kurtz, the Daily Beast: "Palin Goes Nuclear

Conservative Critique of "Blood Libel"

Rep. Gov Chris Christie: "cool reaction"
National Review Jonah Goldberg: "not sure they should have used the term"
ADL:"fraught with pain for Jews... wish she'd chosen differently"

GOP/Conservative Support for "Blood Libel"

Buchanan
Breitbart

The end of Palin? (Don't hold your breath -hw)

Then again... Even teaparty people are getting tired of her: From "Renew America:" Sarah Palin: from toast of the town to plain toast (April 2011)--they like Bachmann better than Sister Sarah!
The End of Palin as we Know Her? -Alternet, 1/14/11
Bos Phoenix "Trouble on the right" 2/2011

Did she or didn't she know what "blood libel" means?

"Why she used the term Blood Libel", PoliticusUSa, 1/13/11
(FWIW, in her 1/17/11 interview w/ Hannity, she said she knows what it means and it is what happened to her)

General Palin-Watching

Palin's Egocentric Umbrage (Eugene Robinson, 1/18/11)
The History of Palin in 10 pictures (May 2011) (good reminders)

On Double Standards:

Palin cancels event after "negative personal attacks" worry organizers about potential violence. Words have meaning?

Sarah Palin Media Addict from Gina Gershon

What Sarah Palin’s “Today Show” appearance proves - she needs media--badly. The Washington Post (4/2012) http://wapo.st/HcaiF5

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Guns, Mental Illness

ongoing compilation of worthwhile information/discussions in the wake of the assassination/murders in Arizona.

MENTAL HEALTH

The State of Mental Healthcare
Half of AZ mental health patients kicked off last year

GUNS

Six facts about guns, violence, and gun control (after Colorado "batman" shooting) Ezra Klein (july 2012) http://goo.gl/XyuFS

America is an unusually violent country. But we’re not as violent as we used to be.
The South is the most violent region in the United States.
Gun ownership in the United States is declining overall.
More guns tend to mean more homicide.
States with stricter gun control laws have fewer deaths from gun-related violence.
Gun control is not politically popular.

Poll: AZ favors more gun control (2/2011)
Poll: "Majority of Americans, incl'g Gun Owners, Support Tougher Restrictions" (HuffPo reports on poll, 1/18/11)
Hero in Tucson shooting--who carried concealed weapon--almost shot the wrong guy (Jan 11 2011)
Glock sales go thru roof in week after shooting
States with most gun violence: voted McCain, high poverty (Jan. 2011) (map)

Further (v. interesting) analysis of the data (Atlantic)

GOP Lawmaker thinks MORE guns in Tucson woulda prevented the shooting (Jan 2011)
Thank God for MA sanity on gun laws ("Bay State Sanity, BoGlo, Brian McGrory, Jan 2011)
Tucson Tea Party leader: it's Giffords's fault for not packing heat (Jan 2011)
Palin to speak at huge NV gun rally (Jan 14 2011)

Rhetoric, Violence, Cross-Hairs and Arizona

Tim Pawlenty (purposefully) missing the point

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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The Daily Show on Facebook

Unbelievable. Crosshairs again, 1/2012

Gabby Giffords and an Ominous Development in Missouri | Mother Jones (1/25/2012) Just hours before Giffords made her way into the nation's Capitol, an unknown provocateur was stalking the halls of the Missouri Capitol, tagging the doors of lawmakers—most of them Democratic women—with images of rifle crosshairs.
St. Louis Activist Hub: Rifle Crosshair Stickers Placed On Democrats' Office Doors (1/24/2012)
Police investigate rifle cross hairs stickers found in Capitol | The Columbia Daily Tribune - Columbia, Missouri (1/25/2012)

The Right and the Art of Rhetoric

Newt Gingrich, "Language", 1996 GOPAC Memo
2007: The Right said it would make the Left fearful of speaking

An Accretion of Violence, Threats

ThinkProgress Republican Congressional Canddiate Compares Obama to Hitler (8/6/2012)
WTF. Democratic Operative's Cat Slaughtered, 'Liberal' Painted On Corpse - Huff Po (1/23/2012)
*Republican* official in AZ resigns--fears "taking a bullet" due to Tea Party Threats (Jan 2011)

"There Was No Violent Rhetoric on the Right!"

Kansas Speaker O’Neal asks House GOP to pray for Obama’s death - National Democrat | Examiner.com (1/14/2012)
Dishwashing detergent will send people over the edge
Glenn Beck's 10 Reasons to Assassinate your Congressman (NewsCorpse, Jan 2011)

No Connection between Rhetoric and Loughner

"The Tucson Witch Hunt", Charles Blow thinks violent rhetoric bad, but accuses Dems of overreaching for causal relationship, backfiring (1/15/11)

The Left Does it Too

Compilation of Proof from Michelle Malkin
Yes, but the Left critiques itself too.
""The right and the left both have intemperate voices. But here's the key: only the conservative movement counts the most vile blowhards as leading lights, embraced by the leadership. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Sarah Palin: these are among the most popular conservatives in America. Who are the folks on the left with equivalent popularity and influence?" --Andrew Sullivan, "On Extreme Right and Left, Ctd"

It was a Psycho, Not Political

Young Turks: of course it was political; false equivalence
Mental Health Expert: Examining the political culture IS RELEVANT (Plum Line)
"Let's Take Mental Illness OUT of the Discussion" of Tucson (1/19/2011): Mental illness is not a predictor of violent behavior

Sarah Palin didn't pull the trigger--but she did blow the dog whistle

Arguing over Crosshairs misses the point--and is convenient (G Sargent, Plum Line)

"I agree that it's a huge stretch to blame the "crosshairs" for inciting violence. That said, this is not what many on the left are pointing to as the primary problem, ...arguing over the "crosshairs" is an overly narrow framing -- perhaps a deliberate one ...
Rather, what some on the left object to is the rhetoric ...that tacitly or overtly seeks to deligitimize the political opposition's democratically-obtained hold on power, and flirts with the idea that non-democratic means are an acceptable way of countering or undoing it."

Stochtastic Terrorism: message thru the media (dkos Jan 2011)
Karoli on Rhetoric: "Art of War, Media Messages..." (Jan 2011, C&L)
Ha. Palin's aides acknowledge: words have meaning, consequences: Death threats against Palin rise. (CBS, Jan 13, 2011; after blood libel video)
"Palin Hit List /Successful Targetting Terror", PoliticusUSA (1.15.11)
Giffords's cousin, and Dr. Tiller associate, speaks out: great read (1/16/11)
Gays, Golden Globes, Guns-- David Bernstein/Phoenix 1/19/11

Critique of Violent Rhetoric from the Right (!)

Palin Says Rhetoric From Wisconsin 'Union Bosses' Will Get People Hurt (VIDEO) | TPMDC 3/11/2011
Maura Liasson on Fox: Palin's aide tacitly admits link btw words/violence (1/16/2011)
Right wing blogger calls out his "own side of the aisle" (1/2011)
David Frum (former Bush speechwriter): it's the PARANOID NARRATIVES that is the problem (1/17/2011)

For example, frequent talking point from conservatives: "Nazis were Leftists". (see rebuttal, here)

Joe Scarborough of all people, calls out Beck and Palin *(Politico Op Ed, 1/18/11)

We Were Warned / We've Been Talking About This All Along

No one listened to Gabrielle Giffords (Frank Rich, 1/17/2011)
Dept of Homeland Security report on rise of rightwing extremism, Spr 2010
Violent Imagery isn't the problem: it's the tacit approval of violent actions that is Jan 11 2011

The Right STILL Breeding Apocalyptic Anti-Gov Mistrust/Resentment

Gohmert: FBI is withholding info re: shooter bc it would "embarrass liberals" (Jan 2011)
Limbaugh wants to know why Obama is "escaping total blame" for Tucson (Jan 2011)

Pettiness

"T-shirt-gate"--"Together we thrive" and Michelle Malkin (New Civil Rights Mvmt, 1/14/11)
"Jumbotron/Applause-gate" ("if the President was surprised by the applause in Tucson speech, why did he ask for it on the Jumbotron") (1/17/2011)