Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.posted by benito.strauss at 7:30 PM on August 19, 2012 [15 favorites]
I do not understand the triumph of anti-intellectualism. I just don't get it.People are, by default, stupid. Our internal vision of reality does not correspond to the way things are in capital-r Reality. This is a basic caveman-level truth. A group of hominids wandered from an uninhabitable rocky plateau down into a tiny, isolated valley. There they found juicy, plump berries. The wanderers slurped down the berries immediately and quickly succumbed to a painful death as the toxins in the seeds caused their nervous systems to lock up. Some segment of those berry-munching idiots, however, survived the poison through dumb luck. And of that group of survivors, some were able to put two and two together and decide not to eat the berries, despite being desperately hungry and wanting, more than anything, something to eat. The rest died out. Multiply times one thousand and you end up with a civilization of people that are able to enjoy the fruits (pardon my pun) of logical reasoning without understanding its origins in everyday decision making. Having a car and a house with plumbing and a magic box that will answer any question you put into it inures you to the feeling of being right. The more reassurance we have of our dominance over the chaos of the world, the more entitled we feel to it. So if I have been told that abortions are wrong and someone presents me a fact that requires me to either dismiss it or update my belief to a more nuanced and complex belief, I'm liable to want to align reality with my idea of it, rather than to deal with the stress of not knowing, and the consequences of that choice on a large scale are so distant from my immediate experience that I will probably never fully appreciate how very wrong I am and why. The poison berries take too long to get into our bloodstream so that, by the time half the tribe is dead, we've already eaten our fill.
It's worth noting that Rep. Todd Akin's existence as a spittle-producing madman candidate was partly due to Democrats organizing well enough to help get him the nomination, wresting it from less insane and better funded candidates.SO, thanks to the Democratic Party's intervention, we're likely to have a senator who thinks women can't get pregnant if they're raped? And... you think this is a good thing?
Claire McCaskill is still a underdog,
I really don't like Claire McCaskill. She was for SOPA. She staunchly calls herself a "centrist" but in a sane world she'd be a Republican in most respects.I don't like her either. She was also against the stimulus and wanted to get it cut, back when Obama first took office.
Well, I wouldn't take that to mean anything, necessarily—have any new poll results for Missouri's 1st Congressional District actually come in and/or been published in the last 12 hours?He's running for senate.
In one of the previous threads it was suggested this is a widely held belief among modern day Christians.Have you actually never met anyone who claimed to be Christian? I mean, Obama says he's christian, do you think he believes that? There are tons of Christians who are pro-choice, pro contraception, and liberal in general. There are lots of different groups, some of which are crazy and/or annoying.
1) Tossing a few completely insane candidates into the mix to make the regular crackpots seem moderate in comparison.According to "Hollywood Upstairs Medical College" the democratic party spent money to help this guy get the nomination, because they thought he would be easier to beat. So, obviously the democrats would share some of the blame in getting this guy nominated, right?
In my review of Senate races last week, I classified Representative Todd Akin of Missouri, who won the Republican primary earlier this month, as a very slight favorite over the Democratic incumbent in the state, Claire McCaskill.posted by zombieflanders at 6:19 AM on August 20, 2012
Although some Democrats were pleased that Mr. Akin was the nominee, he nevertheless held a small lead over Ms. McCaskill in the polls, which averaged five percentage points across four surveys conducted in July and August.
But that was before Mr. Akin’s controversial remarks about rape in an interview with a St. Louis television station that was broadcast on Sunday morning. The comments, and Mr. Akin’s subsequent explanation of them, drew overwhelmingly negative sentiment at social networking platforms, including on Mr. Akin’s Facebook page.
No two controversies are alike, and we’ll have to wait for polling data to see what impact this has on the race. But based on some loose historical precedents, the remarks could be enough to swing the polls to Ms. McCaskill.
A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.Aspirin between the knees, forced vaginal ultrasound.
"“Rape is rape. And the idea that we should be parsing, qualifying and slicing what qualifies as rape doesn’t make sense to me and doesn’t make sense to the American people. What I think these comments do underscore is why we shouldnt have a bunch of pols, the majority of whom are men, making health-care decisions on behalf of women.”posted by ericb at 11:23 AM on August 20, 2012 [38 favorites]
Earlier this year, Idaho Senator Chuck Winder made good use of his time on the Senate floor when he warned everyone about those wily, dangerous housewives who didn't get the memo that putting a ring on it = no rapes forever and ever. "I would hope that when a woman goes into a physician, with a rape issue, that that physician will indeed ask her about perhaps her marriage, was this pregnancy caused by normal relations in a marriage, or was it truly caused by a rape," he said.posted by Phire at 11:25 AM on August 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
... "I don’t know that I'm the only person in public office who suffered from foot in mouth disease here," he said. "This was a very, very serious error."posted by ericb at 11:28 AM on August 20, 2012
"On the other hand, there are so many good people in Missouri who nominated me," he added. "I feel just as strongly as ever that my background and ability will be a big asset in replacing [Sen.] Clare McCaskill and putting some sanity back in our government. I'm not a quitter, and my belief is we're going to take this thing forward, and by the grace of God we're going to win this race."
He later invoked 9/11 to explain his pro-life views, saying the first responders didn't ask for identification of those they saved because all lives are important.
"They don't check their ID to see whether they're important or not, they just take them to safety and run back for more," he said. "They, by their lives, speak as Americans of what we think about the value of human beings and how much respect we hold people with.
... "Just because somebody makes a mistake doesn't make them useless," he said."
He later invoked 9/11 to explain his pro-life views...what is this i don't even
Akin is a beloved figure of the Religious Right, and his campaign advertises endorsements from Concerned Women for America activists and activists like Mike Huckabee, Phyllis Schlafly, Michele Bachmann and David Barton. Barton, who recorded campaign ads calling Akin a “true Christian leader,” has compared Akin to John Witherspoon and other founding fathers. American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer, who hosted Akin on his radio show the day after the congressman’s primary victory, said people need to “lighten up” about his rape comments.posted by ericb at 11:37 AM on August 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
"So looks like he meant to say -- 'If a woman was REALLY raped, it's statistically less likely for her to get pregnant.' What's the science?"then kick the left:
"The left is often 1st to shut down debate as "off limits" when it deems so. Aren't these moments supposed to open up a larger debate?"then the non-apology:
"Re last night: Bad idea trying to have nuanced conversation on highly charged issue on here. Did not intend to take a side. Lesson learned."Sorry to approach this with a lack of nuance, but you're being a prick. Arguably even more of a prick than Akin given the way you even misrepresent what you said afterwards; I'm not sure that a disingenuous prick who cynically enables bigotry in return for short term political gain isn't worse than an ignorant bigot.
@davecatanese Wait, you mean there's a smaller chance of getting pregnant from getting raped than there is from not getting raped?That's @jmaz. I'm sending him a tweet of thanks right now.
Well Akin, in case you were waiting for the right moment, now's probably good a time as any to roll out your Holocaust denial stance.posted by jaduncan at 12:00 PM on August 20, 2012 [4 favorites]
The affair began with an impassioned speech by the Falangist writer José María Pemán. After this, Professor Francisco Maldonado decried Catalonia and the Basque Country as "cancers on the body of the nation," adding that "Fascism, the healer of Spain, will know how to exterminate them, cutting into the live flesh, like a determined surgeon free from false sentimentalism."posted by Ironmouth at 12:19 PM on August 20, 2012 [5 favorites]
From somewhere in the auditorium, someone cried out the motto "¡Viva la Muerte!" As was his habit, Millán-Astray responded with "¡España!"; the crowd replied with "¡Una!" He repeated "¡España!"; the crowd then replied "¡Grande!" A third time, Millán-Astray shouted "¡España!"; the crowd responded "¡Libre!" This was a common Falangist cheer. Later, a group of uniformed Falangists entered, saluting the portrait of Franco that hung on the wall.
Unamuno, who was presiding over the meeting, rose up slowly and addressed the crowd:
"You are waiting for my words. You know me well, and know I cannot remain silent for long. Sometimes, to remain silent is to lie, since silence can be interpreted as assent. I want to comment on the so-called speech of Professor Maldonado, who is with us here. I will ignore the personal offence to the Basques and Catalonians. I myself, as you know, was born in Bilbao. The Bishop," Unamuno gestured to the Archbishop of Salamanca, "Whether you like it or not, is Catalan, born in Barcelona. But now I have heard this insensible and necrophilous oath, "¡Viva la Muerte!", and I, having spent my life writing paradoxes that have provoked the ire of those who do not understand what I have written, and being an expert in this matter, find this ridiculous paradox repellent. General Millán-Astray is an invalid. There is no need for us to say this with whispered tones. He is an invalid of war. So was Cervantes. But unfortunately, Spain today has too many invalids. And, if God does not help us, soon it will have very many more. It torments me to think that General Millán-Astray might dictate the norms of the psychology of the masses. It should be expected from a mutilated who lacks the spiritual greatness of Cervantes to find horrible solace in seeing how the number of mutilated ones multiplies around him."
Millán-Astray reportedly responded: "¡Muera la inteligencia! ¡Viva la Muerte!" ("Death to intelligence! Long live death!"), provoking applause from the Falangists (although some versions suggest he actually said "Death to traitor intellectuality" but in the commotion in the auditorium this was not perceived). Pemán, in an effort to calm the crowd, exclaimed "¡No! ¡Viva la inteligencia! ¡Mueran los malos intelectuales!" ("No! Long live intelligence! Death to the bad intellectuals!")
Unamuno continued: "This is the temple of intelligence, and I am its high priest. You are profaning its sacred domain. You will succeed, because you have enough brute force. But you will not convince. In order to convince it is necessary to persuade, and to persuade you will need something that you lack: reason and right in the struggle. I see it is useless to ask you to think of Spain. I have spoken." Millán-Astray, controlling himself, shouted "Take the lady's arm!" Unamuno took Carmen Polo by the arm and left in her protection.
...[T]wo Senate Republicans have already said Akin should abandon his Senate bid. Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson both called for Akin to resign his Senate nomination. (If he were to do so by Tuesday, Republicans would have a clearer path toward nominating a new candidate.)The pressure is building!
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who heads the GOP's Senate campaign efforts, called Akin's statements "wrong, offensive, and indefensible." He called on Akin to "carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party, and the values that he cares about and has fought for throughout his career in public service."
Former congresswoman and current Senate candidate from New Mexico, Heather Wilson, has also called on Akin to step aside. *
Crossroads GPS is pulling their adsOK, I didn't hear that Uncle Karl was taking away the credit card. That certainly changes the equation, but I bet if Akin made some phone calls he could get some prominent social conservative PACs to replace that hole in the campaign budget.
The first deadline for Akin to pull out of the race with the greatest ease for the state party, is 5 p.m. Central Tuesday, under state law. After that, he would still have until Sept. 25 to withdraw — but would need to petition for a court order, and his campaign would have to pay any additional printing costs for new ballots.If he stays in, the FSM will have many meatballs cooked in its honor.
A new candidate would then be chosen by a state party nominating committee — in effect, the state GOP’s central committee. The deadline for that selection would be 28 days after the withdrawal. Thus, if Akin were to withdraw Tuesday, then the GOP’s deadline would be Sept. 18.
A Republican source in Missouri told TPM Monday that potential replacement nominees include: former Sen. Jim Talent, state Auditor Tom Schweich and businessman John Brunner, who finished second to Akin in the GOP primary.
This is Todd Akin. He has sex with ducks.
Well, we can only assume he does. Akin recently stated that he has spoken to doctors who have told him that, in cases of “legitimate rape,” the body has biological defenses to prevent pregnancy.
It is possible that he has somehow confused human vaginas with duck vaginas, which have evolved natural defenses against rape-happy male ducks.
I now ask you, ladies and gentlemen, how does one confuse a human vagina with a duck vagina? Hmm?
The answer is clear: Todd Akin fucks ducks. He is a duckfucker.
What I was thinking about this morning is that the internet is a two-edged sword. Sure it can expose Aken's nonsense and hold him up to ridicule, but at the same time it disseminates the same nonsense to anyone with a computer.Well, first of all he said it on the radio or local TV I think, so it would have been disseminated with or without the internet. But actually, there are apparently a lot of people who actually hold this view, not out of malice but just from hearing it from friends as they grew up. So a lot of people might be learning for the first time that this isn't true, including from the republican establishment who's condemning him at this point.
Relying on demographics to "age-out" the current crop of Republican crazies is not a winning play. Many of the young people today, who appear progressive/not-conservative might change their allegiances over time. That's what people doThat's not really true, people don't change their views that much after their in their 20s. What will actually happen is that the definitions of "liberal" and "conservative" will change. The modern republican party would never come out in favor of something like segregation. Republicans now mostly don't say homosexuality should be illegal, many say they support civil unions if not gay marriage, and so on. No one is calling reinstate prohibition.
He later invoked 9/11 to explain his pro-life views, saying the first responders didn't ask for identification of those they saved because all lives are important.Wow that is bizarre. Especially with all the voter ID bullshit.
Check out this masterful commercial from the primary McCaskill was putting in ads practically on his behalf.Which will all be for naught if he resigns from the race, which is why she has been saying he shouldn't.
The Female Body according to Missouri Republican Senate Nominee Todd Akin, but maybe it's because I played a lot of flight simulators as a kid.
Michelle Malkin's "ground-breaking Twitter curation site."Because that's really what the world needs right now...
He is the sort of candidate that is the result of our current ultra-gerrymandered, polarized-by-design congressional districts, where most candidates, once they are in, are virtually assured of re-election no matter what they say or do. It fosters a sort of arrogance, disconnection from constituents, and unresponsiveness in office holders, and Mr. Todd Akin should become the national poster boy for that attitude from this day forward.Michel Bachman is another example, her district is gerrymandered to produce a bunch of safe democratic districts, by putting all the hard-core republican areas in one area. She's the result. She'd never be in congress if Minnesota were districted in a sensible way.
The two ultra-conservatives (boyfriend's parents) I was watching the news with when I heard about this were fully appalled also.If there's one good thing to come out of the PPP Poll, it's that only 9% found his comments "appropriate". 75% overall and 64% of republicans found them "inappropriate".
"The human life amendment has been a tenet of the Republican Party platform since the dawn of the Reagan era in 1980. It has survived for 32 years and nine presidential elections, even after former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) pushed hard in 2000 for an explicit exception for rape and incest. McCain ceded the language to party officials during his own run in 2008."
“He clearly is a pro-life advocate, and for that, I respect him...He said that he misspoke and that he misphrased something and that he apologized...I’m the kind of person that believes that I would like to be evaluated by my entire career and my entire life, not two words that I would misspeak and then later apologize for,” he said. “So he’s in a tough spot.”posted by ericb at 9:51 AM on August 21, 2012
Arguing that he misplaced the word “legitimate,” Akin explained — during a follow up interview with Dana Loesch — that he meant to argue that women sometimes lie about being raped:posted by ericb at 11:15 AM on August 21, 2012 [4 favorites]AKIN: You know, Dr. Willkie has just released a statement and part of his letter, I think he just stated it very clearly. He said, of course Akin never used the word legitimate to refer to the rapist, but to false claims like those made in Roe v. Wade and I think that simplifies it….. There isn’t any legitimate rapist…. [I was] making the point that there were people who use false claims, like those that basically created Roe v. Wade.*
"Ethel Waters, for example, was the result of a forcible rape," Huckabee said of the late American gospel singer. One-time presidential candidate Huckabee added: "I used to work for James Robison back in the 1970s, he leads a large Christian organization. He, himself, was the result of a forcible rape. And so I know it happens, and yet even from those horrible, horrible tragedies of rape, which are inexcusable and indefensible, life has come and sometimes, you know, those people are able to do extraordinary things."posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:49 PM on August 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
In incest, is pregnancy common?posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:01 PM on August 21, 2012
No. "Considering the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in general, incest treatment programs marvel at the low incidence of pregnancy from incest." Several reports agree at 1% or less. G. Maloof, "The Consequences of Incest," The Psychological Aspects of Abortion, University Publications of Amer., 1979, p. 74 245
How does the incest victim feel about being pregnant?
For her, it is a way to stop the incest; a way to unite mother and daughter, a way to get out of the house. Most incestuous pregnancies, if not pressured, will not get abortions. "As socially inappropriate as incest and incestuous pregnancies are, their harmful effects depend largely upon reaction of others." G. Maloof, "The Consequences of Incest," The Psychological Aspects of Abortion, University Publications of Amer., 1979, p. 100
Mitt Romney Calls On Todd Akin To Quit Missouri Senate Race, TPM Livewire, 21st August, 2012
Dr. John C. Willke, a general practitioner with obstetric training and a former president of the National Right to Life Committee, was an early proponent of this view, articulating it in a book originally published in 1985 and again in a 1999 article. He reiterated it in an interview Monday.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:27 PM on August 21, 2012
“This is a traumatic thing — she’s, shall we say, she’s uptight,” Dr. Willke said of a woman being raped, adding, “She is frightened, tight, and so on. And sperm, if deposited in her vagina, are less likely to be able to fertilize. The tubes are spastic.” [snip]
Dr. Willke, who is 87, asserted Monday that “way under 1 percent” of rape victims become pregnant, not just because of female biology but because about half of rapists “do not deposit sperm in the vagina.” That, Dr. Willke said, is because many rapists have “a preference for rectal intercourse over vaginal”; experience “premature ejaculation, which is a major factor”; or “some of these guys just plain aren’t fertile.” (my bold)
The story doesn’t end with a bizarre, unscientific comment about how reproduction works. This embarrassing episode is only the latest in a long string of Republican rape canards that present a binary view of female sexuality where some women are deemed worthy of legislative sympathy while others are not.posted by scody at 3:01 PM on August 21, 2012 [7 favorites]
The ignorance is reaching a new crescendo but it goes back decades. We heard from periodontist-turned-lawmaker Henry Aldridge that women who are “truly raped” can’t become pregnant because the “juices don’t flow.” Others, including a Federal judge, have called pregnancy from rape as likely as “snow in Miami” and “one in millions in millions,” while some have embraced specious claims about the effect of emotional trauma on conception from “assaultive rape” (so called), and other science-bending notions. Former state representative Stephen Freind once opined that raped women “secrete a certain secretion” to prevent conception. (If such a thing existed, surely the pharmaceutical industry would like to hear about it.)
More recently, vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan drew fire for language in the co-sponsored No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act that initially distinguished between “forcible rape,” and statutory rape of minors or non-violent rapes that could affect mentally impaired, retarded or drugged women.
The victim-blaming harkens back to the days when it was accepted wisdom that “good” women were incapable of being raped and some people thought conception could only occur if a woman achieved orgasm.
Flitcraft:I'm having trouble finding the reference, but I read earlier that since it was a one-night flash poll it's not as reliable as a standard poll conducted over a three day period. The PPP Press Release for the cited poll [PDF] gives the methodological details asCan anyone tell me, how solid is the poll data that still puts him ahead by nose? Is it reliable or not?
PPP surveyed 500 likely Missouri voters on the evening of August 20th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.4%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.There's also a full breakdown of the questions asked and responses in that press release.
Akin was +3% (median, n=3) before August 6th, and +11% (n=1) afterward — an 8-point bounce. So if he is unchanged since May, then he must have lost all this gain. An 8-point loss in one day is an enormous drop. Another comparison that makes the same point is that going from +11% to +1% (PPP) is a 10-point drop. Again, this is very large.posted by ob1quixote at 4:12 PM on August 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
"For once, I worry about @ppppolls being too pro-Repub"To give it some context, he was worried that Akin would get too bolstered by the polling numbers, and be convinced that he could still win it.
In an effort to move beyond his "legitimate rape" comments, U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) launched a new section of his website that asks supporters to sign a petition telling his opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, that "You're Standing With Todd Akin."posted by ericb at 5:39 PM on August 21, 2012
But when the website was first launched, his campaign made an embarrassing spelling mistake, misspelling "you're" as "your."
Many Twitter users quickly pounced, pointing out the error.
“Dr. Willke is a leading voice within the pro-life community and will be an important surrogate for Governor Romney's pro-life and pro-family agenda,” the Romney campaign said in an October 2007 statement.So Romney can try to distance himself all he wants but the fact is that Romney supports Wilkes' ideas just as much as Akin does. NA,NE
“I am proud to have the support of a man who has meant so much to the pro-life movement in our country,” Romney said in the statement. “He knows how important it is to have someone in Washington who will actively promote pro-life policies. Policies that include more than appointing judges who will follow the law but also opposing taxpayer-funded abortion and partial-birth abortion.”
Perhaps what has made anti-abortion women a bit too comfortable and complacent in their position, not really thinking through exactly what it is these politicians are pushing for, is that for decades the choice of a legal, safe abortion has been available. The best example of this is uber-conservative Sarah Palin, who routinely spoke on the campaign trail about the “agonizing choice” to continue her pregnancy with a Down syndrome baby.I guess it was so agonizing that she wanted to prevent every other woman, ever, from having to think about that decision.
That’s a pro-choice stance
Who Rejects Right to Abortion in Cases of Rape?, Discover Magazine, 22 Aug. 2012
Three years ago, the then-39-year-old congressman, co-sponsored an abortion-related amendment called, "Limitations on Abortion Mandates."This puts Ryan at the very beginning of these efforts.
That proposed amendment was blocked in what was a Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. Ryan and only one co-sponsor, Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas, proposed a change to health-care legislation that would have required health insurance cover abortion services.
The Ryan-Johnson failed amendment did specify limited exceptions, permitting abortion coverage including when the life of the mother is at stake, and in line 16 of the proposed text, "...unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of forcible rape or incest."
Aides to the Romney-Ryan campaign say the congressman has been "clear and consistent that rape is rape." Ryan did not defend the term "forcible" saying this week, "There is no splitting hairs over rape."posted by Ironmouth at 12:27 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Asked why Ryan backed measures that referred to "forcible rape," advisers say Ryan has supported other abortion-related bills that have not contained that language.
"Personhood USA does not endorse political candidates, but we had hoped that Congressman Ryan would be a good influence on Governor Romney, considering Romney's liberal abortion record," explained Jennifer Mason, Communications Director for Personhood USA. "Reading today that babies conceived in rape should suffer the death penalty under a Romney-Ryan administration is extremely concerning, and indicates that Congressman Ryan's pro-woman and pro-baby positions would have little influence if he wins the office of Vice President of the United States...."It sounds like a hurricane might be the best thing to happen to the GOP this week.
"As someone who really cares about rape victims, I want to protect them from the rapist, and from the abortion, but not the baby. A baby is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a rape victim -- an abortion is," explained [Personhood USA spokesperson] Kiessling. (via)
It would not be long before I would learn firsthand that in the vast majority of states -- 31 -- men who father through rape are able to assert the same custody and visitation rights to their children that other fathers enjoy. When no law prohibits a rapist from exercising these rights, a woman may feel forced to bargain away her legal rights to a criminal trial in exchange for the rapist dropping the bid to have access to her child.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:04 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
Sharon Barnes, a high ranking state Republican, came to the defense of her conservative colleague who she believes only "phrased it (his statement) badly."Boy they are coming out of the woodwork. The GOP is going to be forever known as the party that forces women to carry their rapist's baby. That is hardcore and not too popular even with those who are pro-life.
Barnes was quoted by The New York Times saying, "abortion is never an option." Barnes went on to biblically claim that, "If God has chosen to bless this person [the rape victim] with a life, you don’t kill it."
Barnes did not elaborate on her views for post-pregnancy care, or costs.
"An entire political party in one of the most advanced and educated countries on earth has become a caricature of the most basal evolved insecurities about masculinity. They seem terrified of losing control over the means of reproduction and petrified of cuckoldry,"
And I've been very careful saying this, but you've heard me say it. If the election were held today, I think we're looking at a landslide. I thought that a week ago. I think this is big. I don't want to say this too often because political situations are too volatile, as the Akin thing illustrates. But they are not looking happy. Obama isn't looking happy. Nobody on the Democrat side's looking happy. These people are at war with each other, and they're getting -- if it's even possible -- more maniacal in their TV appearances.posted by argonauta at 5:25 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
They're saying some of the craziest, wackiest things. The Akin thing's unfortunate, but I'm gonna tell you. I think the Democrats are... I don't want to say this too loud either because I don't want to affect what their inclinations are. But I think they're set to implode over this.
No federal or state agency has authority in the county unless the Sheriff permits it.Turning federalism on its head is nothing new for these guys, but once you go down that road, you're very close to the tenets of the sovereign citizen movement. After all, if a local sheriff can ignore something he believes to be unconstitutional (nevermind that we have a system for figuring that sort of thing out) why can't each citizen adjudicate constitutional law for themselves if the federal, state, or local officials do something they don't like? The answer, of course, is that the government officials send guys with guns after you, which is why the sovereign citizens are very big on arming themselves "just in case."
Is it such an outlandish idea? I looked it up, and it appears that there is no evidence that pregnancies are less likely in cases of rape, but it didn't seem out of the realm of possibility to me. Many things about the human body are peculiar and amazing.I am died.
Strongly agree 3% Moderately agree 5% Moderately disagree 5% Strongly disagree 79% Not sure 8%Note the 8% "Not sure", along with what Brian B. says about how rare it is to get an 84% result on any question. Dude is political poison, and he's not going away.
"Specifically where you stand when it comes to rape, and when it comes to the issue of should it be legal for a woman to be able to get an abortion if she's raped?" WJHL reporter Josh Smith wondered.posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:05 PM on August 24, 2012
"I'm very proud of my pro-life record, and I've always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life," Ryan explained. "But let's remember, I'm joining the Romney-Ryan ticket. And the president makes policy."
RUSSERT: You talked about your family relative who died from an illegal abortion, and yet President Romney is saying is saying ban all abortion. And what would be the legal consequences to people who participated in that procedure?... So back to your relative.posted by scody at 10:17 AM on August 25, 2012 [4 favorites]
ROMNEY: Mm-hmm.
Paul Ryan Said Something That Should Force Him Off the Ticket, But You Probably Didn't Hear About ItWhich...while technically biologically true, is such a tone deaf and insensitive thing to say.
Last week, Paul Ryan gave an interview in which, defending his position that there should be no excuses for abortion, he referred to rape as a "method of conception."
There are very few pregnancies as a result of rape, fortunately, and incest — compared to the usual abortion, what is the percentage of abortions for rape? It is tiny. It is a tiny, tiny percentage.”Video. (around 3:10)
"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion who have handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the firstborn of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children," Marshall said.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:02 PM on September 10, 2012 [1 favorite]
"In the Old Testament, the firstborn of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord," he added. "There's a special punishment Christians would suggest -- and with the knowledge that they have in faith, it's been verified by a study from Virginia Commonwealth University -- first abortions, of a first pregnancy, are much more damaging than later abortions."
...Robertson fields a question from a viewer with a troubled marriage -- his wife, the viewer said, "has no respect for me as the head of the house," insults him, threatens violence, and undermines his "self-confidence." The host's advice? "Well, you could become a Muslim and you could beat her," Robertson said.posted by zombieflanders at 10:04 AM on September 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
He added that, "I think this man has got to stand up to her. And he can't let her get away with this stuff.... I don't think we condone wife beating these days, but something's got to be done." After arguing that the wife must have some kind of psychological problem, Robertson concluded, "You can't divorce her, according to the scripture, so I say move to Saudi Arabia."
When the video was posted to the Christian Broadcast Network's website, Robertson's words were carefully edited, so that the host's sentence ended with, "You can't divorce her, according to the scripture."
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posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:09 PM on August 19, 2012 [65 favorites]