http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/...

Eric Zorn has compiled a serious blog post detailing all you need to know about this recent flap on BAIPA and Obama's position on the legislative wrangling.  Must read.

The National Right to Life Committee and a bunch of other groups are trying to use the typical "Republican wedge issue" approach to peel off women's votes from Obama and to mobilize the Republican social conservative base.

Will it work?

John McNicotine is now for the tobacco lobby after years of working against it.  He not only opposes the cigarette taxes he used to support but also opposes FDA regulation of the tobacco industry after years of supporting it.  McNicotine is an ex-smoker and should understand just how addictive nicotine is, and he even acknowledged the exceptionally high death rate for tobacco users when he joked that cigarette exports to Iran were part of his plot to kill Iranian citizens.  For McNicotine to cave in to the tobacco cartel is the ultimate flip-flop:
http://www.boston.com/...

Why has McNicotine caved in to the interests of the tobacco drug cartel?  It couldn't possibly have anything to do with hiring tobacco lobbyist Charlie Black as his senior adviser.  Move along folks.  There's nothing to see here:
http://firedoglake.com/...

Now let's use the traditional Rethug "moral values" and "sanctity of life" frames against McNicotine!  There's more in the flip.

Earlier this month during an interview with the Weekly Standard, Sen. McCain implied that he'd be open to selecting a pro-choice Vice President. Predictably, social conservatives began to foam at the mouth and lick windows..

Or so they claim.  How much of this is Keyboardist blustering, and how much of this is an authentic statement of conscience?

I have been pro-choice all my life - but I can totally see how someone whose mindset and value system literally equates abortion with murder, might say this and mean it.  

Following is a look through Wingnutlandia's reactions to news items today that McCain might pick a pro-choice running mate:

With news that pro-life Democrats failed to get platform language to their liking, http://www.streetprophets.com/... should we all just concede that abortion is the issue that divides the country?  In 2000, our platform had language saying we welcome people with different views on the abortion issue.  Our party rejected that language for this election.

After reading Spencer Ackerman's short piece today entitled "No More Voices Behind My Back" a few things came to mind that I would like to discuss.  Emails and phone calls with people in Middle Eastern or Southern Asian nations could cause the government to secretly and negatively focus attention on innocent parties.  Ackerman writes, makes and receives such emails and phone calls because of his work in journalism.  The scrutiny of his communications would undoubtedly take place at a higher level, and from more directions, than the scrutiny of domestic communications.  Having said that, and keeping in mind that I still consider all such spying illegal under the Constitution of the United States, political and rights activists here in the United States have plenty of reasons to worry about Bush's Big Brother policies.

More After The Flip

Kansans resoundingly reject social conservative Phill Kline, again, and give a narrow victory to Pro-Choice Republican Lynn Jenkins over former far-right Congressman Jim Ryun. These two elections in formerly Red and still conservative Kansas may signal end times for social conservative dominance of the GOP.

By Scott Swenson, RH Reality Check

I have been looking more carefully at governor Kaine since he's been seriously considered as potential vice-president. The more i read about him and found out about his positions on core democratic principles, the more i think he SHOULD NOT and MUST NOT be on the ticket.

If the absence of any serious nation-wide experience does not disqualify him; if the absence of any military experience does not disqualify him; if the absence of any foreign policy experience does not disqualify; and if we are willing to overlook all these lacunae, then i/we cannot overlook the fact the he is a PRO-LIFE democrat. And no pro-lifer should ever be a heart beat away from the Oval Office.

....after the break...

I told you so.

Back when the Bush junta's HHS proposed regultations that equated contraception with abortion, I told everyone that this was the first of a long line of nutty, radical reactionary, un-scientific ideas that the Bush mob would try to ram through in their final days.

Sure enough, last week it was revealed that the Bush Labor Dept was trying to secretly put into place that would all but abolish restrictions on the use of toxic substances in the workplace, thereby making it easier for workers to be poisoned without knowing of the danger they were in.

Now comes HHS again. Read on - - -

I know there have probably been lots of diaries on this subject.  But over the weekend I made some comments on a diary regarding Obama's position on late-term abortions.  I expressed concern that Obama had discounted the importance of mental health when he discussed exceptions to the ban on late-term abortion and stated that he didn't think "mental distress" should qualify as such an exception.  And I worried that this was part of the "rush to the center" and evidence of Obama backing off from previous pro-choice positions.  
                                          I was wrong.
Since my comment, two things have happened that have changed (and corrected) my view on this subject:

1.  There is a longer quote from Sen. Obama on the subject

2.  My husband, who is a child and adult psychiatrist, weighed in on the side of those who say "mental distress" shouldn't be an exception.

The other day, a little bit of a screaming match broke out when I published a diary that poorly articulated how I felt about the practice of abortions and the general debate about them.   Therefore, after some thought, I have decided to refine the explanation of people who share my position.   It sort-of-is and sort-of-isn't a position within the pro-life camp, depending on how you define that camp.   It sort-of-is and sort-of-isn't part of the pro-choice camp.  As some people have pointed out, my position is really the pro-choice  position; and then proceeded to call me sexist.

Usually I can understand the extreme discourse anytime the argument of abortion comes up.  I understand why both sides feel threatened, misunderstood, and unable to communicate through any other fashion than to protest and scream.  I've taken both times examining both sides of the issue.  My mother is fiercely pro-choice as is my father and my entire family.  In a way, I am also pro-choice; my personal choice is life, I'm a bleedin' heart liberal, and I'm damn proud of it.

The issue of abortion is one of the most emotional and explosive issues in the country because it touches on an area where biology, religion, and politics collide.  Yet rational discussion fails to permeate most of the debate.  Before we enter the minefield we need a biology lesson.  

" How I vote is based on whether the candidate is for or against life, period," Strang said.

Let's resist the temptation to have some fun with the name of the person who made the statement.

There are some who may tend to be single issue voters that Obama would like to win over (at least some of them). And No, I'm not talking about the single issue FISA Daily Kos voter, give me no FISA or give me McCain voter.

Written by Melanie Ross Levin, Outreach Manager
National Women’s Law Center

Now that someone has opened a pro-life pharmacy, I’ve decided that I’m going to open a pro-choice bagel shop.

Features to include:

• When you order a baker’s dozen, you’ll get 12 bagels and a condom.
• Instead of green bagels for Saint Patrick’s Day, my shop will serve pink bagels on the anniversary of Griswold v. Connecticut (that’s the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated anti-birth control laws, FYI).
• Our menu items will include Margaret Sanger Salad, Guttmacher Garlic Bagels, Alfred Kinsey Kippers, Estelle Griswold Guacamole, and Roe Rye Bread.
• For special occasions we will hand out stickers that read, "Dough the Right Thing — Stand Up for Choice" and "I’m Pro-Choice and I Eat Bagels."

http://nwlc.blogs.com/...

Hi Daily Kos Friends.
At least half of McCain's women supporters are not aware of McCain's radical anti-choice votes and views. Planned Parenthood Polling revealed the fact that 36 % of McCain's women supporters would strongly consider changing their vote if they knew that fact. As Cecile Richards stated, the difference between Senator Obama and Senator McCain on these issues is as vast as the Grand Canyon. We must get this out. Please pass this on!!! Thank you!!!

Cristina Page's article Obama: The Real Pro-Life Candidate re-enforced an opinion that I have held for a long time:

Education is the key.

Or in other words - it's education stupid!

Abortion is a very sensitive subject, and people feel very strongly about it on both sides.  But the discussion about it is similar, in my mind, to another issue:  sex education.  The theme between the two is the same:  education.

Educate what?

According to Prime Buzz from the Kansas City Star current replacement District Attorney Phill Kline, who according to the video at KCTV 5News doesn't even live in the district, is now seeking a full term.

You would know this guy from previous hits that include "Feed me Slimfast" and "Those Records aren't Private."

According to Prime Buzz

"Kline told a gathering of supporters in Olathe that he will file Tuesday as a candidate in the county Republican primary.

Kline became the county’s district attorney in January 2007 after the county Republican Party’s precinct leaders elected him to complete Paul Morrison’s term. He said in September that he wouldn’t seek the office this year. But last month, he said he was reconsidering and might run after all."