"we have lived for the last eight years under virtually absolute GOP rule; (3) the public knows this; (4) the Republican President and his party are therefore intensely -- historically -- unpopular;"

Glenn,

I think you are treating the democrats in congress as if they were powerless to do anything to stop the onslaught of the republicans.

I strongly disagree. I think, even today, that the democrats are gutless and am amazed, actually stunned, at how they capitulate to the Bush administration. Their response to the bailout, as with so many previous cave-ins, makes my point.

My congressman, Steny Hoyer, to me is the quintessence of cowardice.

Until every man, who is an equal part in the act of conception, fulfills every responsibility implicit in each act of intercourse, it is nothing less than subjugation of women to imply that every woman should carry that burden.

Amen.

And just for the record: I am so fricking tired of this issue yet again dominating American elections and American voter mindsets.

No more posting under the influence of psychoactive drugs.

This from the AP today...

"Palin's words avoid repulsing voters with overt racism. But is there another subtext for creating the false image of a black presidential nominee "palling around" with terrorists while assuring a predominantly white audience that he doesn't see their America?"

Its nice to see a mainstream newspaper talk about the elephant in the room, but it does sort of highlight just how limited our discourse is in this country. The McCain campaign has been doing this kind of thing for months, and I've yet to hear a commentator or pundit note it as such. When you're standing in front of an all white crowd calling your black opponent an America hater and a pal of terrorists, the context seems obvious. I wish Obama could defend directly, but I'm sure he would be accused of playing the race card. I read an interesting analysis of why it is much more politically effective for a white candidate to accuse a black candidate of playing the race card, than it is for a non-white candidate to accuse the other of racism. Apparently, the majority white electorate having never been victims of racism, can't understand the big deal. So someone called you a n******, hey you guys use the word, etc (this is the main philosophical engine of Sean Hannity's spiel). They do know the fear of being accused of being a racist publically, however. Apparently, that's where their sympathy would lie. That poor man, he's being accused of being a racist. Do you know how damaging that can be to your reputation?

Right on. But if you keep the working masses VERY busy trying to figure out how to stay afloat -- let's see, shall I try butterfly or back stroke? -- then they probably cannot see that the Reichstag is burning. That breast cancer ribbon? another pink slip!

Stop over? I'm gonna visit a neighbor who' s probably in the milking parlor.

Milking cows in the Mennonite backwoods goes on even on the lard's day.

Why worry ? Cushion bathroom seat, in outhouses, left up, or down, right?

Got cushion. Maybe it's a good day to visit a mortician. He notes: no meds.

He's married to a women who claims she's never been too cranky one day.

She's so nice. Morticians buy a red radish from farms. One radish per DOA.

An OCD group on the other UT site is depressing. I need a queen mattress?

I want in life is a straw crib, a tiny hut, and of all worldly cares, be so free.

Try to get it correct there bud.

The man is not involved in the legal decision to abort or not since it is the woman that is preggers. What the fuck is so hard about that to understand? (assuming everyone involved is an adult)

... all other things being equal, if men were the ones who risked pregnancy with every sexual encounter, we would already have foolproof birth control and abortion would be a non-issue. -- Pedinska

We have nearly foolproof birth control now; and killing a baby would still be an issue no matter who does the killing. I mean; you people who want to pretend no one gets killed in an abortion are something.

Even when it must be done to save the life of the Mother; someone is killed.

I do not know enough personally, but I do know that Mother Teresa offered to take every one of them. She is dead now, but there are those who would try to take care of the helpless infants that you would so coldly kill.

Did I mention that killing is never the answer?

I know a lad of 22 who is now a daddy because the girl said that she could not get pregnant. He believed her.

Now she wants him to take care of her lying ass as well as the baby. Bugger him, eh?

Should a 22 year old boy demand a doctor's note? Could you believe a doctor's note? Is the female not in control here to a large degree?

SNL had a spoof skit on the VP debate. Click on my sig for link.

It has a few good lines, but the best things are Tina Fey's facial expressions and accent.

Incidentally, as a flutist, Sarah Palin is about as good as a 2nd year middle school player. And I'm being generous.

What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I can tell you have trouble following an argument without twisting the other fellow's words to suit your preconceived purposes; but racist? Fuck girl, all races have babies. (tis the nature of things)

While I am typing, I might as well ask: why not infanticide? If you can kill a baby that just happens to still be inside, why not one that is outside. After all, it is just a few feet away most of the time. Say up until the kid can fend for itself. Its your body after all; why be saddled with a toddler if it is not convenient?

The answer? Because: killing is never the answer. We will never see eye to eye because you don't think the girl should practice birth control. Boys should also, but as has been pointed out here on this forum they are not the ones getting pregnant and killing helpless humans.

Only in the most clear cases of the health of the mother should abortion be considered. Even then, most often the mother should give up her life for the child. That is the morality of courage and honor.