Fundies Gotcha Down?

Me too! So, it’s time to give ‘em heck!

OPEN THREAD – What’s happening out there?

Hmmmmm……. One of these things is just like the other…..

I was reading two articles today and wanted to share with you what I see as similarities, which I have bolded. Some of you might be able to come up with more:

Here’s the first one from West Virginia:

W.Va. lawmakers to get both sides on gay marriage

Evangelical Christian groups hope to convince West Virginia lawmakers to put a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage on the state ballot.

The state Family Policy Council and the national Alliance Defense Fund both plan to weigh in Tuesday at a meeting of a joint legislative committee studying the issue.

Organizations opposed to the requested amendment are also slated to speak, as is a law professor considered an expert on the West Virginia Constitution.

A 2000 state law rejects same-sex marriage. The conservative groups say a court challenge could overturn that.

The House of Delegates voted down an attempt to force the amendment measure from committee during this year’s regular session.

Six states allow same-sex marriage. Thirty have constitutional bans.

Here’s the second article from Arizona:

Arizona governor approves abortion constraints

Republican Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday set a new course from her Democratic predecessor on the issue of abortion, signing a measure imposing new mandates and restrictions.

One of the bill’s provisions is a requirement that those who visit an abortion provider wait 24 hours before getting an abortion. The visit would have to include disclosures by doctors in person about the procedure, risks and alternatives, and the fetus’ probable characteristics.

Also, an existing law on parental approval for minors seeking to end pregnancies would be toughened. In addition, pharmacists and other health care providers will be able to refuse to hand out emergency contraception on moral or religious grounds.

Former Gov. Janet Napolitano, who was governor for six years, vetoed all bills sent to her that restricted abortion rights. Brewer replaced her in January.

The head of a group lobbying for the bill on behalf of Christian social conservatives said the signing shows Brewer “stands for life” and caps a 13-year effort for passage of so-called “informed consent” legislation.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 other states require waiting periods — typically 24 hours — while 33 require some form of counseling. All those states waive the waiting period requirement in a medical emergency or when the woman’s life or health is threatened, according to the NCSL.

In a nutshell, the similarities boil down to fundies going through state legislatures to impose their religious beliefs upon pro choice women and men and the LGBT community. What is the best way to defeat these loonies?

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Also, Sotomayor hearings continue today. Let’s hope she doesn’t have a “meltdown”.

Screw off Lindsay Graham!

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H/T DYB

Also, President Obama revealed today another reason he can’t act on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, signaled he may change and not repeal the policy

Screw off Barack Obama!

Morning Widdershins: PRESIDENT MAYBE

While President Obama has not yet quite landed “on the ground running” as his supporters had predicted back in the primaries, he is hovering. We have been assured that he is taking his time, looking things over, studying the policies, and promising to get back to us sometime soon with a decision or two. One just needs to be patient.

There was some concern that perhaps he was not fully turned out as yet to accept the role of Commander in Chief owing in large part to his broad inexperience. Again it was explained to us skeptics, who were seeking someone a little less sophomoric as president since the last one was such a dud, that Obama was going to provide a “breath of fresh” air in the political arena and all we need do is to put our concerns aside and give him a chance to prove as much.

He promised, once elected, to make FOCA a top priority. But pressed to explain why this did not happen, he concluded that it was just something that was not on his immediate radar and he needed more time before he tackled that issue. Keep “hoping”.

For some peculiar reason he was able to capture the attention of the gay community who actively supported his candidacy by his promising to tackle the unfair issue of DADT. And as more gays were summarily discharged from active service, that time had arrived to take a stand and absolve that law by a stroke of the pen owing to its overall unfairness. But once again he opted to remain silent on this issue by throwing it back at congress to amend, while promising to sign the override into law once it reached his desk. If ever.

On the issue of healthcare, he admitted to the need to reduce the costs and promised to put forward a plan that would equal what congress itself enjoys. He threw the bulk of that “reform” over to the healthcare lobbyists to fashion a bill that may or may not squeak through congress, watered down to the minimum of reforms that would have the public once again getting the shaft! It is now bogged down in that body with each side, Repubs, Dems, and the lobbyists, clawing at one another while he remains out of the discussion but promising to step in. Eventually. Maybe before the August recess, maybe after. Who knows. Right now he has other more pressing issues to attend.

As the Iranian people took to the streets in open defiance of the government mandate surrounding a questionable election, and based somewhat in part to his very own words directed to the mideast community weeks before, the president was largely absent. Taking his time parsing out what he needed to say, it took a full three days before he issued a statement, and then largely at the urging of his Secretary of State.

That transparency he promised is coming. Just not a priority at the moment. Year 6 might be a good place to “bookmark” this occurrence but not now. Fretting about this only guarantees wrinkles. Stay tuned. “Change” is on the way. Probably taking the subway or something.

This is one of the great procrastinators of all time! Think about it. Was not his willingness to keep the fretful Bush policies in place a good example of this? Why not keep what had already been crafted in advance of your arrival and you can just add a checkmark against your “to do list” without breaking a sweat?

Closing Guantanomo? One of these days. Don’t want to be seen as hasty here. Forget about that campaign promise; this stuff is harder than expected! Ridding congress of the pervasive activities of lobbyists? He’ll get around to that one too. Just not a big priority.

His “hands on” approach seems to have taken a different route since he was sworn into office six months ago. From where I sit, he has spent much of his time traveling the world, giving almost daily speeches about what needs to be done, sitting for interviews with friendly reporters, running out for burgers with the press in tow, and taking mini vacations with the family. The “gone fishing” sign on the door to the Oval Office has been put to permanent use. I don’t expect my president to be chained to the desk, but come on!

I can fully appreciate procrastination since I am of that same club. Putting off what needs to be done can become “creative” when seeking an excuse to put off for another day an item that begs attention. But there does come the time when the overflowing trash barrel, the unmowed lawn, the unpaid bill, the dripping faucet, requires action.

It seems that it is high time to park Air Force One for awhile and get back to the business of governing. He was elected with the assurance that this was his focus when seeking the votes. Hit the ground running? Only if he plans on wearing a parachute.