The Republican Party, by the unhappy coincidence of needing religious conservative votes, requires that its candidates talk about their commitment to the "right to life" and their opposition to Planned Parenthood. I'm not aware that anyone aside from Rick "Batshit Crazy and Never Electable" Santorum had ever spoken out against birth control, but it's theoretically possible someone made a throwaway statement about it.
Anyway, the understanding is that Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned. George W. Bush didn't even try when he had control of all three branches of government. Birth control will always be available. Planned Parenthood may be kicked around a bit, but that's understandable since it's the lightning rod of the abortion debate (it's a sop to the conservatives to try to defund it or investigate it for "irregularities" and things like that).
This election isn't going to be about these tangential cultural issues that neither party is going to do anything about no matter what they say. It's about whether or not our President's failed economic policy (probably tied to his failure to understand the private sector at all) will take us down the path to European insolvency (e.g., Greece, Spain, Italy, France) or whether we will fix the problems we have to make our system sustainable.
Anyway, the understanding is that Roe v. Wade is not going to be overturned. George W. Bush didn't even try when he had control of all three branches of government. Birth control will always be available. Planned Parenthood may be kicked around a bit, but that's understandable since it's the lightning rod of the abortion debate (it's a sop to the conservatives to try to defund it or investigate it for "irregularities" and things like that).
This election isn't going to be about these tangential cultural issues that neither party is going to do anything about no matter what they say. It's about whether or not our President's failed economic policy (probably tied to his failure to understand the private sector at all) will take us down the path to European insolvency (e.g., Greece, Spain, Italy, France) or whether we will fix the problems we have to make our system sustainable.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Paul Ryan is selected as Republican VP candidate
- 11/08/2012 05:01:47 PM
1990 Views
Personally? No, I'm not voting Republican at all this year.
- 11/08/2012 05:18:06 PM
979 Views
Ya know that narrative of the right getting further right is pretty ridicolous
- 11/08/2012 06:43:44 PM
942 Views
it could possibly be the "all or nothing" budget fights and gay marriage among other things
- 11/08/2012 08:19:11 PM
987 Views
Yeah, I forgot the Dems are very enlightened about gay marriage now for what? 2 Months?
- 11/08/2012 08:59:17 PM
1055 Views
yet despite that, dems didn't put referenda and push bills discriminating against gay people
- 12/08/2012 07:55:38 PM
1057 Views
They certainly have, they've just done it less and less recently
- 12/08/2012 09:39:53 PM
936 Views
I dunno, but from my perspective (and this is from one who doesn't follow politics closely)
- 11/08/2012 08:32:43 PM
1176 Views
I'm sorry, but anyone that votes for Obama after the past 3 and 1/2 years is a moron.....
- 12/08/2012 03:30:47 AM
886 Views
If you are proud of not voting, please shut up: The adults have a country to run.
- 12/08/2012 04:11:49 AM
910 Views
Candidates have to earn my vote - I'm not a slave like you to the 2 party system.
- 12/08/2012 04:24:02 AM
1056 Views
Who said anything about the two-party system?
- 12/08/2012 04:29:36 AM
872 Views
No offense intended, but voting third party is as stupid as not voting.
- 12/08/2012 04:42:28 AM
1129 Views
I'm with Joel on this. There's a big difference between voting third party and not voting.
- 12/08/2012 07:31:29 PM
1039 Views
Nice asshatery.
- 12/08/2012 07:56:57 AM
1125 Views
Wouldn't you love to have a "none of the above" option.....
- 12/08/2012 03:36:54 PM
888 Views
Or you could use a PR system and act like responsible adults. *NM*
- 12/08/2012 05:47:14 PM
458 Views
Not voting sends no message but "we will let politicians do as they please."
- 12/08/2012 05:12:55 PM
1323 Views
Well there's a difference between not voting at all and not voting in one race
- 12/08/2012 05:55:47 PM
1088 Views
Usually only in degree, not kind, though I mostly had the former in mind.
- 12/08/2012 07:27:54 PM
1024 Views
I hope that most of the disenchanted Obama 08 suppoerters feel the same way *NM*
- 13/08/2012 11:27:15 AM
445 Views
I'm happy with it, I like Ryan
- 11/08/2012 06:47:21 PM
952 Views
What a shock.
- 11/08/2012 08:18:35 PM
1086 Views
- 11/08/2012 08:18:35 PM
1086 Views
Most Republicans are fine with gutting Medicare.
- 11/08/2012 08:31:03 PM
1182 Views
Everyone with an ounce of common sense is okay with "gutting" Medicare.....
- 12/08/2012 03:37:17 AM
898 Views
The only thing bankrupting Medicare is unsustainable US healthcare costs eating 20% of US GDP.
- 12/08/2012 03:56:28 AM
1220 Views
Silly comment - 30% of Medicare is FRAUD.....and the program is fatally flawed.
- 12/08/2012 04:09:26 AM
1034 Views
So private insurance costs are really growing SIXTY percent faster?!
- 12/08/2012 04:24:49 AM
1024 Views
Medicare worked for 50 years and SS for 80 because most people were DYING before 65.
- 12/08/2012 04:29:26 AM
826 Views
Eligibility age for both must increase (SSs has, but not enough.) They are not "unsustainable."
- 12/08/2012 04:31:57 AM
827 Views
definitely a bold pick but not going to help him enough in november
- 11/08/2012 08:27:59 PM
1004 Views
Since I forgot you asked Americans if it would change our votes: No, still voting Jill Stein (Green)
- 11/08/2012 11:07:12 PM
891 Views
Who cares? He's hot.
- 11/08/2012 11:53:42 PM
1143 Views
I actually said, "He's not hot enough."
- 13/08/2012 01:15:58 PM
879 Views
On the plus side, you need not fear Ryans failure to mention abortion and contraception.
- 13/08/2012 03:17:45 PM
1069 Views
Legolas a question for you, what is your opinion of George W Bush Social Security Plans in 2005?
- 12/08/2012 01:03:24 AM
893 Views
Wonderful choice! Truly wonderful.....check the video.
- 12/08/2012 03:22:48 AM
885 Views
No, it doesn't change my opinion any
- 12/08/2012 07:50:21 AM
1054 Views
I hear even the DNC has rejected its TN Senate nominee.
- 12/08/2012 05:46:37 PM
970 Views
- 12/08/2012 05:46:37 PM
970 Views
Yes, they disavowed him
- 12/08/2012 08:00:33 PM
974 Views
Apparently the TN Democratic Party agrees voters should write in someone elses name.
- 12/08/2012 08:34:46 PM
947 Views
Does not work in the US
- 13/08/2012 01:17:58 AM
925 Views
We do not need most of the populace to cast protest votes, only most voters.
- 13/08/2012 01:33:41 AM
884 Views
I was going to vote Romney anyway, so no, it doesn't change anything.
- 12/08/2012 10:39:15 PM
957 Views
But I'm guessing you're glad with Ryan? Prefer him over the alternatives? Or not?
- 12/08/2012 10:49:35 PM
1100 Views
Makes sense for you. You are Romney's target audience.
- 13/08/2012 01:19:26 PM
899 Views
What should Obama have done?
- 13/08/2012 07:31:23 PM
946 Views
Mmm, Objectivism. Another reason for me to vote Obama.
- 12/08/2012 11:00:34 PM
1050 Views
But doesn't he say he detests Rand?
- 12/08/2012 11:53:47 PM
796 Views
No he doesn't disavow Ayn Rand, he still believes in her
- 13/08/2012 01:15:34 AM
969 Views
that is pretty mild of you campare it to the radical influence in Obama's life *NM*
- 13/08/2012 11:35:52 AM
556 Views
Ah, the classic "it is OK because their guy rapes puppies, too, even though he does not" defense.
- 13/08/2012 03:23:29 PM
835 Views
Obama doesn't have a history of openly endorsing the views of said radicals. *NM*
- 14/08/2012 12:32:52 AM
599 Views
he has a much closer and more personal realtionship with radicals than Romney or Ryan *NM*
- 20/08/2012 03:54:17 AM
560 Views
Link to audio of Paul Ryans address to The Atlas Society.
- 13/08/2012 03:37:27 AM
1093 Views
Or you could have just read my response which posted prior to yours
- 13/08/2012 01:45:07 PM
886 Views
- 13/08/2012 01:45:07 PM
886 Views
Don't get me wrong
- 13/08/2012 12:53:10 AM
904 Views
Actually I believe he promised to vote for Romney if I did
- 13/08/2012 03:48:35 AM
1055 Views
- 13/08/2012 03:48:35 AM
1055 Views
What an amusing retrospective.
- 13/08/2012 04:20:02 AM
1058 Views
I tried reading it again, but my eyes glazed over when you started babbling about lesbian covens.
- 14/08/2012 12:30:03 AM
837 Views
It was a hyperbolic reference to the extreme left (one stolen from Matt Groening, btw.)
- 14/08/2012 10:12:09 AM
898 Views
Interesting.
- 14/08/2012 11:34:30 AM
983 Views
They have a pill for that now.
- 14/08/2012 01:14:39 PM
1033 Views
I'm pretty sure the solution is you learning elementary composition. *NM*
- 15/08/2012 11:33:57 PM
586 Views
Your willful reading incomprehension is neither my fault nor problem.
- 16/08/2012 07:40:46 PM
1000 Views
Disillusioned, sure. But I don't recall ever considering voting Republican.
- 14/08/2012 12:31:17 AM
975 Views
No birth control, no right to choose, no planned parenthood?
- 13/08/2012 01:58:51 PM
826 Views
I saw a theory just after the announcement speculating Ryan was chosen as a scapegoat.
- 13/08/2012 03:33:56 PM
992 Views
I agree with your statements
- 14/08/2012 12:53:41 AM
1044 Views
It's mostly nonsense
- 14/08/2012 04:46:11 AM
975 Views
Well
- 14/08/2012 02:54:06 PM
1176 Views
'Nonsense' refers to the thing said about the religious right by the media
- 14/08/2012 04:01:47 PM
1191 Views
I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
- 14/08/2012 06:30:23 PM
1226 Views
Re: I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
- 15/08/2012 01:45:59 AM
928 Views
I have to keep this short, because I am on the iPad.
- 15/08/2012 05:38:48 AM
888 Views
Triple reply chain is usually a good point for the trim-edit anyway
- 15/08/2012 05:27:20 PM
1060 Views
- 15/08/2012 05:27:20 PM
1060 Views
The question, as for Tom, is what you believe Romney would improve for small businesses.
- 14/08/2012 01:38:29 PM
1005 Views
I am aware of that, thank you. And I don't distill my choice down to small business, either.
- 14/08/2012 02:24:24 PM
1043 Views
I see your point, but...
- 14/08/2012 02:30:22 PM
820 Views
Well
- 14/08/2012 03:09:18 PM
1014 Views
Are you really going to let Obama con you into voting for him again?
- 21/08/2012 02:00:06 PM
857 Views
Expanding our perspective does not improve our options much, sadly.
- 14/08/2012 04:23:48 PM
957 Views
Bullshit
- 21/08/2012 01:46:42 PM
1010 Views


*NM*
