August 1, 2006
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TUESDAY POLITICS
On July 19, GWB vetoed Federally funded stem cell research that would have allowed use of new stem cell lines generated from the hundreds of thousands of embryos that are thrown away by fertilization clinics each year. Seeming not to notice the paradox of sending thousands of Americans to die on foreign soil while dashing the hopes of thousands of Americans here waiting desperately for cures to numerous illnesses and injuries, he showed how politics (by god) can trump science. Today’s fun test of this power is the Morning After Pill (or Plan B), which the FDA has been dragging its feet about over-the-counter sales on for years. (See the map for the nine states which now sell this pill without prescription but only at some pharmacies.) Plan B, by the way, is basically a high dose of contraceptive that prevents a pregnancy from getting started. An FDA expert-advisory committee recommended approval of over-the-counter sales of the contraceptive for women of any age more than two years ago. Dozens of professional societies, including the AMA, said there is no evidence that easier access to Plan B would lead to an increase in promiscuity. Now it’s suddenly looking like two female senators, Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. and Patty Murray, D-Wash., are fighting politics with politics. By holding up the confirmation of conservative acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, they are hoping to force the FDA to agree to selling Plan B to women over 18 over the counter every damn where. Politics science politics science politics science. In the meantime, don’t get pregnant and don’t get sick and you’ll be fine.
(For info re confusion between “abortion pill” and “morning after pill” read this.)
Deep Thought: “The other day I got out my can opener and was opening a can of worms when I thought, “What am I doing?!”
Today I am grateful for: Nuts of all kinds.
Guess the Movie: “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!” Answer: All About Eve, 1950.
Winner: Iby1014
‘No Hezbollah Rockets Fired from Qana’
by Dahr Jamail
QANA – Red Cross workers and residents of Qana, where Israeli bombing killed at least 60 civilians, have told IPS that no Hezbollah rockets were launched from the city before the Israeli air strike. (Rest of article here.)
Comments (30)
Politics science politics science politics science. In the meantime, don’t get pregnant and don’t get sick and you’ll be fine.
It’s flabbergasting! It’s outrageous! It’s remarkably rediculous! It’s enough to drive you crazy. Throw in the politics behind global warming and it’s enough to just throw up your hands. The US needs to take the lead in these sort of things (e.g. GOOD science) instead of ignoring/distorting the facts.
I heard Bush give a speech on C-SPAN where he, very emphatically, proclaimed that we are a nation UNDER GOD (to sparse audience applause). I want to smack him upside the head!
trust in me this will come back to bite him…
I hope the daughters go out on a drunken spree this weekend and both get knocked up by some good ol’ boy that daddy won’t be proud of! Sheeesh!
All About Eve!!
You got it! About About Eve.
Damn…too late…I actually knew that was “All About Eve” too. Lord, I dislike that GWB. I think I might dislike all politicians, as far as that goes. The line is always getting blurred. Point me in a good direction?
Dont forget religion in the politics science mix!
Politics at all levels is a complicated game played by complicated people with motives.
We would be better off if they would put their can openners up and leave the worms closed.
What’s even more outrageous is that the stem cell bill was bipartisan, it had support from the republicans in the Senate. Why he felt the need to posture and swat down that bill when his own party wanted it is beyond me.
Aww…that movie is a great movie! All About Eve that is. lol
Hope things are going well!
i hate politics a lot.
why not allow somehting to benifit from abortion besides the obvious. that’s a shame. i can’t wait for the next election… then i will actually be able to vote, even though there’s not much i can really change in TN. TN is way too concervative.
Can open… worms everywhere.
That covers both the politics and the literal can of worms.
Plus the idiot killed a lot of people when he was governor (joke) of our state. Granted, they were not solid citizens, but nonetheless, without the blink of an eye. I’m at protected when you come by. ~ lea
I can hardly believe that stem cell research veto. I just can’t comprehend that kind of thinking. There must be something blissful about being so freaking simple-minded.
This medication is questionably safe for women. I’m one woman who wants more research done on this drug. See article: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/438178/2_more_deaths_linked_to_morningafter_pill/index.html?source=247
I added an article to the post explaining the difference between the abortion pill (which has been
related to some deaths and the morning after pill, which has not.
Government contradictions… typical.
Tricia
*random props* Great post! The morning after pill has been used for years in other countries with excellent results. All this does is prevent an egg from embedding & fertilizing……isn’t that what all birth control does?
As far as stem cell research……if we don’t go forward with it some other country will. Bush is an idiot! Stem cell research is the best thing that has happened to America since the industrial revolution. Lets see…….save lives or send innocent people to die in a war that has no purpose to the American people? Veto progress for illnesses or try and rule the world, destroy innocent people & their land for their oil?……….hhhummmmmmmm doesn’t take much thought to me!
I hope the morning after pill passes legislation in our state-apparently it isn’t even under consideration yet (Minnesota). Did it surprise me about the veto? Not in the least-considering the source.
Great xanga! Hope you you don’t mind if I subscribe = )
bush… grr… BAAAH!!! so… angry… make me want to smash…
Just got my copy of Advance for Health Information Professionals and there’s Part II of an article on medical transcriptionists being replaced with medical editors. Does your (old) job have SRT or the old-fashioned transcribing thing? Still thinking about getting into backend SRT. Better hurry, hadn’t I? I can hear you saying “good luck”…. ~ lea
RYC: yes I have a love for music, although i will not try and produce my own for the fact that i will be endangering many many people if i started.
I have given up on Bush ever saying a single thing that is sane. I haven’t QUITE given up on the American public. I still think it’s possible that the rascals will be voted out of office at the next opportunity. Hope springs eternal. I am proving it.
hey there. just poppin in, I have already read this post, but wanted to say hello.
Tricia
There is so much ignorance out there about the morning after pill. It’s sad what 6 years of this admin has done to our access to information and truth,
There was another post here???? The movie was African Queen, and it had a beautiful flower???
Hmmm…..
Tricia
I like the look of your blog! Very professional!
It showed up as a post. In the post was a movie quote from African Queen, and the flower picture, and it said click here, and I did, and it took me to your photos. I ever left a comment on the photos and boosted it. I don’t know, if you didn’t post it, I wonder how did. It was formatted exactly like your post. Hope you solve the mystery.
Tricia
ryc – Thank you.