1. The Virginia legislature passed a modified ultrasound anti-abortion law -- having scrapped the requirement for the more invasive vaginal procedure in favor of an external ultrasound exam.
It's still a politically motivated, completely unnecessary procedure, mandated by the radical right wing intent on overturning Roe v. Wade. But at least more moderate voices are beginning to be heeded.
2. More evidence of that: the same Virginia legislature also tabled the controversial "personhood" bill that was about to be passed. Officially, they voted to postpone consideration for the next legislature; but by then the 2012 election will be over and what's politically popular may have changed.
3. In the month of February, three (3) state legislatures voted to legalize same-sex marriage: Washington (signed by the governor), New Jersey (vetoed by the governor), and Maryland (awaiting the governor's signature). WA and MD join six other states (MA, IA, NH, VT, CT, NY) and the District of Columbia, with CA's Prop8 pending a decision in the federal court of appeals.
4. Another federal judge has ruled that parts of the Defense of Marriage Act are unconstitutional. This was the case that the Department of Justice declined to mount a defense for, citing legal scholars that the law is unconstitutional. But then John Boehner and his House GOP crowd authorized $500,000 of tax payer money to pay legal fees for a defense. They lost. Boehner should apologize to the taxpayers for squandering half a million for a fool's errand in a time of slashing funding for people in real need.
5. The media is beginning to fact check Newt Gingrich's wild claims and outrageous charges. His charging Obama with "supporting infanticide" is really just ridiculous and needs no check. Supporting legal abortion rights is not the same as killing babies, Newt. Just get over it.
6. Newt's off the wall claim in the recent debate that he would save $500 billion a year by overhauling the civil service system was easily checked. Josh Marshall found that the entire federal payroll (including military, which is not civil service) adds up to $432.6 billion. So even if Newt fired every government employee, it would not save $500 billion.
7. This one is silly, but it shows how Newt will just say anything for effect. He's been peddling a line that gets attention, criticizing Obama for expecting fuel-efficient cars to be enough to make us energy-independent. He says: "You can't put a gun rack in a Volt," the volt being the new Chevrolet all electric car.
Truth is, it's been tried. And you can easily mount several different, commercially available gun racks in the back of a Volt.
8. And let's add this on to the list: Economic indicators continue to improve, and there is a palpable lifting of the mood in this country. Maybe the best proof of that is Obama's rising approval ratings, plus his outpolling each of his potential opponents.
All in all, a good week.
Ralph
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Re #4. Not willing to admit defeat and apologize for wasting taxpayer money, Boehner's office announced that they would appeal the ruling on DOMA.
ReplyDeleteMore taxpayer money wasted on a fool's errand.