Shoddy Mobby
Poetic.
On Monday the Supreme Court Of The United Status (SCOTUS) rendered a decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
What’s a “Burwell,” you ask? As the Secretary of Health and Human Services at the time the decision was rendered*, Sylvia Burwell automatically became a footnote to history. Based on her position, as far as this case is concerned, she’s a proxy for the United States.
*render:
melt down (fat) – process (the carcass of an animal) in order to extract proteins, fats, and other usable parts.
At issue (per the Hobby Lobby website): The federal government mandating that “family businesses provide four specific potentially life-terminating drugs and devices through their employee health plan in conflict with their deeply held religious convictions.” Widely the issue is described as contraception. So what are these four drugs? “[T]wo kinds of emergency contraceptive or ‘morning after’ pills, and two types of intrauterine devices, or IUDs.”
Which way did SCOTUS break? Let’s put it this way. I went to the official Hobby Lobby online store and clicked a menu option labeled “News Center.” I was whisked away from shopping to HobbyLobbyCase.com, a lavishly and gorgeously designed website which proudly proclaimed, “A VICTORY FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.”
I guess that answers the question, “Will they keep it low key?” Obviously, hell no. Shout it from the mountain top Moses-style. Some can just naturally sense the appropriate amount of decorum. Is gloating one of the seven deadly sins?
Continue reading →
Hyppo and Critter: Political Rape
Hyppo and Critter react to a strange and disturbing political discussion. We are proud to introduce our newest character in the Abyss, a humble politician by the name of Wes Tern Gall.
Continue reading →
Who Is Warring Whom?
Note: This might seem like yet another post about abortion but really it’s not. I’m going to try (and fail) to make some broader points. Points about Mitt Romney, Planned Parenthood, religious freedom and beliefs, the “terrible power” of government, societal control, and so much more. I’ll try to do it with my usual grace, style and aplomb…
Is this like preaching to the choir? I wouldn’t know. I’ve said some of this before and, no doubt, I’ll say some of it again.
Continue reading →
Blindage Blinders Blindingly Bright
Mitt Romney is goodness and light. Mitt Romney creates jobs. Mitt Romney is pro-life. Thou shan’t speak ill of Mitt Romney.
I have to admit: I’m still amazed when I see someone swimming in a pool of their own shit, when they gesture at me and yell, “Come on in! The water is fine!”
I’m as negative and as jaded as they come and this still gets me each and every time. It literally takes my breath away. It literally makes my head asplode.
I guess it makes me feel alive to know I can still be surprised that way.
I met a person the other day and we talked about presidential politics briefly. One of my friends will be pleased to note that she said Obama is a “narcissist.”
“Interesting,” I replied. “What word would you use to describe Mitt Romney?”
“I don’t know that much about him. Isn’t he into Scientology or a Mormon or something?” (This is an exact quote. I am decidedly not comparing those two.)
All hail the era of the informed voter! 🙂
This post isn’t about any single issue or candidate. It’s about the principle of “bias.” Call it what you will. Rose-colored glasses. Wishful thinking. Self-fulfilling prophecy. Whatever the hell it is, it is out there in abundance.
And, I might be biased, but I think my coverage of the topic will be the best ever!
Continue reading →
Bread and Circuses: Side Show Freaks
I have figured out the proper role of government in our lives. Step one is to find out the #1 most important issue to the citizenry. Step two is to go ape shit doing everything but.
I’m hardly to first person to connect these dots. But this morning something really hammered this point home.
Information came my way that the great state of Arizona enacted a law on Friday that prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for family planning and health services and organizations that also provide abortions. In other words, Planned Parenthood.
Here’s the kicker: Arizona currently provides no funds to Planned Parenthood. They just invented a solution for a problem that currently does not exist.
Continue reading →
Mission Control and Karen Handel’s failure to launch
Today brought a bit of good news to the world. My favorite two-faced person, Karen Handel, resigned from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity. In other news the sun continued to shine, puppies remained cute and the cats knocked my iPod Touch to the floor.
Yes, Virginia, there can be good days. But don’t you dare ever tell anyone I said that.
In Handel’s resignation letter she proudly had on display the style, grace and dignity that has served her so well during all of her years of hating Planned Parenthood.
Of Komen’s decision to “change its granting strategy” which led to the decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood, she says, “I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve.”
Komen then went on to make the arguments that “I wasn’t the only one (neener neener)” and pointed a crony accusing finger at Planned Parenthood, saying their reaction was a “gross mischaracterization of strategy.”
Apparently Handel is not one to go quietly into that good night. Whatever. Just as long as she says goodbye.
Continue reading →
Mississipi makes a great choice
Well, there goes tonight’s blog post. For once I’m happy to be sent packing back to the drawing board…
Mississippi voters have shocked the shit out of me and both sides of the controversial “personhood” issue. With 64% of precincts reporting, the measure was soundly defeated by a margin of 57% to 43%.
How refreshing to think of all the resources and monies that will no longer be expended fighting such a preposterous notion. Providers need jobs, children are hungry, and good people are dying because of a lack of access to health care. It feels downright decadent to forget all of that and instead turn our attention to philosophical matters and discussion of things like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
For the record, as I’ve stated in the past on this blog, I’m no rabid abortionist. I consider most abortions failures of personal responsibility and planning. We’re becoming a nation of dumb people and we’re managing our reproductive organs about as well as we manage our checkbooks. I believe that abortion should be legal but with an extremely short window of opportunity.
However, to attempt to take the fight all the way to the moment of conception is clear lunacy and patently preposterous. Let us work to adopt a reasonable position based on sound science, a desire to cause no pain, and still maintain the rights of the individual in our state.
Good job, Mississippi. You done good.
Shouts from the Abyss 
Recent Comments