brought to my attention by Jean posting at Bitch|Lab

Clearly, it’s time – long past time – to take the threat seriously and participate in countermeasures. A rear guard action, considering the political climate but there’s nothing else for it.

Tenn. Senate Backs Anti-Abortion Step

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Mar 9, 2006 (AP)— The state Senate on Thursday passed a proposal to amend the Tennessee Constitution so that it doesn’t guarantee a woman’s right to an abortion.

The 24-9 vote was the first step of many toward officially amending the state constitution. The measure would go before voters if the General Assembly approves it twice over the next two years.

The state Supreme Court has ruled that the Tennessee Constitution grants women a greater right to abortion than the U.S. Constitution.

Abortion rights supporters are attacking the measure as a stepping stone to prohibiting all abortions in Tennessee if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark abortion decision in Roe v. Wade.

“The resolution is an all-out attack on the women of Tennessee and seeks to rob women of their right to make choices about their own health, safety and personal welfare,” said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee.

full here

widely reported but first brought to my attention via the rose scented Warren Ellis…

How Many Things Do You See Wrong With This Statement?

From a transcript of an American PBS news magazine that Cliff sent over to me:

PBS REPORTER FRED DE SAM LAZARO: (South Dakota Senator Bill) Napoli says most abortions are performed for what he calls “convenience.” He insists that exceptions can be made for rape or incest under the provision that protects the mother’s life. I asked him for a scenario in which an exception may be invoked.

[Sexist Asshat] SENATOR BILL NAPOLI: A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.

via the ever failure proof Warren Ellis [permalink]

How Many Things Do You See Wrong With This Statement?

From a transcript of an American PBS news magazine that Cliff sent over to me:

PBS REPORTER FRED DE SAM LAZARO: (South Dakota Senator Bill) Napoli says most abortions are performed for what he calls “convenience.” He insists that exceptions can be made for rape or incest under the provision that protects the mother’s life. I asked him for a scenario in which an exception may be invoked.

[Sexist Asshat]SENATOR BILL NAPOLI: A real-life description to me would be a rape victim, brutally raped, savaged. The girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated. I mean, that girl could be so messed up, physically and psychologically, that carrying that child could very well threaten her life.

(So there you go. If you’re a committed Christian virgin saving your cherry for some fumbling mong who thinks a clitoris is a border plant and who then gets beaten to within an inch of her life and then impregnated rectally, Bill Napoli will abort you himself.)