HorsesAss.Org

Obama announces “an accommodation” on the birth control issue:

The “accommodation” is reasonable, and The Catholic Health Association (which was considered subversive by some Bishops during the 2009 health care debate) is “very pleased with the White House announcement”.

The original issue is complete bullshit—yet another unholy liaison between religious extremists and right wing political opportunists. As MoJo’s Nick Baumann points out, much of the policy dates back to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruling back in December, 2000, that went entirely unchallenged by the Bush administration:

“It was, we thought at the time, a fairly straightforward application of Title VII principles,” a top former EEOC official who was involved in the decision told Mother Jones. “All of these plans covered Viagra immediately, without thinking, and they were still declining to cover prescription contraceptives. It’s a little bit jaw-dropping to see what is going on now…There was some press at the time but we issued guidances that were far, far more controversial.”

After the EEOC opinion was approved in 2000, reproductive rights groups and employees who wanted birth control access sued employers that refused to comply. The next year, in Erickson v. Bartell Drug Co., a federal court agreed with the EEOC’s reasoning.

So what changed? Almost nothing:

“We have used [the EEOC ruling] many times in negotiating with various employers,” says Judy Waxman, the vice president for health and reproductive rights at the National Women’s Law Center. “It has been in active use all this time. [President Obama’s] policy is only new in the sense that it covers employers with less than 15 employees and with no copay for the individual. The basic rule has been in place since 2000.”

The real issue at stake IS about religious freedom. It’s about whether an employer can impose its religious views on employees—and their bodies. It is whether individuals who work for religious-affiliated employers are required to accept their employer’s extremist views.

And, no mistake about it, a prohibition on contraception in America, in 2012, is an extremist view.

No. Individual rights to private matters of conscience—and matters of personal health—trump those of religious institutions.

The government is right to protect individuals from that institutional violence.

Earlier today, I linked to Goldy’s piece about caucusing for Santorum. While I think that there’s a case to be made that the negative campaign and the extended primary hurt the GOP, I’m not as sold on that as he is. And Goldy is hardly unique among commentators who think that it’ll be bad for them.

In general though, I think primaries are good for the party that holds them. The continued free media for Romney and the GOP’s ideas (such as they are) are not what I’d consider wonderful. And it’ll give them time to test their messaging and build their organization in various states.

That’s more or less how it played out in 2008. I remember Democrats fretting that if Hillary Clinton didn’t drop out that the nasty campaign would destroy Obama. That obviously didn’t happen. So take it with a grain of salt when those same people talk with assurance about what a primary will do to the GOP.

The biggest thing about the 2008 primary was it got a lot of people excited about Obama or Clinton. And that excitement stayed through the election. But that really hasn’t happened in 2012 so far. I see for example that fewer people are showing up for the GOP contests, and given that the only action is on the GOP side this year, that bodes quite ill for them. I mean, who the hell is excited for Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum?

Today Horsesass.Org is participating in a Washington United for Marriage and Daily Kos blog swarm to help support the marriage equality campaign in Washington State. HA is joined by bloggers from Bilerico Project, Pam’s House Blend, Good As You, AMERICABlog Gay,the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, the Seattle Lesbian, The Bent Angle, on the-Ave, MadProfessah, HRC, Hella Bus, Step Forward, LGBT POV, FrontiersLA, the Left Shue, Peace Tree Farm and more.

This has been an incredible week! On Tuesday a three judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional. In the majority opinion, the court wrote,”Prop 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California.”

On Wednesday, the Washington State House passed a same-sex marriage bill, and now it the bill is headed to Governor Gregoire’s desk for her signature. She promised to sign the bill before Valentine’s Day!

Please click here to thank Governor Gregoire.

Governor Gregoire’s leadership was instrumental to the success of passing a marriage bill in Washington State. She not only supported the bill, but she introduced the bill. This is as much her legislation as it is our community’s legislation.

Please join us during this blog swarm to thank Governor Gregoire for her leadership and her friendship. There is little doubt our opponents will make their voices heard, but we know that together our voice for equality is so much stronger.

Please click here to the Washington United for Marriage’s and Daily Kos’ joint petition to thank Governor Gregoire for making history.

When our friends speak up for us, we need to speak up for our friends, so join us in thanking Governor Gregoire today!

Did you sign the thank you petition? Share it with your friends: http://wufm.it/4

– You’ll all be shocked to learn that the Weekly Standard are a bunch of war mongers.

– I’m not thrilled with Obama’s decision to give his blessing to a super PAC to support his reelection. Of course I’m not a fan of campaigning with one hand tied behind his back. But I think given American’s dislike of them (and the fact that he will be well funded anyway), he could have spun his not having one for more value than I think it will add. But I don’t think it’s hypocrisy to oppose them in principal and have one when the other side already has several.

– Goldy has picked up on the idea of messing with the GOP Caucus. I’m leaning toward Fred Karger, even though I’d vote for Obama in a general election between the two of them.

– New Ventures Facility

– Planned Parenthood has a lot of allies.

– And it’ll need them, because there is a hell of a lot of anti-choice crap at the state level.

– I’ve been thinking for a couple days now about the athlete I’d have play for my soul and the best I can come up with is it would have to be in an individual sport. What I’m saying is I’m not very good at this game.

– Oh, look what they’re doing with spider webs these days.

This past Monday I moderated the Cannabis Defense Coalition’s monthly public meeting for February. Here’s a short rundown of what’s been happening locally with drug law reform:

– The CDC is opposing the medical marijuana bill currently in the state Senate (SB 6265). The bill was introduced in response to the mess caused by Governor Gregoire’s veto last year. After that bill took effect, a number of smaller communities across the state were under the false impression that they could ban the 10-person collective gardens that the law allowed. And larger communities like Seattle and Tacoma were upset that dispensaries weren’t legitimized enough to start regulating them adequately.

This bill found a way to split that difference. It would allow for “non-profit patient cooperatives” that are by default legal in any county or city with more than 200,000 people, but by default illegal in any county or city with less than 200,000 people. It also allows a jurisdiction to limit the number of people in a collective garden to 3.

The CDC is concerned that access to medical marijuana will once again become extremely difficult for rural patients in the state, but that’s not their only concern. As Steve Elliott points out, the bill would also create a patient registry, a non-starter for CDC members who have major concerns about the government maintaining a list of people who are breaking federal law. This is compounded by the fact that the federal government has also been actively trying to eliminate the gun-ownership rights of medical marijuana patients.

Not mentioned by the CDC, the “Save 502” clause was removed, meaning that if a 5ng/ml limit passes along with I-502 this year, there will be no protection for patients who test above the limit for medical reasons.

– As for New Approach Washington’s I-502, it has qualified for the November ballot. Due to its DUI language, it’s still expected that a large number of medical marijuana patients will vote against the bill, and some plan to actively campaign against it. During Monday’s meeting, there was discussion about Washington State Police initiating training for how to handle marijuana DUI cases. There was also a claim that the number of marijuana DUI arrests have been going up recently, but haven’t seen any actual numbers to back that up yet.

The topic of marijuana DUI continues to be an extremely difficult political hurdle for legalization advocates. What happens in 2012 will likely dictate how future initiatives handle the topic.

– While Sensible Washington has opted out of trying to run its own statewide marijuana legalization initiative in 2012, they’ve announced that they’ll be working as part of a broad effort to pass local initiatives in various communities around the state. These initiatives will be similar to the “lowest law enforcement priority” initiatives that have already passed in Tacoma and Seattle, but will also make it illegal for local and state police to work with the federal government in the enforcement of medical marijuana laws.

– Finally, while the success of the gay marriage bill doesn’t have a direct impact on drug policy, it might have an interesting indirect one. If a referendum on the gay marriage bill is filed and makes the ballot, you could see an increase in the fundamentalist vote in November, something that might not bode well for I-502.

During the Komen debacle one thing that I was pleasantly surprised to read was Patty Murray’s reactions. Not just that she was out on the issue early and that she was quite right, but also that people actually quoted her. And not just in the local papers. I’m not entirely sure that local people are really picking up on it, but Patty Murray is sort of becoming a rock star.

I mean we all know she’s a leader on veterans’ issues and that she co-chaired the super committee. She’s also done quite a bit for health care for women, but sadly that doesn’t seem to get recognized as much locally. These are clear signs of respect from her colleagues. And it’s been happening for quite a while now.

But in many ways because she’s been quietly competent* instead of a show off, she’s not recognized as much for the things she does. I hope the old timers who talk wistfully about Scoop and Maggie realize what we have now.

[Read more…]

Jerry Cornfield summarizes the likely trajectory of ESSB 6239, the same-sex marriage bill.

A vote should come this afternoon…watch it live on TVW.

There is something you can do before the debate and vote begins…call or email your Representatives encouraging them to support passage. Even if your Rep. already supports the legislation, a show of support is important—you can probably imagine the type of campaign opponents are undertaking right now.

You can very quickly find contact information for your Representatives here.

Update: As expected…it passed.

I’m livebloggin’ it from the Montlake Alehouse!

Ladies and gentleman, the comment thread is open for your pleasure….

5:17: We have CNN on the tube, sans sound. I’ll see if I can find streaming audio. Otherwise, this will be an impressionistic report based on video and emotional stimulus only….

5:19: The teevee tells me that Romney and Santorum are tied in MO at 36% each. Go Frothy!

5:21: Romney puts Santorum down -1%.

5:23: In Missouri, Uncommitted is slightly ahead of Ron Paul. Go Uncommitted!!!!

5:38: I’ve been on the phone with my neighbor for the last 10 minutes or so, but I see there has been some action. Santorum moved on top of Romney, then Romney moved back on top of Santorum. Somebody get a hose, please.

5:52: In MO, “Uncommitted” has just pulled ahead of Ron Paul! Go Newt!

5:45: And now Romney is tied with Santorum. Ewwwwwwwww!

5:47: Minnesota weighs in and Mitt is way, way down…in THIRD place.

5:49: In Missouri, Paul is now +2 over uncommitted. And by “uncommitted”, I think they mean “Gingrich”

5:53: Minnesota. Remarkable:

• Santorum 49%
• Paul 22%
• Newt Mitt 15%
• Gingrich 14%

6:20: Carl Ballard is here, so I’m chatting instead of serving you…

6:20: How totally awesome is this…Santorum is on top in all THREE states. If you believe in a God or god or Gods or gods, pray that this holds when more than 1% of the vote is in.

6:22: A hat-trick by Santorum tonight will cost Mitt Romney about $25 Million, will cost SuperPACs another $15 Million, and will leave all the candidates bloody and battered by the General election.

6:25: Carl Ballard isn’t wearing a sweater vest tonight. But that’s because he bicycled in tonight. He has an orange safety vest for biking in…and it doubles as a spiffy uniform when he joins the moon colony.

6:30: Romney goes on top of Santorum in CO….well, it was fun while it lasted….

6:35: Santorum is going to win the M states tonight. Mmmmmm for Santorum!

6:40: Holy SHIT! He is leading all 3 states…. Santorum spreads his philosophy across mid-continental U.S.

6:42: Santorum smears the competition in Missouri…CNN projects.

7:03: CNN has grainy, out of focus footage coming from their “caucus cam.” Isn’t that what got Rep.Anthony Weiner in trouble

7:21: I keep getting excited every time CNN shows Santorum way up in Colorado. But really, it has been the same result for a long time now. They keep repeating it over and over again, nevertheless it may not be true. But mark my words, the Romney camp is shitting their pants right now.

7:24: Okay…just as I posted that, new results came in from CO. Romney is tied with Santorum.

8:46: Holy shit…after Romney’s shit-eating-grin-festooned speech, he is shaking all kinds of hands, and we see TELEPROMTERS in the background. My God…Obama got more than Health Care Reform from Mitt Romney!!!

9:22: Goldy is here and he is totally vexed by the low numbers in Colorado…where Santorum is totally beating expectations by leading Romney. Unfortunately, the reported votes are not a random sample, but we can wish for a Santorum win…

9:25: And, of course, the second I leave the previous comment, Romney captures the lead from Santorum. Come-on, PRAY, people, PRAY!

9:40: Romney spreads his lead over Santorum….

9:51: 70% reporting in CO, and it looks like Santorum may just squeeze out a victory…. And Colorado Springs hasn’t reported yet, which ought to work in his favor.

10:03: Holy shit…Santorum pulls a HAT TRICK!!!! Incredible…an (un)clean sweep.

Please join us for another evening of electoral politics under the influence at the Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally.

There are three primary events tonight: The Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and the no-stakes “show-me” primary in Missouri. This one looks pretty interesting. The latest polls show:

• Gingrich is polling third in Colorado, behind Romney and Santorum
• Santorum has a slight lead over Romney in Minnesota
• Santorum may even take Missouri (though based on a slightly older poll)

Will Santorum really win two out of three?!? Clearly we’ll have some live blogging going on for this G.O.P. train-wreck.

Drinking Liberally–Seattle meets every Tuesday at the Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Avenue E. Our nominal starting time is 8:00 pm, but some of us will show up much earlier for the political happenings.

Can’t make it to Seattle? There is also a meeting tonight of the Tri-Cities chapters. On Thursday, Drinking Liberally Bremerton meets.

With 227 chapters of Living Liberally, including twelve in Washington state and six more in Oregon, chances are excellent there’s one near you.

Today is an auspicious day for Mitt Romney. It was four years ago today that he surrendered:

Romney’s candidacy, into which he has dumped well more than $35 million of his own fortune, had become a longshot, slipping far behind John McCain and losing ground even to Mike Huckabee. But he said he was pulling out of the race and clearing the way for McCain’s nomination for the good of the party and, ultimately, the country.

The good of the country?!? What the fuck?

As president, either of the Democratic contenders, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, Romney asserted, “would retreat and declare defeat” in Iraq and the war on terror. “And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be part of aiding a surrender to terror,” Romney said.

Oh yes…we all remember that day when our President, Barack Hussein Obama, handed keys to the White House over to Osama bin Laden—you know, shaped into and delivered to Osama in the form of a bullet. To the head. But, you know, with a limited stealth operation instead of a full military invasion, it was kind-of surrenderish.

Four years ago now, the G.O.P. front-runner was John McCain. My Monte Carlo-based analysis of the polling data had McCain leading Sen. Obama by 341 to 197 electoral votes and Sen. Hillary Clinton by 310 to 228 electoral votes.

How did Romney stack up against Obama at the time? My last analysis in that match-up had Obama trouncing Romney 378 to 160 electoral votes. Four years later, the “score” has Obama up 335 to 203. Not much of a marginal return on investment after the first $35 million!

Today is auspicious for another reason. Romney will win at least one of the three primary contests—Colorado caucus for sure. But he’ll sure be red-faced if he only wins one of the three. And the last polling in Minnesota shows Santorum with a double-digit lead over Romney—who may even finish third or fourth. The most recent poll for the Missouri primary was from late January and showed Rick Santorum over Romney by +11%.

If he does suffer a pair of losses tonight, Mitt should consider for future 7 Feb to not even get up in the morning—instead, he should spend the whole day nestled in his recharging unit.

That’s the Appeals Court ruling on California’s same-sex marriage ban.

“Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt. “The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort.”

– Yesterday was the anniversary of the Seattle General Strike.

– Today is a much worse anniversary for Seattle.

– the real winners are the banks and the one percent.

– Fuck you Penn Jillette.

– Karen Handel has resigned from Komen.

– We need to preach what we practice: Catholics like sex as much as the rest of y’all, and 98 percent of us plan our families. The president shouldn’t be punished politically for doing the right thing. He should be praised.

– The rightwingoverse

Because they are SO FUCKING STOOOPID!!!

(h/t HuffPo)

Update: Mike Huckabee provides even more evidence for the Stooopid thesis (my emphasis):

“[I]t’s tragic that the Planned Parenthood organization now tries to present themselves primarily a health organization when they are primarily an abortion provider…. They provide some services. I will grant you that. But they are maybe on the fringes — are external portion of what they are primarily all about.”

Wingnut math: 3% == “a primary service”.