Palin Interview

[willtruncheon]

It would have been hilarious, if it weren't for the fact that this woman is still a serious contender for the Vice Presidency of the United States of America.  (By "serious", I mean that a lot of people will vote for her, not that she's an informed or sensible choice

Comments

[warriorbard63]

Clearly, you are just being sexist.

What does concern me is that, at least initially, she is pulling women away from Obama in the polls. This is a woman who doesn't believe in anything most American women rate as important issues in the coming election; ending the war in Iraq, preserving Roe v Wade, making serious strides in combating climate change and saving the environment. Oh, wait....those issues are on the header list for almost everybody, not just women. Luckily, I believe that women ultimately are more intelligent and less shallow than the Republicans do, and will, in the end, vote for the candidates who REALLY represent their beliefs.

[willtruncheon]

Here's the thing... disagree with me if you will... I think the majority of the Republican leadership in the US has no real desire to strike down Roe v Wade

[warriorbard63]

hmmm....good point. I admire that level of cynicism. It makes me think that there might be several issues like that on the "hot list" from time to time, where the appearance of supporting a particular position gets the candidate votes, so they continue to feign support of same to keep the issue alive, so as to continue to garner votes from their constituents. Affirmative Action might be said to be on this list, for both sides. How sad our political system has become.

[dcltdw]

and Republican Candidate X's daughter was arrested in an illegal clinic in Utah

If RvW were struck down, it'd be a state issue, right? So then I'm guessing the daughter would be shipped over state lines to NYC or LA, which might be illegal, but never actually prosecuted.

[willtruncheon]

You're probably right. The wealthy and well-connected wouldn't be the ones who'd have to go see Dr. Coathanger.

[willtruncheon]

...But on second thought, who's to say that Anti-choice advocates wouldn't push for prosecution on an issue like that, depending on the political climate? The head of Operation Rescue said only two years ago that he supports the death penalty for doctors who provide abortions (Yeah, I know, wrap your mind around THAT). If procuring an abortion becomes illegal, why wouldn't these oh-so-compassionate folks try to enforce the law?

[tirianmal]

Pro-life ... and yet supporting the death penalty. Nice.

Oh wait, that was an obvious irony, no one needed to state it.

[willtruncheon]

I disagree. I think there's a pretty substantial difference between a first-trimester abortion and executing an adult or juvenile with memories, feelings, and a family. Not to mention a fully developed neurological system. But I guess we're kinda veering into a different topic, there.

There's a big difference between saying there's a parallel on both sides, and saying both sides are the same. They're not.

[warriorbard63]

Personally, I believe strongly in a woman's right to choose. my only opposition to the Death Penalty is that it is unduly cumbersome, costly and useless in it's current state. Life in prison is actually cheaper and more effective. Which is not to say that a death penalty cannot be a viable option, but we've become overly civilized, IMO. My own views on crime and punishment can be a tad medieval, I admit.

[dcltdw]

We-ll, I think you're painting all the anti-abortion people as being in lockstep with each other. I don't think that's the case; I suspect there's a bell curve of how much people really oppose abortion. So there are a few who are vaguely against it, the majority are opposed until they need it for their family, and a few who are against it come hell or high water.

Of course, I oh-so-conveniently asserted that the middle of the bell curve is "opposed until they need it for their family", which is a bold assertion I can't even begin to back up. :)

[willtruncheon]

I'm anti-abortion, too. I'm just not naive or arrogant enough to believe that abortion can be legislated out of existence, or that I have the moral authority to make that choice for someone else, especially when I'm not volunteering to carry or raise a child for someone else.

You're right, they're not all in lockstep. But as an organized, impassioned, highly motivated single-issue voter bloc, I think you'd have a hard time finding a group that's MORE in lockstep. Even allowing for a reasonable amount of dissent, look at the demonstrations in KC and elsewhere as a reference.

[dcltdw]

Whoops, I don't think we're debating the same point.

Lockstep to overturn RvW? Agreed.
My point is: THEN what? I think that's where the anti-abortion coalition will fall apart, ala the bell curve I mentioned.

Hence, if RvW is overturned, some states will promptly make abortion illegal, but at a federal level, there won't be a big enough voting bloc to make it a federal crime (across-state-lines stuff, etc).

[willtruncheon]

Ahh, I see. Sorry, I was chasing the wrong matador.

I'm sure the scenario you describe is a realistic one. However, I don't think it would prevent smaller groups from pushing for prosecution according to state laws.

[dcltdw]

However, I don't think it would prevent smaller groups from pushing for prosecution according to state laws.

Oh, absolutely.