The Democrats have lately been flailing away at the damn abortion issue as if it is the most important issue facing ordinary voters. They continue to conflate abortion with contraception and then frame it as a “Republican war on women” — which (yeah, this is old) not only mis-characterizes the debate, but completely disregards the opinions of a very large number of women. Either the Democrats think women are not entitled to make up their own minds, or else they believe women who oppose abortion — along with women who believe the government should not force anti-contraception churches to pay for contraception — are somehow “at war” with themselves, but too dumb to know it. Without going into the merits of abortion or contraception, I submit that nothing could be more dishonest or condescending. Whether it will work is another question. The Democrats in my area have a way of repeating these mantras so many times to each other and to anyone else that in their minds they have become established, unquestionable truths. Like “the Tea Party is racist.” Or “Republicans oppose Obama because he is black.”
Anyway, while the abortion debate may be many things, I don’t think it falls into the category of surprise, much less an October surprise. However, I have seen something over the horizon which might be.
From a high vantage point, I saw a huge, darkening wall of downright sinister-looking clouds towards the East. Not the sort I usually associate with Michigan. And while I hate to be superstitious, it struck me that something might be coming.
I went to a Michigan weather link and pulled up the “East Conus IR Loop,” which shows what is going on in the atmosphere.
Get a load of this:
To say that the above indicates some bad weather is headed for Michigan may be true, but it is a bit provincial, because that looming THING (Hurricane Sandy) is a huge storm — the brunt of which will be borne by most of the East Coast, and who knows where else?
This will sound crazy (because as we all know, weather is not politics, right?), but I feel forced to ask a question.
Might the storm become a factor in the election?
If so, how? Will Republicans be blamed? It certainly would not surprise me if they were. What I can’t predict is whether ordinary voters are dumb enough to fall for such idiocy. I hope they aren’t. I’d like to think that Americans have had enough of politicized weather.
Comments
17 responses to “October surprise?”
LInking to your own posts? I worry about your self esteem.
Your buddies have said out loud that they want to ban any birth control which they consider abortion. That’s most of them, by their lights. I take this seriously. So does my husband, because I am the breadwinner, and pregnancy and a child now would be difficult.
This is not my only criteria for voting, just one of the more personal.
I have to say that this is one of those times I find myself in disagreement with you. The republicans are the ones who are continuing to bring up the subjects of abortion and contraception. The dems just respond, as they should when given fodder for the machine. Most of the gop politicians who are bringing up the issue are so ignorant on it that it’s painful. Their followers are just as ignorant. Given the chance I have little doubt that the faithful would not only ban abortion, but most forms of contraception, too. All in the name of baby Jesus. Mourdock, (who I will not be voting for come election day), started the latest fooforah and is likely going to lose because of it. Hopefully, the lost votes for Mourdock will go to his libertarian opponent.
“in their minds they have become established, unquestionable truths.”
On the other hand, Obama’s pro-choice record on third trimester abortions must be a gross exaggeration, political distortion of the truth, or pure myth. You know, just like that “kill list” thing.
My “buddies”? I don’t have any “buddies” who want to ban birth control, nor would I vote for such cretins. Jenny, if you seriously think a Mitt Romney presidency would ban birth control or abortion, I suggest you look at his overall record. It simply will not happen.
As to Mourdock, I would not vote for him either, and Romney did disagree with his statement about what God intended. But as to the contention that he brought this up, actually, he responded to a debate question:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourdock
***QUOTE***
At the debate Mourdock, when asked what his position on abortion was, responded:
“I know there are some who disagree and I respect their point of view but I believe that life begins at conception. The only exception I have to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. I just struggled with it myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God that I think even if life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”[45]
***END QUOTE***
FWIW, I don’t see how any human should get to decide what God intends, so I have serious problems with the man’s theology.
Whether Romney should throw him under the bus is an interesting question to ponder.
“Jenny” doesn’t believe the bullshit she posted, either. She’s just in the tank for Obama, and like Obama she’s desperately struggling to justify it.
For liberals this has nothing to do with policies, programs, or laws. This campaign is all about worship. They worship their little God-King.
Does not Romney propose to cut funds from disaster relief? Did not the Rs slash the budget for NASA, and thus reduce the ability of our satelites and people to predict some of these storms? (Not that this one is a big surprise)
“Jenny”
Yeah, because we had absolutely no warning about Sandy whatsoever. My god, you’re right!
I gotta hand it to those meteorologists–those crayon drawings of that blob out in the Atlantic are amazingly realistic. And the Intel 8088 computers running DOS 3.3 that they use to model the path of Sandy are really performing above expectations.
And no, actually, Obama cut the budget for NASA. Oh, wait–WHAT budget?
Jeebus. I think even Simon would agree–whatever you’re smoking should be outlawed. ‘Cause it’s clearly turned you into a complete raving idiot.
“Does not Romney propose to cut funds from disaster relief?”
you’re too stupid for polite company
P’raps. Copied this. The GOP-sponsored 2011 spending bill slashed the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, slashing $700 million targeted for an overhaul of the nation’s aging environmental satellite system. NOAA scientists have stated unequivocally the existing satellites will fail and if they aren’t replaced, the agency’s ability to provide life-saving information to the American people will be compromised. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA administrator, told reporters yesterday that the agency’s hurricane outlook last year was “spot-on” and cautioned that “not having satellites and applying their latest capabilities could spell disaster“:
Satellites are a must-have when it comes to detecting and tracking dangerous tropical weather. Not having satellites and their capabilities could spell disaster. NOAA’s satellites underpin hurricane forecasts by providing meteorological data over vast areas where we don’t have other means of information.
Some people don’t get their news from Little Green Footballs, Thinkprogress, and DailyKos but actually try to find more detailed primary sources.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/major-shifts-flow-from-npoess-polar-satellite-program-crisis-01557/
6 years late and billions over budget. While the AGW crowd clamor for the development of new equipment and sensors for this latest generation of satellites.
I see the DNC operatives are out with their Axelturfed talking points. Jeez, you people reek of desperation.
[…] last four years, and which will face the country over the next four years? I hate to say “I told you so,” think it would be very ill-advised to allow an election to be decided by a […]
The only rhetorically proper response to Mz. Jenny’s political argument is . . .
. . . derp
In fairness, I should point out that Jenny is a regular commmenter here, and she has been known to agree with me.
http://classicalvalues.com/2012/10/my-two-monster-equivalent-made-me-write-this-post/
She is always welcome to come here and disagree. After 27 years in Berkeley, and 4 years here in Ann Arbor, I am quite accustomed to disagreements with Democrats.
It might well become a serious factor. Power outages (all those magic techno voting booths?) Polling places that have simply collapsed?
Yes, it could well be a factor. And, my cynical side assures you, it WILL be argued as a factor by whichever side loses. :-/
Oh yeah, and as a (far too) experienced hurricane survivor, I assure you that next week will NOT see all cleaned up. Not nearly. No where NEAR.
We’ll be damned lucky if more people don’t die.
Oh, and I don’t have the time to fact-check Jenny (except to say that the NOAA does have the option of slashing admin and funding the satellites. Or maybe not, internal politics considered.)
But, if she’s right (and I’m wrong about admin salaries). Then, she’s got a good point.