Yesterday I did some housework. I also pulled my warmest winter clothing down from high storage shelves and put my shorts and other summer clothing up. I should have done it weeks ago, but I was ill, and this is the first time I have felt up to it. I’m current with replies. Today I have more paperwork and housework to do.
Jig-Zone Puzzles:
Today it took me 4:04 (average 5:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Talk 2 Action: On Friday night Newt Gingrich spoke at the "Prayer for America" event at the International Church of Las Vegas (ICLV) led by Apostle Paul Goulet. Jim Garlow, a member of the campaign’s national Faith Leaders Coalition, introduced Gingrich and promoted a pastors’ revolt against IRS rules that prohibit endorsement of a political candidate from the pulpit.
In short, Newt Gingrich is advising Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian pastors to break the law. Many do not realize that churches may advocate issues without violating the terms of their 501(c)(3) tax exemption. However they may not endorse candidates. That is a condition to which they voluntarily agreed as part of their application for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Any church whose pastor violates this condition should be stripped of the status.
From Reuters: Boehner, the top U.S. Republican, said Obama should reverse the rule, which requires health insurance plans, including those offered by Catholic charities, hospitals and universities, to provide birth control to women.
Boehner said if the president refuses to rescind the measure, Congress will do so itself through the legislative process.
In the Senate, Bought Bitch Mitch said the same thing. Tomorrow’s cartoon will have more on this.
From Huffington Post: A Kansas House committee is scheduled to take up a bill Wednesday that would exempt doctors from malpractice suits if they withheld medical information to prevent an abortion. The measure would also take away tax credits for abortion providers, remove tax deductions for the purchase of abortion-related insurance coverage and require women to hear the fetal heartbeat. The bill includes several provisions, which passed in other states and now face federal lawsuits. The bill would also require women be told about potential breast cancer risks from abortions, even though medical experts discount such a connection.
Effectively, Republicans are proposing that doctors be held responsible if they fail to tell GOP lies about abortion, but not to be required to tell the truth about it.
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–2/9/2012”
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4:05 Dang! So close.
It’s okay for the churches to violate the rules by endorsing candidates but it’s wrong to force catholic insurance providers to provide birth control. Oh the hypocrisy!
I bet Dorothy wishes she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
Excellent cartoon.
Tell me about it!
Truly!
Amen.
Thanks.
4:12 We are all pretty close today, but I am still #3.
Damn close. I left room tomorrow.
The ICLV and Gingrich — So they want their cake and eat it too! I suppose we can thank Citizen’s United in a round about way for this The ICLV must think itself a person with free speech to say (endorse outright) anything it wants. Let it speak to the issues but nothing more. I know here north of th 49th, I have heard many issues talked about in church, and encouragement to get out to meetings etc to discuss issues, but I have never been encouraged to support a particular candidate. To my thinking, that is undue influence.
The Birth Control Issue — I saw an article on Care2 — Most of Obama’s “Controversial” Birth Control Rule Was Law During Bush Years — which would appear to cool down the rhetoric. I wonder how this will affect Boehner’s take and his actions. From Mother Jones — “In December 2000, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that companies that provided prescription drugs to their employees but didn’t provide birth control were in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prevents discrimination on the basis of sex. That opinion, which the George W. Bush administration did nothing to alter or withdraw when it took office the next month, is still in effect today—and because it relies on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, it applies to all employers with 15 or more employees. ”
Here’s the link to the full story. http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/controversial-obama-birth-control-rule-already-law
Kansas — With legislation like this, I’m amazed that there are any women left in Kansas. So as long as doctors tell a bunch of GOP lies (I see withholding information the same as a lie in this case), they are protected from malpractice by the state. I know malpractice insurance is outrageously expensive and to me, this is nothing more than buying a doctor. Somewhere there is something called the Hypocratic Oath that binds all doctors. This puts doctors in a very difficult position. I hope the doctors lobby against it. For that matter, what is the AMA doing to lobby against all this GOP nonsense?
Cartoon — Great, but it looks like he’s low on froth!
That would be perfectly legal here to, but not endorsing a candidate.
Thanks for that.
Really!
He used up a lot traversing three states. 🙄
What do you expect when you have dudes running for President named after a fish [Newt] & a baseball glove [Mitt].
LenV
Welcome Len! 🙂
LOL!
Most churches do endorse candidates from the pulpit. The Catholic Church is especially bad about this. Now, that would be a fight – the IRS and the Catholic Church. I’d bet that the IRS would prevail. They should have been paying taxes for a long time now.
If religious operations are running a business, they should provide the same healthcare ins like any other company. And this is all a ploy to avoid the real issues which are the economy and jobs – where’s our jobs bill Boner and Bitch?
Why is it Kansas that always comes up with the kookiest shit first when it comes to abortion and contraception? What’s wrong with those people? Are they pissed their in the middle of the country and the land is flat as hell?
You’re right, and Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian churches are just as bad.
Amen, Lisa!
Because they are the buckle on the Bible belt?
Hell, (oh, can I use that word when talking about churches?) I’d buy a ticket to watch the IRS vs The Catholic Church. I’d like to see the church try and bring God as a witness!
Limbarf would show up. He thinks he’s God.