Sen. Bentley wants to get between you and your doctor, criminalize medicine & waste taxpayer money

Sparks is "studying the bills? (4.00 / 2)

On their face, most are unconstitutional, so what's to study?

C'mon Ron, step up to the plate and do some good Alabama truth-telling: that this is a blatant attempt by a back-bencher Republican to get some free publicity and soak up right-wing contributions - even though it could cost the state millions in legal fees and much more in bad publicity.

Suck it up and do the right thing!  You know you want to.

"Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism."     ~Earl Warren

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by: countrycat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 16:08:48 PM CDT

the slower he studies the more pissed I get. (4.00 / 3)

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by: melmel @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 16:20:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, the original promise was "late afternoon" (4.00 / 2)

Commissioner Sparks wanted time to read Bentley's bills and resolution.  But apparently there's been some further delay.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 19:14:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Davis has voted to ban partial birth abortion, prohibit federal funding of abortions, (4.00 / 3)

and restricting abortions for minors (ie. restricting womens' reporductive freedom)

Sparks is "studying the issue".(WTF is he studying?)

Pox on both their houses.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.~Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D. MA)

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by: Redeye @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 18:25:12 PM CDT

As a lawyer (4.00 / 3)

I am at a loss as to how the State of Alabama can criminalize somwthing the SCOTUS has said is legal  

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 20:57:30 PM CDT

They're in denial (4.00 / 1)

Or they're contrarians.  Or they're living in an alternate reality where the Confederacy won the Civil War.  And by "they" I mean the people who are pushing this stuff, not the general population of Alabama. My mind is well and truly boggled over this one.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:10:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

As a non-lawyer (4.00 / 2)

I assumed they were hoping to use this new criminalization to get do-overs on Roe v. Wade, Stamford v. Connecticut, and other cases since the Court is more pro-authoritarian now than it has been for a generation.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:12:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

But (4.00 / 3)

there are ways to do that without subjecting someone to a 2-20 year jail sentence. Strange as it may seem, I respect the rule of law too much for someone to try to use the criminal code to criminialize something SCOTUS had ruled legal just push a moral/political agenda and particularly to advance someone's personal political ambitions.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:27:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's why I like you, OP (4.00 / 1)

In spite of our political differences.

I respect the rule of law too much for someone to try to use the criminal code to criminialize something SCOTUS had ruled legal just push a moral/political agenda and particularly to advance someone's personal political ambitions.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:34:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Doesn't seem strange at all to me, OP (4.00 / 2)

My reading of your posts gives me the impression that you believe jail is damned serious and so is putting someone in it, which I agree with.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:10:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank You (0.00 / 0)

Kind ladies

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:17:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, only one of us is a lady, and it's me. (4.00 / 2)

No prejudice, but we're definitely a straight couple.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:20:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think I confused (4.00 / 1)

HOC with Countrycat. Too many cats on here for a dog person like me.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:29:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Figured you had your cats crossed up, lol! n/t (0.00 / 0)

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:36:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

But, By God there's only one PIG! (4.00 / 2)

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:18:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

giggling at that! (4.00 / 1)

 Some PIG! (To quote Charlotte)

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by: melmel @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:29:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

For which (0.00 / 0)

we are truly grateful

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 11:04:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Touche' (4.00 / 1)

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 15:21:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, it's deeper. They want a do-over on Lincoln V Jefferson Davis (4.00 / 1)

a case decided over a long and bloody case in the courtroom of Hatred, Divisiveness, and Treason.  A courtroom that Rick Perry, Todd Palin and others want to reopen.

And, I fear the numbers of adherents may be much larger that we want to acknowledge, and growing. Damn, Oregon is a pretty state!

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:16:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

As a not-a-lawyer... (4.00 / 2)

The really odd thing here is that I'm pretty sure Alabama already has an abortion ban on the books.  Seems if they want to revisit Roe v. Wade then all they have to do is attempt to enforce the current illegal ban...not pass a whole new law.

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by: lsmsrbls @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:12:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Welcome lsmsrbls! (4.00 / 1)

User number 1201! I love your handle, btw.

When I was looking at the Alabama code I noticed there were a couple of sections on reproductive issues and abortion.  Like you, I'm a non-lawyer and didn't have time to struggle through the whereas'es and figure out what they all did, but it seems like the Legislature has definitely plowed this ground before.

That's part of my disappointment with opening this can of worms again -- we've been through this in Alabama before. It's not like we have liberal abortion laws here or anything.  Bentley is just doing this because his campaign isn't gaining any traction -- fundraising is probably dismal -- and he needs to do something to make a good showing before January or he'll be irrelevant when the first fundraising report hits the SoS's office. He's hoping the evangelicals and hard line pro-lifers will rally behind him. Guess he forgot Roy Moore is in the race, too.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 22:27:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks! I've been lurking for a while and just signed up. (4.00 / 2)

I believe this is where I found Alabama's abysmal statutes on abortion (it has references in the Alabama Code):

http://www.prochoiceamerica.or...

No better GOP fundraising tool in Alabama than trying to make it even MORE burdensome for people to get abortions.  And no better use of taxpayer dollars than fighting Roe v. Wade.  It's disgusting.

We're a great poster child for "making abortion legal is not sufficient--they also have to be accessible and available to people regardless of income or age."

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by: lsmsrbls @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 00:14:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

they for the most part don't really care about women or abortions. (4.00 / 2)

they are about pandering and if the law isn't really changed, so what.

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by: melmel @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:27:02 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It doesn't end with a ban on abortion (4.00 / 1)

Next on the agenda (and all of these are pursued in parallel)
- A ban on contraception
- A ban on divorce
- Mandatory ventilator and feeding tubes to extend end of life pain and agony

Because pain and agony builds character, don't you know.

It is mandatory, state-enforced authoritarian Catholicism, with the active support of authoritarian Protestantism.

People were burned alive at the stake, hanged, and drawn and quartered for standing up against oppression in the name of God.

All of us, religious and non-religious alike, honor the memory of them when we resist this evil movement.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:09:58 PM CDT

Don;t forget Troy Kings fav (4.00 / 3)

" Ban those sex toys" (lol)

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 21:29:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

well (4.00 / 2)

I'm itching to Wade in...but everything I have to say is so horrible I think I'll just remain quiet.

Except for "MYOB, you sanctimonious bastards!"

there, I feel a little better now :)

When in doubt tell the truth. It will confound your enemies and astound your friends.---Mark Twain

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by: julie @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 05:24:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Damn, herding. You're sounding a lot like the Pig today (4.00 / 1)

I get real fiesty about organized religion aroun Columbus Day.  All hail the Italo-Spanish-American symbol of racism and genocide. Let's have a holiday for him!  Why not a Pope Pius XII day to celebrate Catholic enbracing of Fascism?

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:52:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Did anyone hear Dale Jackson giving Bill Johnson heck for his no-exceptions abortion stance (4.00 / 2)

For once, I was impressed by Dale Jackson, as he gave Bill Johnson heck for his "no objections" stance on abortion.  

He asked him the tough questions like "if there is no exception for the life of the mother, are you just going to tell that mother -- you die?" (paraphrased).  

BTW: As Mooncat points out, Alabama already has laws on the books making Abortion illegal and a felony, and those statutes have already been declared unconstitutional -- so what is the purpose of Bentley's proposal, other than to get his name in the news?

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by: lawdog @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 08:40:31 AM CDT

It's a shameless pander to raise money from the militant pro-lifers (4.00 / 1)

I didn't hear the show, but someone sent me a quote from his blog where he gave Sparks hell for not having a statement on Bentley's proposals.

Did you happen to catch DJack's interview with Ron Sparks?  I didn't hear about it until after the fact and haven't yet found the time to listen to the podcast.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 09:22:45 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

No offense mooncat, (4.00 / 1)

But I think the title of your diary should have been;

Sen. Bently wants to put women in their place.

Sen. Bently is pandering to the segment of Alabama voters who care more about keeping women from choosing to have an abortion than having access to quality health care, jobs, quality public education, constitution reform, ethics reform and the other issues affecting the lives of ALL citizens.

Etu Sparks and Davis?

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.~Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D. MA)

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by: Redeye @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 11:22:28 AM CDT

Yep... the all-knowing father (0.00 / 0)

pats them on their silly little heads and does what's "good for them."

Because certainly women can't be trusted with important decisions like... well.... reproduction.

"Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism."     ~Earl Warren

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by: countrycat @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 13:25:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]