America

[morepork]

She fucked herself and everyone else by turning on Bernie. If anything Trump is entirely Warren’s fault.

Fair call. The box kick-centred political strategy is preferred over a constructive offensive plan.

[Shako]

[Which Tyler]

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday that frozen embryos are people and someone can be held liable for destroying them

https://www.commondreams.org/news/alabama-ivf

[Puja]

What the actual fuck.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wow. That's the end of IVF in Alabama. Not sure how many sane people live in Alabama but this will cause an 'exodus' (to use a term Alabaman lawmakers are familiar with).

[Puja]

Wow. That's the end of IVF in Alabama. Not sure how many sane people live in Alabama but this will cause an 'exodus' (to use a term Alabaman lawmakers are familiar with).

The question is whether the lawmakers are ignorant and didn't realise the consequences of this ruling (because they don't understand the basic functionality of wombs and reproduction) or whether this was a deliberate attempt to knee-cap IVF because their religion tells them it involves Satan somehow.

Puja

[morepork]

The gene pool in Alabama is about to shrink dramatically. A ruling based upon a theological interpretation of life. Astounding. Good luck with Biotech sector investment in 'Bamma in the next 200 years.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wow. That's the end of IVF in Alabama. Not sure how many sane people live in Alabama but this will cause an 'exodus' (to use a term Alabaman lawmakers are familiar with).

The question is whether the lawmakers are ignorant and didn't realise the consequences of this ruling (because they don't understand the basic functionality of wombs and reproduction) or whether this was a deliberate attempt to knee-cap IVF because their religion tells them it involves Satan somehow.

Puja

No doubt it's a mix but my bet is that most of them are well aware of the impact this will have on IVF and other practices they oppose (at least in public).

Of the group who understand the consequences, a further question could be asked: who actually believe this is a good thing and who are just using it as a means to further their careers?

The former, I would get where they're coming from - if only I used an ancient book of dubious origin as the foundation for my ethics rather than the wellbeing of sentient creatures.

The latter, hypocrite bastards, one can only despise them.

[Son of Mathonwy]

You have to wonder what will happen if Trump wins and (presumably) bans abortion nationally. Will that kill the Republican vote next time? Or given that it's Trump, will there be a next time?

[Puja]

Wow. That's the end of IVF in Alabama. Not sure how many sane people live in Alabama but this will cause an 'exodus' (to use a term Alabaman lawmakers are familiar with).

The question is whether the lawmakers are ignorant and didn't realise the consequences of this ruling (because they don't understand the basic functionality of wombs and reproduction) or whether this was a deliberate attempt to knee-cap IVF because their religion tells them it involves Satan somehow.

Puja

No doubt it's a mix but my bet is that most of them are well aware of the impact this will have on IVF and other practices they oppose (at least in public).

Of the group who understand the consequences, a further question could be asked: who actually believe this is a good thing and who are just using it as a means to further their careers?

The former, I would get where they're coming from - if only I used an ancient book of dubious origin as the foundation for my ethics rather than the wellbeing of sentient creatures.

The latter, hypocrite bastards, one can only despise them.

Appears to have been idiocy rather than doctrine - the RNC have brief all candidates that they are in favour of IVF and don't support this, while the Great Orange God has now come out against the ruling as well: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68388232

Puja

[morepork]

Alabama Chief Justice writes in his summary statement:

“Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God,” Parker wrote in his concurring opinion.

He added that state code recognizes “unborn human life,” and that destroying it — including frozen embryos — is an affront to God.

“All human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory,”.

Justice Parker is a long time fierce advocate of the "Seven Mountain Mandate":

Parker has often expressed support for the Seven Mountain Mandate, a theory that conservative Christians in America should use fundamentalist beliefs to influence and run government, education and media, among seven key areas of life. Its supporters have sought to restrict reproductive care while allowing discrimination of LGBTQ+ people for religious beliefs.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2 ... arker-ivf/

What a quaint little state.

[Coco]

You have to wonder what will happen if Trump wins and (presumably) bans abortion nationally. Will that kill the Republican vote next time? Or given that it's Trump, will there be a next time?

He won't do that, it is up to each state to decide for themselves.

[Son of Mathonwy]

You have to wonder what will happen if Trump wins and (presumably) bans abortion nationally. Will that kill the Republican vote next time? Or given that it's Trump, will there be a next time?

He won't do that, it is up to each state to decide for themselves.

It's up to each state at the moment but he could change that.

[morepork]

The reason that the United Christian Sharia Front puts up with the buffoon is that he is complete putty in their paws. Under his watch large unbudgeted tax cuts were pushed through via Paul Ryan, who promptly fucked off once that was done. Mitch McConnell herded him into pushing through some very suspect candidates for the Supreme Court, which had the trifecta of premature termination of Roe V. Wade precedent, electoral "reforms" (long time no see, Mr. J Crow) and killing affirmative action dead. Too much money to be made of blind adherents of The Immortal Omniscient Space Being in the USA to not expect the cashed up disciples of Mammon to push things through to the Federal level. Wait till they get their claws on the Department of Education. It'll be intelligent design and the War of Northern Aggression being taught everywhere.

[Stom]

The reason that the United Christian Sharia Front puts up with the buffoon is that he is complete putty in their paws. Under his watch large unbudgeted tax cuts were pushed through via Paul Ryan, who promptly fucked off once that was done. Mitch McConnell herded him into pushing through some very suspect candidates for the Supreme Court, which had the trifecta of premature termination of Roe V. Wade precedent, electoral "reforms" (long time no see, Mr. J Crow) and killing affirmative action dead. Too much money to be made of blind adherents of The Immortal Omniscient Space Being in the USA to not expect the cashed up disciples of Mammon to push things through to the Federal level. Wait till they get their claws on the Department of Education. It'll be intelligent design and the War of Northern Aggression being taught everywhere.

You mean the Confederation of United Nationalist and Terf Supporters.

Let's call them what they really are.

[morepork]

Cunts?

[Stom]

Cunts?

Absolutely.

[Zhivago]

I was in Miami recently, so I feel qualified now to talk about America. My new and profound take on the place is that there is definitely something appealing about the red states. They are somehow more orientated towards the people. But I am basing this opinion solely on my experience of JFK airport vs MIA airport. The former was chaos, and the latter was efficient. 1-0 to the red states so far in terms of my personal experience.

The above is obviously nonsensical reasoning, but at the same time it is a slightly truthful representation of how my opinion has shifted.

[Sandydragon]

I was in Miami recently, so I feel qualified now to talk about America. My new and profound take on the place is that there is definitely something appealing about the red states. They are somehow more orientated towards the people. But I am basing this opinion solely on my experience of JFK airport vs MIA airport. The former was chaos, and the latter was efficient. 1-0 to the red states so far in terms of my personal experience.

The above is obviously nonsensical reasoning, but at the same time it is a slightly truthful representation of how my opinion has shifted.

On that basis, I’d rather live in Birmingham than Manchester.

Based on my visits to the US I would suggest that the south and west are friendlier than the North East.
But I could make the same comment about London and the SE vs the rest of the UK

[Zhivago]

I was in Miami recently, so I feel qualified now to talk about America. My new and profound take on the place is that there is definitely something appealing about the red states. They are somehow more orientated towards the people. But I am basing this opinion solely on my experience of JFK airport vs MIA airport. The former was chaos, and the latter was efficient. 1-0 to the red states so far in terms of my personal experience.

The above is obviously nonsensical reasoning, but at the same time it is a slightly truthful representation of how my opinion has shifted.

On that basis, I’d rather live in Birmingham than Manchester.

Based on my visits to the US I would suggest that the south and west are friendlier than the North East.
But I could make the same comment about London and the SE vs the rest of the UK

As I said, I recognise that it's nonsense logic. Anyway I wasn't there long enough to form a proper opinion, I was only passing through on my way to Nicaragua.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I was in Miami recently, so I feel qualified now to talk about America. My new and profound take on the place is that there is definitely something appealing about the red states. They are somehow more orientated towards the people. But I am basing this opinion solely on my experience of JFK airport vs MIA airport. The former was chaos, and the latter was efficient. 1-0 to the red states so far in terms of my personal experience.

The above is obviously nonsensical reasoning, but at the same time it is a slightly truthful representation of how my opinion has shifted.

On that basis, I’d rather live in Birmingham than Manchester.

Based on my visits to the US I would suggest that the south and west are friendlier than the North East.
But I could make the same comment about London and the SE vs the rest of the UK

As I said, I recognise that it's nonsense logic. Anyway I wasn't there long enough to form a proper opinion, I was only passing through on my way to Nicaragua.

JFK is a weird airport, but then New York is a weird city. I wouldn't use either to make decisions about, well, anything else really.

[morepork]

What an odd statement....

[Mikey Brown]

What an odd statement....

Oh, so you’re against free speech now?

[Puja]

Some relatively good news this morning, everyone's favourite Weekend At Bernies cosplayer Joe Biden appears to have got the message that people are concerned about him being a dotard and came out swinging for his State of the Union address, turning it what sounds like a lively and fairly effective campaign event. Emphasising codifying Roe v Wade, harping on making IVF a right, responding to heckling about the border with retorts that there was a border bill that Republicans worked on and then shut down at the behest of Trump. He's finally played a lot of the right notes (to win the election, not necessarily morally) - whether anyone was still paying attention may be another matter.

Trump's response was comedy, calling him “angry, polarizing, and hate-filled," which is very much the pot getting annoyed that the kettle is finally interacting with its schtick.

Puja