After seeing Frontline's report, The Last Abortion Clinic (see it all online), Sunsara Taylor has some choice words for the quality of political debate:

I am sick of the notion that its not "politically correct" to compare what is happening in this country to what happened in Nazi Germany. I am sorry--when they showed the clip of Bush announcing the ban on "partial birth abortion" all I could think of was Hitler--of his posture of moral superiority at the cost of millions of lives, of the fanfare, of the populace that acquiesced with evil. And, Hitler DID outlaw abortion.

Some choice words for people who'd rather pretend the issue doesn't exist or isn't important:

And, no, the widespread horrors of battery and rape are not lost on me. But ending all this is exactly bound up with the overall struggle to liberate women, including by fighting for our fundamental right to control our own bodies and reproduction.

In reality, saying that abortion is not the only womens issue is making the argument that we shouldnt focus so much attention on this issue. It is based on either the illusion that you can make progress for women without preserving and destigmatizing abortion and birth control or based on willful ignorance. Take your pick--neither is worth doing.

On some people's reactionary responses to feminism for somehow stigmatizing staying home to raise kids:

So, yes, women do have undue burdens and double standards put on us--but get over this notion of how you were oppressed by the womens movement because you want the right to stay home and raise kids. That has always remained not only an option for those who can afford it, but it is the main promoted and upheld option for most women in society--which probably has a lot to do with why you and your sister have been conditioned to long for that role.

On NARAL's strategy of fighting Samuel Alito's nomination by writing letters:

Recognizing the irony, I wrote an email to NARAL complaining about their insistence that their base be politically passive in the face of the remaking of the Supreme Court by only sending emails instead of pouring into the streets to turn things around. In it I said, "Look, even you arent going to be moved by an email I send, I doubt you'll even respond. So, why should I expect more from someone who doesnt even claim to be a fighter for abortion rights like those you want me to email?" Of course, I heard nothing from them.

To Ms. Taylor, the only way to fight this war on women's rights is to get the Bush regime out of power. I wish it were so easy.

Personally, I think Bush is just a puppet, advised by a genius of cynical political opportunism, moved by lines of ego -- the kind of massive ego that makes you think God appointed you president and given you a Crusade to fight -- and the radical right pushing for primitive notions of rights would just put forward someone else. And it wouldn't take long, given their Manchurian Candidate machinery that indoctrinates subjects from the time they're in grade school.

Even conservative snob George Will seems rather disgusted with these holier-than-thous, but as long as these folks control the Republican Party, and continue to infest more and more of the Democratic Party, the patriarchy and its claiming of rights over women shall continue on and on.

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