It's Newt's World, We're Just Living In It, Politics Thread

by **The Nightman Cometh** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 14:53:22

People get pregnant on birth control, believe it or not.

by **traderdave** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 15:21:33

GrizzledVeteran wrote:How about that Chris Christie ordering flags in NJ to be lowered to half staff in honor of Whitney Houston. Really? REALLY?

This is being hotly debated by the masses. Most people think it is a massive insult to those who should be honored by lowered flags. He has defended his decision by calling Houston a "cultural icon", which, of course, is probably hard to dispute. At her peak, she was one of the most popular recording artists on the planet. The "cultural icon" threshold sure does open up a lot of doors though. Does Bruce Willis qualify? How about Queen Latifah?

I did find this, though, and found it interesting:

"Only the president of the United States or the governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure. In addition to the traditional half-staff salutes when proclaimed by the President, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring citizens who have died, especially government officials and prominent citizens. However, the Flag Code does not exclude any citizen, whether they belong to an organization or not, whether they are recognized very locally or regionally. Examples of deceased citizens that might be honored with by lowering the Flag to half-staff include local religious leaders, youth leaders, honored teachers or sports coaches, local politicians, or a local hero. There need be no authorization from the government for the private sector (non-government) to use the Flag to honor any citizen. It is important to note that the Flag Code is a code, it is intended to provide guidance and is not obligatory. It carries no civil or criminal penalties for "misuse" of the Flag. Individual are not acting illegally when using the Flag according to their own usage. Only on government / public building is the flag code required to be followed."

In that light, I guess Christie can do whatever he wants (which he usually does anyway).

Read more: http://www.gettysburgflag.com/flyflagha ... z1mZcv2Ngs

by **Phan In Phlorida** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 15:33:51

Oh, Christie decrees flags fly half staff whenever a Krispy Kreme closes...

by **Barry Jive** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 15:42:31

lol because he's fat

by **MoBettle** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 15:57:32

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/1 ... orum-msnbc

"This contraception thing, my gosh, it's [so] inexpensive. You know, back in my days, they'd use Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly."

by **drsmooth** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 15:58:42

Werthless wrote:
drsmooth wrote:
Werthless wrote: I would guess that the majority of abortions have nothing to do with the health of the mother; a lifestyle choice. Abortions aren't "convenient," but kids are inconvenient.

smh

you would guess wrong

Surveys by Guttmacher Institute suggests otherwise. Table on p113. More mothers who got abortions named "don't want people to know I had sex or got pregnant" as a reason contributing to their decision for an abortion than "physical problems with my health" or "possible problems affecting the health of the baby."

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3711005.pdf

Note also that the Guttmacher institute studies regularly appear in Planned Parenthood publications, and they are a pro-choice organization dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health. This isn't some made-up study by pro-lifers.

Where are you getting your information?

Guttmacher data is sound; your interpretations are not so much. Example: your apparent attempt to twist the passage you've quoted into a defense of your assertion that abortions are "lifestyle" decisions.

by **drsmooth** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:01:10

Christie has more people sense in his neck wattles than Mitt Romney has in his entire foreign, alien, possibly mexican, polygamous family tree

by **lethal** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:24:33

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:Loving the VA politics discussion lately, even if I can't comment on it. Watched the Capitol Square personhood rally from my office window yesterday.

BTW, Todd Gilbert is a former prosecutor from northwest Virginia. Born in Texas, but I think he grew up in VA. So, he's probably not a Mets fan... good chance he's a Braves fan.

I was thinking about VA politics this morning (I grew up in Midlothian, I'm sure you know where that is).

Since Doug Wilder was elected, I don't recall a single minority or female politician winning statewide office. The only one who could've had an impact was Emily Couric and she passed away too soon. And I guess Mary Sue Terry was the AG a couple times. Everyone else has been a white male that I can think of.

by **CalvinBall** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:27:43

MoBettle wrote:http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/100798/foster-friess-girls-used-aspirin-birth-control-santorum-msnbc

"This contraception thing, my gosh, it's [so] inexpensive. You know, back in my days, they'd use Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn't that costly."

Does Bayer Asprin really do that?

by **TenuredVulture** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:28:04

My question with the flag thing is the extent to which Whitney Houston was associated with NJ. I mean, she is being buried there. Do people of Newark hold her as some kind of local girl who made good? Are there precedents? Did say Sinatra or Bud Abbott or Lou Costello or Vince Lombardi get the same treatment?

I sort of see the point if Whitney is being singled out. The policy in Arkansas seems to reserve it for soldiers who are killed in combat and maybe a few other important state figures. We didn't do it for Johnny Cash though.

by **JUburton** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:31:54

drsmooth wrote:
Werthless wrote:
drsmooth wrote:
Werthless wrote: I would guess that the majority of abortions have nothing to do with the health of the mother; a lifestyle choice. Abortions aren't "convenient," but kids are inconvenient.

smh

you would guess wrong

Surveys by Guttmacher Institute suggests otherwise. Table on p113. More mothers who got abortions named "don't want people to know I had sex or got pregnant" as a reason contributing to their decision for an abortion than "physical problems with my health" or "possible problems affecting the health of the baby."

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3711005.pdf

Note also that the Guttmacher institute studies regularly appear in Planned Parenthood publications, and they are a pro-choice organization dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health. This isn't some made-up study by pro-lifers.

Where are you getting your information?

Guttmacher data is sound; your interpretations are not so much. Example: your apparent attempt to twist the passage you've quoted into a defense of your assertion that abortions are "lifestyle" decisions.

I think the argument here is semantics over the word 'lifestyle'. I don't see how it boils down to anything more than the woman (or couple) does not believe they can properly parent a child at that time or does not want to parent a child at that time. Beyond extenuating circumstances such as health complications, rape etc. it comes down to two words; they're 'not ready'. Whether or not that means 'lifestyle' is slightly irrelevant.

by **traderdave** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:46:11

TenuredVulture wrote:My question with the flag thing is the extent to which Whitney Houston was associated with NJ. I mean, she is being buried there. Do people of Newark hold her as some kind of local girl who made good? Are there precedents? Did say Sinatra or Bud Abbott or Lou Costello or Vince Lombardi get the same treatment?

I sort of see the point if Whitney is being singled out. The policy in Arkansas seems to reserve it for soldiers who are killed in combat and maybe a few other important state figures. We didn't do it for Johnny Cash though.

Yes to pretty much all of your questions. Naturally, the people of Newark think she is (was) the cats meow and are fully in favor of the flag lowering. I think she has a school named after her in the city, as well. I understand that Christie ordered flags lowered for Clarence Clemons when he died last June.

by **Werthless** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:49:19

Thank you JUburton. My guess is that most people are unaware of the survey data, which is why it was posted. I had actually started writing a post this morning discussing the modern usage of the word lifestyle, but I realized that is not seeing the forest for the trees. Health issues and incest pregnancies make up a minority of abortions; the rest are ___________. Insert whatever word makes you feel most comfortable with your position.

by **TenuredVulture** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:51:55

Seems to me being against sex for fun is not a winning political position. I wonder when they'll go public with their thoughts about masturbation.

by **Werthless** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:52:42

The Nightman Cometh wrote:People get pregnant on birth control, believe it or not.

by **thephan** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:52:51

TenuredVulture wrote: Are there precedents? Did say Sinatra or Bud Abbott or Lou Costello or Vince Lombardi get the same treatment?

Apparently Elvis. I was too young to remember, but is was made to sound like it was a national decree. Warning is that I heard this on a new radio report.

by **Werthless** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:53:59

TenuredVulture wrote:Seems to me being against sex for fun is not a winning political position. I wonder when they'll go public with their thoughts about masturbation.

It wins the segment of the old vote that aren't having sex for fun.

by **thephan** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 16:57:39

TenuredVulture wrote:Seems to me being against sex for fun is not a winning political position. I wonder when they'll go public with their thoughts about masturbation.

Thank God for the Protestant approach, which to summarize is 'God made sex fun for you because he loves you!' That was more or less a sermon vision statement. It made for an interesting Sunday morning. The minister has 4 children, so I assume that given his position he could have had a whole flock. The added bonus is that I like doing God's work, how can you not. For you single folks, I think that would not be a winning pickup line.

There was a recient news piece about 80 year olds enjoying sex most of all. Here is an older article.

by **pacino** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 17:01:09

Werthless wrote:
TenuredVulture wrote:Seems to me being against sex for fun is not a winning political position. I wonder when they'll go public with their thoughts about masturbation.

It wins the segment of the old vote that aren't having sex for fun.

so the ones not in nursing homes? lots of VD floating around those

by **drsmooth** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 17:21:27

This guy Friess is growing on me - I think it's his "let's not take all of this so goldurn seriously" vibe. He's nutty but approachable

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