Walgreen's Did The Right Thing

From lots of sources, in particular AP in the form of CBS News we find that "Walgreen Co., the nation's largest drugstore chain by revenue, said it has put four Illinois pharmacists in the St. Louis area on unpaid leave for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception in violation of a state rule." This is the first hint of a turnaround in what was becoming a nationwide trend of pharmacists refusing to fill contraceptive prescriptions. It was getting scarier and scarier -- and still is.

The disturbing part, still, is that Walgreen's makes it clear that it is only state law impelling this decision. They are ready to let the pharmacists back to work, if you call refusing to fill prescriptions work, in another state without such a law.

Addendum: (I keep doing that, don't I?) Over at Blogging Baby (via BitchPhD), Sarah suggests that you take those kids who aren't so welcome in other adult locations to your local we-don't-have-to-fill-that-contraception-prescription-if-we-don't-approve pharmacy for play time. This whole line of thought had lots of potential. It's also a good place for women to hang out in the latter stages of pregnancy, one can walk colicky babies in the aisles, and generally spend as much quality time as possible there. After all, we know they are child friendly, right?

Jean, Jean or Ohio 2, What Were You Thinking?

UPDATE: I had a few things to say last week about Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) when she initiated an amazing career of house speeches by calling Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) a coward. She was forced to take her words down which, in congress-speak means remove them from the record.

From The Hill we learn that she recently was interviewed by Cincinnati radio station WLW. They asked her ... well here, I'll let you read it.

Host Bill Cunningham: “Have you learned anything [since the incident]?”

Schmidt: “I’ve learned a lot.”

Cunningham: “What have you learned?”

Schmidt: “A lot.”

Cunningham: “Give me one or two.”

Schmidt: “Um … I’ve learned a lot.”

Cunningham: “Give me something you’ve learned.”

Schmidt: “Alright. [Pause] There’s so many things. Um …”

Cunningham: “Pick out one or two.”

Schmidt: “[Long pause] Not to wear the red dress.”

Cunningham: “It’s a bad red dress.”

So she obviously learned something from the experience.

Buy Nothing Day

We here at the Undercover household are participating in Adbusters' "Buy Nothing Day" which is TODAY both because we want to make a real statement about the power of the marketplace and because we find something uplifting about taking a day off of our usual unthinking spending. When I take time to think about how pervasive our shopping habits are compared with everyone else in the world, I am a bit shocked. So with the extra non-shopping time I will be spending a bit of time looking into the ongoing outting of Wal-Mart and wondering if monopoly capitalism will ultimately rule the universe. (If you click on that link, please understand that it just represents my current reading. I could post hundreds of 'monopoly capitalism' links, but I didn't think you'd want to write a thesis on the subject. Besides, you know how to use a search engine.)


The picture on the left is Aaron Masonek's submission to Adbusters' poster contest.

Thanksgiving, Redux

Our co-blogger and my almost-neighbor Max Sawicky gives us The Story of Thanksgiving translated, of course, into modern terminology.

Thanksgiving

is a truly excellent holiday. And though it may be trite, it's time to tell Sasha what you are thankful for. Me, I'm thankful for my friends, excellent computer access, a full refrigerator, a steady income, and the fact that Lynn Cheney isn't the President yet. You?

And here is my wish for a terrific holiday to all of you, whether you are on the correct or right side of the political aisle.

The Worst Person In The World

(with apologies to Keith Olberman) is staring at you from the right. This, by the way, is her best photo, the publicity photo she uses on her congressional web site. She represents the 2nd District of Ohio in the House of Representatives, having defeated Paul Hackett (a former Major in the Marine Corps) in a special election last August to do so.

She is a piece of aging mouldering elephant dung who serves only to continue to demonstrate how base and valueless the Republicans have become.

By now, my dear political junkies, I am sure that you are aware of the unconscionable maneuver pulled by the Republicans yesterday, wherein they attempted to make a mockery of Rep. John Murtha's genuine concern about the course of the war and our presence in Iraq. They seem to be so insecure about the course of the war that they feel the need to supress discussion and dissent by any means necessary. I will not go into detail about Mr. Murtha's speech and expression of concern here. A transcript is readily available elsewhere.

But the discussion initiated by Ms. Schmidt has been stripped from the record. Let me provide you with The Post's rendition. The representative said: " 'a few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp," an Ohio legislator and Marine Corps Reserve officer. "He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."'"

Yes, Rep. Schmidt called Rep. Murtha, an ex Marine who served the Corps for 37 years, a coward, not worthy of being a Marine. Let's review. Rep. Murtha volunteered to go to Vietnam, was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Rep. Schmidt earned a teaching certificate and runs marathons. And has foo foo dogs. You might want to see her family too, so you'll be sure to recognize her in the supermarket.

Go watch the film that ThinkProgress has kindly provided for us. It is seriously worth seeing it with your own eyes.

Then, as the Post describes it "Dozens of Democrats erupted at once, pointing angrily at Schmidt and shouting repeatedly, "Take her words down" -- the House term for retracting a statement. For a moment Schmidt tried to keep speaking, but the uproar continued and several GOP colleagues surrounded her as she sat down, looking slightly dazed. Presiding officer Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) gaveled in vain for order as Democrats continued shouting for Schmidt to take back her words. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.) yelled "You guys are pathetic!" from the far end of the Democratic section to the GOP side.

Just as matters seemed to calm a bit, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) suddenly charged across the aisle to the GOP seats, jabbing his finger furiously at a small group of GOP members and shouting, "Say Murtha's name!" Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), who had led the chants for striking Schmidt's comments, gently guided Ford by the arm back to the minority party's side."

The words were stricken from the record, but they are engraved on my memory. We have to do something about these people. They are not patriots. They are self-absorbed, narcissistic, ugly human beings who do not deserve to represent single-celled organisms. *spit*

Apparently Watching South Park
doesn't provide me with enough excitement. So I converted the bulk of the link section to a Blogroll, added a slug of new links, and hope that the New tags will help all of us sort through the chaff. Have fun gentle readers.

Our Batshit Crazy President

The magazine version of the Moonie newsletter that pretends to be classy -- oops, I better warn you about clicking on that link. Cause the first thing you will see on that page is a link explaining that Rove is back in the saddle, and I'm quite certain that is an image you would prefer to avoid. Anyway, they, friends of Our President, are reporting "President Bush feels betrayed by several of his most senior aides and advisors and has severely restricted access to the Oval Office, administration sources say. The president's reclusiveness in the face of relentless public scrutiny of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and White House leaks regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame has become so extreme that Mr. Bush has also reduced contact with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, administration sources said on the condition of anonymity." Drudge adds "Sources close to the White House say that Mr. Bush has become isolated and feels betrayed by key officials in the wake of plunging domestic support, the continued insurgency in Iraq and the CIA-leak investigation that has resulted in the indictment and resignation of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff. The sources said Mr. Bush maintains daily contact with only four people: first lady Laura Bush, his mother, Barbara Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes. The sources also say that Mr. Bush has stopped talking with his father, except on family occasions."

(Via John at AMERICAblog)

He has been showing signs of alcoholic deterioration and cokehead braincell death for years. If you watch old tapes you will see a surprisingly coherent man who sometimes actually looks at the person he is talking to, manages to focus in the present, and doesn't twitch all the time. Capitol Hill Blue reported on this more than a year ago. But a lot of us know how much we dislike the man, and really take such reports with a grain of salt.

However it doesn't seem to be getting better. In fact it is reaching a point where these reports have some internal consistency as well as signs of more deterioration. Apparently he is reaching the depths of Nixonian crazed paranoia at its worst. I mean Nixon was always paranoid, conspiracy they're out to get me nuts. It is what led to so much of his whacko behavior as well as his downfall. And this administration has always tended in that direction. Glance at what Nixon did to hunt down and discredit Jane Fonda who at the time was basically a looker who nobody would have listened to without so much White House attention and you'll see a pattern that obtains with this administration. Of course this administration has done a better job of shutting down any information flow outward.

Which makes me wonder who is leaking it now. And why.

(I'm taking this as a cheap opportunity to relate one of my favorite Nixon stories, btw. Sammy Davis Jr. relates this interaction in his book Why Me.

"He (Nixon) He hesitated. "Incidentally, it is okay to say black?"
"Yes, Mr. President, we say black now. Negro and colored are not in use."
He had a notepad and he wrote, "Black is preferred, colored is not," and he asked, "How did that happen?")

Checking In

I have been neglecting you, dear readers, and for that I apologize. Swamped at work and more than a little sick is not quite an excuse. More to the point, I have been struggling my way through two different sets of ideas.

First, I have been pondering about the history of capitalism. This is a direct result of three or four years of listening to folks on the right telling me that this is a capitalist nation, that the Constitution so mandates, and the like. It seems to me that not only does ignorance abound on this point, but I have been unable to find anything written that I might point folks to. If any of you know of a brief history of capitalism in the US, please share. Otherwise I might be forced to write it.

Second, I have been musing over the parallels between how religious fundamentalists -- in this case, evangelical Christians -- read their holy books and how they want to read the Constitution of the United States. I'm not sure where to go with this, but at the very least there is an internal inconsistency with insisting on reading a document that clearly distances itself from any religion as if it were a seminal religious tract.

While I am pondering these questions, feel free to use my comment section to throw brickbats or talk amongst yourselves.

Elections, 2005

Democrats won governorships in Virginia and New Jersey and all of Arnold's ballot initiatives failed. Kos is not wildly enthusiastic about the results, but I am. I think I desperately needed to be reminded that parts of the US still have working brain cells, that the right wing crazies don't own the country, and that the lying swift boaters don't own the country yet. This little reminder from Kos:
"Seen around the Kaine victory party in Richmond: tshirts with the inscription: FYSH

What does it stand for? Fuck You Forget You Scott Howell.

Howell was the guy behind the Swift Boat Veterans and did Kilgore's "Kaine wouldn't execute Hitler" ads. "

The Dick Cheney Fan Club

The General pointed me in the direction of the Dick Cheney Fan Club which, in itself is weirdly amusing. I was getting a little weirded out when the label to the photo gallery included the words "He's so cute!" I know you are so enticed that you'll have to see for yourself. In case I haven't convinced you, here's one of the lovely renditions of Mr. Cheney.

The Right To Privacy

Via John at Americablog originated by Dan Savage (You know. Savage Love.) to whom we should bow or curtsey in gratitude.

Mr. Savage suggests a Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the right to privacy.

"If the Republicans can propose a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, can’t the Dems propose a “Right to Privacy” amendment? Since the RTP is popular (unlike the anti-gay marriage amendment), the Dems should put it out there and let the Republicans run around the country explainging why they're against a right to privacy—not a winning position. Then, once it passes, we’ll be spared the debate over whether or not the RTP is in there every time a conservative is nominated to the Supreme Court."

This is brilliant in its simplicity. It would, indeed, be wildly popular. And I can find no way to argue against it without sounding like, and probably being, a total nutcase. The supporters would be Jeffersonian in their desire to write down rights that they already believe exist -- much like a simple extension of the Bill of Rights. I love it. I'd like to hear any rational objections.

Update: The Left Coaster is onboard as well. What are we waiting for?

Avian Flu

THERE IS NO PANDEMIC !!!

Just sayin'

Senate Rule XXI

SESSION WITH CLOSED DOORS

1. On a motion made and seconded to close the doors of the Senate, on the discussion of any business which may, in the opinion of a Senator, require secrecy, the Presiding Officer shall direct the galleries to be cleared; and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain closed.

2. When the Senate meets in closed session, any applicable provisions of rules XXIX and XXXI, including the confidentiality of information shall apply to any information and to the conduct of any debate transacted.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, the majority party seems to be quite unhappy that the minority leader made such a motion that was then seconded. They are yammering about the fact that this is NEVER done and that it is always done by agreement. Unusual that they are so bound by precedent. The last time I looked, they thought that they were the majority and could, therefore, do any damn thing they want.

Tough shit.