SultanOfSwing

Cry me a river. If the GOP were more concerned about the welfare of the children after they were born, rather than when they were just a lifeless ball of cells then maybe they could begin to present themselves as sensible opposition.

The abortion debate is not about being pro abortion, but about being pro choice. It is about the rights of women to choose what to do with their own bodies and the interference into those rights by people who think their own beliefs outweigh the freedom of the individual. That's fascist theocracy at work and it's against the principles upon which this country was founded.

If you think people are actually using abortion as contraception (and the morning after pill doesn't count, an embryo is not alive), you are quite badly mistaken.

Voter turnout for the 2012 general election was 54.9%. Show me how that is in any way demonstrating 'voter engagement' ...

Steerpike

If you and the rest of the Republicans want to keep losing elections, then by all means, keep the current platform. All I'm saying is, a very clear majority of the country supports a woman's right to choose, support gay rights, and does not advocate mass deportation of illegals. In my opinion, the Republican party could do better if it differentiated itself primarily in areas of the economy; if it were fiscally conservative but socially liberal, I would expect it to do better. I personally would probably still vote democrat, but I think they would capture more swing voters. I would also expect them to do better if they would incorporate some of the ideas of Ron and Rand Paul ... less foreign intervention, less NSA shenanigans. There are positions out there that the Republicans could embrace and gain popularity, if they would just stop listening to the nutters.

Honestly can't argue with you there, but I'm trying to be helpful to our mad friends across the aisle

zargof

I see Hillary threw de Blassio under the bus for that one.

zargof

I don't. I would rather there was some sanity restored and the GOP got a little closer to the centre. The problem is the more the GOP moves to the right the more the Dems follow. So much so that Bernie Sanders is seen as radical and extreme, when if Nixon had said a lot of what Bernie said, it wouldn't have seemed that out of place.

Steerpike

This is an important point. I once saw a cartoon showing the republicans eager to force a poor, unwed mother to have a baby, but then fast-forwarding 20 years and then imposing the death penalty on that (now grown) child because the child did not receive a good home, a good education, etc. If you are going to force the birth of an unwanted child, then put in place the mechanisms to give that child a fair chance in society.

scrubbedexpat099

He said on CNN that Hillary was in on it, all scripted.

SultanOfSwing

They also act as if these are all late-term abortions that are being carried out on carefree women who get four or five a month. They aren't operating in reality. They want the government to stay out of this, that and the other. When it comes to the uterus of a stranger, it's open season, apparently.

I have a very hard time keeping my cynicism reigned in when it comes to the god debate as well, but I am trying. Regardless though, personal religious beliefs should remain just that - personal. They have no place governing the lives of others, especially when said others may not even follow that, or any religion. Religious dogma has no place in legislation (least of all in reality). The sooner that is addressed, the sooner we can all, regardless of affiliation, work towards creating a more fair and equitable society that is suitable for everyone.

Isn't god, or Jesus, or whoever all about loving your fellow man anyway?

sir_eccles

Talking of cynicism...

Police Investigating Threats Made Against Delegates Who Declined to Support Donald Trump

“If Satan had the lead on him and was one delegate away from being nominated as our candidate, and Donald Trump was the alternative, I might vote for Donald Trump,”

“I’ve always wanted to own a casino, but he couldn’t give me a casino and have me vote for him.”

“doesn’t represent what I want my party to represent.”

MMcD

My rant of the week:

This week's CNN puffery programs. They're devoting a 'prime time' hour (2 hours really - as they re-run it later) to each Republican candidate in a 'town hall' format, where they appear with their families.

This, they explain, is meant to 'humanise' them , give us 'insight'

Last night's warm 'n fuzzy brought us:
Papa Trump, Vampira Trump and 4 of the 5 Trump progeny.
Predictably predictable - not a discordant note - neither from the family chorus nor from the pre-screened audience member 'questioners'.

Wouldn't it have been great to have someone stand up and ask:

"Ivanka, how do you feel about your father's position regarding barring Muslims from entering this country"? Have you discussed this issue with him? or...

"Eric, do you agree with your father's position on confronting and defeating Isis by not only adopting - but, in fact, upping the ante on their water-boarding and torture tactics?"
or...

"Don Jr., do you, your siblings and your dad ever disagree amongst yourselves about positions he's taken in this campaign? And, if so - will you give us an example and has he ever altered his position after hearing you out? "

Once the rubbish program is over - CNN follow up with 'pundit panels' on which even the enemy pundits (in this case - the Dems) unite in agreement that the candidate has a great wife, great kids - so must, therefore, have great "family values "(no matter his stance on a woman's "right to choose") .....whitewash complete

It's also sad to see Anderson Cooper allow himself to become party to this nonsense. I can remember, once upon a time, when he was a terrific reporter.....

zargof

I think he prefers to be called Ted, but I get the point.

sir_eccles

Badum tish!

zargof

https://newrepublic.com/minutes/1326...back-haunt-him

Leslie

Yeah. They definitely need a purge but for this election, I'm good.

themadpooper

The US was founded by religious pilgrims, bro. Religion and religious "dogma" are in this country's DNA, you should've read a history book before you immigrated here if religion bothers you so much

As for your opinions about abortion and labeling an unborn baby a "bunch of cells", it's a classic tactics of pro choice types to try to dehumanize unborn babies in this way in order to legitimatize their point of view, however, the research on unborn fetuses prove they are actually human long before they ever draw their first breath - that's why it's generally illegal to get an abortion beyond 28 weeks

robin1234

Er, no, it wasn't.