Quick Thoughts

Daily Kos has two items which struck me as interesting:
- Would Bush/prolife establishment shoot down a hijacked plane that had fertilized embryos onboard? I'm usually very much against these hypothetical arguements, but this one made me stop and think.

- Grassroots effort- troops must pay for their own internet services ($5/hour), telephone access and haircuts. If you can spare $5 to hook the troops up with some free internet, e-mail Bill at bipm04103@yahoo.com- he will tell you where to send it. This is a stickler for me- anyone can have access to the Internet by walking into a public library, yet we can't provide it for our servicemen and women? Your $5 donation will mean a lot more to the troops than a yellow ribbon on the back of your SUV.

- Today is pajama day at Little Booger #1's preschool. She's taking pajama day to mean that she doesn't have to comb her hair, brush her teeth or look at all presentable. She's only in preschool and already has the college sophomore mentality when it comes to grooming- it's optional.

Small towns

Since I tend to be a bit serious and political most of the time, I have a few questions that always tickle my funny bone:

Why is it that chain e-mails about boogeymen at gas stations, strangers with candy, 9/11 conspiracy theories, riches from Bill Gates, etc. always are sent by people who live in small towns? I want to take out billboard space in all of small-town America advertising Snopes.

Why does my local Sonic Drive-in have handicapped parking spaces? NONE of us are leaving the car. I'm just as handicapped as the next guy when it comes to being too lazy to get out of my car to order or eat.

And finally, a poll: do any of you know 20-somethings- college graduates who have "real" jobs- 9 to 5, benefits, 401K etc? Out of all the people I know in their mid-to-late 20s, I can only count a handful who have "real jobs." Most of us are grad schoolers, or self-employed, or jacks of all trades. I think this is a new trend, but I wanted some feedback before I run with my theory.

Do as I say

Since Saturday, I've been pondering abortion politics, probably due to the abortion resolution our Senate District unanimously passed at our county convention.

My own experiences with abortion are anecdotal only. In high school, I knew upstanding, good, Christian girls whose mothers drove them to Oklahoma City for abortions and upon their return, they faced whispers and gawks from their pious peers.

In college, I had the surreal experience of sitting next to The Rev. Robert Tilton's ex-wife, Leigh Valentine. On a two hour flight, Ms. Valentine boasted she was flying out to California to film an infomercial for her new cosmetics line, asked me how she could get smart college students to work for her for free, and asked who I was voting for in the 2000 election.

When I told her I was supporting Gore, she wrinkled up her face and said she was voting for Bush because he seemed like a good, Christian man and that she appreciated his stance on abortion. And then came the kicker, "I mean, I've had one (an abortion) and all," she said. "But I just wish someone had told me I had choices."

This single conversation solidified my decision to remain pro-choice my entire life.

Years later, while working for my husband, we dealt with a 14-year-old child who had been raped repeatedly and was pregnant. She was placed in the care of Child Protective Services, and the Lawyer was appointed to represent her interests. The child wanted an abortion. Individuals who worked for CPS inserted their own beliefs into the case and did everything possible to prevent her from having an abortion. The State sat down with her and made her sign statements, made her listen to ideas about adoption, told her that CPS would not consent to her having an abortion- even though there was no consent requirement for minors at the time. That has changed.

Planned Parenthood stepped up to the plate for this girl. Since she was a rape victim, the services were free. She had the procedure on a rainy Saturday across town. CPS had demanded that one of their workers attend the procedure, but thank goodness they don't like to work on Saturdays. She was well-cared for and loved the entire day. Today she is a 16-year-old girl- she caught up in school, is still with the foster mother who she was placed with and she is no longer a statistic.

I've watched abortion laws be chipped away and abortion access restricted- for minors, for waiting periods, for all women. Why not enact waiting periods for vasectomies? Why not require parental consent to purchase condoms? Unwanted pregancy is not the problem: it's a symptom of ineffective sex education, lack of access to contraception, and an unwillingness to accept that sex will happen, regardless of purity rings, pledges, abstinence-education, parental-notification or consent.

Like Leigh Valentine, I just wish women had options.

Convention Malaise

I attended my 2nd Tarrant County Democratic Convention today. It was what most conventions of any organization are- a rallying of spirit, long lines, packaged food, resolutions, give and take, cartoon-ish moments, some quotation speeches, and a slap on the butt to activate the masses.

What struck me about this convention was the undercurrents of tension among the delegates. Here we are, the Democratic party, the party of inclusion and openness and civil rights. Yet, from what I heard, we as a party, as a state and as a nation are far from past the race issue. I was downright ashamed of some of my fellow delegates.

One older gentleman - I call him Self-Appointed Registration Traffic Director- told me as our registration line snaked by him that the problem with his senate district was that "all the colored people want to do is vote. They don't want to participate." I would have liked to have responded, "What the fuck, dude, that is totally inappropriate." But I just stuttered some incoherent response about George Bush being a natural disaster. (I was reading that off the back of the person in line in front of me, trying to mentally make the line move faster so I could get past Self-Appointed.)

Then, there was Mr. God Bless the U.S.A. America. Mr. America was decked out in an American flag ballcap, an American flag button-down shirt and had an American flag tote bag on his lap. Mr. America was sitting in 1149's row for the opening session. While I never saw any protocol on where it was appropriate to sit, most attendees sat with their Senate Districts from what I observed. When a group of African American 1149-ers tried to sit in their precinct row, which was occupied by Mr. America and his wife, Mrs. America, Mr. America scoffed at them, "That's for later. Sit somewhere else." When one of the women responded, "Sir, I've been coming to these things for 20 years, and we've always sat by precinct," Mr. America sneered at her. "Well, bless your heart," he said. "Now move on." I wondered if Mr. America speaks like that to everyone he disagrees with, or just people he believes he is superior to.

These comments, spoken in the nooks and crannies of delegate downtime rather than on the grand stage of a resolution, made me feel like we as a party, we as a county and we as a state have a long, sacred road to walk before we can stand together united in color, thoughts and beliefs.

On the lighter side, here are some tidbits that made me giggle
Overheard: "Art Brender is happier than a pig in shit."
Overheard: "Look, Joe Johnson fell asleep again."
Overheard: "I hope Chris Bell gets done soon or I'm going to have to leave. And I really want to vote for the resolutions dealing with the war."
Copy Editor Funny: S.D. 10 passed a resolution with the word 'computational' in it. (computational's not a word)

The Lawyer has more overheards, he was actually taking notes.
Annatopia has a post on the innerworkings of the resolution committee.

Make Levees, Not War

A friend whose husband is working in New Orleans brought me a t-shirt back from New Orleans. It says "Make Levees, Not War." I'm wearing it to Tarrant County's Democratic Convention Saturday. The Lawyer is looking forward to blogging about the disorganization that plagues the TCDP.

New Orleans saddens me. We have left the entire Gulf Coast behind. We are not demanding action. We spend $200 million a day in Iraq, and do drop-in-the-bucket rebuilding in Louisiana and Missippi. It's like trying to use toothpicks to frame a house.

What will history say of us? I think we are the Marie Antoinette's of our time- complacent and out of touch with everything important.

Making a Movement

Mary's question about a movement for OTC oral contraceptives- or OTC OC- made me do some quick searching. I found this report published in 2001 by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. The Institute did a cost-benefit analysis on this issue and concluded that making The Pill available over the counter would be a net benefit- about a $2 billion net benefit. The study takes into account women who would no longer make yearly OB/GYN in visits, the increased cost to low-income women, etc.

I've become like a dear in the headlights on this issue- I cannot move away from it. It seems to me that if a movement doesn't exist, why not create one? The purpose would be:
1) create greater access to the pill by allowing sales over the counter
2) reduce amount of unwanted pregnancies
3) let the marketplace control success or failure of the venture.

So how does one start a movement? A little time and a little talk. For those who hate politics and therefore tune it out, I'm sorry, we as women and citizens no longer have that luxury. We have to care- or we lose our voice. This issue could be our rallying cry toward progress. Our mother's and grandmother's marches on Washington are history- the new makings of movements start on the Web, over e-mail and through plain, old-fashioned grassroots organizing. And if you don't believe that things in Washington have gotten very political, you need to read this. (it's on point with Plan B being stalled).

What do you do? Are you willing to write letters? Are you willing to call your representatives in Congress? Are you willing to tell your friends? Start by calling your representatives/Senators and asking them where they stand on this issue. Here's a script if you're scared and nervous:

Hi. I'm a constituant and I would like to know where Sen./Rep. Soandso stands on two issues-
1) making The Pill available over the counter without a prescription
2) making Emergency Contraception available over the counter
3) Why?
4) I am a voter and I believe this...

Post your comments/reactions to the phone calls in comments.

I'll keep researching and see what else we can do. If you're a woman, and you care about this, let me know. This is a small potatoes issue that we should be able to flex our collective muscles on.

After all, the race is on... the UK is considering making Viagra available over the counter.

Finally, I'm interested in seeing this.

The Question No One is Asking

The FDA has tabled a plan to make Plan B, emergency contraception available over the counter. Now, Senate Democrats are threatening to block Bush's new appointee to head up the FDA unless the issue is resolved. See the story here.

The FDA sputtered approving Plan B for OTC sales because of politics. The religious wingnuts framed the debate in such a way that Plan B equates with abortion. And the political appointees on the FDA stated OTC sales would make Plan B an option for teenage girls.

Keep in mind, that Plan B prevents pregnancy, it doesn't abort one. If Plan B can be approved for over the counter, why aren't we asking for Plan A- the Pill- over the counter? Doesn't rallying for The Pill to be sold over the counter change the "almost like an abortion" talking point to a "sex is bad" one?

I don't know about you, but I get all giggly when I hear Republicans talking about bad sex. So women- get behind Plan A- making The Pill available over the counter.

Princess Power
My mom is in town- whipping my house into shape. We spent the day giving The Little Boogers' room a makeover... ala Disney Princess style. My style is more Pottery Barn kids. The Little Boogers' style is full on Disney marketing machine.

No picture to post yet, but just imagine if you will: Cinderella sheets and bedspread, a Disney princess wall banner, bubblegum pink and fushia tulle curtains and a wall color called "perfumed bath." It's enough girliness to make your head spin and it's nearly driven The Lawyer to the edge- errr- actually to the lines - of an NCAA bracket.

The Little Boogers won't leave their new haven. My mom is drinking beer and proud of her work. And I'm proud of her. And the room is actually very, very cute.

Maybe The Lawyer will get a burnt orange room one of these days- I'm betting the odds are 10:1.

Call Your Senator... Please
If I believe in anything, I believe in our Constitution. I think our president went against the Constitution - and broke the law- by not going to the FISA court to get a warrant prior to electronically spying on hundreds, maybe thousands, of citizens without their knowledge.

Now, if you're not political or you don't much care about things such as these, here are my sticking points:
- FISA allows for warrantless surveillence for up to 72 hours, the administration thumbed their noses at this provision and decided not to go AT ALL.
- Yes, I believe we should be spying on terrorists. With a warrant. What happens if we're just monitoring whomever, Enron's Grandmas, me, you, organizations who happen to disagree with the administration?
- Not getting warrants is a dangerous precedent. What happens if it were a Democrat in office spying on Americans and saying" just trust me? " I think if we can learn anything so far- Iraq, Katrina, Medicare, hunting with Dick Cheney - the "trust me" capital is spent.
- Finally, consider anything learned from monitoring tried and true terrorists could be thrown out of court because of this policy- it is against the 4th amendment.

So please, take some time to call your Sentators and ask them to support this censure resolution. Ask them where they stand on this issue.

We're not asking for impeachment. We're asking for accountability. We're asking for some personal responsibility. We're asking for a little commitment to principle and the Consitution. That shouldn't be too much, should it? Plus, one of our freedom-loving, law-abiding Senators has a track record in protecting the Constitution. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson voted to impeach President Clinton for obstructing justice (he lied about sex acts). Shouldn't President Bush be held to the same standard?

Just do it. It's worth the 5 minutes it'll take.

Some Doctor
So I pick up Little Booger #1 from preschool last Thursday and asked her what she did that day.
"Well, we had a birthday party," she said. "We had birthday cake, and we made a hat, and we ate green eggs and ham."
"Who was the party for?" I asked.
"I don't know," she said. "It was for some doctor. He couldn't come."

Mommy Wars
I'm intrigued by Leslie Morgan Steiner's new book, Mommy Wars. I've seen the disconnect between working moms and stay-at-home moms, even though very few of us are exclusively one or the other. (I identify myself as a stay-at-home mom, but have a few home-based businesses on the side.) Likewise, many working moms work from home in an effort to balance the need for income with the desire to raise their own children. Yet, there seems to be a line in the sand, and you have to choose on which side of the line you stand and fight for your side.

Motherhood is a judgement minefield. Be careful where you step- judgement can rear its ugly head in every parenting choice- from what you feed your little boogers to what school you enroll them to how you discpline to what you dress them in. It's an icky mess that not even mom-spit can clean up.

But I think all of this judgement and line-drawing is a symptom of a larger problem: society does not value motherhood. This became abundently clear to me the first time I went to a social event after Little Booger #1 came along.

"And what do you do?" a well-heeled and quaffed woman asked.
"I'm a mom right now to a 2-month-old," came my smiling reply.
"Oh, how interesting." the woman said. "Well, it was nice to meet you."

I became "that girl to be avoided" in one sentence. Motherhood made me NOT interesting. Motherhood meant I didn't have opinions on the stuff of typical party talk- politics, sushi, HBO, sex, jokes or booze. Instead of being a part of me, motherhood was it.

That experience tells me all I need to know about why mothers struggle between work and home, why we can't find good, affordable childcare, why some work low-paying, on-the-side jobs, etc.

In today's America, motherhood means that's all you've got: kids. And that means we should sit on the sidelines and squabble between ourselves- working moms and stay-at-home moms, judging one another rather than working together as a demographic toward anything resembling progress.

Here Goes
This is my outlet- not sure what direction it will take. But, it's a start at something a little political, funny, endearing and maybe inspiring.

A little context: I am a liberal mother of two girls, living in a very large, very red state. I'll let you guess which one. (Hint: It ryhmes with Flexas.) I am a lawyer's wife, but the title of the blog is meant to be snarky.

So here's my blog's first post. There you have it!