US Senate

Upset about fetal tissue donation? Stop funding for birth control, obviously!

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Crossposted from DemocraticDiva.com

What Does Planned Parenthood Do?

The GOP majority in the Senate held a vote to defund Planned Parenthood on Monday morning, with conservatives taking to the floor, one after another, to engage in lugubrious, sanctimonious theatrics about the “selling” of fetal tissue.

During the debate in the Senate, Republican lawmakers sought to highlight those shocking videos showing Planned Parenthood arranging for the sale of aborted babies.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said, “The American taxpayer should not be asked to fund an organization like Planned Parenthood that has shown a sheer disdain for human dignity and complete disregard for women and their babies.”

“The barbaric practice of conducting abortions in a way that promotes harvesting fetal organs, or profiting from such practices, has no place in modern society,” said Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana. “Planned Parenthood’s disgusting practices should not receive a dime of taxpayer money.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats should not protect Planned Parenthood’s federal funds “just to protect some political group. “Women deserve better, and our country deserves better.”

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Free Eric Holder campaign

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The Wall Street Journal reports on a new fashion trend sweeping the halls of the Justice Department for spring – “Free Eric Holder’’ wristbands, an inside joke among Attorney General Eric Holder‘s top aides and supporters about the months-long political standoff over the Senate confirmation of his successor, Loretta Lynch. Fashion Statement at Justice: ‘Free Eric Holder’ Wristbands:

EricHolderWristbandThe black rubber bracelets were the idea of Molly Moran, a senior Justice Department official, according to people who have received them. The wristbands, like the kind people wear to support various charities or causes, started appearing on staffers’ wrists a couple weeks ago, when it became clear there was no end in sight to the standoff over the nomination of Loretta Lynch.

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[A] Senate floor vote on Ms. Lynch is weeks–if not months–away because of a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over an abortion provision in a human trafficking bill.

The irony of the situation is that congressional Republicans spent years trying to force Mr. Holder out of his job.

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Sen. John McCain assembling a ‘shadow war cabinet’ in the Senate

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More stupid stuff I read in the editorial pages of The Arizona Republic — it seems to be getting worse lately.

George Will’s mini-me, Robert Robb, Arizona’s version of the patrician prevaricator for the Plutocracy, wrote a column last week entitled Most interesting man in the Senate? John McCain. What, is McCain taking the place of Jonathan Goldsmith in those Dos Equis ads? (“The most interesting man in the world”). Robb’s premise:

McCaintrangelove[T]he most interesting figure in the new Senate Republican majority may very well turn out to be Arizona’s John McCain.

McCain becomes chairman of the Arms Services Committee. In that capacity, he says that his top priority will be to get rid of sequestration, which is squeezing the defense budget beyond what McCain feels is prudent or safe.

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[U] nlike some of his fellow defense hawks, McCain presumably won’t be inclined to simply relax sequestration’s limit on defense spending. But increasing defense spending without backpedaling on deficit reduction would require lower caps on domestic spending.

The patrician prevaricator for the Plutocracy has the warm and fuzzies over the mere thought that Grampy McCrankypants will increase defense spending at the expense of shredding the social safety net for those takers in the 47%. What a bootlicker.

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Bringing in the big guns: Clinton stumps for Carmona

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by Pamela Powers Hannley The Democrats smell blood in the water.  Congressman Jeff Flake– formerly thought to be the heir apparent to retiring Jon Kyl's US Senate seat– is now in a dead heat for that seat with Independent-turned-Democrat, former Surgeon General, Green Baret, Pima County Sheriff's Deputy, ER doc Richard Carmona.   Carmona has … Read more