Conviction in Conviction

Scott Roeder, murderer of Dr. George Tiller, has been sentenced to the maximum 50 years without the possibility of parole. Roeder is 52 years old, so that’s pretty much it for him in terms of seeing the light of day as a free man. Justice is on our side for a change.

Roeder ranted and raved through some of the proceedings, and was led screaming from the court room. A Huffington Post article I found about the story mentioned something that I found pretty interesting concerning Roeder’s (ex, why am I not surprised) family:

{“Roeder's ex-wife said the outbursts were characteristic of the man she knew. Lindsey Roeder said she and their son, Nicholas, were relieved by the sentence.

"I think it will be a lot easier to put it behind us than it will be for the Tiller family," she said. "Their pain will continue long after ours has subsided." }

It’s quite telling that the most zealous of anti-choice activists, who supposedly cares so much for the “lives” of embryos and fetuses, potential children in their eyes, will think nothing of the suffering that they will cause their own living, breathing, perfectly personifiable children and families by their actions. It’s all about them, their ability to control others, and their self-inflicted martyrdom.

It is important to emphasize that Roeder is not a sane man in a world gone mad, as those that testified for him and many hard line anti-choicers paint him as. He is insane. He ruined his marriage and his relationship with his son persuing demons and strawmen that do not in fact exist in reality, but in his head and the heads of his ilk. Unfortunately, Dr. Tiller, through no fault of his own, was chosen to be one of those demons. This kind of behavior isn't restricted to anti-choice circles either, but runs throughout society (Solanas and Warhol, for example). Any divisive issue breeds this.

It is the hope of many that Roeder's conviction will deter zealous anti-choicers from this kind of violent behavior, but I fear it will only drive them further. Indeed I'm sure Roeder is sitting in his cell at this moment feeling quite the martyr. I can only hope along with the Tiller family that he not be allowed to, "foment hatred from his prison cell."

Bullying expert: Massachusetts school didn't use advice | NewsOK.com

Bullying expert: Massachusetts school didn't use advice NewsOK.com

This is heartbreaking...

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

From RH Reality Check: Let Down Again: Obama’s FDA Inexplicably Fails to Advance New Emergency Contraception Rules

Over a year ago a judge told the F.D.A. that they might want to actually go by scientific evidence as opposed to political ideology since it was the F.D.A. and not the Police What Goes Into Or Out Of A Woman's Body Brigade. After which, the F.D.A. seems to have stuck its fingers in its ears and went, "La la la la la..." for a year because you still have to ask a pharmacist for emergency contraception, and you still have to be at least 17 to ask for it despite there being no good reason to do so.

It would be great if someone started ponying up that scientific integrity they were so adament about...just sayin'.....

Reform: Glacial, not Sweeping

RH Reality Check’s Jodi Jacobson gives a precise reading of the good and bad of the landmark health care reform that was just passed in this article.

Insurers will not be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions starting in 2014. Women will have more access to OBGYN and midwife care, and gender-rating has been partially eliminated. Free preventative care will begin in new plans starting in 2018. Medicaid has been expanded as well as funding for community health centers and primary health care doctors.

Now the bad…is pretty bad. You still have to pay more as you get older, and when it comes to group insurance plans, when you’re female. You don’t get any coverage for five if you’re a new immigrant.

And, of course, abortion care will continue to be eroded in private insurance.

This reform is by no means ideal, but it's something to work with. Optimism people! Optimism!

Yeah, It Makes You Not Pregnant Anymore

According to Lori over at feministing, an anti-choice group known as Abortion Changes You has put up ads in NY subways playing the whole "You'll regret it!!" tactic.



Nevermind that, pregnancy? Changes the crap out of you. Especially when it's forced, and you don't want it.



Women get a range of feelings after getting an abortion. There is no evidence that post-abortion syndrome exists.

Wish we had the level of funding to be able to paper our as everywhere, unfortunately our funds tend to go towards helping women, which costs significantly more than scaring the crap out of them.

Every Day!

RH Reality Check has some really great stories that illustrate exactly why every day should be the national day of appreciation for abortion providers (which was on the 10th).

Short Answer: They're really awesome, determined, and caring people.

Slow News Day Spotlight

Guernica has a wonderful interview with Oklahoma's own Elizabeth Warren on the ever dwindling middle class, and what should be done about it.

Look! A woman that can do math and talk responsibly about money! Amazing!