The Attack On Women Is Getting Obscene

Ken AshfordWomen's IssuesLeave a Comment

What is it with the right wing and women's va-jay-jays?  Both on the federal and state level, legislatures — predominantly white men — seem to be insisting that their values govern what women do with their bodies.  We see it in the current controversy involving contraception coverage for women — who do you see speaking out against it?  Men.  White conservative … Read More

Liz Trotta Deserves This

Ken AshfordRight Wing Punditry/Idiocy, Women's IssuesLeave a Comment

What an assinine thing to say — that women who serve in the military should expect to be raped because they are in close quarters with men.  I mean, it's just plain dumb. Jon Stewart does the honors: The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook  

This Cartoon Says It All

Ken AshfordConstitution, GodstuffLeave a Comment

I was going to write a lengthier post on the subject, particularly as it pertains to the whole contraception/Catholicism controversy, but I'm sure I would never find the time.  And indeed, this graphic makes the point pretty well. Religious freedom, as protected by the First Amendment, means that each person should be allowed to follow the dictates of their own … Read More

Judge Of The Day

Ken AshfordEducation, Election 2012, GodstuffLeave a Comment

Texas federal Judge Fred Biery has been a key villain in GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s narrative about why federal judges are supposedly out of control.  Gingrich routinely cites a previous decision by Biery holding that the Constitution does not permit a public school district to sponsor a student-led prayer at graduation to justify eliminating courts that displease Gingrich. In … Read More

The Santorum Surge

Ken AshfordElection 2012Leave a Comment

A new Pew Research Center poll found Santorum and Romney neck-and-neck, with Santorum winning 30 percent of the support among Republican registered voters to Romney's 28 percent — a difference that falls well within the poll's five percentage point margin of error. Separately, Gallup's latest tracking survey of the Republican race found Romney with 32 percent support and Santorum right on his heels with … Read More

Downtonspeak

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

I sort of always suspected that the folks in and around Downton weren't speaking quite correctly.  Ben Zimmer of Language Log noticed some anachronistic expressions, too.  He gives his analysis here.   Further thoughts at Obsidian Wings.

GOP Follies Fun Fact

Ken AshfordElection 2012Leave a Comment

Nate Silver tells us: There have been 10 separate Republican candidates who have led in at least one national poll at some point in this nomination cycle (counting a few candidates who decided not to run officially). They are, in alphabetical order: Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Chris Christie, Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney … Read More

The Obligatory Whitney Houston Post

Ken AshfordIn Passing, RaceLeave a Comment

I wasn't a fan.  I didn't have anything against her unquestionable talent or personality; I just wasn't a big fan. But her passing is sad, especially given the struggles she had throughout life.  One would have hoped for a better ending.  One would have hoped for her to age gracefully and become the Grande Dame of Something.  Sadly, it was … Read More

Great Quotes From The 9th Circuit’s “Prop 8” Opinion

Ken AshfordConstitution, Courts/Law, Sex/Morality/Family ValuesLeave a Comment

I think Judge Stephen Reinhardt enjoyed himself writing this opinion, given the way he (subtly) sticks it to the Prop 8 supporters: 1. "[M]arriage is the name that society gives to the relationship that matters most between two adults. A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but to the couple desiring to enter into a committed lifelong relationship, … Read More

Some Of The Stupid Laws The New Hampshire GOP Wants To Pass

Ken AshfordRepublicans1 Comment

What's up with my home state?  The GOP-led legislation must be high.  Here's some of the stupid things they've wanted to do: Make the public school curriculum optional Prevent police from protecting domestic abuse victims Allow employers to ban lunch breaks and my favorite… all new laws relating to individual rights must quote from the Magna Carta. And that's since … Read More

New Horizons

Ken AshfordScience & TechnologyLeave a Comment

Russian scientists have finally reached Lake Vostok. That might not sound very interesting until you realize that Lake Vostok is a freshwater lake that has been sealed away for millions of years under two miles of thick Antarctic ice. Clean samples of the water from Lake Vostok, named after the scientific research station located on the ice sheet above it, will … Read More

The Controversy That’s Not

Ken AshfordConstitution, Election 2012, Godstuff, Women's IssuesLeave a Comment

Culture wars again? There seems to be a LOT of misinformation about this latest so-called "controversy" involving the Obama administration and the Catholic Church and birth control.  To hear some people talk about it, you would think that the Obama administration is forcing Catholic institutions to go out and purchase birth control against their will. Let's be clear: the Obama administration … Read More