Mick Wright.net

In a speech to “1,000 abortion rights supporters” yesterday, Hillary Clinton “drew gasps from some in the audience by mentioning that 7 percent of American women who do not use contraception account for 53 percent of all unintended pregnancies,” according to the New York Times.

If Senator Clinton wants her party to find ‘Common Ground‘ on abortion and “[propose] new political language about abortion rights for the Democratic Party,” she could start by sending a memo to her pals at the Associated Press.

Note the exclusively-negative terms used for pro-life advocates (postive terms) in these two recent AP articles posted at CNN.

Rallies mark Roe v. Wade anniversary

• abortion opponents
• anti-abortion marchers
• anti-abortion demonstrator
• anti-abortion activists
• abortion opponents
• abortion opponents
• Abortion opponents

Bush speaks by phone to anti-abortion protesters

• anti-abortion protesters
• Anti-abortion marchers
• abortion foes
• anti-abortion activists
• opponents… of abortion rights
• who oppose the Roe decision
• abortion opponents

This exclusive negativity spills over into the headlines and cutlines:

On the other hand, Catholic World News notes an “enormous improvement” in this area at the San Francisco Chonicle.

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For someone seeking a change in course, Senator Clinton is singing a familiar tune: “I for one respect those who believe with all their heart and conscience that there are no circumstances under which abortion should be available.”

Sounds like John Kerry during the second Presidential Debate: “First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins.”

That’s why this makes no sense:

Mrs. Clinton is widely seen as a possible candidate for the party’s presidential nomination in 2008, and her remarks signaled that she could be recalibrating her strong identification with the abortion-rights movement as the Democratic Party engages in its own re-examination of its handling of the issue in the wake of Senator John Kerry’s loss in the 2004 presidential race.

Re-examination in the wake of defeat? Let’s see another side-by-side comparison.

Clinton: “friends and foes on the issue should come together on ‘common ground’ to reduce the number of ‘unwanted pregnancies’ and ultimately abortions… “The fact is, the best way to reduce the number of abortions is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the first place.”

Kerry: “it’s important for the United States, for instance, not to have this rigid ideological restriction on helping families around the world to be able to make a smart decision about family planning. You’ll help prevent AIDS. You’ll help prevent unwanted children, unwanted pregnancies. You’ll actually do a better job, I think, of passing on the moral responsibility”

Clinton: “Mrs. Clinton also called today for the Bush administration, religious groups, supporters and opponents of abortion rights and others to look beyond the abortion rights divide and form a broad alliance on other issues that she suggested as less incendiary: sex-education programs for teenagers that included abstinence education, emergency contraception for women who have recently had unprotected intercourse, and family planning.”

Kerry: “Now, I believe that you can take that position and not be pro-abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life…”

In my estimation, the two speakers are interchangeable. That’s not re-examination, that’s re-iteration.

“We have declared a bitter war against the principle of democracy and all those who seek to enact it…

“Candidates in elections are seeking to become demi-gods while those who vote for them are infidels. And with God as my witness, I have informed them (of our intentions).”

Via Telegraph

Andrew Stuttaford recalls a quote from Michael Moore:

“The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow — and they will win.”

No, Michael Moore doesn’t hate America; he just hates freedom and democracy.

UPDATE: Chrenkoff has compiled a list of demi-god parties.

MORE: of the Zarqawi statement here.

What’s up, ya’ll.

Look, we’re here to follow the Constitutional process, which unites us with history and each other. I just made a pledge to protect and defend the Constitution, and now I’m going to talk about the consequences of that oath.

We’re going through some tough times in America right now, ever since we woke up on 9/11, after having rested on our laurels for the past decade or so.

We were shocked to find we’re not invincible. It seems crazy, but we continue to be at risk, even in the superpower America, if crap-holes around the world breed Islamofascism. That evil gathers and spreads under tyranny. Thankfully, there is a cure for this disease: freedom.

And so, our safety is tied to the spread of freedom, overcoming tyranny and terror. That’s our best hope for peace.

Of course, freedom is one of America’s deepest founding beliefs, and now it is also our vital interest. From freedom springs the abolition of slavery, and the foundations of democracy. Freedom has always been our calling and our mission, and now it’s even more important to spread that idea.

Again: our mission is to continue to spread freedom, so that democracy will rise up in place of tyranny and terror.

We can’t do all this by force. We can’t make people choose freedom. People must choose and accept it for themselves. And when they do, their democracy will probably look much different than our own. That’s the nature of freedom. And so it’s not our goal to make clones of America. Our goal is to help others attain their own freedom and do their own thing.

But we can’t just sit back and hope that freedom spreads. On this matter, we don’t have the luxury of patience any more. For the sake of humanity, and for the sake of our freedom, we have to help the process along.

We can’t do everything on our own, but thankfully for the oppressed, we can do plenty of good in the world, and we’ve got to realize that and stop being so defeatist about everything. Yes, it’s hard, and yes, it sucks sometimes, but we have no choice. We’ve got to be committed to seeing this thing through.

I, for one, will be resolved on this matter. Remember that oath I just took. Yeah, I mean it.

The creeps of the world better shape up or ship out. We’re not going to stand by anymore while you oppress people. We’re going to make a difference, and remain firm in our duty.

We’re going to be diplomatic, sure. We need to convince even some of our allies that freedom is a moral choice, the right choice.

But our policies and our diplomatic leverage will be an insistence on reforms — proper treatment of the people, and the advancement of freedom.

Some retarded pundits in the American media, not to mention a few jokers in Congress, question freedom’s appeal throughout the world. History teaches us otherwise, especially recent history. Please note: Germany, Japan, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan… Iraq. The list goes on and on.

So now we’re telling the world: take heart, because we’re behind you. We want you to be free. Take a look at our most famous icon – the Statue of Liberty. It is “liberty enlightening the world.” We mean that, still today.

And to you terrorists and tyrants, your days are numbered. God is none too pleased with people who deny liberty to people (note to ACLU – those are Lincoln’s words, not mine).

Arab leaders: we’re here to help you reform, and reform you will. You need to learn to trust the little people.

Allies: several of you have been complete asses, but we’re depending on you to grow a spine and not continue to just take it up the backside like Spain did last year. The main goal of the enemy is to divide us. Unfortunately, several of you are on the enemy’s payroll. The rest of you are just deluded. But, for real though, we’d really appreciate it if you could wake up like we did. Europe: can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.

And fellow citizens: we need you to be patient. You’ve re-elected me, so that’s a good sign. Keep up the good work. After all we’ve done, it would be stupid to abandon ship. We’ve liberated 50 million people in two years. That’s quite an accomplishment. We’ve lit a fire in the minds of men, and it is bringing warmth and light to the darkest corners of the world.

Our intel people, diplomats and soldiers are doing the heavy lifting. They are idealistic, and devoted, and all around awesome people. We honor your sacrifice.

Our young people are seeing some pretty amazing things happen. I hope you are taking note of those committed people I just mentioned. You are realizing that there are things larger than yourself, and I hope you choose to serve in that greater cause. By your efforts, this country will grow wealthier, stronger, better, and deeper in its character.

We’ve got work to do on the home front, as well. We’ve got to update some of our antiquated government programs so that they make sense for a new generation. We’ve got to make sure Americans protect their own liberties — to do their own thing, to create their own wealth, to pursue happiness, and to take advantage of all the things this great country has to offer.

Our country cannot remain great, and the public interest cannot be served, without individual character. We need to be more tolerant, more self-controlled, more family-oriented, and more faithful.

To us, freedom means: respecting God-given rights, mercy, justice, inter-dependence, valuing life (even the unborn and unwanted), and equality.

With all we’ve got going, and with all the decisions we’re forced to make, we feel overwhelmed. But history will see things differently. The judgment of history will be simply this: did we advance freedom, and did we stick to our values?

We may be a nation of red and blue states, but we are united by freedom. Our freedom to be right, and the liberals’ freedom to disagree. Just kidding. I want to heal our divisions. We’ve got to stay united on the front of liberty and realize that our mission is good. We’re doing the right thing.

I’m optimistic about the triumph of freedom, but not because of fate, or because we’re God’s chosen people, but because the desire for freedom is the basic desire of every man and woman. God put that desire in our hearts.

We’ve got to stand for something. Ever since the Declaration of Independence was read, and the Liberty Bell rang, we’ve stood for freedom. And now we’re ready to hear freedom ring, louder than it ever has before.

God bless you and this great country.

Joe Carter takes note of Jim Wallis’ change of mind. Two months ago, Wallis spearheaded a campaign cheering God’s non-partisanship (though really just preaching “progressive” socialism). Now Wallis claims “the Bible — and Jesus’s teachings in particular — are filled with messages that align more closely to Democratic policies than GOP policies.”

And if you don’t like that, just wait another couple months. I’m sure God will become a Green by March.

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In related news, my buddy Jeff is rebranding himself as a “bonafide moderate.” Hey, good luck with that. If you’re anything like your Creator, you’ll be preaching from the collected writings of Karl Marx by June.

“privatization is a fake solution to a fake crisis.” – Paul Krugman.

You wouldn’t happen know anyone who thinks otherwise, would you, Paul?

Oh, wait.

“There is a case for reforming Social Security; there is even a case for privatization.” – Paul Krugman.