General Political Thread 2013

Thanks for responding.

My girlfriend has had one herself. The way she phrased it, if I remember correctly, was "Abortion saved my life."

The fetus had Anencephaly which would not bode well for survival outside the womb. Best-case scenario in that situation (which is rare for this disorder) was that the child would live 1-2 weeks after birth.
The pregnancy was giving her fainting spells.
She already had a 3-4 year old son at the time, taking care of him by herself, and the situation interfered with his care.


Probably worth mentioning that she had and is raising her son by herself.
There was an incident with the father during her first pregnancy, the one which produced the first-grader I know today.
He choked her. She kicked his ass to the curb. Moved back to Wisconsin to raise the kid herself.
He not only denied being the son's father, but accused her of rigging the paternity test when results confirmed it was him.

So she soldiered on and was a single mother.

I know there's plenty of pro-life types who would, and indeed do, vilify her for that decision.
But give her some credit for keeping and raising the firstborn on her own? Hardly. More like demonize her for being a single mother and using programs (food stamps, preschool, public housing) intended to help her raise that child whose father wants nothing to do with him.


Side note about those social programs...
My dear old grandmother hasn't yet seemed to realize today's GOP isn't the one she and Grandpa had growing up. She sits around, watching (usually) Fox News. Lives off of Social Security and her late husband's union pension, gets taken care of by Medicare. Doesn't seem to realize she couldn't live her life as she knows it without the programs she so readily votes against.
She has had both of her knees replaced in the last two years, thanks to Medicare.

If I may be a bit callous to think this, but... who's been the bigger strain on the taxpayer's wallet here: my dear old Grandma, or my girlfriend's little guy? How long can you feed & shelter a child for the cost of fixing up a bum knee? Who's going to contribute more to society (and its bottom line) in their time remaining?

Legislature recently passed a bill to make internet poker legal in NJ.Let's hope Chris Christie does the right thing and signs this bill into law. The gaming industry in AC was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.


ATLANTIC CITY — The president of Atlantic City's largest casino workers' union is calling on Gov. Chris Christie to sign New Jersey's Internet gambling bill.

Bob McDevitt, head of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union, says the extra money online betting would bring in could make the difference between two or more casinos surviving or having to close. (Parry/AP)

www.northjersey.com/news/Union_urges_Christie_to_sign_Internet_bet_bill.html

www.politickernj.com/61562/lesniak-applauds-pokerstars-investment-new-jersey

Christie will win his re-election bid with overwhelming support. In a blue state.

Christie is a foregone conclusion to win reelection... I think the more interesting story observing Jersey politics is the looming possibility of a "Cory Booker challenges Frank Lautenberg" primary in the Senate.

I would like to think Jersey can throw out Christie, but I doubt it. They seem to love the jerkstore.

Of course, he could possibly decline re-election in 2014 and run for president - before his record starts to get really ugly.

I have a bad feeling whoever wins between Rubio vs. Christie is the next president.

Not if the Republicans don't change their stance on social issues like gay marriage and abortion. Polls in this past election had more citizens believing the Romney would do a better job with the Economy than Obama (Which I can't believe). That tells me that the biggest reason the Republicans lost in 2012 is because their social views are becoming seen as outdated and irrational.

So... the Pope is resigning. We haven't had a Pope resign in six centuries.

How much of it is due to actual old age, impending infirmity and stepping aside for the cause?
And how much of it is due to the fact that he knows more about child molestation cover-ups than pretty much anyone alive while simultaneously being a head of state?

Those of you with HBO: Check out Mea Maxima Culpa airing all month if you get a chance.

I mean, the guy is in his mid-80's and already has a pace-maker, so it's definitely possible he's just growing weaker and wants to spend the rest of his days relaxing.

Hopefully. it's a sign that their influence is dieing. Because, I'm sorry. I don't give the first Quack about a pope or anything he has to say.