Birth of Crazy

When does life begin? That's been a question we've all been asking since we were told about chicken and eggs. Now in Mississippi, it's being put up for a vote in the matter of determining 'personhood'.

The group supporting the amendment, Personhood USA believes that life begins when an egg is fertilized by sperm and would like all threats to said personhood to be eliminated.  No more IUDs, Plan B, abortions or terminations of pregnancies at all. They want to govern people's ability to procreate or not. The other kicker, with this amendment, they would also stop all fertility treatments such as IVF since eggs would not be allowed to be fertilized outside of the womb.

Yes, a woman's right to choose is being threatened in more than a way of over turning Roe v. Wade but bringing the government into the bedroom and beyond.  Per this situation, why  have birth certificates because that is not when a human needs to declare their existence, but a conception certificate would need to be issued.

Would government require a woman track her cycles, so that a declarative test could be taken on a specific date past ovulation, that the status of her womb could be tracked?

Would every single miscarriage need to be investigated as a potential criminal act? What happens if the mother is not able to carry to term, would that be declared murder because her body wasn't able to sustain a full pregnancy?  What about when a child is born prematurely, is that attempted murder?

And if a person leaves the state of Mississippi to legally obtain an abortion, would they never be able to step foot back into the state, since the woman would have committed a crime?

Of course, there is no burden on the male party, in the sexual congress, because men can't bear the child and they are merely a fertilization station.  Is the state of Mississippi's government willing to take on the effort to enforce child support? Increase their pool of education funding? Or the responsibility for increase in the poverty population, because that is going to be the hardest hit group if this amendment was to past.

The final kicker, a woman would not be able to terminate a pregnancy in Mississippi that is deemed life threatening because there is no provision for the mother's health.  She's merely an incubator for the person that has yet to be born or formed.

If you live in Mississippi, vote no on this amendment.

Weighing In

Chris Christie is fat.  I know, such a profound statement. He's obviously has not let his weight stop him from having a successful political career and now there is talk of him being asked to lead the Republican ticket.

But can America accept a president that is over weight?  The media has always played up the healthiness, or lack there of - shall I mention the Clinton burger attacks - whenever the men in charge have played golf, had a penchant for running or riding on horseback. Especially with an obesity epidemic lazying all over the nation.

Chris Christie has been dismissive when politicians, reports or citizens question his lifestyle, the most infamous is when a constituent wanted to know why Christie didn't send his children to public school.  Christie released a force of words, that bottom line, that it was none of our, the public's, business.

And when it comes to his weight, if the question was asked, the questioner would get the same brusque response because no one wants have their personal choices questioned. But as the leader of United States of America your personal life becomes the property of every voter because that person is our representation to every country out there.  One thing that America doesn't want to show is our ugly side anymore and sully the reputation of our politicians even further.

Further, voters and Republican Party don't want have to plan contingencies of "What happens if the President's health is compromised to the point that the Vice President has to take office?"  With Christie's age and weight, his chances of having a life threatening episode increases dramatically.  The vetting process is a thorough one and I'm sure that there would be a full health exam completed but there is no guarantee that will catch everything that could cause someone to not be able to uphold the office of President.

Though to be honest, this would not be the nation's first President with a weight problem but now with the emphasis on health: Michelle Obama's garden and get moving campaign, Presidential Fitness Program and many other initiatives, can Christie be the face of these endeavors?

The argument of fatism has come up in many social situations such as social interactions with others, dating and getting a job, that people shouldn't be judged on their size.  And Christie does have a strong track record in his political dealings, leaning more middle of the road and is refreshing breath of fresh air when compared to the right wing Tea Partiers, allowing him to be a more palatable candidate for the Progressives that have been vacillating away from the Obama base.

He also is willing to stand up and lead when others have allowed minority groups to have power over the House, stymieing legislation that the American people need passed. Christie is his own force of nature, having a track record of cutting spending in New Jersey and isn't afraid of telling other politicians where they can take their pork and eat it.

But he's not the smooth talker like Perry and doesn't have the boyish charm of Romney. But when you're the size of mountain, not only are going to get seen, you'll be heard.

Oh Hermie...

Let's talk about a little quote that got Mr. Herman Cain a lot of press:

"Many African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open-minded, not even considering a conservative point of view,"

You can hear many of the pundits discussing this little tidbit of fun all over the political airwaves because Cain claims all of his majority (because many is more than half, right?) of his own brethren zombies. Now, I'm not African-American but if someone who wanted my vote insulted my intelligence because of the color of my skin, I think that would give me pause to pull the lever for their opponent.

I could write about African-Americans  and their support for the Republican party after Lincolns signed the Emancipation Proclamation until Jim Crowe laws were enacted in the South. How Republicans want to cut a lot of social programs that African Americans rely on. How when you look at the red states in the South, they happen to have the largest population of African Americans in poverty. But Roland S. Martin wrote it much more eloquently than I ever could.

If Cain wants to be invited to the big dance, he might want to look at how he courts the voters.