Can't Stop Singing 'bout Those Unborn Babies

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill this week, sponsored not surprisingly by the Republicans, called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  What are these people thinking, if they're thinking at all?  Here's a song that might explain their mindset.  Sing to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad":

We've been working on abortion
All the live-long day,
We've been working on abortion
Just to pass the time away.
Can't you hear the liberals moaning
Heaping on their endless scorn?
We'll pretend we cannot hear them
As we save the unborn.

Women don't you know?
Women don't you know?
Women don't you know that we're in charge?
Women don't you know?
Women don't you know?
Women we're in charge of you.

Someone's getting pregnant right now-ow
Someone's getting pregnant we know-oh-oh-oh
Someone's getting pregnant right now-ow
Someone who just couldn't say no.

We're singing
We'll save li'l embryos
We'll save li'l embryos-ohs-ohs-ohs
We'll save li'l embryos
Forgetting 'bout their mothers' woes.

Control Freaks

How interesting that in the midst of this contentious campaign--where Republicans seek to control women's bodies, voter identification, immigrant rights, and definitions of marriage, patriotism, and the Constitution itself--along comes a monster storm over which no one has control.  Will the control freaks take note?

Probably not.  But I wish Mitt and his minions would quit trying to impose their narrow view of America on those of us who don't fit their mold.

Lucy Ledbetter

Mitt Romney's debate comments about women in the work place went viral this week, especially his priceless metaphor of women in binders.  Our series--adapted from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album--continues with a song based on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Picture yourself as a talented woman
With briefcase in hand and MBA skills.
Mitt's office calls you, you answer quite slowly,
Is this where you want to end up?

Governor Romney, he says he wants gals,
And they can go home at 5,
'Cause hubby's waiting for dinner to eat,
And there's kids.

Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Ahhh.

Follow her down to the office in Boston
Where other gals sprang from a binder like her.
"Gosh, we found women to serve in my cabinet,"
The governor gushes aloud.

"I am for women as much as Barack,
They can have birth control, too.
Abortions, whatever, I'll say what I must
To win gals.

Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Lucy in a binder for Mitt
Ahhh.

Abandoning Akin in Rock and Roll Fashion

Republicans ran away from Todd Akin this week as fast as they could.  Their efforts to distance themselves from the Missouri Congressman reminded me of "American Woman," released in 1970 by The Guess Who.  This is the short version:

American Akin, stay away from us
American Akin, please get off our bus
Don't come anywhere near our show
Tampa's just fine without you, you know.

We've got more important things to do
Than spend our time out there defending you
Now Akin, we said stay away
American Akin, listen what we say

American Akin, stay away from us
American Akin, please get off our bus
Gotta stop talking 'bout rape, old man,
You're messing up our grand old plan

Privately we're there with you
But we can't afford to lose
Now Akin, we said get away
American Akin, listen what we say

Go, gotta get away, gotta get away
Now go, go, go, gotta leave us, Akin,
Gotta leave us, Akin,
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye

You're no good for us
We're no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye
Tell you what you're gonna do

You know you're gonna leave
You know you're gonna go
[Fade]

In the Botanical Gardens, as in Life. . .

The Republican Party keeps getting kookier and kookier

Dominated by old, angry white men

Their misogyny is breathtaking.

The rest of us watch their antics puzzled, in disbelief

As these creatures--with tough shells and thick skin--trudge ever onward.

Neanderthal Man

Todd Akin, the Republican candidate for Senate in Missouri, holds extreme views on abortion. When asked about pregnancy that results from rape, he said, "First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare.  If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Two questions:

What doctor is he talking to? and

Where do people like Todd Akin come from?