I figured she’d put out some guy to take the heat.

Lord knows, if she says she likes tapioca pudding, it’s a flipping disaster in the world.

I do not, btw, think this strategy is going to work.

Don’t worry about Hill she can handle the men AND make them think they are incharge.

Have you seen the latest video of Barbara Bush’s Odd Couple? I do love seeing HWB and Bill together…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXuRlcUjoAE

I do know that anything she says is like dynamite.

It’s best to keep out of sight.

I hope you’re right.

I have NO illusions that her own take on things matters on whit. He’s the president. He calls the shots.

That’s losing.

And that’s reality.

But this whole Mitchell thing struck me as way weird.

Diplomacy 101, so expect it across the board.

That made me wonder if Obama is just really shoving her into a corner.

If so, it’s going to be a big mistake.

I don’t see family planning as purely a women’s rights issue, it can affect everyone. As to its removal from the economic stimulus package, what is it doing there in the first place?

I hated it when the GOP would attach anti-abortion legislation to defense spending bills, I just don’t see the difference.

I want to see family planning money, I know its importance. Put it in a bill and get that passed. Don’t turn an economic stimulus bill into some type of referendum on abortion.

And we will have culture wars now, and for the next four years and beyond. I personally don’t think its appropriate in this case.

I think Obama is living in the real world, and is going to get this bill passed ASAP, and having a month delay over this doesn’t cut it. The Democrats have been very good at going for everything and getting nothing.

Why is it that anything that has an impact on the lives of women is considered secondary to anything else that the government does? I don’t care about the one-third of Americans who would object. Obama won and if the stimulus package passes with the family planning provision that’s all that counts. It’s just going to make it tougher to pass family planning provisions later and gives the Republicans the idea that they have some kind of hold over this government. Quite frankly I’m sick of the Republicans telling us that government should stay out of our lives but it’s ok to tell women what they can and can’t do with their bodies. And while I’m at it why are we allowing pharmacists to dictate what prescriptions they will or will not fill based on their religious beliefs? I’m sick of this fundamentalist garbage. We live in a country that allows us the right to worship as we please not to dictate to other people how to live. The right to family planning services is a civil and human right and has nothing to do with religion.

This comes from an old family planning provider and I’ve seen first hand what happens to women who do not have the right to control their own reproductive health systems.

Either we take a stand now or we’ll see more of the so-called “culture wars.”

So lowering new births and population growth (“family planning”) doesn’t help our over-stressed economy ?

Hmm. Go figure.

There are times to make your stand, and that wasn’t one of them.

The Republicans won’t sign onto the bill no matter what it contains, but ultimately most Americans will want something passed. You keep the family planning money in it and probably a third of Americans would object on that basis alone.

Right now, I want Obama to focus on two things: passing a stimulus bill and foreign affairs, particluarly the Middle East. The culture wars will come later.

Majel actually reminded me a little of you, Taylor.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/clinton_finances

As far domestic partner benefits: Can one dept. in the government make that decision unilaterally? I’m sure it would have to apply across the board.