umm, wow. I am pretty sure no one is flippant about dead teenagers.

I knew a girl who got pregnant at age 16. She used birth control but it failed. Her mother was a devout Catholic and an overpowering matriach. My friend snuck off to have an abortion, because her mother wouldn't have allowed it.

Without that abortion she wouldn't have been able to go to college, and get a post-graduate degree and the career she currently has (and a marriage and three children).

The person who is pregnant should be able to decide whether they want to continue the pregnancy. Ideally they could turn to their parents for support, but there's really no guarantee that they'll find support there.

Notification is just one of myriad ways that opponents to abortion have changed their strategy from outlawing it, to simply throwing up so many roadblocks that it ceases to be an option.

Not piled on, but somewhat offended at this point.

Sorry, didn't intend to add to that.

I got the feeling when I read Typo Boy's post that he was talking to all of the neocons out there who are trying desperately to nibble away at abortion rights, and not specifically to megan.

I think ballots should have an Emerson Cod option. Yes, No, or Oh HELL NO!

I was in Iowa over the weekend so I missed stuff. Congrats to bonBob! Happy Birthday to Brenda and quick recovery to Lucy! And appropriate wishes to anyone I've missed.

Now I need to gather myself to go to a rehearsal I don't want to go to.

Sorry, didn't intend to add to that.

Please don't be. Most of you are reasonably articulating the reasons that I will probably vote no.

ETA: I can't seem to edit the rest that got ett. Oh well.

megan, I really went back and forth on the issue when it was on the ballot a few years ago. A surrogate sister of mine volunteers on Saturdays to counter-protest the craxies who block the Planned Parenthood clinic entrance. Anyway, Mary and I got into a very heated argument over it. She got me thinking about a lot of things. My guts had me feeling very protective of my hypothetical "daughter" and her undergoing a medical procedure without my knowledge. But that's what it was: a fierce protectiveness on my part - not a moral judgment against her right for an abortion. And Mary pretty much reminded me of this. That her right to an abortion as a teen supplanted my "right" to feel protective.

Notification is a rough one. As a parent I was very frustrated when my daughter was able to obtain the pill from a clinic that took no medical history and did no follow-up. On one hand, yes, teens should have access to birth control but on the other hand, there are certain responsibilities that go with handing out any type of medication. My frustration came more from the sloppy medical attention than it happening without my knowledge (ok fine, there was some parental "omg why didn't she come to me" in there too...took a while to sort out my feelings at the time).

eta - hit post too soon. Meant to add that I feel the same way about any medical procedure performed on a minor. If it is being performed responsibly, then fine. If short cuts are taken, it can pose big risks.

Yeah, that's another good example. As a parent, I'd want to know my kid was taking medication! It's just so sensitive when it's around someone's sexuality.

Odds that he'll still be re-elected?

Too high. Why wouldn't they re-elect Uncle Ted? Even if he is a convicted felon.

I love Alaska, but Stevens + Palin = a state with pretty whacky ass politics (coming from a state that elected Ah-nuld, that says something).

I just went over the props with my students today because they are participating in a mock election tomorrow and I wanted them to think about these issues and then be prepared to vote.

I used to think that just looking at the straight language in a prop was super helpful, more than the commentary. But then there are useful things like additional bonds for children's hospitals, when the $350 million of the first set from 4 years ago STILL haven't been spent is also enlightening.