We have known they would do this for at least a couple of years.

What's to worry? This is the one of the best things that could happen this presidential election year. I hope Obama pounces on this one and runs national ads about it. And sends them a nice thank-you note.

What a bunch of clowns.

It's funny, I came here to post much the same view as Apphouse50. If Bush makes a point of meddling with deep structures in the executive branch, isn't at least arguable that this is good for Barack Obama? If you're on the fence between McCain and Obama, but you know you don't like "monkeying around" with otherwise respected government institutions, wouldn't the prospect of Obama taking a broom to all of that warm your heart? Wouldn't McCain represent at least a high likelihood of continuing muddle?

how many more days til he is out of office?
if any more progressives or any thinking person tries to sabotage obama's candidacy in any way, i think they truly need their heads and hearts examined. the stakes are so high this time.

any interested people, please help with democratic voter registration.
there is still a lot of work to be done.
help.

It seems to define an IUD as an abortion as well.

I say let the market determine whether sex-punishing wingnuts get to work as retail pharmacists. Pharmacists, if you don't want to dispense contraceptives, show the depth of your conviction by dispensing radioactive dye in a nuclear pharmacy, or perhaps a long-term-care pharmacy that supplies nursing homes.

What's to worry? This is the one of the best things that could happen this presidential election year.

Well, there's a misguided attitude. Real people are going to get hurt, while we wait for President Obama to take office and correct this.

A major military disaster in Iraq would help Obama win the election, too, but despite what the right claims, we don't want that, either.

This will get lots of coverage in 5, 4, 3, 2, never.

George: depending on just how doctrinaire you want to be, this would also define the rhythm method or heavy drinking (by either partner) as abortion.

Ezra:

Can you provide some stats or links to show that the American public broadly supports contraception? Some of those same conflicted attitudes about abortion may spill over into contraception, especially in more socially conservative regions like my native South or even in my Catholic neighborhood here in New York. In other words, I'd like to see some data that corroborates your assertion.

I wonder if this change will result in rulemaking against condoms as well as female contraceptives?

Even if it doesn't, it seems like it would be smart to percolate that theory until proven incorrect, no? "Contraception" may be somewhat controversial in the abstract (though I think most people support it), but "The US Government is going to make it harder for people to buy condoms" will seriously promote a backlash.

Please, somebody in the media ask John McCain what he thinks of this. Whenever he has been asked about contraception (or even contaceptive devices in the context of AIDS prevention), McCain hasn't been able to figure out whether to sh!t or go blind.

Can you provide some stats or links to show that the American public broadly supports contraception? Some of those same conflicted attitudes about abortion may spill over into contraception, especially in more socially conservative regions like my native South or even in my Catholic neighborhood here in New York. In other words, I'd like to see some data that corroborates your assertion.

Posted by: BryklynLibrul

According to the CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad350FactSheet.pdf

"Contraceptive use is virtually universal in the U.S. 98 percent of women of reproductive age have used one or more methods, and large majorities have used the pill and the (male) condom."

Not much sign of a conflicted attitude there.

>>What's to worry? This is the one of the best things that could happen this presidential election year.

>>>>Well, there's a misguided attitude. Real people are going to get hurt, while we wait for President Obama to take office and correct this.

Well your point is taken, assuming Obama doesn't win. And, I suppose (and have in fact argued in other discussions), that should not be a foregone conclusion.

That said, I am making that assumption because I think he will win. And these guys will be sent packing lickety split and this crap will be undone. They know that, by the way, and I think this is a gesture packing no punch to pander to the evangelicals.

The best numbers on how many Americans support contraception is how many Americans use contraception. Lots, as ajay's figure indicates.

These meatheads have had it; it's over, they know it. This is an HHS relegated at this point to mental masturbation and there is no beef.

If, on the other hand, McCain somehow manages to prevail, it will be because of the votes of people in this country who can least afford to let this crap go on yet somehow manage to do it anyway on election day. And there is a part of me that says we get what we elect.

If Obama doesn't use this kind of thing effectively against McCain, well, there ya' go.

It is so weird that the compassionate Democrats are pro-abortion and the hard nosed conservatives are anti-abortion. Go figure.