Jeb Bush Doesn't Love Anal Sex

A man on a mission like Jeb Bush probably sticks to the missionary position. In a 1994 Miami Herald op-ed, the Jebster went full Rick Santorum on the issue of sodomy.

In the editorial, published in the Miami Herald that summer, Bush drew a parallel between legal protection for gays and the question, "[Should] sodomy be elevated to the same constitutional status as race and religion? My answer is No."

"The statement that the governor must stand up for all people on all matters is just silly," Bush wrote, arguing that government does not defend every Floridian "with equal verve and enthusiasm." He listed a string of examples: "Polluters, pedophiles, pornographers, drunk drivers, and developers without proper permits."

Jeb went on to be a governor that doesn't represent all people equally. That isn't surprising. Bush is attempting to rebrand himself as less homophobic. So far his efforts have been less than stellar.

I'm curious. Does Jeb Bush feel that heterosexual couples should not allowed to legally practice anal sex in their bedrooms? These heterosexual couple are in what Bush and other Republicans would call a traditional marriage. Bush wrote that sodomy doesn't require legal protection.

For the record: the Supreme Court made it clear that anal sex is protected.

The Lawrence v. Texas ruling found that the Texas anti-sodomy law violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Short answer: you can't prosecute gay couple for engaging in anal sex and allow straight couple to engage in the same sexual activity.

Laws like this happen when elected leaders feel they can pick and choose what laws they will enforce. Jeb Bush is such an elected official. Bush would later sign Terri's Law. The Florida Supreme Court found it unconstitutional on the ground that Bush and the Florida legislature illegally overruled the judicial branch.

Bush's 1994 op-ed revealed a man who will only enforce the laws that agree with his worldview.

Fred Thompson's Brand New Terri Schiavo Position

Fred Thompson previously said that the state government, with the exception the court system, should not wade into end of life matters.

“It should be decided by the family. The federal government and the state government, too, except for the court system, ought to stay out of those matters as far as I’m concerned.”

Thompson then changed his position on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The key issue is Thompson won the National Right to Life Committee endorsement. The Admiral is changing his position to court Christian Right voters.

Stephanopoulos: (O'Steen) said you clarified that issue for him and you may be doing so publicly. What did you say to them to privately that you haven't said publically? In public, you've said this should be an issue for families and the courts but not for state and federal government.

Thompson: Well, what I said (to them) was ultimately if the families can't get together the first recourse needs to be the state government. What we talked about in a little more detail is the different kinds of end-of-life issues.

Christian conservative leader James Dobson cast doubt on Thompson's credentials. Dobson is considered the current kingmaker of the evangelical wing of the Republican Party.

"(Thompson's) underestimating how much of the Republican party is fueled by a bunch of busybodies that just know that they are the final moral arbiters on other people’s lives," wrote Amanda Marcotte. "And they don’t need to be bothered with things like facts or understanding before declaring other people unfit to make the most private decisions about their lives. In other words, he’s toast."

Thompson needs to get in the good graces of the Christian Right and fast. He is singing a new tune , but still can not be bothered to learn the details of Schiavo's medical condition.

Stephanopoulos: But there wasn't any question in the Schiavo case.

Thompson: No. Ah ah, that's my point. As I understand it she would have probably lived longer.

Stephanopoulos: But they did an autopsy, she was brain dead.

Thompson: Well (sigh) I didn't know that. At the time that was all kicking around and everybody was asking my opinion based on what was in the newspaper. I am just telling you what I think about the things in general.

Thompson is utterly unserious about end of life issues. He changed his position lacking a fundamental understanding of Schiavo's medical condition. Thompson admitted not knowing if allowing state and federal intervention into end of life cases would change laws. It's mindboggling for a former lawmaker and lawyer to make such a statement.

Fred Thompson on End of Life Issues

Many people (myself included) do not see Fred Thompson speaking passionately about anything. He spoke with great conviction about how the government should have stayed out of the decision to take the brain dead Terri Schiavo off the feeding tube.

Citing his own personal experience with the death of his adult daughter in 2001, Thompson said the question is “an intensely personal thing with me,” and added, “It should be decided by the family. The federal government and the state government, too, except for the court system, ought to stay out of those matters as far as I’m concerned.”

Thompson was faced with with the decision with the same difficult decision. His daughter Elizabeth Thompson Panici died from an accidental overdose.

"I was at that bedside and I had to make those decisions with the rest of my family," Thompson said" "And I will assure you one thing, no matter which decision you make, you will never know whether or not you made the right decision."

This statement will hurt his damaged reputation with the Christian Right. It says much about how the Republican Party has become fed up with having to pander to people like James Dobson. Dick Armey described James Dobson as a man "you can‘t make that man happy." Armey said Dobson should have the courage to run for public office and stop abusing Republican candidates.

2008 will be a pivotal year for the Christian Right. I will be more than happy if it diminishes their political influence. Supporting the Iraq war, intolerance towards gays and saying that global warming is nonsense illustrate how angry these people are. They are all Old Testament fire and brimestone. Amanda Marcotte sums up what Thompson's stance does for his presidential hopes.

He’s underestimating how much of the Republican party is fueled by a bunch of busybodies that just know that they are the final moral arbiters on other people’s lives, and they don’t need to be bothered with things like facts or understanding before declaring other people unfit to make the most private decisions about their lives. In other words, he’s toast.

I concur.

The Abortion Con Game

Fred Thompson is attempting to earn his social conservative credentials. Thompson is wooing the base by proclaiming how tough he will be against abortion.

"Don't punish women who have abortions," said Thompson. "(They) can do whatever they want to with abortion doctors, as far as I'm concerned."

It's very simple why Thompson will not openly support prosecuting women whom have abortions. It is political suicide. The majority of Americans support the Roe v. Wade decision. South Dakota voters rejected the abortion ban. Republicans hoped to turn Terri Schiavo into a wedge issue against Democrats. They overplayed their hand and citizens felt the government had no role in end of life family matters.

Jill Filipovic asked anti-abortionists this question.

Do you support executing women who have abortions?

Do you support jailing them for life? For a few decades?

If they feel abortion is murder then why would they want women whom choose to terminate their fetuses to go free? The answer is that they could never get the Republican Party to back such harsh measures. They are forced to frame their argument in another matter. This is a political con game that conservatives are finally acknowledging.

"Because I live in Washington, and I know that everybody in our world has contempt for the evangelicals," conservative pundit Carlson Tucker said. " And the evangelicals know that, and they're beginning to learn that their own leaders sort of look at them and don't share their values."

That won't stop the strange alliance between Christian fundamentalists and Republican candidates. The live of Thomas Beckett illustrates the corruption between church and state.


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Mike Huckabee On Terri Schiavo

Mike Huckabee provides an artful dodge on the Terri Schiavo issue. He wants to a Christian conservative and a federalist.

On governmental intervention in the Terri Schiavo case: “I had no problem with the state getting involved because it’s one of their citizens. but I wasn’t sure how the federal government had a role in all that.”

Skeptical social conservatives will read that as Huckabee would let laws get in the way of standing by principle. That is giving Huckabee too much credit. Huckabee has no regard for Terri's Law being illegal. The Florida Supreme Court ruled Terri's Law overstepped the separation of powers.

SEPARATION OF POWERS

The cornerstone of American democracy known as separation of powers
recognizes three separate branches of government—the executive, the legislative, and the judicial—each with its own powers and responsibilities. In Florida, the constitutional doctrine has been expressly codified in article II, section 3 of the
Florida Constitution, which not only divides state government into three branches
but also expressly prohibits one branch from exercising the powers of the other two
branches:

Branches of Government.--The powers of the state government shall be divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches. No person belonging to one branch shall exercise any powers appertaining to either of the other branches unless expressly provided herein.

“This Court . . . has traditionally applied a strict separation of powers doctrine,”
State v. Cotton, 769 So. 2d 345, 353 (Fla. 2000), and has explained that this doctrine “encompasses two fundamental prohibitions. The first is that no branch may encroach upon the powers of another. The second is that no branch may delegate to another branch its constitutionally assigned power.” Chiles v. Children
A, B, C, D, E, & F, 589 So. 2d 260, 264 (Fla. 1991) (citation omitted).
The circuit court found that chapter 2003-418 violates both of these
prohibitions, and we address each separately below. Our standard of review is de
novo. See Major League Baseball v. Morsani, 790 So. 2d 1071, 1074 (Fla. 2001)
(stating that a trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment posing a pure
question of law is subject to de novo review).

The Florida Supreme Court failed to factor that Terri's Law was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. All the laws must be applied to cititzens equally. Florida law provides "life-prolonging procedures may be withheld" if a vegetative patient if the guardian, the physician and medical ethics committee if it is in the best interest of the patient. Bush and the legislature made a law strickly to benefit the wishes of Schiavo's parents. The Supreme Court rightfully refused to hear the case.

I understand that Huckabee is trying to pander for votes. What a presidential candidates say matters. Huckabee's comments give a framework into the policy decisions he will make. Huckabee comes off as clueless.