Governor Greg Abbott finds a way to work around the recent Supreme Court decision to continue restricting access to legal abortion in Texas.

Courtesy of Think Progress:  

Texas anti-abortion lawmakers aren’t letting the Supreme Court stop them from standing between a woman and her reproductive health. Four days after the court’s June decision to block HB2, the Texas law that would have shuttered many of the state’s few remaining abortion facilities, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) quietly set a new anti-abortion strategy into play. 

His tactic: Requiring abortion clinic staff to bury or cremate the remains of every abortion procedure that takes place in their facility. 

Unlike past state anti-abortion laws, Abbott sidestepped the state legislature by simply proposing a new “rule” for the state health services agency. The public has just one month to comment on this rule before it could potentially go into effect — effectively cutting out months of debate and rewrites commonly found in legislature proceedings. This is a red flag to abortion advocates.

This guy might as well just walk around with a t-shirt that says "I Hate Women."

I bet there are a whole lot of ladies in Texas who wish they had worked harder to get Wendy Davis elected in 2014, instead of getting stuck with this asshole.

While conservatives try desperately to play down the possibility the shootings at Planned Parenthood were the result of the anti-abortion propaganda, or those doctored videos, evidence starts to surface that their efforts might prove futile.

Robert Lewis Dear

As I pointed out yesterday there is an ongoing and concerted effort to redirect any suspicion that the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooter was inspired to go on his shooting spree by by the so-called "pro-life" movement or those doctored videos that have been all over the news recently.

Even Sarah Palin did her part to play down any connection:

Our prayers are for Colorado Springs and the families of the three killed there yesterday, including a heroic police officer who put his life on the line for others. Such a horrible, evil act perpetrated by a deranged man who'd been repeatedly investigated by law enforcement over the years. Senseless acts of violence involving stabbings, beatings, shootings, etc., are equally evil, abhorrent, unacceptable. The evidence isn't all gathered but it appears yet another criminal mind ignored all sensibilities and all laws to fulfill his mission to kill. Pray that our culture receives wisdom in dealing with any dark intention that is manifested in ugly violence - using any weapon - and that glorification of death and violence - using any weapon - is wholly condemned. We must have a collective commitment to reversing the trajectory we're on towards creating a hard-hearted, selfish civilization. Yesterday's crime was so wrong, so terrible, so tragic - as is every deadly act of violence we sufferably witness everyday here and around the world. May God comfort Colorado Springs' victims.

Did you notice that there was NO mention of Planned Parenthood, and the  emphasis on "any weapon" so as to distract from the fact that this was yet another senseless act of violence using a firearm?

Pretty clumsy misdirection for a journalism major don't you think?

Sadly for Palin, and her ilk, there is at least some circumstantial evidence of why Mr. Dear did what he did: 

In one statement, made after the suspect was taken in for questioning, Dear said "no more baby parts" in reference to Planned Parenthood, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case.

Now I am going to err on the side of caution and remind everybody that we still do not have definitive evidence as to what Mr. Dear's motives were, but I can tell you that if he did NOT go on this shooting spree because of abortion, then he is really going to disappoint his new fans:

Like I said we don't know what this guy's motivations were for sure, however there is still plenty of evidence that demonstrates an uptick in violence against Planned Parenthood since the release of those videos: 

Back in September, CBS reported that the FBI had noticed an uptick in attacks on reproductive health care facilities since the first video was released by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress (CMP). There were nine criminal or suspicious incidents (including cyber-attacks, threats, and arsons) from July, when the videos first came out, through mid-September. 

An FBI Intelligence Assessment at the time found these attacks were "consistent with the actions of lone offenders using tactics of arsons and threats all of which are typical of the pro-life extremist movement." Moreover, the report said it was "likely criminal or suspicious incidents will continue to be directed against reproductive health care providers, their staff and facilities." 

Less than two weeks after CBS reported that, another abortion clinic was firebombed in California. It was the fourth arson at a Planned Parenthood location in as many months. 

"The toxic rhetoric directed at Planned Parenthood has dangerous consequences," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a press release at the time. "It sends a signal that using violence to close clinics and intimidate healthcare professionals and women is 'OK.' It is not."

So even if this guy was NOT there with guns blazing in response to those videos, it is really only a matter of time before somebody will be.

Update: Here's a little more from HuffPo:  

Planned Parenthood said late Saturday that witnesses said the gunman was motivated by his opposition to abortion. An official who has been briefed on the investigation told The Washington Post that the attack was "definitely politically motivated."

Still not case closed, but once the police release their statements I imagine the conservative media might have an awful lot of crow to eat.

Another win for Planned Parenthood in Utah.

Courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune:  

A judge on Tuesday blocked an order issued by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to cut off federal money going to Planned Parenthood in the state after the release of secretly recorded videos by a California anti-abortion group. 

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups issued the temporary restraining order during a hearing, allowing the money to keep flowing while the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah seeks a longer-term injunction. 

Planned Parenthood sought the emergency order a day after suing Herbert. It said some programs would have expired Wednesday if the money was blocked. 

Herbert acted on his personal and political agenda when he cut off funding to the organization following the release of the videos, said Peggy Tomsic, a lawyer for the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah.

State by state, lawsuit by lawsuit, Republicans are getting their asses handed to them over their overreaction to those doctored videos.

It is just sad that Planned Parenthood has to waste time and money defending themselves against what is clearly a partisan attack inspired by phony videos that were proven false almost the moment they first appeared.

Anti-abortion non-profit does not want to disclose how much they are paying Sarah Palin to lie about her last pregnancy. But it's a lot.

"Ya wanna here that story about Trig's birth a gain?"

Courtesy of KSL:  

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is coming to Utah next month to headline the Pregnancy Resource Center's annual "Banquet for Life" fundraiser. 

But just how much the Christian faith-based, nonprofit organization is paying the former Alaska governor for the appearance is not being made public. 

"We are very, very limited in what we can say," said Kevin Andrews, the center's board chairman, citing the terms of the contract signed with Palin. "I can't get into it. I can say it was very reasonable given our expectations." 

Andrews said the organization is also obligated to pick up "very nominal" expenses for Palin. He said the seven-member board has already covered both her fees and expenses, through donations as well as from their own pockets.

Tickets to see Palin mangle the English language, or in her words "speak American," are going for $100 a pop, $1,500 for a table of ten, or $5000 if they also want to see her play with the food on her plate.

It would only be a guess as to how much these idiots are paying Palin, but I would not at all be surprised that based on her dwindling popularity they found themselves losing more money than they bring in. 

Which considering the fact that this is yet another one of those organizations that lie about birth control causing cancer, and prophylactics failing 50% of the time, is probably not a bad thing.

As I said in an earlier post these appearances are Palin's last refuge. And even though WE may know that the Trig birth story is full of holes, and that she is an absent parental figure in his life, these people will not be swayed by facts.

This is how the hoard chairman describes the event: 

"We are stepping up in faith with this event because we believe there is an extreme need in this valley and this state for the services we provide," Andrews said, describing his organization as a "life-affirming" ministry for pregnant women and their families.

Yeah when somebody says they are "stepping up in faith," you can be sure that the critical thinking skills were left at home.

Anti-choice activists are dumpster diving in order to find the personal records of women using abortion services. WTF?

Courtesy of Think Progress:

Abortion opponents are sifting through public records — including 911 calls, autopsy reports, and state health department documents — in order to glean medical information about women who have had abortions, according to a report from the Washington Post and ProPublica. 

The report also states that some activists dig through the trash at abortion clinics to look for patient records in dumpsters. If they find these documents, they use them to file complaints that providers are violating privacy laws by making their patients’ information too easily accessible. 

The anti-abortion activists who seek this type of medical information — many of whom publish their findings online — say they’re not trying to identify patients’ identities or breach women’s privacy. Instead, they want to make sure that abortion doctors aren’t breaking the law.

Oh yeah these folks are not creepy stalkers invading the privacy of women making an incredibly personal and private decision, they are simply doing this because they care about women and want to make sure that their privacy is not being invaded.

You know by creepily stalking them and invading their privacy.

Makes perfect sense.

Pennsylvania becomes the most recent state to exonerate Planned Parenthood after launching investigation in the wake of those doctored videos.

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Pennsylvania has found no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood in the state after a review, according to a letter from the state health department. 

That decision makes it the fifth state to announce that they have found no wrongdoing by the organization in the wake of controversial undercover videos showing officials discussing the price of fetal tissue for medical research. Planned Parenthood says the officials are discussing compensation for expenses, which is legal, and not profit. 

The organization also says it only has fetal tissue donation programs in two states, California and Washington. 

Pennsylvania joins Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts and South Dakota as stated that have conducted reviews and found no fetal tissue sales or violations of the law. 

“Although donation of fetal tissue is lawful under the Abortion Control Act and federal law, our review has found that Planned Parenthood facilities in Pennsylvania do not participate in this practice,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Karen Murphy wrote in a letter to a state legislator. “Moreover, there is no evidence that any Planned Parenthood site in this Commonwealth is involved in the buying or selling of fetal tissue.”

So now there are five states so far that have used taxpayer money to investigate a women's health clinic based on fraudulent videos designed to destroy their reputation and force them out of business.

Not only that but there are also now protests outside of  Planned Parenthood clinics all over the country in response to the videos.

Which, by the way, continue to be released.

Yeah like I said before somebody needs to get a crap sued out of them.

Investigations launched in response to heavily edited videos have shown no wrongdoing on the part of Planned Parenthood. Update!

Courtesy of Mother Jones: 

Completed probes in Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and South Dakota have spent thousands in taxpayer money but turned up no evidence that Planned Parenthood is trafficking in the sale of fetal tissue. And in most of the other states that have launched investigations—including Ohio, Arizona, Texas, and Kansas—Planned Parenthood affiliates don't even have fetal tissue donation programs, making it hard to believe the states will find any illegal activity related to the practice. In Louisiana, where Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered an investigation in mid-July, Planned Parenthood does not even operate a single abortion clinic. 

"In every state where these investigations have concluded, officials have cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing," Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation, told the Huffington Post. "We've said all along that Planned Parenthood follows all laws and has very high medical standards, and that's what every one of these investigations has found." 

Not every governor has taken the bait. Democratic governors in Minnesota and Virginia have rejected state legislators' pleas to look into the group, saying they won't waste time investigating programs that don't exist in their states. 

"As far as I'm concerned, there's no basis for an investigation at taxpayer expense into a private nonprofit organization that has stated they don't engage in those practices," Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton told local reporters after he received a letter from GOP lawmakers asking him to take action.

Of course other states have simply decided to skip the investigation stage and simply defund Planned Parenthood. However by doing that they may be breaking the law, which of course will result in even more taxpayer money being used to defend their decision in court.

In their attempts to smear Planned Parenthood the creators of these videos have even resorted to using miscarried babies to fool the viewers: 

The latest video intended to cast Planned Parenthood in an unflattering light relies on images of fetuses that were not actually aborted at Planned Parenthood clinics. 

One of the photos (displayed at the video’s nine-minute mark) isn’t an aborted fetus at all. It’s actually a stillborn fetus prematurely delivered at 19 weeks. 

The woman who took that photo, Alexis (or “Lexi”) Fretz, initially published it on her blog — where she also shared the story of grieving her stillborn son, whom she named Walter Joshua. In a Facebook post, Fretz said that she did not give permission for the Center for Medical Progress to use Walter’s photo, though she does not plan to take legal action against the group.

 Okay this is all way past the ick stage.

At this point I dearly hope that after Congress finishes wasting our money on yet another failed investigation into Planned Parenthood, that PP turns around and sues the shit out of those Center for Medical Progress douchebags.

Update: Hey! They might be planning to sue!

Well good for them!

Man arrested in Kansas for bringing homemade bomb into abortion clinic.

Courtesy of CBS News: 

Police say a man is in custody after he brought a small improvised explosive device into a women's health care clinic that provides abortions in south-central Kansas. 

Wichita Police Department spokesman Doug Nolte says officers responded to the South Wind Women's Center around 3:30 p.m. Monday. He says on-site security inspected a backpack the man brought in and found knives and the explosive device. 

Officials told CBS affiliate KWCH in Wichita that the suspect was also carrying a small box wrapped in tape. 

Clinic staff evacuated the building, and a bomb squad was called to remove the backpack. No injuries were reported.

The authorities are investigating as to whether or not the man intended to cause any harm to the clinic or its staff, but since the guy brought a bomb into the same building that Dr. Teller used to work in before he was shot dead, I think it is a pretty good bet that his intentions were not altruistic.

By the way this kind of thing is the predictable byproduct of this most recent attempt to smear Planned Parenthood and abortion providers using those doctored videos.

Some people may write to their Congressman in response, some might create placards and protest outside of clinics, but there is also a fringe group who believes the best way to "save the fetus" is to murder those providing abortion services.

Texas is now heavily funding anti-Abortion clinics with tax dollars, while slashing the funding of actual health clinics that offer access to abortions, or even counseling which includes that option.

Courtesy of The Austin Chronicle:  

Persuading women to "choose life" is the core mission of Austin LifeCare; in fact, under the terms of their state funding as well as their stated mission, the center cannot refer clients for an abortion, no matter if their clients need or request the service. Despite the religious overtones, overt anti-choice agenda, and documented claims of dispersing medical inaccuracies, LifeCare and 24 other "crisis pregnancy centers" – from Dallas to Houston – are generously subsidized by the state of Texas. And even as the women's health network drastically erodes at the hands of conservative lawmakers, taxpayer dollars to CPCs stand to receive an unprecedented increase in funding this legislative session. 

Texas crisis pregnancy centers – pseudo-clinics designed to discourage abortion – have seen an infusion of taxpayer funding over the years, beginning with a 2005 effort by Republican legislators who succeeded in diverting funding intended to assist low-income households into the "Alternatives to Abortion" program. Former state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-Woodlands, initiated a new program redirecting $5 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to instead offer "pregnancy support services that promote childbirth," underwriting organizations that do not refer clients to any group that provides abortions. In following sessions, lawmakers redirected funding dedicated to family planning into the Alternatives program. 

In each subsequent session, lawmakers have maintained or increased funding for the Alternatives to Abortion program – starting with $2.5 million in 2008, steadily rising to $5.15 million allocated for 2015 – while deeply slashing family planning funds and otherwise blocking women's access to health care. For example, in 2011: As conservatives cut the family planning budget by $74 million (two-thirds of the previous allotment) and blocked state dollars to Planned Parenthood, they simultaneously raised funding for the unregulated, unlicensed CPCs. By the Department of State Health Services' own estimation, some 180,000 women lost access to basic care each year following the cuts as 82 state-funded family planning clinics eventually closed their doors or stopped offering services.

Not only has reduced funding put some low income women in a desperate situation, the anti-abortion clinics are spreading dangerous misinformation.

One oft-perpetuated falsehood espoused by CPC counselors is a purported link between breast cancer and abortion (long discredited by the National Cancer Institute, and other medical authorities) found in the state-funded "Woman's Right to Know" pamphlet, which also propagates the notion that abortion causes psychological trauma to women or "post-abortion stress syndrome" (a condition not recognized by the American Psychological Association). Some CPCs even linked abortion, incorrectly, to a higher death rate, all to dissuade women from undergoing the procedure. "CPCs frequently use lies, deception, and intimidation to achieve their end goal," said Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL-Texas. 

One investigator was falsely informed she would be four times more likely to die in months following an abortion, while another was told she would be eight times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. "Those are crazy, false statistics. That's not true by any stretch of the imagination, and they don't even have a fake study to support it," said Busby. Instances of victim blaming (in sexual assault scenarios) and refraining from discussing contraception altogether – or claiming contraceptives are ineffective at preventing pregnancy – also made the list of CPC strategies. 

One CPC tactic, in particular, has the potential to place pregnant clients' health at risk; delaying doctors' visits and ultrasound appointments are integral to the CPC strategy. Counselors assure clients they have ample time to decide whether they want an abortion, while pushing visits further into the future – making pregnancy increasingly irreversible. As costs associated with abortion increase after the first trimester, and the procedure itself has been made illegal after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the delay can add substantial barriers to access.

 Just a reminder that Texas conservatives see women as nothing more than baby factories, and idolize the fetus. Yet of course after the fetus is born and becomes a child suddenly Texas has more important things to do rather than provide access to necessary medical or child care.