I would vote for Kelly Burk

Over at his own blog, my husband, Stevens Miller, has said that he would vote for Ken Reid if we lived in Leesburg.

I understand his reasons, and agree with a lot of what he says but from the same facts, I come to a different conclusion.

Yes, Kelly Burk is flaky and never remembers to turn off her cell phone. Yes, she's not a terribly clear thinker. Yes, she's been known to be petty and vindictive.

I would still vote for her, because I fear what we would get with Ken Reid. Ken Reid is a staunch conservative ala Dick Black and Eugene Delgaudio who is smart enough to at least try to hide that he is a Black/Delgaudio fan. If he is elected to the BOS, he could easily use that as a platform to get to the general assembly. We already have enough people running for the GA who think that birth control should be outlawed.

The anti-choice/anti-LGBT folks vote anti-choice/anti-LGBT at every level of government, because they know that local office is where you get your crop for next year's higher office candidates.

It's time for our side to start doing the same. We need to vote PRO-choice/PRO-LGBT at every level of government.

And, while Kelly isn't an ally of Choice, she did stand up to Delgaudio. I'd rather have tepid support than avid opposition.

So, if you live in Leesburg, and you're no Black/Delgaudio fan, vote for Kelly Burk.

Dick Black is against a woman's right to choose what to do with her...

...Work product.

Catherine Read, a professional photographer, was at the NARAL Black OUT event on Thursday, along with a host of pro-Choice Loudouners and Fairfaxians, and took a ton of pictures, which she put on her facebook page, and...

Well...Let me let her tell you the rest of the story.

Apparently Dick Black's daughter Michelle Black Staton attempted to tag my photos not realizing AS THE OWNER OF THE PHOTO I have to give MY PERMISSION. Which I DID NOT. So Dick Black's campaign simply downloaded it from Facebook and used it for their email WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION OR PERMISSION!! Great judgment call for an attorney to make. I guess he thinks intellectual property doesn't mean the same thing on the Internet. Oct. 14, 2011. http://secure.campaigner.com/Campaigner/Public/t.show?O5Wl--AGQw-rwn1q3

 Here's a screen capture of the requests to tag the photos in question.

And here's a screen capture of the Dick Black fund-raising page, with the stolen photo:

When Dick Black says he is 100% against a woman's right to choose, HE MEANS IT.

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Don't like what Dick did? Donate to NARAL Pro-Choice VA or to Shawn Mitchell.

FUNDRAISER FOR BLACK OUT - CANDIDATE BLACK THAT IS - 10/13, 6:30-8:30P​M, LBURG

THE EMERGENCY IS

WE REALLY NEED A BLACK OUT

 

 

And it’s HIGH time for a BlackOut
in Loudoun & Prince William Counties!

ANTI-CHOICE SENATE CANDIDATE DICK BLACK
 
YOU REMEMBER - THE AUTHOR OF THE INFAMOUS PLASTIC FETUS

Please Join the NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC Board for a BlackOut party to keep anti-choice Dick Black OUT 

of the state Senate! 

________________ 

 

Thursday, October 13, 20116:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

At the law offices of Campbell Flannery PC

19 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176

(Parking in back of our offices)
____________________

What's at stake .... ?

Plenty!  See, for eg, -  

http://bronxgadfly.blogspot.com/2011/05/gazette-column-women-know-your-governor.html

____________________

You’ll meet PAC Executive Director Tarina Keene
and find out how NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC
is taking on Dick Black and
answering other threats to reproductive freedom
in Virginia.  

 

Also, meet special guests 

Senate candidate Shawn Mitchell 

and

Senator Mark Herring.
____________________

 

Host Committee (still in formation): 

John Flannery • Charlie Jackson • Karen Raschke Catherine Read • John Sherman 

Choice Champion Host: $500

Choice Defender Host: $250 

Guest Suggested Donation Levels:

Choice Power Couple: $125

Choice Advocate: $100

Choice Ally & Young Professional: $50  

 

Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and great political conversation!

 To RSVP or for more information, 

please contact Caroline O’Shea at rsvp@naralva.org or 202-973-3085.

MEDIA WELCOME - PLEASE TRY TO LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE - jonflan@aol.com

Warmest regards,

John

John P. Flannery II
CAMPBELL FLANNERY PC
19 East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176
Office: 703-771-8344; Cell: 202-365-5060
www.johnpflannery.com
jonflan@aol.com

[from my inbox. I'll be arriving at this event a bit late, because I have a CSB meeting that same evening. Crossposted @ Loudoun Progress]

News you can use:

• The campaigns for Shawn Mitchell, Jennifer Wexton, and Cliff Keirce have all announced yard sign availability.
• The Coalition for Women's Health is having a rally down in Richmond on October 15. Bus ride is free if you RSVP ASAP.
• Jennifer Wexton has challenged Jim Plowman to a debate. This is one to watch!
• I've got 21 responses on the Metro question (out of 39), 7 responses on Full-Day Kindergarten (out of 23), and 4 on Donations (out of 20), with promises of more to come on each. Do you have a question you'd like me to ask the candidates? Let me know.
• Also, sometimes the obvious needs to be stated. Not everyone knows about the election on November 8. Make sure you get the word out to your friends and co-workers. People fight and die every day all over the world for the right to vote. Let's show our support by herding Federal voters of our aquaintance to the polls in the off-years.

Reposting, because it's worse than we thought

Back in February, I wrote a post about the new regulations for abortion providers. In that post, I said that only 5 of the 22 current clinics would meet the standard. I was wrong. Not one of the currently operating clinics will meet the new draft regulations. Not. One.

I am so angry. And sad. And did I mention angry?

Virginia is regulating abortion clinics like hospitals. (link to Leesburg Today broke in their redesign, they reposted the article, but all comments are gone)

One commenter on that article said:

I don't see how this legislation restricts access for women to abortions. It simply requires that abortion clinics meet the same medical guidelines as hospitals, depending on how they are classified. It in no way infringes on anyone's right to an abortion. In fact, Roe vs. Wade specifically leaves the regulation of abortions to the States.

Well, charleyp1, I'll tell you how this restricts access. Five clinics Not one clinic in the state currently meet the standard. First trimester abortions are generally done without general anesthesia. First trimester abortion is one of the safest surgical procedures that are performed anywhere, when performed by a licensed medical practitioner. It is a safer procedure than:

• Root canal
• Colonoscopy (which is done under general anesthesia)
• Vasectomy (which is done under general anesthesia)
• Endoscopy (which is done under general anesthesia)

But those procedures are allowed to be done in a regular doctor's office. Dentists, Urologists, Proctologists, and Gastrologists do not need to have hospital standards to perform these surgeries. They don't, for example, need to have access for ambulances.

In Virginia there are currently 22 clinics at which abortion, A LEGAL PROCEDURE, can be obtained.

Under the new law, only 5 not one of those clinics will be able to continue to operate.

Let me make this clear, THIS LAW WILL NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS. Abortion rates remain steady no matter how difficult safe, legal abortions are to obtain. What this law will do is make it more expensive to obtain an abortion.

charleyp1 further says:

I for one applaud this effort. After the medical horror/freak show in Philadelphia in which an abortion doctor left the surgical procedures to his nurses and had pilles[sic] of fetal body parts scattered about his office and storage freezer, I think a little regulation of this nearly unregulated industry is in order.

charleyp1, abortion is already highly regulated.  licensing boards, the Board of Health, Obstetrics Boards, all oversee the OB/GYNs who perform abortions. The Philadelphia incident was an UNLICENSED person who was performing ILLEGAL late term abortions. Desperate women, who could not obtain legal abortions, went to him. Virginia's new law will increase the likelihood of a Philadelphia incident happening here in Virginia.

I want to thank Senator Mark Herring for standing up for women.

If you are as upset by the outcome of this vote as I am, may I suggest that you

Tarina Keene pays another visit to Rachel Maddow!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Really, Loudoun County Republicans? REALLY?

You people make me ill.

Dick. Black. DICK BLACK. DICK "plastic fetuses for everyone!" BLACK.

On the one hand, HOORAY! He's going to be the easiest for Shawn Mitchell to beat. On the other, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? When the other anti-choicers think someone's gone a bit far...it's kind of a hint.

Dick Black. Gah.

On a related topic:

Donate to NARAL Prochoice Virginia and to Shawn Mitchell.

We got Dick Black out of the legislature once, and we're not sending him back.

Fundraiser for Shawn Mitchell

I hope you all can join Tom Greeson and the Dulles Area Democrats for this reception benefitting Shawn Mitchell.

Shawn's running in the 13th state Senate District and we all know that Republican Dick Black is trying to get the Republican nomination to oppose Shawn. We need to come together and work to ensure Shawn is well-funded for what might be a very interesting and closely targeted race.

Here's the facebook invitation again!

Did doors with Shanyn Ronis, Valdis Ronis's daughter!

She is an awesome walker. Energetic. Enthusiastic. We were out for over 2 hours, did a TON of doors. It feels like July out there. All you other canvassers, stay hydrated!

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm endorsing Valdis Ronis for Supervisor from the new Ashburn District. Tomorrow's a fund-raiser for him, come on out and meet him!

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime...

I've been hearing a lot lately about "Liberty and Justice for All, Born and Unborn."

It is not justice to force a pregnant person into involuntary servitude for 9 months, risking her life and health. With no trial. No judge. No jury.

It is not justice to declare that the life and health of a living person is worth less than the fetus she carries. With no trial. No judge. No jury.

It is not justice to withhold life-saving surgery from a living person due to concern for the fetus she carries. With no trial. No judge. No jury.

It is PARTICULARLY not justice to do so when you are also working to allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense birth control.

It is PARTICULARLY not justice to do so when you are also working to prevent accurate sex education.

It is PARTICULARLY not justice to do so when you are working to cut funds to social services, day care, foster care.

...If we truly valued children, we would do everything in our power not to traumatize, deprive, or neglect them...

Until I see this, I won’t believe that “pro-lifers” care about life at all. I won’t believe that “family values” proponents care about families. And I won’t believe that those who seek to “protect” children care about children.

Matt Kailey at Womanist Musings

Oh! And in case you thought Choice is only about Abortion, here's a post that will better inform you.

And if you're interested in empowering young people to make reproductive choices that work for them, why not donate to NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation (the second button, it's tax deductible!) and help with their mission in Petersburg, VA.
(crossposted at Loudoun Progress)

Random bullets of a busy weekend

• NARAL Pro-choice VA's LUNAFEST event was splendid! Valdis Ronis and his daughter Shanyn joined us, along with many others. We also got donations from many local businesses, as well as local friends. So here is a thank you to Valdis, Erika, The Reign of Cats and Dogs, and Rouge Spa. Your generosity is appreciated.
• The kick-off for Cliff Keirce was terrific. Bonefish was generous with the food and drinks. I had great conversations with lots of people. People from within and without the new Broad Run were there. Including some people I think Andrea would have expected to be fully with her. I gave a donation, and have pledged to walk with Cliff in Oakgrove and many other precincts. 
• Went to two picnics (one on Saturday with my son's after-school, one on Sunday with the UUs of Sterling).
• On Sunday at church, I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for being a part of the UUs of Sterling. The members of that church are all community-oriented, politically aware, generally progressive. I realized that leaving the LCDC didn't mean I had left the only community that was involved locally in causes that are important to me. 

Thinking of Jimmy Dugan

A high school friend of mine went missing last week, when a dock he was on collapsed, and now they think they've found his body.

He was a person who was full of life, made friends easily, and will be sorely missed.

So I had a post planned for today, talking about how women's rights are being stripped away state-by-state, but I'm not going to post it. Instead, I'm going to send you to Shakesville.

And I will sit here, mourning Jimmy, and mourning our friend Chris, who died in a fire 14 years ago and who I'm missing very much right now.

From the Inbox

Dear Liz,

It could come down to just 20 minutes.

The McDonnell administration is pulling out all the stops to steamroll through new, overreaching regulations that could force 17 of Virginia’s 21 abortion providers to close their doors.

Tell Gov. McDonnell to veto this bill today.

Last month, cunning anti-choice lawmakers voted to categorize Virginia’s abortion providers as hospitals! This, of course, is not only utterly ridiculous, but downright reckless. Their aim is to shut down clinics. And, if that happens, the majority of women in the Commonwealth will lose access to vital reproductive health care.

We have learned that the process to recategorize abortion providers are hospitals is being fast tracked and that the public will have little to no input. In fact, the Board of Health will only allow 20 minutes for public comment at their September meeting! That’s not how democracy should work!

You can help stop this power grab by putting pressure on Gov. McDonnell. It’s not too late. He has not yet signed this draconian bill into law, but every minute counts. He has until Tuesday, March 29.

After trying to pass this sort of bill into law for 20 years, it could come down to just 20 minutes of public comment - 20 minutes that could shape women’s access to safe, legal abortion in Virginia for the next 20 years and beyond.

The McDonnell administration is attempting to work in secret to eliminate safe, legal abortion care in Virginia. This cannot happen. It’s up to you to stop this attack!

Ask the governor TODAY to veto the bill designed to shut down abortion providers.

If Gov. McDonnell signs this bill into law, we will spend the next six months working tirelessly to make sure new regulations do not severely limit access to abortion in the Commonwealth. We have our work cut out for us, but I know pro-choice Virginia is ready to stand up and tell the McDonnell administration we will not tolerate its harmful anti-choice agenda.

Please stay tuned over the coming weeks to learn more about how we will be fighting this dangerous attempt to limit reproductive care.

For choice,
Tarina Keene
Executive Director

P.S. We will need a lot of support in the coming months to fight these attacks, so please consider making a donation to help us protect Virginia’s valuable abortion providers.

Dear Anonymous

The answer to your question is, "No."

No, I will not primary Andrea McGimsey. I truly understand the anger and frustration behind the question, but I believe that she has been a very good supervisor, this one decision notwithstanding. Disagreement on one issue isn't a good enough reason to primary an incumbent, when she's done a good job on so many other issues.

I do wish she would change her mind on this one topic (and I wish she took a stronger position on Choice, but that's just me), but I will not run for her seat (or any other) this year.

There is still time for her to change her mind on the districts, see Stevens's blog for more info about that.

I am so angry. And sad. And did I mention angry?

Virginia is regulating abortion clinics like hospitals.

One commenter on that article said:

I don't see how this legislation restricts access for women to abortions. It simply requires that abortion clinics meet the same medical guidelines as hospitals, depending on how they are classified. It in no way infringes on anyone's right to an abortion. In fact, Roe vs. Wade specifically leaves the regulation of abortions to the States.

 Well, charleyp1, I'll tell you how this restricts access. Five clinics in the state currently meet the standard. First trimester abortions are generally done without general anesthesia. First trimester abortion is one of the safest  surgical procedures that are performed anywhere, when performed by a licensed medical practitioner. It is a safer procedure than:

• Root canal
• Colonoscopy (which is done under general anesthesia)
• Vasectomy (which is done under general anesthesia)
• Endoscopy (which is done under general anesthesia)

 But those procedures are allowed to be done in a regular doctor's office. Dentists, Urologists, Proctologists, and Gastrologists do not need to have hospital standards to perform these surgeries. They don't, for example, need to have access for ambulances.

In Virginia there are currently 22 clinics at which abortion, A LEGAL PROCEDURE, can be obtained.

Under the new law, only 5 of those clinics will be able to continue to operate.

Let me make this clear, THIS LAW WILL NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS. Abortion rates remain steady no matter how difficult safe, legal abortions are to obtain. What this law will do is make it more expensive to obtain an abortion.

charleyp1 further says:

I for one applaud this effort. After the medical horror/freak show in Philadelphia in which an abortion doctor left the surgical procedures to his nurses and had pilles[sic] of fetal body parts scattered about his office and storage freezer, I think a little regulation of this nearly unregulated industry is in order.

 charleyp1, abortion is already highly regulated.  licensing boards, the Board of Health, Obstetrics Boards, all oversee the OB/GYNs who perform abortions. The Philadelphia incident was an UNLICENSED person who was performing ILLEGAL late term abortions. Desperate women, who could not obtain legal abortions, went to him. Virginia's new law will increase the likelihood of a Philadelphia incident happening here in Virginia.

I want to thank Senator Mark Herring for standing up for women.

If you are as upset by the outcome of this vote as I am, may I suggest that you

Pop and Politics

Wisconsin, the Mid-East, The House's attacks on pap smears and baby formula...I've got lots to say, but right now it's mostly spluttering disbelief, which makes for a very incoherent post.

So in the meantime, I give you a song that's been in my head lately. Amazing how themes keep repeating.

From my Tweeter feed. What I've been thinking about this past week.

MotherJones Mother Jones

 

What, is this reproductive rights outrage week? http://bit.ly/h619WE #dearjohn

What Choice means to me

It means the ability to say, "No". It also means the ability to say, "Yes".


Choice means that sexual contact with someone who cannot or did not consent is rape.

Choice means having full and factual information. About how reproduction happens, about how to prevent reproduction from happening, and how to have the healthiest baby possible - if you choose to reproduce. Without full and factual information, there is no informed consent.

Choice means that women should be able to choose to get a tubal ligation, or be able to decline to get one.

Choice means that women should be able to get their birth control pills from any pharmacy that also stocks Viagra.

Choice means that any insurance company that covers Viagra should also cover birth control pills.

Choice means that abortion should be safe and legal and available and, yes, covered by insurance (and not on a separate policy).

Choice means that the health of the mother should trump the life of a fetus.

Choice means that clinics that provide out-patient first-trimester abortions should not be held to a higher standard than clinics that provide out-patient vasectomies.

I am pro-choice. Please donate to NARAL Pro-Choice VA, to help stop TRAP. Or join Tarina and many others for Lobby Day next week.

Markers

There are many historical markers that people use to judge what generation a person is in. Were you born before or after WWII? Before or after Kennedy was shot? Before or after we landed on the moon? Before or after the Wall came down?

On Saturday, I was at the NARAL Prochoice VA Retreat and realized that there's another one:

I was born before "Roe".

My vote for most misleading headline ever

A Shot in the Dark: Researchers Advise Flu Vaccine for Unborn Babies


Actually, researchers suggest flu shots for pregnant MOTHERS. Because, not only do the shots protect the mother, but they also continue to protect the NEWBORN for up to 6 months.

Seriously. The way the headline, and the article itself, is written, you'd think that the researchers were advocating injecting flu vaccine through the uterine wall to the fetus.

I'm all for keeping newborns healthy, let's just remember that the best way to do that is to FIRST keep the mother healthy. Not the "unborn baby". The mother.