The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

I received the following comments on episode 202 of my podcast ("I Feel Snitty"), entitled, "The Extreme Court": - "Absolutely well done!!!" - "I LOVE YOU, BABY!" (for the record, this was the first time I'd ever heard from this person lol) The episode can be heard here. - https://ifeelsnitty.podbean.com/e/the-extreme-court/

Podcast: I Feel Snitty Episode 202: The Extreme Court Premiere Date: 6/28/2022 Length: 10:22 (1,637 words) Link: https://ifeelsnitty.podbean.com/e/the-extreme-court/ Transcript:  Welcome to I Feel Snitty , episode 202, entitled, “The Extreme Court.” I’m your host, Craig Rozniecki.   Well, it happened. On Friday, June 24 th of 2022, after 50 years of protecting women’s reproductive rights, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – leaving it up to the states to ultimately decide whether or not women should be treated as 2 nd -class citizens.   The votes were along ideological lines, at 6-3, and immediately after the decision was announced, Republican-led states – like Missouri – signed laws to make abortion illegal, except for in cases where men get pregnant, of course…   Extreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas added his no-sense two cents in the decision, writing, “In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precede...

The latest episode of my podcast ("I Feel Snitty"), entitled, "The Extreme Court," is now available! Here's a brief description of it: In this episode, I tell anti-choice men without uteruses/uteri what they can do to themselves. The show can be heard here. - https://ifeelsnitty.podbean.com/e/the-extreme-court/

Since late last year, at least a dozen states have passed anti-abortion legislation, making it more difficult for women to have much choice on what to do with their bodies post-pregnancy, if any choice at all. This all came to a head this past week in Alabama, where abortion became illegal in just about every circumstance, with the lone exception of the mother's health being placed in jeopardy due to a pregnancy. Abortion is illegal in cases of rape, incest, and doctors whom perform the procedure could face up to 99 years in prison. The bill was passed by the final tally of 25-6. All 25 "aye" votes were made by white Republican men. This comes on the heels of such legislation being passed in: Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee, with Missouri passing a similar bill just after Alabama did. In these 12 states, there were a total of 350 "ayes," compared to just 109 "nays" (76.3% passin...

At a "Men For Life Prayer Walk" in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, roughly 600 men, led by pro-life group "Love Life Charlotte" founder Justin Reeder, protested abortion. In a video at the protest, Reeder said this: "The truth is that this (abortion) is more of a men's issue than it is a women's issue. Yes, one out of three women will have an abortion in their lifetime, but it is also one out of three men. We forget about the men so often in this story. ... Men, we are called to be protectors of women and children. This is our hour. This is our city. This is our generation. Men, it's time for us to rise up and protect women and children."  When first reading this, I couldn't help but hear the voices of Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers from their Saturday Night Live "Weekend Update" days, as they would continually ask the question, "Really?!? REALLY?!? I mean, really?!? Seriously, really?!?" While Justin Reeder ma...

As the Republican Party veers further and further to the right, I find myself disagreeing with them more by the day. However, when one such politician goes against the grain and risks his/her political livelihood in order to stand up for what's right, I'll be the first one to acknowledge and thank them for doing so. That brings me to New York Representative Richard Hanna, a Republican, who recently said the following on the Keeler in the Morning radio show with regard to Planned Parenthood: "Do you really want women not to have access to health care? And do you believe in a woman's right to have domain over her own body, or the government's?" He added, "If Republicans are able to successfully outlaw abortion, it would have dire consequences. Do you really want it to go to back rooms?" This wasn't the first time the New York representative spoke out against his party veering too far to the right. In September, he was one of only three Hous...

A recently released AP article, entitled, "Trump bombast overshadows GOP challenges with women," written by Steve Peoples and Lisa Lerer, misses the mark. The article starts with this: "When Jeb Bush said he wasn't sure the country needs to spend 'a half billion dollars for women's health issues,' many viewed the remark as a gaffe and the Republican candidate for president rushed to clean it up. A week later, it's all but forgotten - thanks to Donald Trump." Shortly thereafter, this is written: "'Next to Trump, the other Republican candidates look like Gloria Steinem,' said Penny Young Nance, president of the conservative Concerned Women for America. Amid a concern the Trump tsunami may be hurting the GOP's standing with women, there is also a worry for Democrats who initially viewed his rhetoric as a net positive for their party. Some now fear his bluster has made others in the GOP field appear moderate by comparison...

As difficult a time as I have understanding male politicians pushing against women attaining equal rights, I have an even more difficult time understanding female politicians doing something similar. In the upcoming midterm elections, Republican Monica Wehby will be challenging Democrat Jeff Merkley for an Oregon Senate seat. On Sunday, KGW's Laural Porter asked Ms. Wehby the following question: "What about equal pay for equal -- for women? You said you'd vote against that, and it doesn't seem to go along with what you represent." In response, Wehby said this: "I would absolutely favor any legislation that supports equal pay for women, but this was a flawed piece of legislation. It did not take into account experience, hours worked, education. I would be more concerned that it would make it more difficult for businesses to hire women, because of the fear of lawsuits. They would tend to steer away. And I think that that's an unintended consequence ...

The Republican Party should really attend a lecture, entitled, "Re-branding 101" or "Re-branding For Kids," because their version of re-branding has missed the mark more often than a blind-folded Shaquille O'Neal at the free throw line. In continuing their push to persuade women that they're on their side, Phyllis Schlafly - founder of the conservative interest group Eagle Forum - wrote the following in an op-ed published by the Christian Post with regard to the gender pay gap: "...Another fact is the influence of hypergamy, which means that women typically choose a mate (husband or boyfriend) who earns more than she does. Men don't have the same preference for a higher-earning mate. While women prefer to HAVE a higher-earning partner, men generally prefer to BE the higher-earning partner in a relationship. This simple but profound difference between the sexes has powerful consequences for the so-called pay gap. Suppose the pay gap between men...

Kentucky senator and man who believes turtles are a man's best friend - Mitch McConnell - released a document on Friday which touted his support for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act). In the document, a voter is quoted to have said: "Mitch was the co-sponsor of the original Violence Against Women Act - and continues to advocate for stronger policies to protect women. I am proud to call him my senator." There's just one small problem with that. While McConnell did sponsor VAWA in 1991, he didn't support it in '93, and voted against it in '94, 2012, and 2013. One out of five isn't bad, though - right, ladies? McConnell also voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Act and Paycheck Fairness Act, because McConnell said they'd "make the workplace more difficult for women." Yes, because equal pay for women would add so much stress to their lives and make paying their bills so much more difficult. Then the Elder Mutant Ninja Turtle's wife -...

When it comes to most things, I'm fairly progressive (the evil "L" word) - whether it be in the realm of politics or arts and entertainment. I've seen the likes of Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, and Kiss perform live if that tells you anything. However, when it comes to the topic of sex, I'm a bit more moderate or even slightly conservative (as far as the literal definition goes, not the political one). I've never been tempted to live a promiscuous lifestyle, have never accepted a woman's proposition for a one-night stand (and I've received several), and don't find myself attracted to women whom engage in this kind of behavior or reveal more cleavage than clothing with the outfits they wear.  That brings me to the much discussed Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke performance at the MTV Video Music Awards a couple of nights ago (why MTV still has a VMA show is beyond me considering they show about as many music videos as the Hallmark Channel shows Oscar...

After signing a restrictive abortion bill, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory decided to greet his protesters by bringing them chocolate chip cookies outside his mansion. If McCrory were on the Supreme Court, after striking down the Voting Rights Act, I have to imagine he'd bring African-American protesters watermelons and fried chicken and Latino-American protesters sombreros and margaritas. His thought-process probably went something like this: "Yes, I'm slowly stripping you of your rights and don't believe you deserve as many rights as men, but I do think you have the right to eat cookies which my lovely wife made - another woman I respect, but don't feel should have equal rights. So, is this good enough? Am I forgiven, or should I have her make some Snickerdoodles as well?" http://news.yahoo.com/north-carolina-governor-brings-cookies-protesters-abortion-law-150000064.html

Apparently, I've had Rick Santorum and the far-right pro-life movement wrong all along. As Texas legislators are inching closer to passing some of the most extreme anti-abortion laws in the country, former Republican presidential candidate and the anti-sex virgin with seven kids - Rick Santorum - said the following: "This is an important moment for everyone to recognize where the abortion debate really is in America. The face of the pro-life movement [is] people out there every day embracing women, whether they decide to have an abortion or not. They love them. ... It is the movement of love. That's what this movement is about." Don't you see, ladies? Rick and those like him aren't out there trying to strip you of your rights out of disrespect or hate. They're simply doing it out of love. Situation: Republicans vote against a bill which would provide women with equal pay Santorum's response: "We did this for women's health and well-b...

There have been some Republican members of Congress whom have wanted to redefine rape, which would further their cause of attempting to strip rights away from women. Let me redefine rape for them. Rape (verb - pronounced rehp): What Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock, and the Republican Party suffered on election day - November 6th of 2012 - courtesy of American voters. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/31/gop-abortion-bill-redefines-rape.html

Republicans already in or currently running for Congress certainly have made some interesting statements with regard to abortion in recent months. Missouri Senatorial candidate Todd Akin basically stated that he feels women's vaginas have magical powers and are able to block off sperm from a rapist to prevent pregnancy, negating any need for an abortion in the cases of rape. In Thursday night's debate with Democrat Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Representative Joe Walsh said the following with regard to abortion if the mother's health was in jeopardy: "With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance... There's no such exception as life of the mother. And as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology, health of the mother has become a tool for abortions anytime under any reason." Again, here is another man who is extremely ignorant when it comes to women's health and abortions. In the United States,...

Right-wing radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, has never shied away from making controversial statements. However, when he recently weighed in on the mandated-contraception debate, many feel he went too far. On February 23rd, Sandra Fluke, a third-year student at Georgetown University Law School, spoke to a Democratic hearing about why birth control coverage is necessary. She brought up one real-life scenario to illustrate this, as a friend of her's needed contraception to prevent ovarian cysts. She then used this story to state that without insurance coverage, contraception can cost a woman up to $3,000 during law school. Instead of listening to Fluke's testimony concerning her friend's need for contraception due to medical reasons, Limbaugh interpreted her words in another manner. On his February 29th show, he stated, "Can you imagine if you're her parents, how proud of Sandra Fluke you would be? Your daughter testifies she's having so much sex she can...