Wednesday, October 05, 2005

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

I lived briefly in Colorado and loved it. And I've discovered that it's impossible to make the runway approach without humming a few bars from everyone's favorite granny-spec wearing granola boy, John Denver.

Fortunately, I have the occasion to visit again on the happy occasion of a dear friend's nuptials. The entire Bitch clan leaves early tomorrow, so you'll be without my services until Monday. I realize that for some of you, this news comes as great sorrow, but worry not, my darlings. The kind folks on my blog roll will surely provide rich and thought-provoking distractions while you wish away the hours 'til my return.

In the meantime, something of note in case you were unaware:
Oregon's assisted suicide law is being debated in the Supreme Court. I find this issue to be among the many instances of cognitive dissonance in the right wing's philosophy. Oregon's voters approved the measure on two occasions, only to be challenged by the federal government. So much for that whole "states' rights" argument, eh?

15 comments:

musafir said...

Yes, outcome of Gonzales v. Oregon does not look promising. The bigots are likely to overrule the Oregon law, especially if Harriet Miers is confirmed in time to replace Justice O'Connor. Enjoy the wedding.

Lew Scannon said...

I feel very strongly on this issue having watched my mom struggle against cancer as I was a child. She finally died on my twelfth birthday, but the doctors could have given six months more hooked up to a machine, but she didn't want that, she wanted to die with some dignity. I see the opposition of doctor assissted suicide as the medical industry (as well as the hypocritical pro-war anti-choice movement) trying to suck every dollar possible from the dying by keeping them alive in hospitals until the family has been financially wiped out as well.

Lily said...

Yes- I agree that people are entitled to the right to die with dignity. I too watched my mother die from cancer and simply don't understand the arguments against. I don't see the basis for their concerns, and perhaps if I could understand it better I would see their points more readily. But it often comes down to non-illuminating comments like "well we shouldn't play god!!!" and hypocritical crap like that. They have to do better than that to justify these constant intrusions on personal choices. If we shouldn't 'play god" we shouldn't pretend to be omniscient and capable of knowing what a deity may or may not want from ANY of us. I say my god wants us to pull plugs. She told me so in an email.
See we can blow up the planet, nuke whole cities... Pollute the Middle East with depleted uranium to the point of no return, causing hideous birth defects in babies...we can play god and save that bastard Cheney's life when his heart clogs, right???? it seems that we care about creation and life and its design when we are concerned with controlling people's intimate decisions but not when it comes to global implications where the need for leadership is paramount... where cohesion and law plays a role in providing for the common welfare. Where did I hear that...hmmm... can't put my finger on it..oh yeah- the Constitution.

Lily said...

By the way, we can post some really twisted stuff here while Frau Bitch is gone... and she won't be able to remove it for days!!! Suggestions?
Just to mess with her, I was tempted to post a recipe for 'the perfect autumn apple crisp" to enjoy with cider after a day of raking leaves....Lew can post his chili recipe.

Lew Scannon said...

My chili recipe? First you start out with the snot from three albino Himalayan ya-hey, this isn't some sort of trick to get my top secret chili recipe, is it?

Lily said...

Well I eat that scary protein soy chili... so nothing surprises me. We could do a poll... favorite pundit? Favorite wingnut? Favorite book? Lew, come up with a topic. I'm so tired... By the way, did anyone see Bitch PhD's post on fertility treatments and the sudden standard for eligibility? (ie marriage) I must dig up the link... scary.

Lily said...

Yes- and interesting that there was no desire to play god and return from vacation to deal with Katrina, either. Our public officials perhaps got their divine instructions mixed up- special session for a vegetative state, delayed reactions for people very much alive trapped on a rooftop.

Lew Scannon said...

God is too busy telling Bush to blow up iraq to tell him to let people die with dignity (i.e. racking up huge bills that line the pockets of A.M.A. members as opposed to ending the immense agony that the terminal patient must endure).

Lily said...

Well I hear he has a direct line to his god, and can even usurp the pope...how can we argue or question such Louis-the-fourteenthism??? Its all crazy as hell...

Cantankerous Bitch said...

Thanks, Musafir. Nice to see a new "face" around here.
Sadly, I share your pessimism regarding the Oregon case. Here's hoping we're both wrong.

Cantankerous Bitch said...

MMark,
The right's aversion to choice on multiple levels is what I loathe about them most. Too bad the Dem's haven't figured out a way to broaden the "choice" frame to encompass everything it truly does -- sexuality, reproduction, religion, family etc. Someday, maybe... before '06 would be nice.

Cantankerous Bitch said...

MB,
I spent too little time in CO, and my visit reminded me as much. When was the last time you were there? I hardly recognized it!

Cantankerous Bitch said...

Lew,
I wish I could disagree with you, but I can't. I've also heard far too many conspiracy theorists present near-plausible arguments about Big Pharma's reluctance to develop a cure for X disease on the grounds it would cut too deeply into the margin produced by life-sustaining drugs. There are too many days when both your premise and theirs are just too easy for me to imagine. Some part of me just does NOT want to believe we live in a world like that, but in the face of Katrina profiteering, it's hard to deny that we do.

Cantankerous Bitch said...

Lily,
I'm disappointed I didn't see the apple crisp recipe anywhere in the thread. Of course, given that in some circles, posting a recipe is code for "entry author is a troll, please move along", I won't mourn its absence too much. :)~

Cantankerous Bitch said...

Renee,
I'd be much more interested in balogna doilies, thank you very much.