17LikesGreat song.
Great song.
The Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate seat just stepped in it too.
Republican Candidate Likens Rape Pregnancy To Out of Wedlock OneRepublican Nominee Links Pregnancy From Rape and Out-of-Wedlock
By Jonathan D. Salant on August 28, 2012
The Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania suggested that a woman who was impregnated by a rapist faces a similar decision to one contemplating whether to give birth to a child out of wedlock. . . .
Tom Smith : Pregnancy From Rape Similar To Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock - YouTube
Karen Heller: Another GOP moment: Smith comparing daughter's unintended pregnancy to rape
Last edited by O'Sullivan Bere; 29th August 2012 at 09:00 PM.
This is pure semantic surmise, but surely evolution - in its what-will-do-will-do manner - would likely favour the genes of rapists over others who are less forcible in terms of their foreplay.
I must take pains to clarify that I accept evolution in its entirety and I am not making any case for rapists or for (sorry, you people for including you in the same clause) Republicans.
One of the theories that I've read about the shape of the human penis (ok, throw all of our close and remote species cousins in there), is that it is "designed"in order to allow the it to remove existing sperm while inserting our own sperm as a replacement. In evolutionary terms that provides a small advantage in getting our own genes out there.
Above that, though, there is a case to be made that the biggest, strongest and most forceful (in some cases these would be rapists - why woo when you can overpower at less cost to you) gain the gene advantage and the question is as to whether there is *any* profit to the female in developing reproductive defences to rape. My guess - in terms of game theory - is that there are none. Her progeny will also have the strength and violence of the rapist.
The idea that non-specified hormones can prevent pregnancy after rape is illogical in the terms of game theory in breeding strategies.
Evolution is far too slow in the human population to reflect new social behaviours. Infants need Vitamin D even when on the teat, because human behaviour in keeping infants out of the sunlight (and actually dressing them) is only a habit that has happened in the last few thousand years.
It is unthinkable that a "rape response" whereby females had the ability to somehow discard the unwanted sperm of a strong and violent "mate" could have evolved.
Not in the timescales we're thinking of and not when the genetic imperative would favour rape by the strongest male.
Yesterday was the last day for Todd Akin to formally remove himself from the ballot and even if he should now drop out, his name will remain on the Missouri Senate ballot. Much as I thought, he would brazen it out.
Akin, gaining on McCaskill in newest poll, will not attend Values Voters Summit - The Hill's Ballot Box
A poll from a few days ago showed the McCaskill lead shrinking.
A recent Citizens United poll, a dubious if not biased poll showed Akin leading by a point but not sure of the credibility of that poll.A new poll out from Rasmussen gives McCaskill a 6-percentage point lead over Akin, but that marks a shrinking lead for the incumbent, as the last survey from the Republican-leaning pollster put her ahead by 10 percentage points.
How can that lunatic possibly still be in with a chance of beating McCaskill, is McCaskill really that unpopular or incompetent?Originally Posted by NYCKY
She really is unpopular, that is what most people don't get. She won her election to the Senate in 2006, by less than 50% in what was a bumper year for Democrats.
The only other Senators that won election in 2006 by less than 50% were Jon Tester (D) in Montana and George Allan (R) in Virginia. Incidentally, both of those races are two of the closest races for this years Senate, featuring incumbents. McCaskill was considered a write off before the Akin debacle, the fact that she still hasn't sealed the deal speaks volumes about her not him.
George Allen lost to Jim Webb in 2006. Mind you it was close.
Webb isn't running for re-election this year so it's wide open again.
Akin actually has until the 25th (next Tuesday) to withdraw his name from the ballot. I erroneously thought it was the 15th.
It still looks like he will brazen it out but we will have to wait and see.
This is from electoralvote.com
Unless Akin blackmails the GOP into paying his bills in return for him dropping out, I don't see him going anywhere. The big question is, after September 25th and they're stuck with him, do the party and the PACs start quietly backing him again?Under Missouri law, Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin can petition a court to have his name removed from the ballot up to Sept. 25. Republican leaders in Congress are treating him as a pariah for the moment and want him out of the race. However, Missouri law says that if a judge were to grant his petition to withdraw, he would have to pay to replace ballots that have already been printed. Overseas ballots must be sent out before Saturday, so they have already been printed along with many others. The cost to reprint the ballots could be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Akin reported $525,000 cash on hand at the last filing deadline, compared to $3.5 million for his opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Akin is known to be averse to taking on debt but dropping out would leave him with a large debt, so that alone may make it unlikely for him to do so. If he remains in the race, McCaskill is likely to hold her seat.
The deadline for Akins removal passed last week but we can see a drift of Republican support back to Akin. Republican Senators Inhofe and Coburn of Oklahoma as well as DeMint and Graham of South Carolina are all on board. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry have all been supportive. The Republican National Senatorial Committee (RNSC) could also provide funding and not have to report this until after the November 6th election (as of Monday we are in the fourth quarter).
Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham To Host Fundraiser For Todd Akin
