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Thursday Evening Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 04:49:57 PM EST
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Voting is still open in the ABA Journal's top 100 law blogs for 2008. TalkLeft was fortunate to be nominated for the second year in a row. We were ahead a few weeks ago, but we've fallen behind.

It takes less than five seconds to vote, so if you enjoy Talkleft, please go here and vote for us.

Thanks, everyone! And this is an open thread.

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    Thursday Evening Open Thread | 25 comments (25 topical)

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    surely it's only Thursday? (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Klio on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:01:52 PM EST
    Or has the weekend arrived without my noticing?

    I've made that mistake all day (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:12:45 PM EST
    thinking it's Friday. Must be because we're getting slammed with a new icy cold snowstorm and all I want to do is hibernate -- and get my work out before it hits in full.

    I've fixed the title of the thread, thanks again.

    Parent

    Sorry I can't vote for you guys twice (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by andgarden on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:01:53 PM EST
    (from the same computer. . .)

    Please only vote once (none / 0) (#17)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 09:40:54 PM EST
    I've deleted a few comments suggesting readers vote more than once. I don't want to get disqualified, and I want to compete fair and square, so let's play by the rules. Thanks!

    Parent
    You've been sorely missed! Welcome back. (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:34:14 AM EST
    Practically Lactating, evidently, you took a 3 month hiatus. I've missed your wit and insight, and I imagine others have as well. Are you back to stay?

    Parent
    I appreciate your thoughtful reply (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 04:36:11 PM EST
    more than I can say. It comes at a particularly helpful time for me. Cheers.

    Parent
    Warren responded. I read that he (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Teresa on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:07:41 PM EST
    said he isn't homophobic...when the protesters visit him he serves them water and donuts.

    I'm waiting on Olbermann's special comment declaring Warren Worst Person in the World for accepting Obama's invitation.

    Score! (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Cream City on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:40:44 PM EST
    Loved the last sentence -- perfectly captures KO's descent to absurd levels of pretzelification in his special comments.

    Parent
    Remember that HHS rule change (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by caseyOR on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 06:08:00 PM EST
    that BushCo proposed? The one that lets employees of health care institutions and businesses ( doctors, nurses, techs, pharmacists, even janitors at hospitals) refuse to provide any type of care that the individual feels violates his/her conscience? The one that redefines birth control as abortion?

    It's taking effect now. Yep, Sec. Levitt and his pals at HHS ignored the testimony, gave the finger to H. Clinton and P. Murray and many other members of Congress, and passed this rule.

    The process for overturning this rule is said to be long and difficult. Will the incoming president bother to take on this task? Will Daschle put it his "to-do" list?

    Is this yet another reason to be concerned about Obama's friendship with Rick Warren?

    What do you think?

    I think I'm really REALLY (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by nycstray on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 06:13:29 PM EST
    p!ssed off!

    Parent
    I think I'm going (none / 0) (#26)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:51:10 AM EST
    bat-$h*t crazy. This transition feels like the primaries; where the list of affronts and insults (to women, lower income voters, older voters, rural voters, LGBTQI, etc.) eventually became too long to fully recollect.

    Now we see those attitudes hardening into personnel decisions, and other disturbing choices, that will effect policy.

    Parent

    Remember Clinton's push against this? (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Cream City on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 07:00:56 PM EST
    I do.  And I also remember that no other candidate would join her.  

    I also remember what Warren has said about women's reproductive rights.

    So I never was persuaded by the Roe v. Wade argument to vote for any of the candidates who agreed with Warren 'way too much.  After all, he also thinks that women ought to make no decisions without consulting with their ministers, spouses, etc.

    I, for one, do not expect to be pleased with the Supreme Court nominees that we will see. . . .

    Parent

    Nice of Obama to speak out on this, eh? (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by nycstray on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 08:44:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Question for the lawyers (none / 0) (#21)
    by caseyOR on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 10:40:27 PM EST
    Does this HHS "conscience" rule override state laws that require rape victims be offered emergency contraception? How about state laws that require insurance companies to cover birth control if the insurance covers other prescriptions?

    Can a rule by a department of the federal government, not a law passed by Congress, negate a state law?

    Parent

    Good questions (none / 0) (#24)
    by nycstray on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:01:32 AM EST
    this is another question that was raised:

    One of the concerns raised--including by me--was whether patients would even be informed of their doctor's refusal to administer certain procedures or if they would simply be kept in the dark about their options.

    HHS spokesperson Kevin Schweers says the agency dealt with this concern by noting in the final rule that ideally, patients and healthcare providers should "have full, open, and honest conversations about the services they request and provide." (You can read the full version of the rule here.) There is, though, no regulation forcing doctors to be fully transparent with patients--as there is forcing hospitals and clinics to hire docs without regard to the services that they're willing to perform. "It's, at best, window dressing," says Roger Evans, in charge of litigation and law policy at Planned Parenthood. "There's no legal requirement for a doctor to say anything."

    full article is here with links

    Parent

    My congratulations (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 11:53:19 PM EST
    to the Minneapolis Star Tribune

    The Minneapolis Star Tribune, having just wrapped it's own count of the ballots in question, is making a projection: After lengthy deliberations and plenty of nail-biting, Al Franken will become the Democrats' 59th man in the US Senate; the new junior Senator from Minnesota.

    but I did beat them by 3 1/2 days
     


    by CoralGables on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 12:41:31 PM EST
    Having gone through more of the Minnesota challenged ballots than I care to admit to, and since no one else has decided to do it yet, let me be the first to call Al Franken as the projected winner for the U.S. Senate in the great State of Minnesota.
    Thank the lord and pass the amunition! (none / 0) (#27)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:52:47 AM EST


    Parent
    Adm. Blair (none / 0) (#4)
    by lilburro on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:12:18 PM EST
    "definitely the next DNI" - WAPO

    Good.  The media was just beginning to be scandalized by the absence of DNI/CIA appts.

    Done and done. nt (none / 0) (#6)
    by Joelarama on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:21:16 PM EST


    This is a law blog? (none / 0) (#8)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 05:49:32 PM EST


    What is the secret to... (none / 0) (#12)
    by pluege on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 07:29:08 PM EST
    voting more than once?

    please only vote once (none / 0) (#18)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 09:42:29 PM EST
    let's play fair. Thanks so much.

    Parent
    I agree. Not that others may be as (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by andrys on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 02:42:26 AM EST
    fair for the other sites.  BUT, as of tonight, this site is ahead at 544.

      Multiple voting makes these things meaningless.  Am glad that we're emphasizing no tricks.

    Parent

    I don't understand (none / 0) (#28)
    by Pieter B on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 09:49:40 AM EST
    why TL is in the same category with Above The Law.
    The description says "ATL is still law-firm-rumor central," which seems considerably different from TL's niche.

    Hey Teresa... (none / 0) (#29)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 10:09:11 AM EST
    ...have you heard the scuttlebutt that Fulmer is supposedly in the running for the vacant Iowa State head coach position?

    Think he could cut being stuck in Ames, Iowa?  

    Not that I would like to see the Cyclones become a national powerhouse like TN or anything...

     

    Thursday Evening Open Thread | 25 comments (25 topical)

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