It'll never pass, Congress is too Republican.

Most likely the abortion issue is going to be handed over to the states, which is where it was before Roe (look at the way the Supreme Court's been going). The real problem is what to do with all the poor women in South Dakota who need abortions. Sneaking some technological fix (like Plan B) might be nice but eventually the lifers will figure it out and ban it.

Since most of the country is pro-choice at least in the case of danger to the woman's life, I think the Republicans are going to screw themselves with this South Dakota thing; this bill might prevent them from doing that by giving them another bloody shirt to wave. (Oh, see, these BLOODY LIBERALS from NEW YORK and CALIFORNIA are trying to have DRIVE-THROUGH ABORTIONS! Woohoo! No, that's not what the bill says. It's politics, people lie.) I think it would be better to lay low until this blows up in their face.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

This bill will expose those who are against reproductive decisions "made by the woman." A "No" vote is there for all to see. 2006 is upon us and the upcoming elections are HUGELY important. We need to put the "NAY" - sayers on vivid display for all to see so those voters, who might not otherwise know where certain candidates stand on this issue of personal freedom, can see without a doubt their positions. I don't think this is a bill designed to be passed into law. It's merely a spotlight.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The hypothetical "right to an abortion" was derived from the hypothetical "right to privacy", which was derived (of course) from the Consititution, which states that folks have a right to be secure in their homes and persons, etc.

It would be nice for some legal clarity at the national level, rather than hinging something so many folks find so important on a finding 2 leaps twice removed from the actual verbiage within the Constitution.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Deanna, the proper way to frame the abortion/women's rights issue is through the U.S. Constitution.

1. Amendment XIII of the United States Constitution states, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exits within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

2. "Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

If women are denied the control of their own bodies, just because they are women who are capable of giving birth, then that is "Involuntary Servitude."

Women need to wear orange, just like prisoners, and demand a trial to convict us of a crime.

Demand a trial. Speak up. Slavery has not been abolished in this country it only changes races, gender and circumstances!

By the way, it was the sufferage movement that made this Amendment possible. Isn't it time we get paid by back?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I keep reading at the Constitution, but I never have seen where it says interrupting a pregnancy is one of the rights of citizens. It's not "slavery", though it is possible to consider it as a limitation on the right to privacy. Each side of the abortion debate is so polarized, so sure that their "simple" answer is the only right one, that attempts to resolve the issue will be no more successful than was the judgment in Roe vs. Wade.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Men should not be able to impregnate women against their will and force them to carry it to term.

I believe the extremist fundamentalists, both muslim and christrian, want women subservient to men, and they want control over reproduction to ensure the supremacy of their kind.

Pregnancy and childbirth is not benign. Women still die in childbirth and women can suffer nerve damage, develop heart disease, develop diabetes, or develop deep depression.

Those who are pro-choice are not for abortion. We would all like to see the need for abortion eliminated by preventing unwanted pregnancies through contraception and, yes, abstinance.

Have you noticed there is an attack on contraception as well? The birth control pill is described by the extremists as an "abortifacient". If they can outlaw abortion, they will outlaw the pill.

With the Right to Life movement, seems you have a right to life until you are born. Is that why they emphasize innocent life, because they believe we are all born sinners?...

I've always wondered, if they criminalize abortion, then would every miscarriage become a murder investigation?

BTW, this is S.2593 - you can look up the bill at the Library of Congress

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Stuff the constitutional argument up where it hurts(sideways,and all sharp corners if you please). Relying on this fallacy has done nothing but cause untold grief, and in one instance allowed the spawns of darkness to take away the choice altogether. Now, get on the phone and internet and deluge the congress with requests to approve this bill. Write letters till your hands bleed. Put the GOP on notice. I am a republican and I will be because I have daughters. I refuse to let them become second class citizens

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The majority opinion should win the day on this issue and not the loudest opinion. If you can't find any amendments in the Constitution specific to abortion rights it doesn't mean that the spirit of our Constitution isn't right in line with pro-choice opinion. It's Constitutionally a no-brainer in this American mind. One more thing that bugs me about this debate is the back and forth about when life begins in the womb. The truth of the matter is that life began, according to well tested scientific study, billions and billions of years ago and probably will never stop. The moment of conception has little to do with that fact. Hell the sperm I flush regularly down the toilet from hand sex is alive, and so is a woman's egg, which isn't the same as saying that a woman can't choose not to go all the way through with a pregnancy if she doesn't want to.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]