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JOHN SEMMENS: Semi-News
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) cautioned against reading too much into these study results. “The presumption that depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors and substance abuse are necessarily negative outcomes is a narrow view,” said NARAL spokeswoman Etta Young. “These are lifestyle choices that every woman should be free to make.” NARAL fears that this research could be used by abortion opponents to undermine the “health of the mother” exception to abortion restrictions. “Health is a subjective concept,” said Young. “It is a matter for a woman and her abortionist to decide.” Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) says he will introduce legislation that would bar U.S. courts from considering the New Zealand study’s findings in any future cases. “We shouldn’t be turning to foreign sources for guidance in decisions to be made about the rights of American women,” Kerry said. “It would be repeating the mistakes we made in Vietnam.” In related news, the Women's Medical Fund (WMF), a Madison, Wisconsin-based group, has called for a boycott of South Dakota tourism. "Nothing is more sacred than limiting a woman’s right to terminate unwanted fetuses,” said WMF spokesperson Bea Morte. “Any state that would attempt to limit this right is not a fit for families to visit.” Indians Have Favorable Opinions on U.S. & President Bush A Pew Global Attitudes survey conducted in India found that 71 percent have a favorable view of the United States. 54 percent say they have a lot or some confidence that Bush will generally do the right thing in world affairs. This report was assailed by CBS News as inaccurate, even if not fake by Phil Lacius, head of the network's Center for Bogus Stories. "This report is based on raw Q & A responses," said Lacious. "No one has smoothed the data or made adjustments for bias. So, while technically these data are not fake, their failure to correspond with what we've been reporting indicates that they cannot be accurate." Lacius vowed that CBS would conduct its own survey. "We've already lined up several experts who know what Indians really think," said Lacius. "With a little effort and creativity we will be able to portray a much more accurate representation of Indian opinion." Lacius boasted that the CBS survey would also be more cost-effective because all the work would be done in the U.S., thus avoiding any travel expenses. Fort Lauderdale to Provide Public Housing for Families Making $70,000 a Year Fort Lauderdale residents making up to $69,720 a year will soon be eligible for housing welfare. City commissioners agreed to pursue a variety of housing measures that would expand subsidy programs to the middle class and would make Fort Lauderdale the first city in Broward County to enact affordability laws. Commissioner Carlton Moore said that the move was necessitated by the declining numbers of poor people in the city. “The economy is growing so fast that the poor are disappearing,” said Moore. “The housing subsidy program would’ve died for lack of eligible participants. We’d have to had laid off hundreds of city employees who worked on the program.” Moore called the extension of the subsidy “a proud moment in the city of Fort Lauderdale's history." “By extending welfare to the middle class we are removing the stigma of living at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Moore. “This brings another important step closer to making the dream of a universal welfare state a reality.” Moore pointed out that by adding more voters to the welfare rolls there likely would be less resistance to increases in taxes and spending. “With more citizens receiving money from the government we will strike a blow against taxpayer selfishness,” said Moore. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called the Fort Lauderdale program a model for the nation. “The economic growth stemming from Republican tax cuts is cutting into our party’s core of supporters,” said Dean. “Making more eligible for welfare is critical to our future.” 81 Percent of Arkansas Households 'Food Insecure' About 81 percent of Arkansas households are "food insecure," meaning they don't have reliable access to food, according to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. The national rate is 70 percent. Asked to square this assertion with data showing the majority of Americans are overweight and 20 percent qualifying as obese, Hugh Jarse, spokesman for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, contended that these data support the organization’s claims. “No one is more insecure about the availability of food than a big person,” said Jarse. “When you’re big, you always worry about the next meal.” The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance wants the government to establish a round-the-clock food accessibility guarantee. “There should be one phone number that a person could call any time of day, any day of the year and have emergency food delivered within 30 minutes,” said Jarse. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) has endorsed the concept and says it must include alcoholic beverages because “people also can get thirsty after the bars have closed.” Hillary Clinton Rips Ports Deal Capitalizing on polls showing widespread opposition to the takeover of six U.S. port operations by Dubai Ports World, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) is expanding her complaint about foreign companies operating in the U.S. "Allowing businesses headquartered in foreign companies to operate in America is wrong," said Clinton. "It should only be permitted if accompanied by donations that support our electoral processes." It was Senator Clinton's husband who approved a Chinese company's (Hutchison-Whampoa) purchase of the Panama Canal's two ports. Then-President Bill Clinton brushed aside security concerns. "I knew they were okay when they contributed to my 1996 re-election campaign," said Clinton. "Enemies don't give you money." Senator Clinton said she has an open mind on the issue and would be willing to withdraw her opposition to the port deal if the United Arab Emirates would demonstrate their support of democracy by contributing to her reelection campaign. In related news, the William F. Clinton Foundation has posted an Internet job listing for 25 unpaid interns. The text of the ad reads: "Young women with an interest in public service should consider the Clinton Foundation Intern Program. The program offers a unique opportunity to establish an intimate working relationship with an experienced leader and gain first-hand experience handling important issues. Activities will include analyzing public policy issues and dealing with selected members of congress." Applicants are instructed to send their resumes, photographs and a 250-word essay describing the position they would like to assume in government service. NYT Sues Pentagon Boldly asserting that it has not yet done enough to "unmask the horrors of the Bush Regime," the New York Times has sued the U.S. Defense Department, demanding that it hand over documents about the National Security Agency's domestic spying program. The Times wants a list of documents including all internal memos and e-mails about the program. It also seeks the names of the people or groups identified by it. "The covert nature of this program gives the U.S. an unfair advantage against its technologically deprived adversaries," Times spokesman, Andy Busch. "We're not taking sides in this conflict. We just want to see a more level playing field." Last December, the Times broke the story that the NSA had begun intercepting domestic communications linked to al Qaeda following the September 11 attacks. That provoked renewed criticism of the way U.S. President George Bush is handling his war on terrorism. The Times had requested the documents under the Freedom of Information Act, but is dissatisfied with the Pentagon's response that the request was "being processed as quickly as possible." Franklin Lyman, a lawyer for the Times, acknowledged that the list of documents sought was lengthy but that the Pentagon failed to use the words "unusual circumstances," a provision of the law that would grant the Pentagon extra time to respond. "There is much classified information that has yet to be brought to the attention of the public," said Lyman. "Keeping secrets is profoundly undemocratic. This case gives us the opportunity to pull back the veil concealing the Bush Administration's tactics in this so-called 'war.'" S.F. Supervisors Demand Bush Be Impeached San Francisco's supervisors jumped into national politics by passing a resolution asking the city's Democratic congressional delegation to seek the impeachment of President Bush for his opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion and his "culinary insensitivity." Supervisor Gaylord Riordan made the case for the board. "We feel that President Bush is just not in tune with the values of most San Franciscans," said Riordan. "His conservative approach threatens our lifestyle. To add insult to injury, not once has he served Rice-a-roni at any state function. After all, it is the San Francisco treat. Bush's failure to acknowledge this fact demonstrates his culinary insensitivity toward our city." Representative Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) agreed to add these charges to the list of offenses on the impeachment resolution being drawn up by Representative John Conyers (D-Mich.). Hamas Offers Plan for Phased Destruction of Israel In a bid to soften its image, the Hamas terrorist organization said it will accept a plan for long-term elimination of the Jewish state, rather than seek its immediate demise. In an interview with the Washington Post, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister-designate Ismai Hyenahed said what was taken by many to mean Hamas is ready to sign on to the "two-state solution" being imposed upon Israel by the international community. "If Israel disarms we will grant the Jews a peaceful death in stages," said Hyenahed. In related news, 5,000 children chanting "Death to those who insulted the prophet" rallied in Pakistan to protest against the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad." The children, ages 8 to 12, carried banners featuring hand-drawn cartoons depicting gruesome scenes of vengeance. Ironically, in one of the drawings, a masked Jihadi warrior concealing a bomb in his turban is shown boarding a bus in one panel. The bus is shown exploding in the next panel.
John Semmens'
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Professor
David Fergusson, director of the Christchurch Health and Development
Study in New Zealand, conducted a study on abortion and mental health
and found that “Those having an abortion had elevated rates of
subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety,
suicidal behaviors and substance use disorders. The findings suggest
that abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of
mental health problems.”