A Few Things

First, two deaths today. One really saddens me, the other not so much.

The First: Jane Lawton
Delegate Lawton was one of the representatives from Montgomery County, MD who I worked with when I was a lobbyist for PPMW. She was a great friend of the pro-choice community in Maryland and could always be counted on to stand up on the floor when anti-choice bills were introduced. I met her several times at this baked potato restaurant (of all places) across from the Capitol. She was a really friendly and pleasant woman. She will surely be missed, not only by my former colleagues, but by the whole Democratic party in Maryland.

The Second: Henry Hyde
I don't know really what to say about this man. It's never nice (or healthy or good) to be happy that someone has died, and I'm not. But I can't help but lament and hate, hate, hate the legacy he has left behind. He was one of the leading anti-choicers in the House and is the author of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits public funding for abortion. Now, this issue is one that people are consistently against in polls ("why should my money go for someone else's abortion, especially if I'm against abortion in the first place?"), but it's often without thinking the entire issue through. The amendment prohibits abortion funding for any reason--and it applies to anyone working in the armed forces as well. And this is why it matters so damn much! Whatever anyone's personal views for or against abortion--or even what they would do in a similar situation--I just can't comprehend the level of moral righteousness that was necessary to say to a woman carrying a baby who would never breathe, eat, or cry that it was too damn bad for her--she should just deal with it and thank God that at least it's legal in this country to have an abortion at all. So that'll be Henry Hyde's legacy.

On other, more pleasant things: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Celebrity Baby Blog and today it featured Keri Russell who I have loved for years now, AND this kick counter thing that hopefully will make everyone's third trimesters a little easier. I remember freaking out when Lia wouldn't be kicking or moving and Ben always told me to chill out. Joke's kind of on him--she was born with the cord wrapped around her neck twice, so, needless to say, I'm very glad I was paying so much attention to those kicks!

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I've got all the Christmas decorations up except a tree and I can't wait to get that because someone is VERY fascinated with the lights.