Day 4: Abortion, amongst other things

Day 4 is not quite over, but it's important to take note of an oft reversed (and reversed back) executive order that Obama signed today.  The new president has signed an order that ends the prohibiting of U.S. money from funding international family planning clinics that promote abortion or provide counseling or referrals about abortion services.  In short, Obama is allowing U.S. dollars to fund abortion clinics overseas.

This was signed on the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision to legalize abortion in the U.S.  The "Mexico City Policy" as it is called, was instated by Reagan, reversed by Clinton, and reinstated by Bush eight years ago.  It has taken yet another turn.

What's interesting about this is that it almost goes against what Obama campaigned for in regards to abortion rights.  He claims that he does support a woman's right to choose, but advocates for better education about contraceptives as to decrease the number of abortions.  All in all, this is an action that has made Republican leaders very upset.  And why shouldn't it?  Abortion was a social issue in which they thought they had Obama in their corner.  Perhaps because of the previous feuding with Obama and leaders in his own party, he needed to take steps towards party unity?  Hmm???  Personally, I'm pro-choice, but in terms of overseas relations, we should be concerned about violence and disease amongst other things, but not abortion.  If this were a domestic issue, I'd probably have sided with the president.  This isn't an issue that would've taken precedence for me, but I guess it's something Obama just needed to get out of the way.

On a completely unrelated note, I think the president should take himself up on this offer:

Mr. President, I wholeheartedly agree with you.  The BCS is an awful means of determining a college football champion.  I'm a huge sports fan, admittedly not as huge on college football, but when I first found out about the president's opinion regarding the BCS on his November 3rd Monday Night Football interview, I felt that much more comfortable voting for him the next day.  Computer rankings are an absolute illegitimate judge of skill and credibility.  What if computers determined other things in life?  Ron Paul would be our president and "The Love Guru" would be up for the Oscar for best picture.  I can't imagine what U of Texas fans went through when they had the identical record as conference foe Oklahoma, beat them head-to-head, and still couldn't even play for a conference championship.  Now, since the Giants early playoff exit, the Mets second collapse in as many years, and the Islanders and Knicks being the laughing stocks of their respective leagues, it hasn't been easy being a New York fan since this happened, but at least pro sports reward and punish teams based on skill, unlike the BCS in college football.  So Mr. President, I'm creating a counter for each day it takes until you address the BCS problem for real.  You were inaugurated four days ago, so here it is:

The BCS Goes Unnoticed: Day 4.

This will happen in each entry I make until you address this horrid situation.  Until then, keep doin' what you're doin' Barack.

-JMR