You know, I should have realized on Thanksgiving that it was only a month away from Christmas and that we still needed yet another entire separate holiday devoted to gluttony and consumerism in reverent celebration of genocide.
I sure hope that you picked up an extra soul on sale during Black Friday as for when you commit honorable ritual suicide to expiate the shame of being American, you'll at least have somewhere to go. (Here's a hint, it will be hell)
Why yes, let's all sit around and be awkward towards each other. Why the fuck not? At least till it becomes so unbearable that we all decide to go see a movie or see what's on TV as a means to avoid social torture. You know, the British actually program new shows for Boxing day, why the fuck is America stuck in the awkward conversation with each other?
Why am I so bitter and scornful at an American holiday that cuts the bullshit and is all about hanging out with the extended family while eating a shit ton of delicious food, getting drunk off the nog and having energetic conversation all while passing out on the couch to a warm open fire?
Because shit like this happened last week and was reported in the Huffington Post
House Republicans Block Child Marriage Prevention Act
WASHINGTON -- On Thursday, the House took up the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2010. The bill would ensure that child marriage is recognized as a human rights violation, and develop comprehensive strategies to prevent such marriages around the world. The legislation seemed likely to garner strong bipartisan support in Congress, and in the Senate, it did. But last night, the bill was voted down in the House by Republicans who argued the bill is too costly and could lead to increased abortions -- gripes the measure's supporters say have no basis in reality and are just excuses to kill the popular bill.
The measure, introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), passed the Senate by unanimous consent and attracted a list of 42 cosponsors, including Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). It also had the support of nonpartisan groups like the YWCA. On Dec. 6, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, praising the United States for stepping up: "This act illustrates how support for securing a just and healthy life for every woman and girl transcends politics."
The House version, introduced by Reps. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), had 112 cosponsors. What's interesting is that some of them -- such as Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) -- actually voted against the bill. In the end, only 12 Republicans backed the measure; nine Democrats defected to the GOP side. So what happened?
This week, a GOP whip alert went out about the child marriage legislation, saying that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Committee on Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) all oppose it. The email:The prevalence of child marriage remains alarmingly high worldwide. As CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and supporting the child marriage prevention bill notes, "More than 60 million girls ages 17 and younger -- many as young as 10 -- are forced into marriage in developing countries. Many of these girls are married to men more than twice their age. Not only does this unacceptable practice thwart a girl's education, it endangers her health and often locks her into a life of poverty."quote:
S. 987 authorizes $108 million over 5 years without sufficient oversight of the taxpayers' money. According to the Congressional Research Service, there is no available, confirmed figure on how much taxpayer funding is already being used to fight child marriage in developing countries and this bill does not address that issue.
In contrast, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen has introduced H.R. 6521, which would result in no more than $1 million in potential costs, while making it clear that child marriage is a violation of human rights and that its prevention should be a goal of US foreign policy; requiring the creation of a multi-year strategy; requiring a comprehensive assessment of what the United States is already doing and funding in the effort to fight child marriage; and requiring that the practice of child marriage in other countries be reported each year as part of the annual Human Rights Report.
There are also concerns that funding will be directed to NGOs that promote and perform abortion and efforts to combat child marriage could be usurped as a way to overturn pro-life laws.
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On Thursday, Durbin's office put out a statement sharply criticizing the House's failure to pass the bill: "The action on the House floor stopping the Child Marriage bill tonight will endanger the lives of millions of women and girls around the world. These young girls, enslaved in marriage, will be brutalized and many will die when their young bodies are torn apart while giving birth. Those who voted to continue this barbaric practice brought shame to Capitol Hill.
GOP concerns over abortion and the cost of the bill are puzzling. According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate, "CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $67 million over the 2011-2015 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting S. 987 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation."
Conor Williams writes in The Washington Post blog PostPartisan, "How can Republicans explain efforts to defeat a human rights bill because of $67 million in potential spending while simultaneously pushing for a tax cut deal for wealthy Americans that will add $858 billion to the deficit? Is this at all credible?"
On abortion, the bill never mentions either "family planning" or "abortion."
Friday morning, Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), who voted for the bill, took the House floor and called out his Republican colleagues for their objections to the measure, saying such arguments amounted to nothing but politics:quote:
Yesterday, I was on the floor, and I was a co-sponsor with a piece of legislation with the Gentlelady from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum, that would have moved money -- no new money -- would have moved money so that societies that are coercing young girls into marriage, we could build them latrines so they could go to school. Or we could make sure that they stay in school so they're not forced into marriage at the age of 12 and 13.
But all of a sudden, there was a fiscal argument. When that didn't work, then people had to add an abortion element to it. Look, this is a partisan place. I'm a Republican. I'm glad we beat their butt in the election; we're going to be in the majority next year. But there comes a time when enough is enough, and McCollum's bill was a good bill last night. ... We should stop the nonsense, approve the bill and move on.
Well, wonder no more. Here's the list.
Rep. Robert Aderholt [R, AL-4] Nay
Rep. Todd Akin [R, MO-2] Nay
Rep. Rodney Alexander [R, LA-5] Nay
Rep. Steve Austria [R, OH-7] Nay
Rep. Michele Bachmann [R, MN-6] Nay
Rep. Spencer Bachus [R, AL-6] Nay
Rep. James Barrett [R, SC-3] Nay
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6] Nay
Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6] Nay
Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1] Abstain
Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13] Nay
Rep. Brian Bilbray [R, CA-50] Nay
Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R, FL-9] Nay
Rep. Rob Bishop [R, UT-1] Nay
Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7] Nay
Rep. Roy Blunt [R, MO-7] Nay
Rep. John Boehner [R, OH-8] Nay
Rep. Jo Bonner [R, AL-1] Nay
Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45] Nay
Rep. John Boozman [R, AR-3] Nay
Rep. Frederick Boucher [D, VA-9] Nay
Rep. Charles Boustany [R, LA-7] Nay
Rep. Kevin Brady [R, TX-8] Nay
Rep. Paul Broun [R, GA-10] Nay
Rep. Henry Brown [R, SC-1] Abstain
Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite [R, FL-5] Nay
Rep. Vern Buchanan [R, FL-13] Nay
Rep. Michael Burgess [R, TX-26] Nay
Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5] Nay
Rep. Stephen Buyer [R, IN-4] Abstain
Rep. Ken Calvert [R, CA-44] Nay
Rep. David Camp [R, MI-4] Nay
Rep. John Campbell [R, CA-48] Nay
Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7] Nay
Rep. Anh Cao [R, LA-2] Nay
Rep. Shelley Capito [R, WV-2] Nay
Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31] Nay
Rep. Bill Cassidy [R, LA-6] Nay
Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R, UT-3] Nay
Rep. Travis Childers [D, MS-1] Nay
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5] Abstain
Rep. Howard Coble [R, NC-6] Nay
Rep. Mike Coffman [R, CO-6] Nay
Rep. Tom Cole [R, OK-4] Nay
Rep. Michael Conaway [R, TX-11] Nay
Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12] Nay
Rep. John Culberson [R, TX-7] Nay
Rep. Geoff Davis [R, KY-4] Nay
Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1] Abstain
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL-25] Nay
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21] Nay
Rep. Charles Djou [R, HI-1] Nay
Rep. David Dreier [R, CA-26] Nay
Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2] Nay
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8] Nay
Rep. Mary Fallin [R, OK-5] Nay
Rep. Jeff Flake [R, AZ-6] Nay
Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4] Nay
Rep. Randy Forbes [R, VA-4] Nay
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1] Nay
Rep. Virginia Foxx [R, NC-5] Nay
Rep. Trent Franks [R, AZ-2] Nay
Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24] Nay
Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5] Nay
Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6] Nay
Rep. John Gingrey [R, GA-11] Nay
Rep. Louis Gohmert [R, TX-1] Abstain
Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6] Nay
Rep. Barton Gordon [D, TN-6] Abstain
Rep. Kay Granger [R, TX-12] Abstain
Rep. Samuel Graves [R, MO-6] Nay
Rep. Tom Graves [R, GA-9] Nay
Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9] Aye
Rep. Parker Griffith [R, AL-5] Nay
Rep. Brett Guthrie [R, KY-2] Nay
Rep. Ralph Hall [R, TX-4] Nay
Rep. Deborah Halvorson [D, IL-11] Abstain
Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17] Abstain
Rep. Gregg Harper [R, MS-3] Nay
Rep. Doc Hastings [R, WA-4] Nay
Rep. Dean Heller [R, NV-2] Nay
Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R, TX-5] Nay
Rep. Walter Herger [R, CA-2] Nay
Rep. Peter Hoekstra [R, MI-2] Nay
Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17] Nay
Rep. Duncan Hunter [R, CA-52] Nay
Rep. Bob Inglis [R, SC-4] Nay
Rep. Darrell Issa [R, CA-49] Nay
Rep. Lynn Jenkins [R, KS-2] Nay
Rep. Samuel Johnson [R, TX-3] Nay
Rep. Timothy Johnson [R, IL-15] Nay
Rep. Walter Jones [R, NC-3] Nay
Rep. Jim Jordan [R, OH-4] Nay
Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9] Nay
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy [D, OH-15] Abstain
Rep. Steve King [R, IA-5] Nay
Rep. Peter King [R, NY-3] Nay
Rep. Jack Kingston [R, GA-1] Nay
Rep. John Kline [R, MN-2] Nay
Rep. Doug Lamborn [R, CO-5] Nay
Rep. Leonard Lance [R, NJ-7] Nay
Rep. Robert Latta [R, OH-5] Nay
Rep. Christopher Lee [R, NY-26] Nay
Rep. Jerry Lewis [R, CA-41] Nay
Rep. John Linder [R, GA-7] Nay
Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3] Nay
Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R, NJ-2] Nay
Rep. Frank Lucas [R, OK-3] Nay
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer [R, MO-9] Nay
Rep. Cynthia Lummis [R, WY-0] Nay
Rep. Daniel Lungren [R, CA-3] Nay
Rep. Connie Mack [R, FL-14] Nay
Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16] Nay
Rep. Kenny Marchant [R, TX-24] Abstain
Rep. Kevin McCarthy [R, CA-22] Nay
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4] Abstain
Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10] Nay
Rep. Tom McClintock [R, CA-4] Nay
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11] Nay
Rep. Patrick McHenry [R, NC-10] Abstain
Rep. Howard McKeon [R, CA-25] Nay
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R, WA-5] Abstain
Rep. John Mica [R, FL-7] Nay
Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1] Nay
Rep. Candice Miller [R, MI-10] Nay
Rep. Gary Miller [R, CA-42] Nay
Rep. Jerry Moran [R, KS-1] Nay
Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18] Nay
Rep. Sue Myrick [R, NC-9] Nay
Rep. Randy Neugebauer [R, TX-19] Nay
Rep. Devin Nunes [R, CA-21] Nay
Rep. Pete Olson [R, TX-22] Nay
Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1] Abstain
Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27] Abstain
Rep. William Owens [D, NY-23] Nay
Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14] Nay
Rep. Mike Pence [R, IN-6] Nay
Rep. Thomas Petri [R, WI-6] Nay
Rep. Joseph Pitts [R, PA-16] Nay
Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19] Nay
Rep. Ted Poe [R, TX-2] Nay
Rep. Bill Posey [R, FL-15] Nay
Rep. Tom Price [R, GA-6] Nay
Rep. Adam Putnam [R, FL-12] Nay
Rep. George Radanovich [R, CA-19] Abstain
Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3] Nay
Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15] Abstain
Rep. Tom Reed [R, NY-29] Nay
Rep. Dennis Rehberg [R, MT-0] Nay
Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8] Nay
Rep. Phil Roe [R, TN-1] Nay
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, MI-8] Nay
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, AL-3] Nay
Rep. Harold Rogers [R, KY-5] Nay
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R, CA-46] Nay
Rep. Thomas Rooney [R, FL-16] Nay
Rep. Peter Roskam [R, IL-6] Nay
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18] Nay
Rep. Edward Royce [R, CA-40] Nay
Rep. Bobby Rush [D, IL-1] Abstain
Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1] Nay
Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3] Abstain
Rep. Steve Scalise [R, LA-1] Nay
Rep. Jean Schmidt [R, OH-2] Nay
Rep. Peter Sessions [R, TX-32] Nay
Rep. John Shadegg [R, AZ-3] Nay
Rep. John Shimkus [R, IL-19] Nay
Rep. William Shuster [R, PA-9] Nay
Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4] Nay
Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21] Nay
Rep. Adrian Smith [R, NE-3] Nay
Rep. Clifford Stearns [R, FL-6] Nay
Rep. Marlin Stutzman [R, IN-3] Nay
Rep. John Sullivan [R, OK-1] Nay
Rep. John Tanner [D, TN-8] Abstain
Rep. Gene Taylor [D, MS-4] Nay
Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2] Nay
Rep. Glenn Thompson [R, PA-5] Nay
Rep. William Thornberry [R, TX-13] Nay
Rep. Todd Tiahrt [R, KS-4] Nay
Rep. Michael Turner [R, OH-3] Nay
Rep. Frederick Upton [R, MI-6] Nay
Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8] Abstain
Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2] Nay
Rep. Zach Wamp [R, TN-3] Abstain
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland [R, GA-3] Nay
Rep. Edward Whitfield [R, KY-1] Nay
Rep. Addison Wilson [R, SC-2] Nay
Rep. Rob Wittman [R, VA-1] Nay
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10] Nay
Rep. Bill Young [R, FL-10] Abstain
Rep. Donald Young [R, AK-0] Nay
Yes, that's right. Due to the budget cuts, republicans can no longer Think of the Children. Though, I guess denying ten-year-old girls their right to freely choose to marry fifty-year-old pedophiles is an unforgivable intrusion on all our civil liberties.
You know that if you outlaw child marriage, children will only marry outlaws. Or at least that's how it would go if we're using the whole guns analogy. You should wonder if they need different tools for giving children abortions. Think of the economy of it. The makers of abortion kits for tweens is going to make a killing from this.
This whole shit is just another clear example on how history will judge the democrats of the 111th congress for not rising up and lynching all of their republican colleagues.
I guess the reasoning of opposing this is that this law would be used to start wars with Islamic countries over the child marriage stuff that goes on there. But if child marriage is such an issue in Islamic countries, maybe they need a good conquering to straighten them out.
SEC. 3. CHILD MARRIAGE DEFINED.I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that the actual reasons this bill was shot down is because Republican lawmakers just don't want to risk offending the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. And I guess this is better than when all republicans vote against some anti-rape bill or worse yet.. against first responders health extensions.
In this Act, the term ‘child marriage’ means the marriage of a girl or boy, not yet the minimum age for marriage stipulated in law in the country in which the girl or boy is a resident or, where there is no such law, under the age of 18.
But still, this just goes to show that even in this Holiday season, you can see the stupidity of our nation sticking straight out at you. Oh and if you're one of those who is trying to deep fry a turkey in a vat of oil on the front lawn, you might as well kill yourself. At least that way only one of you dies instead of the whole family when the house catches on fire. Oh wait, on second thought, cook two turkey's! I mean, why not. Turkey is pretty bland, man. Why else do you think we jam pack it with gravy, stuffing and cranberries during T-day?
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