Who’s In

President Obama will nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. If she is confirmed, the nation’s highest court will have three female justices for the first time in history.  Where she stands on the issues remains to be seen – which is exactly why she may have been nominated in the first place. According to CNN Politics:

Why she may be chosen: Her lack of a substantive paper trail on hot-button issues may blunt initial conservative criticism over where she stands on these topics. She has a reputation as a political pragmatist and consensus-builder who enjoys the support of liberal and conservative academics. That perceived ability to reach across the aisle could help Kagan on a divided high court. Her relative youth (she would be the youngest member of the court) could give Obama a longer judicial legacy. She also would provide greater gender diversity to the bench.

Who’s Out

Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) will not be on the ballot come November after losing in the Republican caucus for not being conservative enough. Although his primary fault appears to be voting for the bank bailout, some on the far-right also believe he wasn’t fully committed on “life” issues –  despite supporting the preferred National Right to Life position 53 out of 55 scored votes. His alleged offenses include:

Authored health care legislation that includes abortion coverage.

September 10, 2009 Voted for Cass Sunstein to be a Regulatory czar. Sunstein says “abortion should not be seen as murder of the fetus but instead as a refusal to continue to permit one’s body to be used to provide assistance to it.”

September 13, 2000 voted against urging China to end its forced abortion policy.

February 2, 2000 voted to provide special penalties in bankruptcy against pro-life protesters.

February 18, 1993 Voted for taxpayer funded research using tissue from fetuses from elective abortions.

February 11, 1998 Voted against a ban on human cloning

July 18, 2006 Voted to allow taxpayer funding for stem cell research on human embryos.

February 10, 1998 Voted for David Satcher for Surgeon General. Satcher supported partial birth abortion.

Mini-Roundup: In case you hadn’t heard, the birth control pill turned 50! Everyone and their mother are talking about it. Plus, Raquel Welch claims our moral standards have plummeted.

May 10, 2010

Saving women’s lives without abortion – National Post

Five bills Gov. Crist should veto – Tampabay.com

Abortion debate could continue, even with Crist’s decision – Florida Times-Union

Sen. Bennett is No ‘Staunch’ Conservative – Human Events

Popular Pill Still Causing Controversy – KFBB NewsChannel 5

Opposing view on women’s choice: New law empowers women – USA Today

Bill Poehler: Abortions are being done on your dime – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Abortion issue is really all about choice – Guelph Mercury

Sidney Thomas’ Western roots would add regional diversity to the court – CNN

Does the Pill Cut Women’s Sex Drive? New Study Sees Link – TIME

Control issues – Naperville Sun

”Justice Kagan”? And Happy Birthday, Birth Control Pill! – 89.3 KPCC (blog)

Pill’s golden anniversary hailed as testament to women’s rights – Oregon Daily Emerald

HIV/Aids activist flees China for US – The Guardian

China mulls routine HIV test for pregnant women – Xinhua

Cultural Attitudes and Rumors Are Lasting Obstacles to Safe Sex – New York Times

Anti-AIDS project benefits Bharatpur sex workers – Times of India

Dr. Drew Commends Bristol Palin and Sarah Palin’s Parenting – Babble Magazine (blog)

Uganda film festival provokes maternal health debate – The Guardian (blog)

Abortion law is criticized, defended off base – Tulsa World

Giving birth should be safer – Dailyrecord.com

Woman Fired For Breastfeeding Files With EEOC – North Country Gazette

Mom clings to hope despite losing limbs after childbirth – Houston Chronicle

Elena Kagan: Obama’s safe yet daring Supreme Court pick – San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

May 9, 2010

Making informed choices on abortion – The Star-Ledger – NJ.com (blog)

Protesters want Crist to veto abortion bill – Tampa Tribune

Red Family, Blue Family – New York Times

A Spreading Peril for Women’s Privacy and Freedom – New York Times

Ultrasound mandates in abortions cross a line – USA Today

Bill Poehler: Abortions are being done on your dime – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Canadian women’s groups feel chill over abortion policies – AFP

Confused about federal take on women’s health – Guelph Mercury

Pro-choice advocates celebrate mother’s day with a protest rally – Examiner.com

As the pill turns 50, family planning too costly for many – Kansas City Star

Tories play politics with women’s lives – Calgary Sun

Maryland Film Festival: ’12th & Delaware’ highlights gulf in abortion standoff – Baltimore Sun (blog)

Other views: Taxpayer funds shouldn’t pay for abortions (May 9) – Florida Today

Our views: Veto this bill (May 9) – Florida Today

ACLU says Louisville’s abortion clinic one of the worst in the country – WHAS 11.com (subscription)

‘The Pill’ packed great promise, but what’s really changed in 50 years? – Vancouver Sun

Birth Control On Market For 50 Years – cbs4qc.com

Realizing the Impact of Birth Control on its Fiftieth Anniversary – GlobalShift

It’s sex o’clock in America – CNN

Clinical trials to begin for male contraceptive gel – 89.3 KPCC

Faith Salie: Happy Birthday to the Pill – CBS News

Birth Control Pill turns 50 – WKOW-TV.com

Ironically The Birth Control Pill Turns 50 On Mother’s Day – WFMY News 2

Contraceptive Pill marks 50th anniversary — but fight is not over yet – Times Online

Happy Birthday, the Pill – Truthdig

A Brief History of Birth Control – Connecticut Business News Journal

Birth Control Pill Turns 50 – WCTV

Being an older mom: ‘It feels like what was supposed to happen’ – Northwest Herald

Guest commentary: No woman should die giving life – The Ames Tribune

The Pill turns 50 – Daily News & Analysis

The morning after – Boston Globe

The pill — a modern philosopher’s stone – Los Angeles Times

Bitter pill to swallow – Winnipeg Free Press

Mothers reflect on birth-control pill on its 50th anniversary – Denver Post

Birth control pill marks 50 years – NewsOK.com

FDA Approves First 4-Phasic Oral Contraceptive – Medscape

Contraceptives have come a long way but the pill remains popular – Tampa Tribune

Center to serve gay youth planned for Baltimore – Baltimore Sun

These camps will also give kids a summer to remember – Detroit Free Press

HIV center opens in TF – Twin Falls Times-News

Lawyers try to join biting case – Detroit Free Press

Honoring mothers worldwide – Politico

‘ME NOW, Baby Later,’ inspires Texas teens to delay parenthood – KVUE

More women waiting later to have children – The Tennessean

C-section rates tick upward as doctors fear being sued – Poughkeepsie Journal

What you need to know about Pap tests – Bismarck Tribune

We want the best for all mothers, children – The Tennessean

Mothers are good to have … and we often take them for granted – Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Wisdom born in teen moms’ lives – Kansas City Star

May 8, 2010

Rhonda Copelon, Lawyer in Groundbreaking Rights Cases, Dies at 65 – New York Times

Abortion issue tough for some Dem gov candidates – Centre Daily Times

Women’s health choices include abortion – Edmonton Journal

Demographics of Abortion: Race, Poverty and Choice – Huffington Post (blog)

Workshop: Abortions, breast cancer linked? – Hilton Head Island Packet

Abortion CHILL – Winnipeg Free Press

Abortion bill: Rubio says sign, Meek says veto-Latest Kendrick Meek Headlines – New York News Today

Abortion law differs from 1999 version – Arizona Republic

‘The Pill’ packed great promise, but what’s really changed in 50 years? – Vancouver Sun

The pill is 50, but India still undecided – Times of India

Family planning workshop for pharmacists to be organized – Yemen News Agency

50 years of ‘the pill’ — and here’s yet another one – Los Angeles Times (blog)

Masters of the Uterus – Mother Jones

Soaring tide of teenage pregnancies – Hampshire Chronicle

Bedroom to Boardroom: How the Pill Changed Lives – CBS News

1.4million on new pill – and most are paying for it – Sydney Morning Herald

The pill celebrates 50 years of sexual freedom – The Money Times

The pill, and different contraception methods – Independent

The Birth Control Pill Amazingly Turns 50 On Mother’s Day – SmartAboutHealth

Birth control pill could put women off macho men – Canada.com

Women Have Come a Long Way, Baby – Tonic

50 years on, birth-control pill’s formulation and marketing have evolved – Winnipeg Free Press

The big power of a tiny pill – Vancouver Sun

Canada hit for position on family planning – Ottawa Citizen

NHS cuts funds for sex health campaigns – Scotsman

S.Africa, changing track on AIDS, faces challenges – The Associated Press

HIV-positive man faces sex-assault charges – Ottawa Citizen

World Cup Welcome: A Billion Condoms and 40000 Sex Workers – CBS News

Celebrate: Save a Mother – New York Times

Happy Mother’s Day: You’re fired! – Danbury News Times

May 7, 2010

Why Taxing Abortion Is Bad Policy, Kansas Pro-Life Bill Well-Intended But Wrong – LifeNews.com

University of Wisconsin Medical Center Still Plans to Offer Late Abortions – Ms. Magazine

Tory G8 abortion stance unjust: journal – CBC.ca

Bredesen fails to sign abortion bill – Weakley County Press

The Lancet slams Canada’s G8 abortion stand – CTV.ca

The pill: Making motherhood better for 50 years – Washington Post

Tories’ abortion stand slammed as ‘hypocritical and unjust’ – Toronto Star

Tories called out on Congo rapes – Toronto Star

America’s favorite birth control method turns 50 – The Associated Press

Abortion veto choice is defining, or redefining, moment for Charlie Crist – Daily Caller

G8 Battle Breaks Out Over International Abortion Funding – Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute

Abortion documentary stirs controversy – Albany Times Union

What Every Girl Should Know – New York Times

Fifty years of the Pill – Irish Times

50 years of a sometimes bitter pill – BBC News

Poll: Most Say The Pill Improved Women’s Lives – CBS News

Saying goodbye to your menstrual cycle – WDTN

As the Pill turns 50, the little agent of modernity still arouses trouble – Globe and Mail

‘The pill’ turns 50: Has it lived up to the hype? – Atlanta Journal Constitution

Lawmakers Raise Concerns about Pentagon Approval of Plan B Pill for US Bases – Lifesite

The Pill: 50 Years Later – FOXNews

Five best and worst places to be a mom – CNN (blog)

Birth Control Pill Turns 50: 7 Ways It Changed Lives – U.S. News & World Report

The pill: Making motherhood better for 50 years – Washington Post

Where’s the male birth control pill? – CNN

Wisconsin Provides Additional Funding For HIV And AIDS Health Care – Gov Monitor

Midwives’ services in high demand – Montreal Gazette

More women giving birth after 40 – Baltimore Sun

As the pill turns 50, 200 million more women still need it – SOS Children

Survey: Teens uninformed about sex – Journal Times