Arkansas Blog

Yet another example of Mike Beebe being a feather weight.

Thanks blog, you finally called the Private on one of his non-answers.

He figures he can slide that answer in so that he can appease both sides.

Great guy that Private Beebe.

To really get his answer on abortion, he needs to go ask Entergy what they think. Hell that's the only constituant he cares about anyway.

It sounds like they tried to pull the Clinton "safe, legal and rare" line on this. Mike Beebe is no Bill Clinton... and if his ass keeps pulling crap like this he wont be too much of anything...

Give him a break. He may technically be in the (D) column, but this is ARKANSAS. No candidate for a statewide office could really expect to win if they were anything other than mealy-mouthed on this specific topic. As a woman, about all I can be glad about is that he does support "efforts to make it less necessary". That's going after the root cause.

It's hard to get excited about anything regarding this race. You can mark it down officially, 4-24-06, at 3:02, Mike Beebe with be the next Governor of Arkansas. It would take a MAJOR scandal to derail this train. Gov. Beebe might as well start thinking about how he is going to arrange his new office...

maybe I'm reading this wrong but I think the exceptions he's talking about are to the partial birth ban and the parental notification requirement, not to an abortion itself. and that is a requirement of the supreme court. or at least it used to be. I guess we'll find out soon enough if it still is.

my question is: when can we start talking about ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies instead of waiting until the deed is done before we care what happens.

This is the smartest thing that he could have said. It's the reason that he will get the votes from conservatives such as myself.

Hmmm...Beebe's position is definitely at odds with the state Democratic Party platform:

From http://www.arkdems.org/OurBeliefs.aspx

CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

"We reaffirm the constitutionally established rights of privacy and choice."

Pretty simple and straightforward. If only Mike Beebe and his wishy-washy handlers could be so clear. They probably will ensure that this clear endorsement of a woman's right to choose gets edited out of the party platform and replaced with his mealy-mouthed have-it-both-ways drivel.

"Give him a break. He may technically be in the (D) column, but this is ARKANSAS. No candidate for a statewide office could really expect to win if they were anything other than mealy-mouthed on this specific topic."

Quit falling for the Beebe-ites' excuses. Bill Clinton was proudly pro-choice and won five statewide elections as governor and two as president. Dale Bumpers and David Pryor were proudly pro-choice and won repeatedly statewide as both governor and U.S. senator.

Jim Hightower, the famous political humorist and former Texas Agriculture commissioner, once memorably said: "There's nothing in the middle of the road but two things: yellow stripes and armadillos."

Make that three things: yellow stripes, armadillos and Mike Beebe. His chickensh*t refusal to take a clear position on anything of substance, and pandering to the Bible thumpers, gives a disturbing insight into what kind of governor he'd be.

I'm sorry but the bottom line is the anti-abortionist believe that a glob of tissue, classified as humanoid/fetus to make it sound spiritual/godly, is more important than a woman/mother/teenage female, etc. Until the male species can get pregnant and produce a human they should keep their opinions and judgements to themselves.

I do support the so called "partial birth" abortion ban after the 27 th week since that's when a the glob/fetus has the ability to feel pain.

Makes me wanna rip the Beebe sticker off my car. Mike, no need to try to appease the RIGHT with something like this! You will take the election without any of this cockamamie crap. Can you please stand up and be proud that you are pro-choice?!

Sorry, but I think Roe v. Wade does more than require exceptions for life and health. It says states may not prohibit a woman's right to choose abortion before viability of the fetus. It may put some controls on minors about notice. It may hassle older women with other requirements. But it cannot flatly stop a woman from having, for example, an elective abortion in the first trimester, whether pregnancy would affect her health or not. And, if Beebe really said this, you are right, he has effectively come out against a woman's right to choose to have an abortion for whatever reason she might choose -- no matter how early that choice might be made, even 24 hours or so after conception. Sad day for choice in Arkansas. Beebe may be on the side of the loudest voices in the abortion camp, but no poll out there shows he's on the side of the majority in this viewpoint. So maybe it is just principle on his part. Uh huh. Rod Bryan, Jim Lendall, where are you?

Not sure whether this makes Beebe a worse politician or lawyer. "Rape, incest, and life of the mother"? You've got to be kidding me!

SD O'Conner authored her last opinion defeating a partial-birth abortion ban because it did not have an exception for the *"health"* of the mother. Argue her opinion all day long, but either Beebe is only for "rape, incest, and life of the mother" exceptions or he's for "those required by the U.S. Supreme Court" but those two are *not* the same.

Ho hum. Beebe will be better than Asa! and an improvement over the gift horse Mike Huckabee, but I'll be damned if I can get real fired up over his candidacy. Guess we have more important fish to fry as long as we remember to go vote in December and place no checks next to Republican names on the ballot.

Abortion and gay marriage, the Republican's favorite smoke screens to keep us away from the real issues that impact the lives of our families every day. Come on Morning After Pills.......chemically putting an end to the need for abortion clinics would be the best thing to happen to us in a long time.

Remember none of this will be of any importance if Bush-Cheney start WWIII by invading Iran. We must get rid of Republicans, the world depends on us.

I am so sick of both sides of the abortion issue trying to vilify the other. You have the pro-choicers saying that all pro-lifers are religious nut cases who want nothing more than to keep women oppressed and pregnant. Then you have the pro-lifers calling pro-choicers murderers and sluts.

I hate to break it to all of you but there are actually pro-choicers who hate abortion but believe that a women's right to choose is primary and there are pro-lifers who have tremendous respect for women but believe that life is the ultimate "right" of any living human being.

I am sick and tired of both sides trying to vilify candidates that disagree with them. There are different reasons that people believe in something. Actually try listening before you judge what someone's reasons are.

This kind of crap is why I will be voting for Jim Lendall or Rod Bryant or Bryan - whichever one it is.

Mike Beebe is the typical politician. He won't take a position and makes up Supreme Court holdings just so he won't have to be honest with the voters.

Oh, whatever! Personally, I can't wait until The Supremes give the states the go-ahead to shut down all the abortion providers. When the option disappears, it's going to be riotous fun watching the NASCAR dads and their Betty Baptist wives cope with their houses full of grandbabies.

?The only exceptions that he supports are those required by the U. S. Supreme Court ? rape, incest and life of the mother,? Wright said. ?Mike Beebe believes this is a decision between a woman, her doctor and God.?

This is a factually/logically absurd statement, which makes sense only if it is cut and paste from two opposing policy position papers.

Abortion can't be a "decision between a woman, her doctor and God" if it is allowed only in those three specific circumstances.

But let's be realistic. Mark Pryor got elected to the U.S. Senate with a position on abortion that he was "neither pro-life nor pro-choice." Beebe's straddle is about as ludicrous, but it remains to be seen if he has Pryor's political skills to pull off this disingenious charade.

This is either a hatchet job by the D-G or one of the worst statements made by a spokesman. As stated in an earlier post, the "only exceptions" are exceptions to those restrictions and not to abortion in general. I think it's a pretty pro-choice stance Beebe's taken although it's not very clear from the spokesman's statement.

Mike Beebe is clearly pro-choice and has no religious concerns about it like Mark Pryor did. Pryor is a true fundamentalist Christian who wrestles with the democrat philosophy. However, Mike Beebe has no such conviction - he is clearly pro-choice. End of story.

While we're out blasting candidates for opinions in matters in which they have no authority, let's see how Mike Beebe feels about the war in Iraq and the federal income tax. The governor of Arkansas has about as much say in those issues as he would in abortion.

Abortion should never be an issue at the statewide or local level, and making it one shows an ignorance of the process and workings of government.

Razorback Dem,
You are wrong. If the Supreme Court ever overturns Roe v. Wade, then it will be up to states to determine if abortion will be legal. If you have a pro choice governor, then you have a greater chance of getting pro choice legislation.
States may very well have a say so in the future and thus the stance of the candidates is very relevent. That's why I'm voting for which ever independent gets on the ballot.

Mike Beebe - tax raiser, pro-choicer, anti-rural - He is looking more and more like John Kerry.

In the intire history of mankind no man has ever had a baby. The subject of abortion should only be discussed by and voted on by women. I think this would stop all the bickering.

Sorry, I forgot to add my name to the last post - please don't reprimand me, Max.

You're wrong -

And if the Supreme Court ever overturns Brown v. Board of Education, states will have a choice in whether or not to segregate schools again. Any more hypotheticals? And, odds are, the Supreme Court won't overturn Roe v. Wade within the next 4 years. Even if a challenge is made to the recently passed South Dakota statute, then it will still take several years to get to the Supreme Court. If it even gets that far, there is no guarantee that the court will overturn Roe v. Wade. Whoever is elected governor of Arkansas will never have any say in furthering the pro-choice or the anti-choice agenda.

And come to think of it, I'm not so sure overturning Roe would be a bad thing. Polls have shown that a majority of people in this country, and even in Arkansas, are in support of the status quo regarding this issue. It would likely upset many people, and it might even help any Democrats on the ballot that year.

The fact of the matter is, one issue voters hurt this party and our democracy. Supporting an Independent over a Democrat because the D is pro-life is just as stupid as someone voting Republican because his opponent is pro-life. Educate yourself on ALL of the issues, and then make your decision then. Don't just decide based on an issue that the office in question has no say over. And even if it was currently a state issue, it's not responsible voting for someone just on one issue, no matter what issue or side is in question.

Chris,
Don't forget your kool aid before bed time.

Chris,
Don't forget your kool aid before bed time.

AT Bloggers have asked where I stand on Reproductive Choice and abortion. I have been actively pro-choice throughout my political career.

As a candidate, I never used a cowardly Beebe-like comment on this issue. In the Legislature I vocally opposed the constant barrage of proposals that tried to restrict a woman's right to abortion. It's time for politicians to have the courage to take a stand.

Visit my website - JimLendall2006.com - to see my position on this and other issues.

Jim Lendall
Green Party Candidate for Governor

Thank you Jim, If only more politcians were as bold as you were, we wouldn't have the ethical messes we have now on both sides of the aisle.

Jim

Thanks. I'm glad you have the guts to put yourself out there as a candidate and clearly state your views, even if you chances of election are slim. I won't be voting for you as of now, but it is great to see some backbone from a candidate. Way to take a stand and do what you believe in! We have some people in this state who claim they will run but then run away from the race (and the issues) and hide like worms.

This is good news! It is good to see more Democrats move toward a position of life. As a conservative I feel I must cast my vote with those who stand for life. As for my pocket book, I always do better when a Democrat is in office. This is truly good news.

This is good news! It is good to see more Democrats move toward a position of life. As a conservative I feel I must cast my vote with those who stand for life. As for my pocket book, I always do better when a Democrat is in office. This is truly good news.

"This is good news! It is good to see more Democrats move toward a position of life."

Excuse me - Beebe didn't move anywhere. He told both sides something which means he told both sides nothing. He is the worst kind of politician - one that will say or do anything to get elected.

I agree with Jay, except, he isn't the worst type of politician. I would argue that the politician who refuses to run, simply because he knows he cannot win, is actually the worst kind. At least Beebe's name is on the line.

Donkey, I guess you are right, but why run if you don't believe in anything. I would prefer you stay at home, relaxing in the burka lounger, rather than run, give politics a bad name and prevent men and women who truly want to make a difference from winning.

Good point. I agree, but if you have no beliefs at all, then do you also agree you should not attack others who have the guts to give their views?

Craghead (that's not how it's spelled, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and overlook the double-post), you might as well vote on the side of your pocketbook, then, because your 'for life' position is too full of holes. That much is apparent by the whole 'exception' debate. No government should have the right to compel a woman to carry an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy to term, anymore than it should be able to compel everyone to marry and produce children. On the face of it, it leaves the men (necessary to the equation) scot-free of responsibility or threat to their own life. Pregnancy and childbirth are a big deal to any woman. Men are practically just bystanders, by societal standards, unless there is a legal (yes, LEGAL, not ecclesiastical) contract regarding the outcome and future of the issue (children).

Honey, there will always be plenty of babies. What there won't always be is a societal and familial structure to nurture them into responsible adulthood. If you think Republicans are sincerely interested in providing that, you have fallen victim to their two-faced lies.

It sure looks like Beebe was trying to straddle a precarious fence. It ain't easy being a candidate for votes, especially on a campaign trail full of so many potholes. As far as I can see, the best thing Beebe has going for him so far is that he is not Republican. We're pretty much stuck with doing *something* different. Might as well be Beebe at this point. Any alternatives give me morning sickness.

Jim,
I agree with your viewpoint on choice. However, I think a vote for you would be a vote for Asa! Harken back to those who voter for Nader in 2000. Had they voted for Gore, we wouldn't be in Iraq, have two ultra right-wingers on the Supreme Court or be paying $3 a gallon for gas.

Yeah, as one of those who voted for Nader in 2000 and have regretted it ever since, I'd dearly love to cast my vote for Jim Lendall for Governor of the state of Arkansas.

But alas, it would take a series of polls showing that Jim has a fighting chance before I make the mistake I did in 2000. A mistake that has killed multiple thousands and brought misery to the world.

Then again a miserable Governor can't wreak the havoc a miserable President can, but still....I can't risk helping to elect Asa! as our new Gov.

Damn it why must life be so hard and politics so slippery? Since in most cases the person with the most money wins, it means that the Jim Lendalls of the world get nowhere. And we, the people wind up with the most popular cell phone salesmen in the land as our leaders. Look around.....look where it's got us.

If tax payers funded this election and Lendall, Beebe and Hutchinson got an equal amount of money, and equal amount of media coverage and were to be elected on what comes out of their mouths instead of the sheer number of Dallas produced TV ads......talk about your level playing field. Talk about getting a Governor that might pull our asses out of 49th place!

If our elected officials worked full time for us, instead of working 80% of the time for future campaign funds, we might have us a hell of a state. And imagine the fat cats not being able to buy off every candidate. Imagine if the winner was beholden to the voters and not to special interests they've whored themselves out to.

With tax payer funded-everyone-is-equal elections we'd get the smartest person and we'd truly save more than we paid.

We're currently living in the Bush-Cheney De-constructed Non-United States of America, they'll never be a better time to make big changes and cure the way we've done political business forever, cure what has gone so very wrong and brought us to the mess we're in today.

Thank you Jim Lendall for your honest answer. I hope you astound the state by coming within striking distance. At that time I'll rethink my vote.

RE: ...believes this is a decision between a woman, her doctor and God." That's the only statement made here that is correct. It is certainly nothing that a man wearing a legislative name plate should be mandating to women period.

Beebe stating that is no surprise, if you think Hutchinson isn't even more radical in his anti abortion views you are naive.

I like MB, I don't like the anti choice stance. They all do that to get the vote, problem is the right wing will NEVER vote for them.

Personally, I am through supporting anti choice candidates. This time I will vote for MB because the alternative is to vote for the party of pedophiles. Not gonna happen.

I have a feeling this is going to be a very unpopular post.

Many time and time again complain about the 2 party system in American politics, and how it excludes fringe candidates like Mr. Liendall from ever winning a major office. However, people tend to forget how good for democracy a 2 party system is. In countries in which there are many viable parties, the government is contingent on very weak coalitions in order to remain stable. As soon as one of these coalitions breaks down, the government fails, nothing is ever passed, and they must wait until new elections are held to have an effective government.

In situations where there are 3 viable parties, representing the left, middle, and right, something interesting happens. The parties on the left and right don't compete with each other - they know that they will never woo each others voters. Instead, they team up and take down the party in the middle. This leaves to very ideologically opposed parties far from the center. After this happens, then they basically keep out-extreming one another to get elected, and that's how governments such as Hitler's Nazi Germany come into power.

Third parties can do a lot of good. A lot of times if they become strong enough then they'll become incorporated into one of the bigger parties (see the prohibition party). However, I'm don't lose sleep at nights knowing that 3rd parties aren't going to win a race for Senator, Governor, or President ever in our system.

"If not for Nader" is a myth the Democrats use to explain away their defeat in 2000. What they fail to realize is that many of the Nader voters probably would not have voted at all, but they finally felt that they had a choice.

If the Democratic Party had genuine candidates with unambiguous stands on issues, voters would not be compelled to seek alternative candidates or, lacking alternatives, stay home on election day.

The Demo Platform sounds good but obviously the party's candidates can't read. Mr. Beebe, for instance, is ambivalent about women's rights, the environment, labor laws, tax reform, and many other planks of the platform. In fact, he sounds more like a timid Republican. Is it any wonder why the U.S. has such a dismal voter turnout?

I realize that my chance of finishing better than second in this Governor's race is remote. I am hoping that we gather enough votes so that the Green Party can field candidates at every level in this state for the next election, without have to go through the expensive and unnecessarily burdensome petition effort.

Voters want and are entitled to choices at every level of government. They are tired of TweedleDee/TweedleDum elections, where the party labels are different but the candidates' stands are identical.

Jim Lendall

Clarification needed- With NOW and several other organizations educating us over the past decade and we STILL haven't slowed up unwanted pregnancies- When will we?
Let's be frank-Any woman today is fully educated on reproduction and how to prevent it. She can get the preventions handed to her for no cost. Abortions can be done away with except that organizations like NOW still need victims to further their cause.
Thank you for the soap box moment......

Moose -

Let's continue your logic. With doctors and other groups trying to cure cancer over the past decades and we STILL haven't cured cancer - when will we?

Since we haven't cured cancer by now, then we should stop donating money and wasting energy trying to cure it.

And a lot of times, she can't get preventions handed to her for no cost, and there are still many women in this country and others that are not fully educated on reproduction.

Thank you for letting me prove you wrong...

Great idea DBI. Of course, we would have to fund Rod Bryan as well. Since that one might not bother you, I'll point out that with a promise of public funding Jim Holt might have run for Governor. No telling how attractive he could make himself with slick ads. And how about Gunner? He'd get the money, too.

DBI, I think you're old enough to remember Ralph Forbes. Wouldn't those ads be a hoot?!!! (I can see the kkk.org link on the screen crawl now.)

Getting the picture?

The closest thing we have to public funding is the national presidential system. That allowed Pat Buchannan to get the Reform Party money when he couldn't get 2% of the Republican primary vote.

Once again, the free market is flawed but much superior to government control.

where is tommy robinson with his chainsaw?!?!?!

Moose, by your logic, pregnancy (or its avoidance) is entirely the woman's responsibility. Hello? Do you just bang them and say "Ta-ta"?

Mothers, don't let your daughters date Moose. In fact, shoot him, if you get the chance. Idiot.

RazorbackDem- Your ludicrious analogy does not make my point irrelevant.
And widj- you are out of touch with reality. Both of you assume I do not care and would leave a woman high and dry, both are terrible assumptions.
How much time have either of you spent talking with women dealing with unwanted pregnancies? I have spent a ton through volunteer work. The admission that "I knew better" is so common place. It is frustrating to see intelligent women in that situation.

Moose:

Roughly, how much is a ton, in hours?

hugh man- I appreciate you asking a legitimate question rather than attacking based on assumption.
I have worked with appr. 100 hundred women in the 4 different states I have resided.
I would venture to say that is more actual time spent than other posters.

Beebe is an example of what's wrong with the Democratic Party...mind-numbing fence straddling.

You may get elected using these I-stand-squarely-for-nothing statements; but you will have left everything resembling personal integrity along the wayside.

I wish the Green Party could break through the good-old-boy system and offer us a viable alternative to the monolithic Dems/Repubs.

Beebe is pro-choice and I am anti-Beebe.

""If not for Nader" is a myth the Democrats use to explain away their defeat in 2000. What they fail to realize is that many of the Nader voters probably would not have voted at all, but they finally felt that they had a choice."

This is wrong, Jim. You would have nailed it if you had just said that blaming Nader for the loss is a weak cop-out. Gore didn't even carry his home state. But the fact is that Gore didn't need "most" of Nader's votes (you know, the ones you said wouldn't have gone to Gore in the first place) to unquestionably beat W. He only needed the few Nader votes that would have gone to Gore. Did you forget how close that election was? The "If not for Nader" excuse is exactly that - an excuse. But it's most certainly NOT a myth.

I have a box of clothes in my trunk for good will. They have been in there for a couple of months. I am 29 years old, intelligent, and fully aware of where to find goodwill. I mostly just don't feel like it.

Most teenage girls and boys may vaguely know where to get condoms, but are too embarrassed/lazy/unmotivated to go get them. Add to that all the stupid abstinence classes that basically tell kids that condoms don't really work that well, and moose's argument is more ignorant than anyone could initially imagine.

I seldom like everything about the candidate who gets my vote. If Beebe were representing just me, he would have taken a pro-choice stand. I will probably vote for him not because I think he's the best man for the job, but because I feel strongly that Asa is not. I cannot afford to allow any more crooks represent me.

It would be nice if I could always vote for someone besides the lesser of two evils.

And it's painful for me to admit this, but it's the truth: I agree with Jim Lendall on just about every issue I can think of. I like him and wish he would be my next Governor. I've never heard anyone even hint at him being crooked.

I really would love to see a strong third party. I liked the idea of public funding for elections, because the price tag for any candidacy is mindnumbingly high. I hate the thought of my tax dollars going to support some KKK candidate or a Jim Holt. But if the system could be more fair and less rife with corruption it would suit me a lot better.

The unwanted pregnancy is one of human life's saddest products. Parents...talk to your kids. Make sure they know you love them.

Parents, if you can establish trust and a dialog with your kids and teach them the risks and consequences of sex so that they avoid pregnancy, please do that within your family.

Parents, if you can use your religion to keep your kids from getting pregnant or causing a pregancy, please do that within your family.

Frankly, I think more public energy and resources should go toward preventing unwanted pregnancies in the first place; but when one does occur, I think it's only the business of those involved and their families and their doctors and their personal choice (or not) of a higher being.

In the case of the unwanted pregnancy caused by rape, it should not remain just a family matter.

why don't you ALL shut up about abortion.

This issue is never going away...it is too good an election year smoke screen

and FACE IT....you all fall right into it everytime....

STUPID!!!!!!!

Funny thing about that parental notification thing - the evidence in places where it has been enacted has had surprising results.

The parents are just as likely to insist on the teen having an abortion over her protestations, as the teen insisting on having an abortion against the wishes of the parents. So, it is actually a wash when it comes to reducing abortions.

Read about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/lmu63

List of Religious Affiliations of Current State Candidates:

Corrections or assistance in filling in blanks is greatly appreciated!

Governor:

Mike Beebe: Episcopalian

Asa Hutchinson: Southern Baptist (?)

Lt. Governor:

Bill Halter: Catholic

Mike Hathorn: Southern Baptist

Jay Martin: Assemby of God

Tim Wooldridge: Church of Christ

Chuck Banks: ?

Jim Holt: ?

Doug Matayo: ?

Atty General:

Robert Herzfeld: Southern Baptist

Dustin McDaniel: Episcopalian

Paul Suskie: Catholic

Gunner DeLay: ?

Secretary of State:

Charlie Daniels: Southern Baptist

Jim Lagrone: Southern Baptist

Treasurer:

Mac Campbell: Episcopalian ?

Don House: Church of Christ

Martha Shoffner: Presbyterian

I know their is a Republican candidate for Treasurer, but I have forgotten his name and he is not listed on the ArkansasGOP.org website.

Congress District 1:

Marion Berry: United Methodist

Mickey Stumbough: ?

Patrick D'Andrea: ?

Congress District 2:

Andy Mayberry: Missionary Baptist

Vic Snyder: United Methodist

Congress District 3:

John Boozman:

Woody Anderson: Catholic

Congress District 4:

Joe Ross: ?

Mike Ross: United Methodist

Tailgunner Delay is Southern Baptist. Jim Holt is a member of the Church of Jim Holt. John Boozman is an iguana, you have to hold a mirror under his nostrils to make sure he's still alive.

Since we haven't cured cancer by now, then we should stop donating money and wasting energy trying to cure it. ---- Posted by: RazorbackDem

Razorback Dem aka "peabrain": We know what causes pregnancy and we know how to cure it.

We don't know all the causes of cancer and we don't have all the cures for it either.

The faulty logic is yours, not ol Moose's.

great just one more reason to choose another provider in the coming elections Beebe is really trying to pander to the Pro-life CULTS in Arkansas.going to be easy to vote against HIM in NOV .