Current Events 1)Zimmerman update 2)Presidential foot in mouth? 3)The Buffet Rule 4)Santorum 5)Arizona Abortion law

1) Zimmerman. It was announced today that the man who admitted to fatally shooting Trayvon Martin is in police custody and has been charged with second degree murder. For most people this equals Justice-Finally. I am impressed at the nationwide protests that pushed and led to an arrest. But before today's news conference, it was announced yesterday that Zimmerman's lawyers had resigned since they had not been able to make contact with him in days. Even more bizarre was the website Zimmerman set up over the weekend allowing his supporters to make donations to him. He confessed to not being able to work, go to a store, and having to leave his home out of fear for his life. Is it wrong that I felt a little bit sorry for him? I cannot imagine the mental and emotional anguish he must be going through. If what his friends and neighbors have said about him is correct, he is not racist and is a good man. Did he just make an awful and fatal mistake? In the end, he may be in fear for his life but at least he has a life.

2) Presidential foot in mouth? In reference to the Supreme Court's pending decision on The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the President stated that the high court would not invoke "judicial activism" by overturning a law put in place by an elected Congress. Some saw this as a sort of threat towards the high court. However, the supreme court justices had already cast their vote on the issue although the decision will not be made public for weeks. The justices had to decide if the law was constitutional. But is there anyone that believes the justices are impartial and will base their decision solely on its constitutional merits? The justices are often described as conservative, liberal or as "swing voters". Decisions by the court are often made along those lines similar to party lines in the Senate and Congress. Plus,the justices are appointed by a conservative or republican president or a democratic or liberal president. And isn't the constitution similar to the Bible? Open to interpretation.

3) The Buffet Rule. I do not get it. I do not get the opposition to this rule. The current tax system stinks. I was once again reminded that former Governor Romney's income is 21 million a year but he only pays 14% in taxes. Why am I paying 34%???!!!! I am far far far FARRRR away from making the million dollars that would be the cut off of having to pay 30% with the Buffet rule. I would be happy to make 1 million dollars a year and pay 30% in taxes since it would still be less than what I pay now!

4) Rick Santorum. Yesterday the former senator announced that he was suspending his campaign. Ahhh-Mr.Santorum was my first blog post. I was so shocked by his conservative views-well really I was shocked that someone not only had such conservative views but also felt that with those views he could be elected president of this country. Well he made quite a run for it and lasted longer than I thought he would. But what I can say for the former Senator, I can not say for Mitt Romney. He never wavered from his views no matter the criticism. I truly got a sense of who he is, what he
believes in and therefore what he would stand for as President. For all those things, I ended up having respect for someone with polar opposite views to mine. Ain't America grand? :-)

5) Arizona Abortion law. Arizona's senate recently passed a law banning abortions over 20 weeks gestation except in cases of harm to the mother.  The law also requires graphic images of abortions  on a state website and an ultrasound to be performed at least 24 hours prior to the abortion. The republican Governor is expected to sign it. Although I am pro-choice, I am not opposed to the 20 week ban. If an abortion has to be done, it should be done as soon as possible and 20 weeks is late in the growth and development of the fetus. 4 more weeks and it is viable-meaning it could live on its own outside the womb-in an ICU of course. I do not believe abortion should be used as a form of birth control. Women who are having unprotected sex should be vigilant about keeping track of their periods and taking regular pregnancy tests or consider the morning after pill which is available without a prescription. However, I think the ultrasound and pics are unnecessary scare tactics. I also think there should be more leniency in cases of rape, incest or if the fetus is found to have a life threatening illness.

Thoughts?