The first in a series of reports exploring the ramifications of a controversial state ballot measure winding its way through Colorado.

Hard-line, socially conservative activists are gearing up to enact state laws to restrict abortion since President Bush and Congress have all but abandoned the federal cause. To that end, Colorado is once again serving as a political incubator in yet another attempt to chip away at Roe v. Wade.

But for all the hue and cry, do efforts at the state level have a chance of success and what cost do they exact from the larger conservative movement in a watershed election year?

Consider this a Feminisms open thread. I haven't had the time lately to actually write a Feminisms - or even think about a Feminisms topic, actually. Too much work - too much traveling.

Anyway, talk about what's on your mind...

I think we would all appreciate it if we could keep the candidate stuff in the candidate diaries, so if you've got comments on the primary, please take them to one of the hundred or so recent diaries on the primary. I assure you the discussion is flourishing there.

NOTE:  Dr. Hern asked me to cross-post this for him from HotFlashReport.com.  I'll stick around for the discussion.

When Is an Egg Not an Egg?
By Warren M. Hern, M.D.
Director of the Boulder Abortion Clinic.
Reprinted with author's permission as first published in The Colorado Statesman, July 27, 2007.

An egg is a person. No, an egg is a chicken.  A fertilized human egg is a person.  An acorn is a tree. A seed is an apple.  A set of plans is a house.  A blastocyst is a "pre-born baby."  An adult human being is a "pre-dead corpse."  Up is down.  Black is white.  War is peace.   Facts are not important.  Belief is what matters.  And people who know the truth will tell you what to believe.

(Plenty more below the fold.)