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I've been finding an endless source of amusement on the Democratic Party website. Alas for the Dems, the "Internet-savvy" politician has brought little but his customary acidic accusations against the "Evil Empire", AKA the Republican Party and those who support them. Among his gifts to the web:

• A report on the status of "emergency contraception", which the party claims will reduce need for abortions by 50%.
  
  Really? So, responsible use of contraception is a choice employed by only HALF of sexually active women? Pray tell, if they can't plan ahead, even by a 1/2 hour or so, what makes the Dems think they'll be responsible enough to get their backside out of bed long enough to get the "Plan B" stuff? Even if it's over the counter. ESPECIALLY if it's over the counter - since OTCs are not generally covered by prescription drug plans. I'm betting most will just cross their fingers and wait.
  
  The bigger issue here is the possibility that Plan B drugs will be used by OTHERS - not the pregnant woman, but her husband, boyfriend, parents, lover's ex-girlfriend, etc. What's to stop them? Without a prescription, there will be no paper trail.
  
  
• Hysteria about Social Security, which promises that the usual suspects will be unfairly treated if privatization takes place.
  
  According to the Democratic Party website,

  Nearly 45% of all non-married women 65 and older get 90 percent or more of their income from Social Security.

  Apparently, someone from the Dems got their stats confused. That statistic isn't backed up by their own web resources, which said

  AARP, the senior advocacy group, says 25% of retired women, including 46% of unmarried Hispanic women, have no income beyond Social Security. AARP also says 33% of retired African-Americans live on Social Security alone.

  The official Social Security site says:

  Social Security is the only source of retirement income for 29 percent of unmarried elderly women

  
  This is largely due to the fact that most women didn't work consistently in a single job long enough to collect retirement benefits, until recently. Social Security points that out, saying

  Elderly women are less likely than elderly men to have significant income from pensions other than Social Security. In 2002, only 21 percent of women aged 65 or older were receiving their own pensions (either as a retired worker or survivor), compared to 28 percent of men.
  
  Pension coverage is increasing for women in today's workforce. In 2002, 53 percent of women employed full-time were participants in a pension plan compared to 54 percent of men. Women generally receive lower pension benefits due to their relatively lower earnings.

  So, using statistics about current retirees is a bad way to bolster keeping the current system. We'd be comparing apples and oranges.
  
  
• Dean, speaking about the fight to keep Bush from getting his choices for SCOTUS

  "If we lose, better to go down fighting and standing for what we believe in, because we will not win an election if the public doesn't think we'll stand up for what we believe in."

  Wadda ya mean "if" you lose? You did. Big time.
  
  
• Speaking about a meeting with Cindy Sheehan (Lord, that woman is an embarassment to military moms):

  I met with Cindy Sheehan and three activist supporters here in my office at the DNC (two of whom were involved in the Presidential race) on Saturday after the rally. Some of you have met her, but for those who have not, I thought I would share my impressions.
  
  She is a delightful person. She had not a drop of holier than thou zealotry. She is unpretentious and very clear. All this I expected, given the terrible sacrifice she has made, and her willingness to speak out.

  Give me a hanky!

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