Wonkette

Just as we all feared, sales of Plan B — the so-called “morning after pill” — have skyrocketed since the drug was made available to any Tom, Dick, and Harlot who can manage to close her legs long enough to drag herself to the pharmacy and cough up $50 to escape responsibility for her disgusting actions. Plan B was a $40 million/year concern until the FDA betrayed us all, and now Barr Pharmaceuticals is on track to make twice that off the backs of the ignorant and slutty in 2007. MORE »

• Islamofascists and their apologists suck at Photoshop. [Michelle Malkin]
• “Lying b[itch] … shrew … Machiavellian … evil, power-mad witch … the ultimate self-serving politician”: Hillary-mania is in full swing in NH. [To the People]
• Condi Rice is a fashion plate. [Brains Over Bombs]
• For shame, Sen Allen, for zygote-killing shame. [The News-Virginian]
• Sexy teens listen to sexy music and have sexy sexy sexy sex sex. [CNN]

Being generally liberal when it comes to matters of reproductive freedom, we are not quite willing to believe that this isn’t a strong argument by the FDA for legalization of and easy access to birth control: MORE »

* Bush will reaffirm strategy of preemption: “When the consequences of an attack with WMD are potentially so devastating, we cannot afford to stand idly by as grave dangers materialize.” [WP, NYT]
* Concern about Iraq pushes Bush’s approval rating to 37% in NBC/WSJ poll; only 32% have positive view of Democrats. [WSJ]
* Ethics package proposed by House Republicans includes limits on 527 groups. [WP, NYT]
* Dubai Ports World to sell American port operations to “an unrelated U.S. buyer.” [WP, NYT]
* Talk of censure and impeachment used to rally Republican voters. [NYT]
* Michael Brown ignored plans and circumvented Michael Chertoff during Katrina response, House report concludes. [WP]
* Bush nominates family friend to head FDA as Plan B threatens to stall vote. [NYT]
* Rep. Katherine Harris will drop $10m on her senate bid. [NYT]
* Rep. James Moran Jr. (D-Va.) says Gore should run in 2008. [WP]

We read today that the GAO has found the FDA’s review of the proposal to distribute the Plan B “morning-after pill” without a prescription “unusual.” What struck us: FDA staff was told by senior officials that the application “was to be rejected before the staff completed its scientific review and months before the decision was made public.” Burying the lead here — forget about Plan B, what are the FDA officials taking that makes them psychic?! We want a prescription for that. It would eliminate the need for Plan B, if nothing else… “Man, if I had known he was going to get me knocked up, I totally wouldn’t have had those last two Zimas”! MORE »

• In 1985, Alito “wrote that ‘the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,’ declared his firm opposition to certain affirmative action programs, and strongly endorsed a government role in ‘protecting traditional values.’” [WP, NYT, LAT, WT, USAT]
• Graham (R-S.C.) and Levin (D-Mich.) achieve passable compromise on treatment of detainees; McCain’s amendment will likely be included. [WP]
• Frist (R-Tenn.) and Warner (R-VA) want increased accountability of the administration’s Iraq policy; proposal calls for quarterly updates. [NYT, WT]
• GAO finds political manipulation of the FDA’s decision on the morning-after pill. [WP, NYT, LAT, WT]
• Bush continually shadowed by questions about pre-war intelligence. [NYT]
• Approval of Bush slips to 37% in USAT/Gallup poll, a new low; Republicans losing faith in the president. [USAT]
• Rice delays departure from Israel, citing “progress” in talks between Israel and Palestine. [WP]
• Bush heads to Asia seeking to influence the region and escape domestic woes; says Democrats are “playing politics” by criticizing the war. [WP, LAT]

MORE »

• Bush commits federal resources to Gulf Coast: “The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to succeed.” Pollster: “To the degree that he is the consoler and healer of the nation, it helps.” [WP, WP, WSJ, USAT]
• Financial burden of recovery strikes at federal budget deficit; over $20b will be requested. [WSJ, WP, USAT]
• Katrina sends oil prices over $3 a gallon, possibly beyond $4; Europeans may lend their stockpiles. [WSJ, MarketWatch, Bloomberg, NYT]
• Commodity prices jump. Supply-chain expert: “The Mississippi River is the aorta of the American economy, and New Orleans is the access point to it.” [WP]
• In Baghdad, nearly 1,000 Iraqis die in stampede sparked by panic; greatest loss of life since the invasion. [NYT, USAT]
• Bush tested again by circumstances, but will he deliver? Professor: “It is usually the case with large-scale disasters that it centralizes power in the presidency and improves the president’s ratings in public opinion.” [NYT, LAT]

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Earlier we mentioned that the FDA decided to overrule pesky scientific evidence regarding the Plan B emergency contraception and instead turn to the public for advice. That may turn out to be just as well, because the actual scientists are leaving. Writes Susan Wood, former Assistant Commissioner for Women’s Health:

I can no longer serve as staff when scientific and clinical evidence, fully evaluated and recommended for approval by the professional staff here, has been overruled. I therefore have submitted my resignation effective today.

Girls — so moody! MORE »