Bad News and Good News

Who doesn't remember Game 6 of the 1991 World Series?? It's not my first memory of Kirby Puckett, but it's definitely the defining one in my mind - one of the defining memories of my childhood, for that matter. It's sad when you hear about anyone dying young, but somehow it always hits you a little harder when it's an athlete you grew up with, or one you watched grow up, or both. I can't even imagine what it must've been like when Lou Gehrig passed.

There is no doubt that Puck will be missed.

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And the ball is rolling.

Gov. Mike Rounds signed a bill on Monday that would ban all abortions in South Dakota unless a woman's life is in danger. Of course, the aim of the bill is not what it explicitly states, but rather to challenge the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade. Before its scheduled enactment in July, it will certainly be suspended by a federal judge, and will work its way up the circuit from there. It's SCOTUS or bust for this one.

Many pro-lifers have expressed concern that this is neither the time nor the place for this, the first strike, but truth be told: the grass is on fire. I'm a big Deal or No Deal fan. I think the game translates almost perfectly to the current situation. Given the amount of momentum we have on the pro-life side right now (the banker's offer), should we move now, or take a gamble and wait it out a couple more elections? Obviously, South Dakota - the embodiment of grassroots on this issue - chose "Deal" for all of us, but I'm not complaining. I'm pretty damn excited, to tell you the truth.

All my life, overturning Roe has been... well, what? I don't want to call it a mirage, because that falsely implies futility. I'll call it a goal to reach on the distant, distant horizon. Well, all of a sudden, the horizon has shrunk to five years. Five short ones, and we'll see this ridiculous ruling overturned and the issue of abortion sent back where it belongs: in the hands of the states.

We're close, boys and girls...