blanco bites the big one

Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed into law a ban on most abortions, which would be triggered if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its 1973 ruling legalizing the procedure, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The ban would apply to all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, except when the mother's life is threatened. It is similar to a South Dakota law that has become the latest focus of the abortion battle.
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The Louisiana ban would take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned....

Blanco cited "overwhelming" support for the bill in the state Legislature.

"The central provision of the bill supports and reflects my personal beliefs," she said in a statement, adding she had hoped for legislation with exceptions for rape and incest.

Unlike Atrios, I cannot add Louisiana to my no-visit list; I can't fault New Orleans for what the rest of Louisiana does.

New Orleans has always been a blue oasis in the middle of a very red state, and has been treated like the bastard stepchild for that very reason. Schools, infrastructure and public safety in the city have been given short shrift by a state that benefitted heartily from New Orleans' pre-Katrina $100 million per day in economic activity.

To cut New Orleans off from tourist dollars because of the fundamentalist bent of red Louisiana and the realpolitik decisions of Gov. Blanco is like refusing a rape victim the morning after pill because her Daddy's a Bush-supporting Baptist preacher.