This amounts to something of a gotcha, although we’re not above that:

The Republican National Committee’s health insurance plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.”

Federal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said that the RNC’s policy covers elective abortion.

We of course applaud the RNC for providing choice to its employees, even if it would deny it to others. But if you’re going to snuff that bun in the oven, better schedule your appontment soon:

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Because Republicans always support the troops:

Sen. Tom Coburn is taking political heat this week for blocking a vote on a bill that would significantly expand access to health care for American veterans, despite broad bipartisan support for the measure.

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The bill is designed to address the health needs of at least some of the roughly 1.5 million US veterans who are not currently covered by the military’s health system. It would also provide assistance to veterans’ caregivers.

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Warm-weather secessionist Rick Perry is feeling a heat wave:

This is an administration that I see punishing this state. I say it’s time for us to stand up. I say it’s time to make Tea Parties twice as big as what they were…

This is an administration hellbent on taking America toward a socialist country, and we ought not to be afraid to say that.

Wait — punishing? How?

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Step aside Father, Son and Holy ghost. There’s a new Holy Trinity in town and their names are Palin, Bachmann and Prejean:

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This story is actually very unpleasant when you think about it, so we recommend you don’t think about it:

A cannibal who killed and ate parts of his mother had his sentence reduced by a judge who said ‘he needed to eat’.

Sergey Gavrilov secured reduced time in jail after confessing: ‘I did not like the meat very much. It was too fatty. But I was so hungry, I had to eat it.’

The 27-year-old was given a lenient prison sentence because the judge said he was starving and needed to eat after spending all his money on vodka and gambling machines.

A story like this raises difficult ethical questions, to wit: Does the gravity of the situation override our inclination to erupt in shits & giggles? Our advanced philosophy degree fails us here — stunningly, Wittgenstein never addressed cannibalism, despite a growing academic interest — which means we must again consult our final arbiter of taste: our inner 13-year-old.

Who informs us he would be totally ashamed of us if we let the opportunity pass. Fucking brat scold.

Russian cannibal who ate his mother given lighter sentence by judge who says ‘he was starving, he needed to eat’ [Daily Mail UK, via Washington Independent]

We’ve always considered Wolf Blitzer more a congenial doofus than a pandering faux-populist, but we may have to revise our opinion in light of his questioning today to the lawyer representing the Fort Hood shooter:

They asked me, how could a retired U.S. military officer, a full colonel, go ahead and represent someone accused of mass murder? And I want you to explain to our viewers why you’re doing this.

Col. John Galligan (Ret.) fills in Wolf about what he missed when he skipped his high school civics class:

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But is he moving to Fox?

Lou Dobbs, the longtime CNN anchor whose anti-immigration views made him a TV lightning rod, plans to announce Wednesday that he is leaving the network, two network employees said.

Said resignation is to be announced on tonight’s program, which begins a few minutes from this post. It will also apparently be his last.

Lou Dobbs to Quit CNN [NYT]

Update: And at 7:08, it’s official. Lou says he’s considering “a number of options,” but he’s gone from CNN after tonight.