Does Anybody Like An "I Told You So"?

Reasoned Audacity makes us laugh and sends the cavalry over the hill by alerting us to a (relatively) new press release from the Alan Gutmacher Institute:

DECADES-LONG DECLINE IN NUMBER AND RATE OF U.S. ABORTIONS CONTINUES, NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS

A new analysis from The Alan Guttmacher Institute shows that U.S. abortion rates continued to decline in 2001 and 2002, although the rate of decline has slowed since the early 1990s. The Institute estimates that 1,303,000 abortions took place in the United States in 2001—0.8% fewer than the 1,313,000 in 2000. In 2002, the number of abortions declined again, to 1,293,000, or another 0.8%. The rate of abortion also declined, from 21.3 procedures per 1,000 women aged 15–44 in 2000 to 21.1 in 2001 and 20.9 in 2002.

The AGI and the Center for Disease Control are the two nationally recognized authorities on this topic, a fact we have been noting for months while deriding this Dem talking point that abortions have risen under George Bush.

We have modest hopes that Tim Russert will inquire with John Kerry or Howard Dean as to whether they had any credible source at all for their previous speculations.

Nick Kristof may revisit his daft defense of Stassen's effort.  Let's supplement Ms. Malkin's rebuttal with the news that, although Stassen may say he has been consistently pro-life, he supported Roe v. Wade in 1977.

And we still wonder whether Matt Yglesias has revisited this - it was one of many points in his endorsement of John Kerry last fall, and I doubt this new info will change his mind, but he did make an impression on Kevin Drum and who knows who else.  Perhaps he could introduce the "Reality Based Community" to, well, reality.  Whenever.  (Does "never" work for you?  Good, let's plan on "Never".)

The original meme was launched by Glenn Stassen - lots of background in this old post.

UPDATE:  Michelle Malkin does a fine job, and puts Hillary on the list.

Comments

[Jor]

How far did the meme travel? I'd say not to far outside the democratic party if that. What were the policy effects? None to minimal. Outrage Factor? OH YES, OH GOD YES.

[TM]

Too late, Jor - you got me started on this, and here we are.

And I'm more into the "Who puts the reality in "Reality Based Community?" angle. Or even the "that wacky media, those watchdogs of truth" perspective.

[Crank]

I think Jor needs to wipe off his monitor.