Editor's note. Please send your thoughts and comments to daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

Events have overtaken the original composition of this edition. When it was first written pro-abortion-to-the-hilt Eliot Spitzer (D) was still governor of New York. He has since resigned, effective March 17.

But our interest then and now transcends the personal weaknesses of this trouble-plagued man. We focus on his zealous abortion advocacy, his determination to eradicate even the most miniscule protections for unborn children.

Elected governor in 2006 by an overwhelming margin, Spitzer came to the office with a history of animus towards pro-lifers as Attorney General. He had set up a "reproductive rights" unit within the Attorney General's office and used his broad powers as AG to launch an aggressive campaign to attempt to shut down the activities of pregnancy support centers across New York.

Spitzer had this to say in his January 9 State of the State address: "Given the continued efforts at the federal level to dismantle protection for women's reproductive health and privacy, I ask you to pass the 'Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act'"--RHAPP.

New York State RTL Assistant Executive Director Christina Fitch says RHAPP would affirm abortion as a "fundamental right" under state law. "If enacted, the bill is meant to ensure that once the high Court rethinks and overturns Roe v. Wade, the radical abortion culture in New York can continue to thrive without reservation," she said.

Fitch cited some of the disastrous provisions of RHAPP:

• Remove criminal penalties even from unlawful abortions
• Forbid any protections, such as parental notification, even for young teenagers
• Effectively prevent even an unborn child who is the intended victim of a crime from being recognized as a victim
• Mandate Medicaid funding for abortion-on-demand through all nine months
• Redefine pregnancy as beginning at implantation – not fertilization
• Negatively redefine fetal (child) viability

All in all, RHAPP would make abortion virtually immune from any state regulation or restriction. In Fitch's words, "This bill typifies the culture of death that has led us to where we are today."

It's hard to imagine that pro-abortion Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson--who now moves up--would be much better. While pro-life New Yorkers will have their hands full, they are determined to turn back RHAPP.