From the “Oh No She Di’n't” file, Sen. Elizabeth Dole wants to name an AIDS funding bill after Sen. Jesse Helms, who expired two Fridays ago. From the Congressional Record:

SA 5074. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 1, line 5, strike ‘‘and Henry J. Hyde’’ and insert ‘‘, Henry J. Hyde, and Jesse Helms’’.

… The hell?! In case you had forgotten his abysmal record on AIDS in general…. (via Joe. My. God. and Atomic Gay Wonk)

Yesterday, transgender man Thomas Beatie gave birth to a baby girl. Early this morning, North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms died. This further proves my (until now) unwritten theory that for every new life that comes into the world, one must go. In this case, it seems like sweet poetic justice.