Ohio state senator Nina Turner is taking a stand for men’s health by introducing a bill which would require men to

see a sex therapist, receive a cardiac stress test and get a notarized affidavit signed by a sexual partner affirming impotence

before being prescribed Viagra or similar drugs designed to raise the Titanic.

Shades of the French impotency trials! Long ago Catholic theologians declared that the sole purpose of marriage was to procreate; thus for centuries, the only way for a woman to get out of a bad marriage was an annulment obtained by charging her husband with injurious non-consumation. The French, being French, took this matter seriously, and  impotency trials reached a feverish height by the mid-1500s, continuing well into the 1700s, as aristocratic women had sufficient funds of their own to mount such suits before moving on to mount more fit suitors.

The accused husband would have to prove his manhood’s rampancy before the court and allow it to be tested for elastic tension, natural motion and proof of ejaculation, according the records of the time. If he failed to achieve lift off, along with the moon and stars, the poor chapped chappie had only one recourse: Trial by congress –and with not the Senate and House, but with the woman who was demanding the annulment. In a bed. With witnesses. This usually did not end in the man’s favor.

Now granted, thankfully things–like divorce laws–have changed somewhat since those times.  And most likely the majority of men requesting their doctors dose them with Viagra don’t have baby-making on their minds, if those ads on TV featuring silver foxes eying ladies past childbearing age (and wearing wedding rings) are to believed. And they’re only using erectile dysfunction with their wives, right?

Along with requiring men  who want a lift to bring a note from a (one hopes, verified) sexual partner–though I guess the dud dude could always forge a convincing one–Senator Turner’s bill would also require that men who take prescription anti-impotence drugs:

to be tested for heart problems, receive counseling about possible side effects and receive information about “pursuing celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.”

This seems utterly logical, for as Senator says:

Even the FDA recommends that doctors make sure that assessments are taken that target the nature of the symptoms, whether it’s physical or psychological. I certainly want to stand up for men’s health and take this seriously and legislate it the same way mostly men say they want to legislate a woman’s womb.

Because if it good for the goose, it’s good for gander.

[Historical reference: Napoleon's Privates: 2,500 Years of History Unzipped by Tony Perrott]

“Rrrwwwr..lookin; good,” says Sarah’s pick

Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s pick for attorney general Wayne Anthony Ross is a real Renaissance man. Not only is he an art critic–penning critiques for the now-defunct Anchorage Times like "KKK ‘ Art’ Project Gets’ A’ For Courage",  and "Fighting For Old Glory On Battlefield Of Art,"–he stresses his firm believe in family values with essays like Norman Rockwell-esque "Fall Hunting Is A Family Occasion"

Ross also used language like "immoral" and "degenerates"  regarding gays and when it comes to pro-choice says:

I feel I have a good relationship with the good Lord (but) if I could overturn Roe vs. Wade, I figure I got my ticket.

But goldang it, now Leah Burton–a former citizen lobbyist who worked on behalf of families and children concerning child support, child custody, domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault gave testimony  before the House Judiciary Committee  and wrote a letter to the Legislature stating hat she attended a meeting of DADS (Dads Against Discrimination, now known as Alaska Family Support Group) where the jovial Wayne Anthony Ross said:

If a guy can’t rape his wife, who’s he gonna rape?…There wouldn’t be an issue with domestic violence if women would learn to keep their mouths shut.

WAR–as his friend and foes alike call him–says he’d never use that sort of language.  In his response to Burton’s letter WAR wrote:

I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to women.

Along with denying Burton’s claims in a written statement, he told a story about  a mmber of DADS accusing him of being rude in a store–only it wasn’t him being a "boor." It was an imposter, and the videotape proved it! Huh wut? 

But Ross’ subsconscious attitude towards women popped when asked about Sarah Palin wearing Arctic Cat brand snow wear and leathers at the Iron Dog race kick off, making it look like she was endorsing the brand.

Republican Rep. Jay Ramras asked:

We have a governor who is provocative in a lot of her actions. Recently it comes to mind when she was in Fairbanks for the finish line of the Iron Dog (snowmachine race), she was wearing Arctic Cat gear, Arctic Cat leathers, while her husband …

Ross broke in.

"She was provocative. She looked very good in it, didn’t she?" Ross said.

 How leeringly gentlemanly and old fashioned….