Something really doesn’t smell quite right. Not that I have any remorse over Lester Crawford’s departure, but isn’t it a little bit strange that he would accept the post of commissioner only to resign two months later? According to Forbes.com, Lester says that he was “tired.” Poor dear.

Lester M. Crawford, who resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration last Friday, told Forbes.com that he decided to leave the agency because he was tiring after three years at the agency. He denies that financial conflicts of interest had anything to do with his decision to resign.

The article goes on to say that he considered retiring on Sept 1. Now, it isn’t like he stepped into the job in July and was stunned to find that he actually had to go to work and deal with all that goes with the FDA. He was already acting commissioner for two years, during which time he had plenty on his plate, including the Vioxx scandal, questions about suicide and antidepressants, and of course, that ever pesky morning-after pill. The position wasn’t new to him, and if he was so “tired” then why take the position?

In addition to being worn out by working 20-hour days, Crawford says several other factors contributed to his decision. First, there had been a great deal of controversy over decisions related to the “morning-after pill,” a form of birth control that Barr Laboratories (nyse: BRL – news – people ) has tried to take over the counter, and RU-486, the abortion pill. He says he didn’t feel ready to deal with another set of such controversies.

Please, the controversy over the morning after pill and RU-486 (something entirely different) did not crop up this month. Lester was dealing with them, or at least supposed to be, over the past two years. Nothing has occurred since July that wasn’t already ongoing at the FDA. None of the problems, scandals, and other issues.

So basically, it just sounds like a lot of bull. Maybe he took the position of commissioner so he could retire with a higher pension and better retirement package? Can’t rule that sucker out. Maybe Lester Crawford can get together with Michael Brown and they can start their own agency. Incompetent Fools, Inc. Now that has a catchy ring to it.

One of the more disturbing bits of news for today. It seems that the members of our Congress prefer to see victims of rape suffer as much as possible. Seems to be going back to the old adage of how rape is the woman’s fault, and she must’ve “brought it on.” Even if the rape victim is 90 years old and wheelchair bound. Those varicose veins and elastic stockings must have been some aphrodisiac.

At any, this applies to women who can become pregnant as a result of rape. Congresswoman Maloney (NY) has been trying to get legislature passed that would require rape victims be given information about emergency contraception so that they don’t get pregnant. But it seems that far too many believe that to somehow be “immoral” and I suppose think its better to let nature take its course. Which means some of these women will get pregnant, and most will undoubtedly abort the fetuses. So for anyone who claims to be opposed to abortion, this move seems ver contradictory, n’est-ce pas?

The following is a press release from the office of Congresswoman Maloney:

Attempts to Help Rape Victims Prevent Pregnancies Blocked in Congress

“No victim of rape should have to become pregnant

with her rapist’s child,” says Rep. Maloney, author of amendments

WASHINGTON, DC – Two attempts to give rape victims an important medical option that would prevent pregnancies have been blocked in Congress. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) offered two amendments to the Department of Justice Authorization bill that are intended to give rape victims information about using emergency contraceptives (EC) after their assaults. However, the House Rules Committee would not allow the amendments to the House floor for consideration.

The Department of Justice’s first ever National Protocol for treating sexual assault victims, which serves as a guideline for emergency medical personnel across the country, contains no mention of offering emergency contraceptives to rape victims. One of Maloney’s amendments would have ensured that the option of using emergency contraceptives is added to the protocol (text of amendment: http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/choice/092805ProtocolAmendment.pdf). The other would have required the Attorney General to explain to Congress why emergency contraceptives were left out (text of amendment: http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/choice/092805AmendmentAG.pdf).

“No victim of rape should have become pregnant with her rapist’s child,” said Maloney. “Rape victims should be treated with nothing but compassion, and they do not deserve to have information on any medical option withheld from them. For the Department of Justice to withhold a medical option that would prevent pregnancy-by-rape was an outrage. Now Congress has followed suit.”

Background

In January, soon after the final version of the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination first became public knowledge, Reps. Maloney, Michael Michaud (ME-02) and a group of 95 bipartisan colleagues sent a letter to DOJ urging the inclusion of EC in the Protocol (http://www.house.gov/maloney/issues/choice/011305DOJ.pdf).

Reps. Maloney, Christopher Shays (R-CT), Diane E. Watson (D-CA) and James R. Langevin (D-RI) introduced the Best Help for Rape Victims Act (H.R. 1214) earlier this year. The bill would require the Department of Justice to include EC in the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination (http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/109th/20050310protocol.htm).

Additionally, on February 10, Congresswoman Maloney was denied an opportunity to speak and led to believe she could not submit testimony at a public hearing held by the Justice Department that was scheduled to gather public comment on the Protocol. Instead of having her statement or written testimony accepted, Maloney was asked to leave by an official who suggested that if she did not leave security would be called

(http://www.house.gov/maloney/press/109th/20050210FDA.htm).

The Justice Department’s exclusion of EC in its national protocol runs counter to the beliefs of most of the nation’s top organizations and scientists. The American College of Emergency Physicians includes EC in its sexual assault protocols, and the American College of Gynecology explicitly recommends that EC should be offered to all victims if they are at risk of pregnancy.