Just catching up, but wanted to comment on this:
Some fervent pro life types don't seem to care much what happens to foetuses once they are outside the womb - don't support a decent health care system, relaxing rules on guns so more people can get murdered etc. Some, like W, even enthusiastically support the death penalty confused That really takes cognitive dissonance to a new level
I think it makes a lot more sense if you view it through the lens of controlling women/curtailing their freedom, rather than a 'sanctity of life' lens.