“An unblinking dedication to reality:”the newsletter has taught me how to foster that, Robert. Today’s newsletter makes me realize how generous Jill and the girls have been in sharing you with so many people. Yours is a voice of reason in the chaos of competing media, and I am deeply grateful for your messages.
I used to be a prize-winning worrier; thank goodness my late husband wasn't. He taught me that the things we worry about usually don't happen and the things that happen could not have been anticipated. I remind myself of that very often these days!
My open letter to Chief Justice Roberts. Will submit it as an oped to WaPo at least. Feel free to share it with others.
The Honorable Chief Justice John G. Roberts
The Supreme Court of the United States
One First Street N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543
Dear Chief Justice Roberts,
On this Christmas Day 2021, I feel the most important thing I can do is write to you and Justice Sotomayor on my concerns with the loss of democracy in many states and the United States Supreme Court's role in dismantling our republican form of government. Texas, the state I live in, is now an autocracy under minority rule and is blatantly and with audacity taking away my Constitutional rights.
First, I'd like to commend you for your courage and fortitude in speaking up on the Solemn Mockery now hanging over the Supreme Court. I also commend Justice Sotomayor for her statement on the stench permeating the current state of the Supreme Court.
Three points I'd like to call to your attention:
1. Rulings of the ilk of Citizens United which says money is free speech and corporations have the same rights as people are basically legalized bribery of elected representatives. Ninety-five percent of the time they now vote with their donors ignoring the wishes of the People which has made the United States into an oligarchic kleptocracy, no longer a democratic republic.
2. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 stating that pre-clearance was no longer needed has led to extreme partisan discriminatory gerrymandering and voter suppression to assure the minority rulers stay in power assuring autocratic rule for decades to come.
3. The recent rulings by the Supreme Court on the Texas anti-abortion vigilante injustice law seem to be based on anticipating the overturn of the Roe v. Wade precedence and totally ignoring the existing Constitutional Rights of women. In my opinion, that means the Supreme Court is in Contempt of the Constitution.
While I'm not a lawyer, I am a concerned citizen who carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution with me at all times and refers to it frequently. I'm finding so many of the questions and arguments being made in recent hearings fallacious.
1. I want to hear the answers to Justice Sotomayor's fine and relevant questions about why the rights of a potential person, a fetus, is given total priority over the rights of an existing person, the pregnant woman, no matter what the risk is to her. No exceptions. My sister was a Type 1 diabetic and giving birth put her life in a precarious situation. She chose to have two sons but at great risk to her life and the life of the babies. Saying she has no choice and the government decides in a situation like this is simply cruel and inhumane. Justice Barrett's contention that is no problem to carry a fetus to term and then you can just throw away your parental responsibility by dumping the baby at the nearest fire station makes me sick. For me, Roe v. Wade strikes a fair and just balance protecting both the woman and the developing fetus.
2. I bristle when Justice Gorsuch points out the word "abortion" isn't in the Constitution and therefore the Supreme Court should just be silent about abortion. Neither is the word "woman"! So that means women have no rights under the Constitution at all?
The Guarantee Cause seems to me the relevant clause here -- that a Republican form of government (by the People or their freely elected representatives) is guaranteed in every state by the United States Constitution.
3. I bristle at the vigilante injustice Texas is invoking to get around the Constitution. That means the rich bounty hunters get to bankrupt people who can't afford to defend themselves whether they are innocent or not. This isn't Justice; it's anarchy. All rights are now at risk across the United States.
4. I believe that two of the last three Justices joining the Court are illegitimate because of then Majority Leader McConnell's contempt of the Constitution and due process and the third is unqualified. Justice Gorsuch and Justice Barrett should not be on the Court after those shenanigans. Justice Kavanaugh would have had his nomination pulled if he had been a woman blubbering in the hearings like he did. I also feel, Justice Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh should be recused from any ruling on women's rights even if justice has not yet been served on the credible claims of sexual harassment.
In conclusion, I find the Supreme Court of the United States in Contempt of the Constitution of the United States for being an anti-democratic, anti -republican force leading toward the imminent demise of the experiment with democracy. I keep thinking about women scorned and how the country will erupt when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
That's the legacy of the current Supreme Court - your legacy! I so hope you can turn it around to the Supreme Court who saves our American democratic republic. In addition, it may be notorious for being the first Court to take away rights rather than expand them.
Please stay strong and use a lot of air freshener! I admire you greatly.
Respectfully but emphatically,
Catherine Learoyd
We, the People, all of us this time!
In Texas, where a virus has reproductive rights and a woman doesn't!
Robert thanks for reminding all of us that everyday little positive things are happening that are solidifying the return to honest workable government regardless of what the media is saying. I’m looking forward to 2022 and engaging in positive activities to strengthen Democracy and to make our country better. My personal slogan for the year will be “ We all have a lot to do to win in 2022”. Happy New Year. Be safe. Keep the faith.
Many thanks to you, and Jill, and all of your immediate family. Here, you (and Jill) have built an extended family tens of thousands. Your patience, fortitude and wisdom are, yes, inspirational.
Glad you highlighted Waldman's piece. We need to remember that, no matter what threats we face, there are millions and millions of us dedicated to the preservation of our democracy. I'll never forget my first visit to DC when I was so moved by the quote "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty". True then, true now, true forever.
Thanks for this one Bob; on point as always. The quote from Mark Twain now enters my regular repertoire!
As a further antidote to worry, i would submit laughter and appreciation of the absurdity of human endeavor. A must-read in that regard is Dave Barry's year in review from WaPo.
Thanks for the discussion about gerrymandering and the reference to the Paul Waldman article. Yesterday while listening to yet another pundit wringing their hands about the Dems demise in 2022, I started to question that view. First, there was the general incompetence surrounding the 2020 Census count. Who knows if the data being used in the redistricting process are anywhere close to accurate. Second, the bulk of the Census data was gathered prior to the outbreak Covid-19. Although the GOP is very sophisticated at tracking their voters their redistricting maps are being solidified in the middle of an ongoing pandemic to which the GOP have made their own voters most vulnerable to illness and death. I am not at all happy about anyone being hurt or killed by this virus, but there are so many unknowns potentially impacting the upcoming elections that the only reasonable things for us to do are to keep working, keep donating, and keep the faith.
Our unincorporated Arizona community of about 25,000 relates in all ways (for shopping, worship, medical and dental care, recreation, politics, etc.) to its surrounding blue metropolitan areas that include communities from South Tucson to Nogales, AZ at the Mexican border. We have just been sliced off during Redistricting from every area we interact with in our daily lives and we are now included in a legislative district with the entire bright red corner of southeast Arizona, stretching to the Mexican and New Mexican borders. Most people in my community of Green Valley have never even traveled to these frontier areas, much less spent time in them. My husband and I are tent campers who have enjoyed time in these gorgeous mountains, canyons and deserts, so we know these areas well for their scenic beauty. Unfortunately, our new legislative district is 65% Republican. This is certainly not the “community of interest” the “independent” Redistricting committee had promised us. I am feeling bereft. We have a strong group of active Democrats here, but all our votes for state government have just been stolen from us for the next ten years, just as we had worked hard for the past ten to turn Arizona blue.
Thank you for reminding us that in one day we went from a bombastic egomaniac in the White House to a humble public servant. Taking a deep breath, girding myself for the campaigns ahead.
As I look at newspaper headlines and see posters against mask mandate I wonder where are the rest of us with signs thanking the governments that require masks. Would the newspapers even print photos of that. My mission in the new year. Thank you always Robert
Great wisdom here—thank you once again! I have a question: where does “The Lincoln Project” fit into the picture? Are it’s members allies in the fight and worth supporting? Looking for some thoughts on this…
That "enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward" harkens to the wisdom of recently passed Desmond Tutu in pointing to our work ahead:
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
“An unblinking dedication to reality:”the newsletter has taught me how to foster that, Robert. Today’s newsletter makes me realize how generous Jill and the girls have been in sharing you with so many people. Yours is a voice of reason in the chaos of competing media, and I am deeply grateful for your messages.
I used to be a prize-winning worrier; thank goodness my late husband wasn't. He taught me that the things we worry about usually don't happen and the things that happen could not have been anticipated. I remind myself of that very often these days!
My open letter to Chief Justice Roberts. Will submit it as an oped to WaPo at least. Feel free to share it with others.
The Honorable Chief Justice John G. Roberts
The Supreme Court of the United States
One First Street N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20543
Dear Chief Justice Roberts,
On this Christmas Day 2021, I feel the most important thing I can do is write to you and Justice Sotomayor on my concerns with the loss of democracy in many states and the United States Supreme Court's role in dismantling our republican form of government. Texas, the state I live in, is now an autocracy under minority rule and is blatantly and with audacity taking away my Constitutional rights.
First, I'd like to commend you for your courage and fortitude in speaking up on the Solemn Mockery now hanging over the Supreme Court. I also commend Justice Sotomayor for her statement on the stench permeating the current state of the Supreme Court.
Three points I'd like to call to your attention:
1. Rulings of the ilk of Citizens United which says money is free speech and corporations have the same rights as people are basically legalized bribery of elected representatives. Ninety-five percent of the time they now vote with their donors ignoring the wishes of the People which has made the United States into an oligarchic kleptocracy, no longer a democratic republic.
2. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 stating that pre-clearance was no longer needed has led to extreme partisan discriminatory gerrymandering and voter suppression to assure the minority rulers stay in power assuring autocratic rule for decades to come.
3. The recent rulings by the Supreme Court on the Texas anti-abortion vigilante injustice law seem to be based on anticipating the overturn of the Roe v. Wade precedence and totally ignoring the existing Constitutional Rights of women. In my opinion, that means the Supreme Court is in Contempt of the Constitution.
While I'm not a lawyer, I am a concerned citizen who carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution with me at all times and refers to it frequently. I'm finding so many of the questions and arguments being made in recent hearings fallacious.
1. I want to hear the answers to Justice Sotomayor's fine and relevant questions about why the rights of a potential person, a fetus, is given total priority over the rights of an existing person, the pregnant woman, no matter what the risk is to her. No exceptions. My sister was a Type 1 diabetic and giving birth put her life in a precarious situation. She chose to have two sons but at great risk to her life and the life of the babies. Saying she has no choice and the government decides in a situation like this is simply cruel and inhumane. Justice Barrett's contention that is no problem to carry a fetus to term and then you can just throw away your parental responsibility by dumping the baby at the nearest fire station makes me sick. For me, Roe v. Wade strikes a fair and just balance protecting both the woman and the developing fetus.
2. I bristle when Justice Gorsuch points out the word "abortion" isn't in the Constitution and therefore the Supreme Court should just be silent about abortion. Neither is the word "woman"! So that means women have no rights under the Constitution at all?
The Guarantee Cause seems to me the relevant clause here -- that a Republican form of government (by the People or their freely elected representatives) is guaranteed in every state by the United States Constitution.
3. I bristle at the vigilante injustice Texas is invoking to get around the Constitution. That means the rich bounty hunters get to bankrupt people who can't afford to defend themselves whether they are innocent or not. This isn't Justice; it's anarchy. All rights are now at risk across the United States.
4. I believe that two of the last three Justices joining the Court are illegitimate because of then Majority Leader McConnell's contempt of the Constitution and due process and the third is unqualified. Justice Gorsuch and Justice Barrett should not be on the Court after those shenanigans. Justice Kavanaugh would have had his nomination pulled if he had been a woman blubbering in the hearings like he did. I also feel, Justice Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh should be recused from any ruling on women's rights even if justice has not yet been served on the credible claims of sexual harassment.
In conclusion, I find the Supreme Court of the United States in Contempt of the Constitution of the United States for being an anti-democratic, anti -republican force leading toward the imminent demise of the experiment with democracy. I keep thinking about women scorned and how the country will erupt when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
That's the legacy of the current Supreme Court - your legacy! I so hope you can turn it around to the Supreme Court who saves our American democratic republic. In addition, it may be notorious for being the first Court to take away rights rather than expand them.
Please stay strong and use a lot of air freshener! I admire you greatly.
Respectfully but emphatically,
Catherine Learoyd
We, the People, all of us this time!
In Texas, where a virus has reproductive rights and a woman doesn't!
Thank you thank you. So helpful! You have made my year so much better. I go into 2022 more confidently thanks to you.
As always RBH puts all things in perspective
Robert thanks for reminding all of us that everyday little positive things are happening that are solidifying the return to honest workable government regardless of what the media is saying. I’m looking forward to 2022 and engaging in positive activities to strengthen Democracy and to make our country better. My personal slogan for the year will be “ We all have a lot to do to win in 2022”. Happy New Year. Be safe. Keep the faith.
Remember that Democrats flipped about 40 House seats in 2018, which flipped back in 2020. Those are competitive seats that Democrats can win back.
Many thanks to you, and Jill, and all of your immediate family. Here, you (and Jill) have built an extended family tens of thousands. Your patience, fortitude and wisdom are, yes, inspirational.
Glad you highlighted Waldman's piece. We need to remember that, no matter what threats we face, there are millions and millions of us dedicated to the preservation of our democracy. I'll never forget my first visit to DC when I was so moved by the quote "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty". True then, true now, true forever.
Thanks for this one Bob; on point as always. The quote from Mark Twain now enters my regular repertoire!
As a further antidote to worry, i would submit laughter and appreciation of the absurdity of human endeavor. A must-read in that regard is Dave Barry's year in review from WaPo.
Find it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/12/26/dave-barrys-year-review-2021/
Thanks for the discussion about gerrymandering and the reference to the Paul Waldman article. Yesterday while listening to yet another pundit wringing their hands about the Dems demise in 2022, I started to question that view. First, there was the general incompetence surrounding the 2020 Census count. Who knows if the data being used in the redistricting process are anywhere close to accurate. Second, the bulk of the Census data was gathered prior to the outbreak Covid-19. Although the GOP is very sophisticated at tracking their voters their redistricting maps are being solidified in the middle of an ongoing pandemic to which the GOP have made their own voters most vulnerable to illness and death. I am not at all happy about anyone being hurt or killed by this virus, but there are so many unknowns potentially impacting the upcoming elections that the only reasonable things for us to do are to keep working, keep donating, and keep the faith.
Our unincorporated Arizona community of about 25,000 relates in all ways (for shopping, worship, medical and dental care, recreation, politics, etc.) to its surrounding blue metropolitan areas that include communities from South Tucson to Nogales, AZ at the Mexican border. We have just been sliced off during Redistricting from every area we interact with in our daily lives and we are now included in a legislative district with the entire bright red corner of southeast Arizona, stretching to the Mexican and New Mexican borders. Most people in my community of Green Valley have never even traveled to these frontier areas, much less spent time in them. My husband and I are tent campers who have enjoyed time in these gorgeous mountains, canyons and deserts, so we know these areas well for their scenic beauty. Unfortunately, our new legislative district is 65% Republican. This is certainly not the “community of interest” the “independent” Redistricting committee had promised us. I am feeling bereft. We have a strong group of active Democrats here, but all our votes for state government have just been stolen from us for the next ten years, just as we had worked hard for the past ten to turn Arizona blue.
Thank you for reminding us that in one day we went from a bombastic egomaniac in the White House to a humble public servant. Taking a deep breath, girding myself for the campaigns ahead.
As I look at newspaper headlines and see posters against mask mandate I wonder where are the rest of us with signs thanking the governments that require masks. Would the newspapers even print photos of that. My mission in the new year. Thank you always Robert
Great wisdom here—thank you once again! I have a question: where does “The Lincoln Project” fit into the picture? Are it’s members allies in the fight and worth supporting? Looking for some thoughts on this…