As far as I am concerned an all male South Carolina Supreme Court has no standing to rule on abortion. August 26th is Women's Equality Day marking when the 19th Amendment became part of the Constitution. Monday evening I attended a presentation on the Equal Rights Amendment and why it should now be part of the Constitution since 38 states have approved it. What I learned is that this Amendment would make true equality for all citizens of all genders a Constitutional right. Without that right the Injustices of US Supreme Court can do what they've done with Affirmative Action and now allowing discrimination even if the harm to the person bringing the suit is speculative. The first case lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsberg won before the Supreme Court on discrimination based on sex was how a man had been discriminated against because he was male. A woman friend of mine who is a MAGA Republican told me women need to be more responsible when it comes to reproduction. I asked her it was a reasonable expectation for a ten year old girl to be the responsible party when some man wants to play "Let's make babies!" In my friend's evangelical mind it was all the female's fault. I told her the remedy for rape should a penectomy in order to hold the rapist responsible and prevent him from impregnating more women against their will. Hope I made her think about fairness a bit! I now believe we need the ERA amendment to put some teeth in the Constitution to do right by women and by all of us!
Aug 24, 2023·edited Aug 24, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
If there was ever an example of the misogyny embedded in our society, it is the idea that men bear little or no responsibility for where their sperm goes. We have the scientific tools to identify the "father" of every child created.
In a world that made sense - where women had true equal rights - parenthood evidence would be attached to the Social Security number of the impregnater for life. He would be responsible for feeding, housing, healthcare and educating the child. The percentage of this responsibility could be assigned based on the nature of the "coupling". If it was consensual, maybe 50%. If it was not, up to 100%.
These judges make me furious. No standing? Agreed! Worse than that. Their sexist bigotry is stunning. Antique. And astounding. They are morally bankrupt.
The consolation is that this may create a voting backlash in South Carolina and across the country. As Robert points out, there are a lot of positions that the GQP have taken that are about to send them into an electoral spiral dive. But women's reproductive freedom is the big one. It's as if the idiots thought women didn't vote! It's as if they were in a time machine.
Unfortunately, though, the time machine is loaded with backward thinking folks, including some women. Somehow, we need to find a way to bring them back to the future. In many ways, TFG set us back 50+ years, and some of his potential MAGAt successors will set us back even further if given the chance. We can't let that happen.
Amplifying the women's rights message will help to awaken some and empower others. Let's keep it up!
Remember that when Drump began campaigning for president, he made numerous references to going back to the 1950s. His need to control people of color, non Christians, and women were in those messages. It's no wonder that the GQP has taken on this goal. The current Supreme Court has hastened this by retracting the rights that women have had for 50 years.
I’d suggest that climate crises is right there at the top of the list alongside of women’s healthcare and rights. These are serious concerns that impact women and everyone else.
Totally agree. There are two generations of pissed off and frightened young people that are angry at politicians for ignoring the greatest threat to humanity...ever.
John: The List is long! You made a start, however.
How about guns, racism, and education? Yes, agree that voting should and will be directed toward women’s healthcare/rights, but definitely our climatic environment. How can we continue to life “normally” IF our climate crisis continues to blow up, everywhere? We are doomed in so many discouraging areas! Our only chance is to have a majority in the Congress! Plus, hold on to the White House! Regardless, voting the BLUE ticket is a must!
I agree with your addition to the list. We could go on, but there are many reasons to vote Blue and we have to get that message out there along with the GOTV work. Thanks
It is somewhat amazing that you can have a conversation with such a friend. We are always told we can’t talk with these hard core Evangelicals, but your approach to posing question for them to ponder is a good option.
Keep up your efforts. In the long run we have to find or create those opportunities for conversations if we are ever going to bridge the divide.
This friend actually actively wants to understand how others are thinking. The key is both of us want to listen. Not to change someone's mind but to understand where they are coming from. We can respect each other and agree to disagree on many, many things. We do find common ground at times as well. When I hear someone have the opposite position from my own, my question is always "What in this person's life experience brought them to this conclusion." Another friend who is a Texas Presiding Judge (he supervises all the District Court judges) left a group he came and spoke to with this quote: “To disagree well you must first understand well. You have to read deeply, listen carefully, watch closely. You need to grant your adversary moral respect; give him the intellectual benefit of the doubt . . . And you need to allow for the possibility that you might yet be persuaded of what he has to say.”
Thank you, Kathy, I've actually said I'd like the law on men's responsibility in reproduction to be called the Seahorse Act since it is the male seahorse who carries the pregnancy and gives birth.
The choice to have an abortion is, universally, a harrowing one. A women's right of choice does not preclude or insulate that woman from the profound dimensions involved in that decision. Respect for women's choice should categorically start with this reality. No one seeks to find themselves in such circumstance. No one seeks an abortion. Women receive abortions as part of far-reaching, complex life determinations including overall health and well-being. Not the least of which is the care of the child when considering emotional preparedness and financial stability.
Sadly, the focus in last night's debate was the affirmation, yes, affirmative action, of a white christian belief system that would impose itself on women federally. And, to add to the disgrace, all the candidates' deceitful inaccuracies came to the fore in a display shameful ambiguity and deception regarding "late-term abortions". "Honing in on abortions in the latter stages of pregnancy shifts the focus to procedures that are either extremely rare or that don’t happen at all. The vast majority of abortions take place far earlier in pregnancy than the Republican talking point might imply." https://19thnews.org/2023/08/what-are-late-term-abortions-gop-rhetoric-politicians/
Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that in 2020, the most recent year for which information is available, 98.9 percent of abortions took place by the end of the 20th week of pregnancy. About 93.1 percent took place before the end of the 13th week of pregnancy, and 80 percent occurred by the end of week nine, well within the first trimester. Late-term pregnancies in any other context would not be an issue given these statistics. Republicans counter by appealing to the extremely rare procedures that are looked upon with horror by their constituents. In fact, these late-term procedures are not only rare but are absolutely necessary for the health and survivability of the mother.
Remember, Republicans lie about what we see with our own eyes. Blaming the woman for becoming pregnant is a reprobate walk in the park them.
The label of abortion in these rare and extreme cases is a misnomer. Most of these cases the fetus has already expired or will not live very long at all. And, the woman's life is endangered if carried any longer. The fact that these rare surgeries are used to incite voters' emotions is horrific. What they are doing by enacting these laws is to take health decisions out of the hands of women and their doctors by making it a crime to save the woman's life. And, nary a lawmaker possesses a medical degree and experience.
I wonder if we substitute cancer for abortion, they would understand how intrusive these laws are? What if you couldn't have the best cancer treatment available because of some politician's religion? What if men were denied treatment for prostate cancer?
The only way that GQP can get away with this murder of children after birth is that they also tell a consistent story that any and all abortion is used for birth control. And, that focus is entirely the fault of women. These manipulators refuse to discuss accidental pregnancies can kills some women. That miscarriages gone wrong can kill women. Or that fetuses develop with no brains or catastrophic disabilities. Or that a women may not feel comfortable to carry a rapists' or incest family member's child to term. And, the vast other reasons why the need for abortion care. Just say all abortion is birth control is routinely done until birth, and you outrage a segment of society that believes this gaslighting.
I am 65 an attorney by training and a lifelong follower of politics. It pains me that even you have to mention who appointed a judge in discussing how to evaluate a case. I know you said the judge will "follow the law", but in trying to allay some of our fears, who appointed the judge, seems to be relevant. It's just another example of how much DT's malevolence has permeated our systems. It makes me sad and angry. It should not matter who appointed a judge or what the judge's ethnicity is.
Hi, Susan. I can't tell if this comment is in reference to my comment about Judge Jones being appointed by Obama. I included that note because so many Trump appointed attorneys are members of the Federalist Society and appear to prioritize a religious agenda over the law. I wish it were otherwise.
Robert, wish you would inform and school us in the Federalist Society. WE need to know more about its dark operations, ruthless fund raising, and early reach out to young lawyers entering the legal world here. Leonard Leo has amazing power and money to keep rolling in the DC/national legal world! If Hillary had been elected, those three newest justices would not be parked on the Supreme Court! Period. Women would not have lost our healthcare rights! Voting, or not voting, is a serious action!
It's just sad that we have to reference the appointing President. When you and I were in law-school, our professors didn't reference who appointed a judge in explaining decisions. It just didn't matter, now it does.
It is sad. But, many a Trump-appointed judge has ruled honestly according to law. Sadly, there are ones appointed by him that have little knowledge and experience to justify their appointment. Hence we have to placate everyone by pointing out these characteristics. But, a woman of color brings out all the racism and vitriol from MAGA land.
We should also recognize the Mitch McConnell achieved his ends by aggressively pushing justices even before TFG’s time. Never lose sight of the need to find and support a progressive leader to take McConnell’s seat once he moves along.
Joe Biden has given us a strong, stable, Ike-like conservative government (there haven't even been any White House scandals!), and he has focused on repairing the damage inflicted by his predecessor. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes he would do more, break new ground, but there can be no doubt he will leave his successor in 2029 in a position to do so. In the meantime, we need to elect a Congress next year that will push him.
We need to elect a Congress next year that will *support* Biden. With workable majorities, just see what legislation he will propose.
Biden has been struggling with a Democratic majority-in-name-only in the Senate and a Republican majority in the House. ‘Progressive’ backbiting, aka ‘pushing’ has limited his tactical flexibility in dealing with this Congress (the only Congress we have, currently).
I believe there is much potential for President Biden to extend his efforts IF we can build a bigger majority in the Senate and take back the House. Elections up and down the ballot need to be our goal.
Thanks for this real news, Robert. The rise in foreign investment is inspiring! I do wonder if climate change is a hoax, what's to be done about the drought that is affecting the Panama Canal's ability to keep cargo ships running smoothly?
And, this denial allows them to not focus on real rational reasons we have so many people needing help at the southern border. It allows them to label them all murderers, drug mules, and cartels.
I can see the MAGA response to the foreign investment news immediately. All those furriners investing in the US make us under the control of those Others, at the mercy of them changing their minds.
Aug 24, 2023·edited Aug 24, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
“Drill, frack, burn coal, embrace nuclear.”
I took my big dog to the dog park last night so she could get a little exercise by swimming in the pond nearby. Usually, there are 30-40 other dogs and their people in the park or walking around the pond. There are also soccer fields that share the same parking lot and usually 150 or more kids/parents running around.
I was the only person there last night. Why? Temperature was 100 degrees and the humidity was about 70%. Ugh. Hot, humid and almost no breeze for relief. And this is Minnesota - that was a record-breaking high temp. Not surprising in this summer of blistering heat, storms, wildfires, and other evidence of the climate crisis.
To candidate Ramaswamy and the rest of the Republicans except Christie, it’s the climate stupid!
I know what I’ll be doing from now until the 2024 election: working to get out the vote for Democrats. No other choice. None.
Thank God for Joe Biden, and his team of incredibly talented administrators!! And thank you Robert and company for help keeping me saner and motivated.
Thank you, Robert, for this. Especially your encouragement to put out the word in positive language! Post on social media, tell friends and neighbors. I ran into a neighbor who was unenthusiastic about Joe Biden, she is a Democrat who had swallowed the media’s trope, “but he’s old”. I took the opportunity to apprise her of his accomplishments and boy, was she surprised! One conversation, one post, one letter to the editor at a time. Let’s do this!
Unfortunately, even my very Democratic daughter-in-law who is usually very well-informed, told me yesterday that Biden has shown lately that he is, according to her, "losing it!" She said that Hawaiians are angry at Biden for the Federal response to the Maui tragedy, mentioning the $700 check given to all of the people as being not enough. (Of course it's not enough! More is coming. Things move too slowly in these situations!) However, later yesterday I saw small mobile homes being rolled into the Lahaina area in very large numbers. That is Fema, a Federal agency, under the orders of Biden, who has declared an extreme disaster area, providing housing for those whose homes have been lost. She then suggested that Gavin Newssom would be a better candidate! I was speechless!!!
All kinds of federal helpers showed up within hours of the start of the fires. How widely was this reported? People were busy doing the actual work. After taking a lot of reporters’ questions, Biden responded to one about the original brush fire with “No comment,” signaling question time was over. I suppose it was one of his famous gaffes, when he meant “No more questions.” Out of context this could be “losing it.” (Also, he walks like an old man with some arthritis. Duh. Trump walks like an old man carrying some excess weight.) Biden delayed his official visit to Lahaina so that preparing for a presidential visit would not get in the way of the actual recovery workers.
I have lived in CA forty years. Newsom is pretty good, but I question the judgment of someone who was once married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. (OK, that’s in the past.) But I trust Joe Biden much more than Gavin Newsom.
Of course, you are correct! I didn't argue with her...just because she has been ill. But I know why Biden waited to visit, and I can't imagine Gavin Newsom as President. He was a wonderful Mayor of San Francisco and truly kick-started the gay rights movement in California. He's done many good things for California, but I don't believe is qualified to be President.
Robert, thanks for putting last night's "debate" in the right perspective, as a footnote to the events of the day. As promised, I watched the show, and actually lasted thru the entire thing. That's in part due to your request that I provide realtime feedback. That turned out to be quite a challenge.
There were no winners in the "debate," especially the American people. Of the contestants, only one, Nikki Haley, sounded reasonable at several points, when she actually went after the Republican party. Vivek Ramaswamy introduced himself as a showman, and took very scary positions to the right of TFG. Pence came across as steady, experienced, but too religious and too convinced that Trump-Pence was good for America. DeSantis was ignored, and struggled for attention. Christie got in a few jabs, but took some body blows himself. Hutchinson, Scott, and Burgum were pretty much bystanders.
It was clear that any of these eight individuals will, if given the chance, set us back as much or more than the half century or so that TFG did. Haley came across as almost a moderate, and took some real shots at the Republican party (e.g., blaming them for the huge deficits and debt increases), so she's one to be particularly wary of. If nothing else, the "debate" underscores what is at stake in the 2024 election, and should motivate us to do everything we can do to defeat the Republicans, at all levels.
We need a massive BLUE WAVE to wash away the toxic RED TIDE!
Yeah, I felt like I was taking one for the team! I'm still working on my essay. It's probably gonna be a snoozer, but I'm pretty invested at this point.
And, what is going to happen to the Georgia case when D.A. Willis is removed from her office by the Georgia state legislature who just gave themselves the power to do so effective October 1, 2023???!!!
Hi, Cathy. Although theoretically possible, the standards for removal are simply absent as to Willis. Removing her would be lawless. I don't think even the GA legislature would go that far.
True, but in Florida, DeSantis can do so unilaterally. In Georgia, there is a commission, a statute with enumerated grounds for removal, and due process attached to the removal hearing. None of that is true in Florida.
I don't think we can assume this will happen. There are little clues that say Georgia is fed up with Drump's attacks on their voting integrity. So being patient here might give us good outcome.
The Commission will begin accepting "complaints" on Oct. 1, 2023 but (as I've read) the Commission itself will not become active until July 1, 2024. Plus, as Robert states here, there are many steps that must occur before a removal can be determined.
I did not watch the debates or the Trump infomercial and would be interested in seeing what the viewer numbers were. I believe only diehard Republican’s watched the debate and the candidates tried very hard to convince this small group of voters they were a younger smarter version of Trump instead of trying to win new voters and Independents. It was interesting that most of the candidates told us what they were against but did not tell us what they supported or what they would do if elected. The real question is the Biden administration has been very successful with programs and policies that have substantially improved our economy, wage growth , infrastructure and climate change. What would you do differently?
My husband wanted to watch... we don't have cable. The fox website had a paywall. He found someone on YouTube rebroadcasting, but could only stand to watch for ten minutes before he turned it off. It shows you fox's real motive ($$$), definitely not information.
I had a conversation with some African American friends yesterday who pointed out that their lived experience with the American political system was the same under the Democrats and the GOP, and that they feel less inclined to favor either party. This gave me pause. I can’t say I blame them. So, I respect their opinion and vote Democratic, always with the proviso that the Dem programs deliver better results for us all.
I find your comment very alarming on many levels. Republicans politicians are racists and many of the programs Biden has implemented benefited people of color from student loans to wage growth and foreign investments creating new job opportunities. The big question is how do we change this perception ?
I suspect the reason for the disjunction you cite is that most people are not students/parents of students, and that they live day-to-day lives affected by conditions in their *localities*. The national-level change we obsess over, e.g., in Robert Hubbell’s blog, may be distant from many of their day-to-day realities.
True to a degree but the Biden Administration cover their rents and healthcare during the pandemic and there are infrastructure jobs in their local communities. I think the comments must be looked at from a demographic and age perspective
Very concise and important essay. Thanks Robert! Hard to believe the positions of the GOP candidates. Your right. The talking points between the Fox debate and the CNN town hall have been made clear. Message to all Democrats “Repeat, repeat, repeat!”.
Neither of us watched the “debate“ last night. We watched a PBS Brit mystery-comedy and then off went the television. I am not surprised to read how the “debate” went. Still appalling to read about.
“In an evenly divided electorate, we need only change the minds of voters at the margin. We can do that. After what we witnessed on Wednesday evening, we should be more confident than ever that our messages will resonate with most Americans in 2024.” Yes, indeed, Robert!
As far as I am concerned an all male South Carolina Supreme Court has no standing to rule on abortion. August 26th is Women's Equality Day marking when the 19th Amendment became part of the Constitution. Monday evening I attended a presentation on the Equal Rights Amendment and why it should now be part of the Constitution since 38 states have approved it. What I learned is that this Amendment would make true equality for all citizens of all genders a Constitutional right. Without that right the Injustices of US Supreme Court can do what they've done with Affirmative Action and now allowing discrimination even if the harm to the person bringing the suit is speculative. The first case lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsberg won before the Supreme Court on discrimination based on sex was how a man had been discriminated against because he was male. A woman friend of mine who is a MAGA Republican told me women need to be more responsible when it comes to reproduction. I asked her it was a reasonable expectation for a ten year old girl to be the responsible party when some man wants to play "Let's make babies!" In my friend's evangelical mind it was all the female's fault. I told her the remedy for rape should a penectomy in order to hold the rapist responsible and prevent him from impregnating more women against their will. Hope I made her think about fairness a bit! I now believe we need the ERA amendment to put some teeth in the Constitution to do right by women and by all of us!
If there was ever an example of the misogyny embedded in our society, it is the idea that men bear little or no responsibility for where their sperm goes. We have the scientific tools to identify the "father" of every child created.
In a world that made sense - where women had true equal rights - parenthood evidence would be attached to the Social Security number of the impregnater for life. He would be responsible for feeding, housing, healthcare and educating the child. The percentage of this responsibility could be assigned based on the nature of the "coupling". If it was consensual, maybe 50%. If it was not, up to 100%.
These judges make me furious. No standing? Agreed! Worse than that. Their sexist bigotry is stunning. Antique. And astounding. They are morally bankrupt.
The consolation is that this may create a voting backlash in South Carolina and across the country. As Robert points out, there are a lot of positions that the GQP have taken that are about to send them into an electoral spiral dive. But women's reproductive freedom is the big one. It's as if the idiots thought women didn't vote! It's as if they were in a time machine.
Well said, Bill!
Unfortunately, though, the time machine is loaded with backward thinking folks, including some women. Somehow, we need to find a way to bring them back to the future. In many ways, TFG set us back 50+ years, and some of his potential MAGAt successors will set us back even further if given the chance. We can't let that happen.
Amplifying the women's rights message will help to awaken some and empower others. Let's keep it up!
Remember that when Drump began campaigning for president, he made numerous references to going back to the 1950s. His need to control people of color, non Christians, and women were in those messages. It's no wonder that the GQP has taken on this goal. The current Supreme Court has hastened this by retracting the rights that women have had for 50 years.
I’d suggest that climate crises is right there at the top of the list alongside of women’s healthcare and rights. These are serious concerns that impact women and everyone else.
Totally agree. There are two generations of pissed off and frightened young people that are angry at politicians for ignoring the greatest threat to humanity...ever.
John: The List is long! You made a start, however.
How about guns, racism, and education? Yes, agree that voting should and will be directed toward women’s healthcare/rights, but definitely our climatic environment. How can we continue to life “normally” IF our climate crisis continues to blow up, everywhere? We are doomed in so many discouraging areas! Our only chance is to have a majority in the Congress! Plus, hold on to the White House! Regardless, voting the BLUE ticket is a must!
I agree with your addition to the list. We could go on, but there are many reasons to vote Blue and we have to get that message out there along with the GOTV work. Thanks
Excellent reply. Caution! Don't tell them that women vote. They will enact women voter suppression laws.
Bravo!!!
Love the %s 👏
It is somewhat amazing that you can have a conversation with such a friend. We are always told we can’t talk with these hard core Evangelicals, but your approach to posing question for them to ponder is a good option.
Keep up your efforts. In the long run we have to find or create those opportunities for conversations if we are ever going to bridge the divide.
This friend actually actively wants to understand how others are thinking. The key is both of us want to listen. Not to change someone's mind but to understand where they are coming from. We can respect each other and agree to disagree on many, many things. We do find common ground at times as well. When I hear someone have the opposite position from my own, my question is always "What in this person's life experience brought them to this conclusion." Another friend who is a Texas Presiding Judge (he supervises all the District Court judges) left a group he came and spoke to with this quote: “To disagree well you must first understand well. You have to read deeply, listen carefully, watch closely. You need to grant your adversary moral respect; give him the intellectual benefit of the doubt . . . And you need to allow for the possibility that you might yet be persuaded of what he has to say.”
-- Laura Gibson President, Texas Bar Association
Thank you.
Cathy,if only…😉 And I didn’t know seahorses were serial monogamists.
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2018/12/10/7-wild-facts-may-not-know-seahorses/
I learn so much from you !💙
Thank you, Kathy, I've actually said I'd like the law on men's responsibility in reproduction to be called the Seahorse Act since it is the male seahorse who carries the pregnancy and gives birth.
The choice to have an abortion is, universally, a harrowing one. A women's right of choice does not preclude or insulate that woman from the profound dimensions involved in that decision. Respect for women's choice should categorically start with this reality. No one seeks to find themselves in such circumstance. No one seeks an abortion. Women receive abortions as part of far-reaching, complex life determinations including overall health and well-being. Not the least of which is the care of the child when considering emotional preparedness and financial stability.
Sadly, the focus in last night's debate was the affirmation, yes, affirmative action, of a white christian belief system that would impose itself on women federally. And, to add to the disgrace, all the candidates' deceitful inaccuracies came to the fore in a display shameful ambiguity and deception regarding "late-term abortions". "Honing in on abortions in the latter stages of pregnancy shifts the focus to procedures that are either extremely rare or that don’t happen at all. The vast majority of abortions take place far earlier in pregnancy than the Republican talking point might imply." https://19thnews.org/2023/08/what-are-late-term-abortions-gop-rhetoric-politicians/
Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that in 2020, the most recent year for which information is available, 98.9 percent of abortions took place by the end of the 20th week of pregnancy. About 93.1 percent took place before the end of the 13th week of pregnancy, and 80 percent occurred by the end of week nine, well within the first trimester. Late-term pregnancies in any other context would not be an issue given these statistics. Republicans counter by appealing to the extremely rare procedures that are looked upon with horror by their constituents. In fact, these late-term procedures are not only rare but are absolutely necessary for the health and survivability of the mother.
Remember, Republicans lie about what we see with our own eyes. Blaming the woman for becoming pregnant is a reprobate walk in the park them.
The label of abortion in these rare and extreme cases is a misnomer. Most of these cases the fetus has already expired or will not live very long at all. And, the woman's life is endangered if carried any longer. The fact that these rare surgeries are used to incite voters' emotions is horrific. What they are doing by enacting these laws is to take health decisions out of the hands of women and their doctors by making it a crime to save the woman's life. And, nary a lawmaker possesses a medical degree and experience.
I wonder if we substitute cancer for abortion, they would understand how intrusive these laws are? What if you couldn't have the best cancer treatment available because of some politician's religion? What if men were denied treatment for prostate cancer?
The only way that GQP can get away with this murder of children after birth is that they also tell a consistent story that any and all abortion is used for birth control. And, that focus is entirely the fault of women. These manipulators refuse to discuss accidental pregnancies can kills some women. That miscarriages gone wrong can kill women. Or that fetuses develop with no brains or catastrophic disabilities. Or that a women may not feel comfortable to carry a rapists' or incest family member's child to term. And, the vast other reasons why the need for abortion care. Just say all abortion is birth control is routinely done until birth, and you outrage a segment of society that believes this gaslighting.
That debate proved that Harry Truman is still right: like he said in 1948, "The only 'Good Republicans' are pushing up daisies."
Some. Things. Never. Change.
I'm not religious, but can I get an amen?
I am 65 an attorney by training and a lifelong follower of politics. It pains me that even you have to mention who appointed a judge in discussing how to evaluate a case. I know you said the judge will "follow the law", but in trying to allay some of our fears, who appointed the judge, seems to be relevant. It's just another example of how much DT's malevolence has permeated our systems. It makes me sad and angry. It should not matter who appointed a judge or what the judge's ethnicity is.
Hi, Susan. I can't tell if this comment is in reference to my comment about Judge Jones being appointed by Obama. I included that note because so many Trump appointed attorneys are members of the Federalist Society and appear to prioritize a religious agenda over the law. I wish it were otherwise.
Robert, wish you would inform and school us in the Federalist Society. WE need to know more about its dark operations, ruthless fund raising, and early reach out to young lawyers entering the legal world here. Leonard Leo has amazing power and money to keep rolling in the DC/national legal world! If Hillary had been elected, those three newest justices would not be parked on the Supreme Court! Period. Women would not have lost our healthcare rights! Voting, or not voting, is a serious action!
It's just sad that we have to reference the appointing President. When you and I were in law-school, our professors didn't reference who appointed a judge in explaining decisions. It just didn't matter, now it does.
It is sad. But, many a Trump-appointed judge has ruled honestly according to law. Sadly, there are ones appointed by him that have little knowledge and experience to justify their appointment. Hence we have to placate everyone by pointing out these characteristics. But, a woman of color brings out all the racism and vitriol from MAGA land.
We should also recognize the Mitch McConnell achieved his ends by aggressively pushing justices even before TFG’s time. Never lose sight of the need to find and support a progressive leader to take McConnell’s seat once he moves along.
Very true, and there are others currently in office that are angry, stupid people. McConnell wasn't angry or stupid. He was sly.
… or gender.
Joe Biden has given us a strong, stable, Ike-like conservative government (there haven't even been any White House scandals!), and he has focused on repairing the damage inflicted by his predecessor. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes he would do more, break new ground, but there can be no doubt he will leave his successor in 2029 in a position to do so. In the meantime, we need to elect a Congress next year that will push him.
We need to elect a Congress next year that will *support* Biden. With workable majorities, just see what legislation he will propose.
Biden has been struggling with a Democratic majority-in-name-only in the Senate and a Republican majority in the House. ‘Progressive’ backbiting, aka ‘pushing’ has limited his tactical flexibility in dealing with this Congress (the only Congress we have, currently).
I believe there is much potential for President Biden to extend his efforts IF we can build a bigger majority in the Senate and take back the House. Elections up and down the ballot need to be our goal.
Thanks for this real news, Robert. The rise in foreign investment is inspiring! I do wonder if climate change is a hoax, what's to be done about the drought that is affecting the Panama Canal's ability to keep cargo ships running smoothly?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/panama-canal-drought-threatens-global-cargo-ship-traffic/
thanks for the link. Climate change will affect the world in ways we cannot imagine.
Thanks for the link, Lynell. I hadn’t heard about this. Another damaged cog in the supply chain wheel.
For sure, GPE.
And, this denial allows them to not focus on real rational reasons we have so many people needing help at the southern border. It allows them to label them all murderers, drug mules, and cartels.
I can see the MAGA response to the foreign investment news immediately. All those furriners investing in the US make us under the control of those Others, at the mercy of them changing their minds.
“Drill, frack, burn coal, embrace nuclear.”
I took my big dog to the dog park last night so she could get a little exercise by swimming in the pond nearby. Usually, there are 30-40 other dogs and their people in the park or walking around the pond. There are also soccer fields that share the same parking lot and usually 150 or more kids/parents running around.
I was the only person there last night. Why? Temperature was 100 degrees and the humidity was about 70%. Ugh. Hot, humid and almost no breeze for relief. And this is Minnesota - that was a record-breaking high temp. Not surprising in this summer of blistering heat, storms, wildfires, and other evidence of the climate crisis.
To candidate Ramaswamy and the rest of the Republicans except Christie, it’s the climate stupid!
I know what I’ll be doing from now until the 2024 election: working to get out the vote for Democrats. No other choice. None.
Thank God for Joe Biden, and his team of incredibly talented administrators!! And thank you Robert and company for help keeping me saner and motivated.
Thank you, Robert, for this. Especially your encouragement to put out the word in positive language! Post on social media, tell friends and neighbors. I ran into a neighbor who was unenthusiastic about Joe Biden, she is a Democrat who had swallowed the media’s trope, “but he’s old”. I took the opportunity to apprise her of his accomplishments and boy, was she surprised! One conversation, one post, one letter to the editor at a time. Let’s do this!
Unfortunately, even my very Democratic daughter-in-law who is usually very well-informed, told me yesterday that Biden has shown lately that he is, according to her, "losing it!" She said that Hawaiians are angry at Biden for the Federal response to the Maui tragedy, mentioning the $700 check given to all of the people as being not enough. (Of course it's not enough! More is coming. Things move too slowly in these situations!) However, later yesterday I saw small mobile homes being rolled into the Lahaina area in very large numbers. That is Fema, a Federal agency, under the orders of Biden, who has declared an extreme disaster area, providing housing for those whose homes have been lost. She then suggested that Gavin Newssom would be a better candidate! I was speechless!!!
All kinds of federal helpers showed up within hours of the start of the fires. How widely was this reported? People were busy doing the actual work. After taking a lot of reporters’ questions, Biden responded to one about the original brush fire with “No comment,” signaling question time was over. I suppose it was one of his famous gaffes, when he meant “No more questions.” Out of context this could be “losing it.” (Also, he walks like an old man with some arthritis. Duh. Trump walks like an old man carrying some excess weight.) Biden delayed his official visit to Lahaina so that preparing for a presidential visit would not get in the way of the actual recovery workers.
I have lived in CA forty years. Newsom is pretty good, but I question the judgment of someone who was once married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. (OK, that’s in the past.) But I trust Joe Biden much more than Gavin Newsom.
Of course, you are correct! I didn't argue with her...just because she has been ill. But I know why Biden waited to visit, and I can't imagine Gavin Newsom as President. He was a wonderful Mayor of San Francisco and truly kick-started the gay rights movement in California. He's done many good things for California, but I don't believe is qualified to be President.
Agreed.
The debates crystalized this key fact...the enemy of freedom and democracy in the US is not just TFG but the entirety of the GOP.
The time to start voter national voter engagement for 2024 is now.
Like 2020, we have to win to preserve our constitutional democracy.
The debate last night called to mind the excellent question posed by (I think) Joan Rivers: Which is your favorite Menendez brother?
Ouch!
Robert, thanks for putting last night's "debate" in the right perspective, as a footnote to the events of the day. As promised, I watched the show, and actually lasted thru the entire thing. That's in part due to your request that I provide realtime feedback. That turned out to be quite a challenge.
There were no winners in the "debate," especially the American people. Of the contestants, only one, Nikki Haley, sounded reasonable at several points, when she actually went after the Republican party. Vivek Ramaswamy introduced himself as a showman, and took very scary positions to the right of TFG. Pence came across as steady, experienced, but too religious and too convinced that Trump-Pence was good for America. DeSantis was ignored, and struggled for attention. Christie got in a few jabs, but took some body blows himself. Hutchinson, Scott, and Burgum were pretty much bystanders.
It was clear that any of these eight individuals will, if given the chance, set us back as much or more than the half century or so that TFG did. Haley came across as almost a moderate, and took some real shots at the Republican party (e.g., blaming them for the huge deficits and debt increases), so she's one to be particularly wary of. If nothing else, the "debate" underscores what is at stake in the 2024 election, and should motivate us to do everything we can do to defeat the Republicans, at all levels.
We need a massive BLUE WAVE to wash away the toxic RED TIDE!
Thanks for taking a punch for all of us. I appreciated your input and incorporated into today's newsletter!
Yeah, I felt like I was taking one for the team! I'm still working on my essay. It's probably gonna be a snoozer, but I'm pretty invested at this point.
I like your “red tide” remark.
For those who haven’t had the ‘pleasure’ of experiencing red tide near bodies of water: the air nearby is acrid, eye-stinging, and unhealthy.
And, what is going to happen to the Georgia case when D.A. Willis is removed from her office by the Georgia state legislature who just gave themselves the power to do so effective October 1, 2023???!!!
Hi, Cathy. Although theoretically possible, the standards for removal are simply absent as to Willis. Removing her would be lawless. I don't think even the GA legislature would go that far.
And yet, Gov DeSantis unceremoniously did exactly that in his neighboring state of Florida.
True, but in Florida, DeSantis can do so unilaterally. In Georgia, there is a commission, a statute with enumerated grounds for removal, and due process attached to the removal hearing. None of that is true in Florida.
I don't think we can assume this will happen. There are little clues that say Georgia is fed up with Drump's attacks on their voting integrity. So being patient here might give us good outcome.
The Commission will begin accepting "complaints" on Oct. 1, 2023 but (as I've read) the Commission itself will not become active until July 1, 2024. Plus, as Robert states here, there are many steps that must occur before a removal can be determined.
https://apnews.com/article/brian-kemp-georgia-prosecutor-district-attorney-remove-7987cd538ab3ccdc713ae4d2b2aec32b "... the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, which will launch July 1 [2024] and start accepting complaints Oct. 1 [2023]."
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/08/17/georgia-trump-willis-prosecutor-district-attorny-oversight-commission/8371692302522/
I did not watch the debates or the Trump infomercial and would be interested in seeing what the viewer numbers were. I believe only diehard Republican’s watched the debate and the candidates tried very hard to convince this small group of voters they were a younger smarter version of Trump instead of trying to win new voters and Independents. It was interesting that most of the candidates told us what they were against but did not tell us what they supported or what they would do if elected. The real question is the Biden administration has been very successful with programs and policies that have substantially improved our economy, wage growth , infrastructure and climate change. What would you do differently?
That would have been a great question! "What would you do differently?"
My husband wanted to watch... we don't have cable. The fox website had a paywall. He found someone on YouTube rebroadcasting, but could only stand to watch for ten minutes before he turned it off. It shows you fox's real motive ($$$), definitely not information.
I particularly love your last paragraph.
I had a conversation with some African American friends yesterday who pointed out that their lived experience with the American political system was the same under the Democrats and the GOP, and that they feel less inclined to favor either party. This gave me pause. I can’t say I blame them. So, I respect their opinion and vote Democratic, always with the proviso that the Dem programs deliver better results for us all.
I find your comment very alarming on many levels. Republicans politicians are racists and many of the programs Biden has implemented benefited people of color from student loans to wage growth and foreign investments creating new job opportunities. The big question is how do we change this perception ?
I suspect the reason for the disjunction you cite is that most people are not students/parents of students, and that they live day-to-day lives affected by conditions in their *localities*. The national-level change we obsess over, e.g., in Robert Hubbell’s blog, may be distant from many of their day-to-day realities.
True to a degree but the Biden Administration cover their rents and healthcare during the pandemic and there are infrastructure jobs in their local communities. I think the comments must be looked at from a demographic and age perspective
Same for blue collar America for the past two decades or longer. They have suffered inequality and some have gone Trump.
Very concise and important essay. Thanks Robert! Hard to believe the positions of the GOP candidates. Your right. The talking points between the Fox debate and the CNN town hall have been made clear. Message to all Democrats “Repeat, repeat, repeat!”.
Neither of us watched the “debate“ last night. We watched a PBS Brit mystery-comedy and then off went the television. I am not surprised to read how the “debate” went. Still appalling to read about.
“In an evenly divided electorate, we need only change the minds of voters at the margin. We can do that. After what we witnessed on Wednesday evening, we should be more confident than ever that our messages will resonate with most Americans in 2024.” Yes, indeed, Robert!