DL Open Thread Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021
The media, having accomplished its task of pulling down Joe Biden’s approval ratings, have mostly moved on from Afghanistan in favor of trumpeting the Texas Abortion Freakout, which means the End of Abortion Rights in This Country. Look, I’m not trying to minimize how despicable this is, but this is a country awash up to its man bun in illegal drugs. Am I expected to believe that nobody is going to be able to smuggle the abortion pill into Texas, or the rest of Gilead that will soon pass copycat abortion laws? Sorry, no sale. I think a booming black market will develop, and probably has already begun.
Charlie Pierce is in favor of expanding the Supreme Court, which is not going to happen because too many of the 50 “Democratic” senators aren’t actual Democrats. Meanwhile, the good folks at the Satanic Temple have a plan to make abortion a religious rite. That won’t work either, but I’m giving points for the clever effort.
Stories of anti-vax talk show hosts dropping dead of Covid continue apace, but the media are growing rather bored with the red-state pandemic, probably because not enough children are dying to turn it into a crisis, and people are generally happy to see RWNJ talk show hosts carried out feet first. As a result, a story out of Florida about 15 Florida educators in the Miami area dying of Covid in a 10-day period generated almost no outrage.
But never fear, fear-peddling media — thanks to the world’s pathetic response to a global pandemic, new variants continue to develop. The one to keep an eye on is the mu variant, which apparently emerged in South America. Nobody yet knows if the vaccines work on it or not.
And just think, this week we have the bloated 20-year-after-9/11 packages to look forward to. Happy media consumption, suckers!
The floor’s yours.
I agree that every state in the hands of the Republicans will play the same sick game as Texas, sooner or later. But see at least some peril for both Texas and the rogue supreme court. Waiting for the first pay out of the bounty on women to play out, regardless Texas law suits be thy well deserved destiny. This is the start, the court and their Republican owners will push the game to the limits.
Margaret Atwood! To name a few excellent reads (or listens): The Testaments, the MaddAddam trilogy, Hag-seed, Stone Mattress, Alias Grace, The Heart Goes Last.
Very male perspective on the Texas taliban law. Not a single person (who’s isn’t a magat) has said this will end abortion.. only that it will end safe pregnancy termination. That’s kind of the main point.
Still defeatable by direct action to provide abortion — if not by the pill, by airlift. If their strategy is to pass unjust laws, ours should be to circumvent those laws.
This could be national law Jan 23rd 2025 if the voting restrictions work as intended. Grand plans of air dropping morning after pills is a little…… off the mark for strategy here. Indeed pointing out the very real threat and motivating people to help the elections happen is the move here.
Pelosi will lose the house again in 2022. If not from her own bungles than from the Magats redistricting Ds out of seats.
Senate hopefully stays 5050 (lol)
What’s wrong with you? You don’t airdrop the pills. You fly out people who need later-term abortions. Pills are amazingly easy to smuggle. Surely you’ve indulged in illegal drugs yourself. What makes you think getting them into Gideon will be harder?
I’m glad you’re going to get people to vote. That’s not going to help women in Texas who want or need abortions.
You wouldn’t do illegal drugs in Texas? You think Austin is dry? I really wonder about you.
Of course predators, if by that you mean black-market capitalists, will take advantage of this. That’s how a black market works. And one will develop.
Who said it was utopian? You have some blinders on, buddy, and they’re your problem, not mine.
Lol I would never do illegal drugs in Texas. You seem to be operating under the idea that flying (seriously?) Uterus-Havers out if Texas will be easy. No thought about the massive influx of predators who will take advantage of this utopian underground market you dream of.
Also, I would say the main point is to control women and make them suffer if they try to evade control. Their motto is “Lie back and enjoy it.”
I think the only defense here is offense: start stalking republican lawmakers in Texas and bring aiding and abetting suits against them. BTW, are there anti-stalking laws in Texas?
I always wondered about the decision of Roe v. Wade being based in privacy rights, but this new law seems to get straight to the point.
Interesting that Texas is so concerned about potential life that it will severely restrict the right to personal privacy when it comes to abortion, but when it comes to protecting actual, living breathing human beings by mandating the wearing of masks, requiring vaccination, or imposing safety training on gun ownership, suddenly the right to personal privacy is a top priority.
I agree with Alby about being clever and resourceful on right-wing bull shit. We have to take disadvantage and turn it into advantage.
The NYTimes has a story about the Emitters haveing captured politicians to stall all climate change Joe Manshion is one I believe = https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/31/opinion/climate-change-carbon-neutral.html?smid=em-share
How do you outsmart people who joyously spread a plague just to piss off “the libs”?
Great point.