I can’t help wondering when I read about restrictions like these, whether a bereaved spouse or relative may, in the heat of emotion and grief, decide to exercise his 2A “rights” on those responsible.
Media has gone bananas and it all feels like a CYA after their dereliction of duty to tell the truth about trump. I mean the stupid man is talking about electric airplanes dropping from the sky in his rallies and he thinks he is a genius for thinking that. He is stupid beyond all means and his followers even more so. Instead of the obvious Biden is old articles, how about writing 100 different articles about this very stupid man and his con, his grift, his lack of morals... And they are not even writing about the corrupt SCOTUS doing more real time damage.
We all have to assume the posture of 'nevertheless she persisted' to get through this election. We have to win a trifecta despite media, despite old Biden, despite everything.
An important part of this response is to help Democrats up and down the ballot running for office in Iowa. We are all talking about abortion, and folks are very fired up to send Iowa Republicans packing.
Today in Ellsworth, Iowa I marched in a parade with the Hamilton County Democrats and wore my T-shirt that said, "Protect Safe, Legal Abortion." Last night we had a solidarity circle in Ames and talked about our next steps. Our group included five of us (Dems) running for the Iowa House and Senate. We are not giving up.
At least you still (somehow) have one statewide elected official who is a Democrat (auditor Rob Sand for other readers). The Iowa Democratic party needs all the help it can get. The state has been decimated in such a short period of time. 💔. Godspeed.
This was fantastic!!! We could use one of these for every state with any kind of ban or even regulation. Does that exist somewhere?? If not, I know you guys are busy, maybe farm it out to lawyer/ subscriber/ volunteers in each state. Also add ballot initiative status. Maybe you could collect commentary from providers in each state of how they are dealing with the laws in their state , but I’m really interested in the legal landscape. A lot of this could be boilerplate, as the laws are similar
Impo - Jessica & Grace - NYT article past two days discusses leaked letter sent by multiple anti-abortion groups to not change language in R party platform. Followed by NYT article about Ts campaign managers meeting in private to “dumb down” (my words) the party platform … (because they know he can’t get elected without women voters outside his 30% cult margin & they are preemptively wanting to tone down Ts /Heritage Foundation/anti-abortion groups fetal personhood views … aka lie.)
Jessica, question? When trump and his minions talk about the preposterous idea that Dems are for infanticide, are they trying to conflate and confuse the rubes about the non-viable infant deaths soon after (their forced) birth?
CNN moderators need not be the fact checkers (in a debate which might come across as taking sides) but when trump says these preposterous things, they could follow up and ask him 'are you really saying this ...?' 'do you have evidence to share?' 'spell it out for our viewers' and so on. Why are they so complicit?
This ban (and others like it) will drive away good OBGYNs, leaving ones that either don’t value women’s lives or don’t follow science (or both), which means that women can’t trust the ones that remain.
Fascist fucking Iowa. It was a great place to grow up and go to college when I was there. The Republicans have run it into the ground. Donated to Iowa abortion fund.
Fascist fucking Iowa. It was a great place to grow up and go to college when I was there. The Republicans have run it into the ground. Donated to Iowa abortion fund.
The Ds biggest problem is not getting votes down ticket, for years, in too many states. Be mad, but do something to help fix that, which has led to rogue state legislatures and attorney generals and appointed judges who can be “shopped for” by entities.
The Rs problem is they are running a convicted criminal, a wife cheater and a candidate who appears to live in an alternate universe. The party is losing all outside the 20-30% base for the Presidential vote. What we need to do is convince those voters to quit voting R down ticket. I believe many will leave the Presidential vote blank, just like they did in 2020.
Yes. Hoping the polls pick this up because the right thing to do is for Biden to step aside and give Kamala Harris a shot. She may not be able to win either, but she does stand a better chance than Biden. I think she could put her skill set as a prosecutor to use, because the Republican party needs to be put on public trial.
I disagree with you, after coming out of my panic & depression emotions. The public at large is clueless to the amount of organization, money & time it takes to run a Presidential campaign. There’s also a legit amount of paperwork involved all over the country. It’s a vast operation. I’m not ready to throw all that away. The “normal” Rs are in uncharted territory too. Best case, they don’t vote. Support the party. And we need the House & Senate!
Great point. Also, the GOP stands behind their candidate even when he is indicted, says lies . The least we could do is stand behind Biden who didn't have a good night, is a truthful person and is the best shot we have. In my opinion we need to have UNITY and stand behind the candidate who is the best for the long game. That is what the GOP does. All those Christian Nationalists support tRump even though he is a sinner! They are focused on the end game. The Dems need to get it together
That's an excellent point. I think the idea would be to keep the operation but switch the candidate. Not sure how possible that is. I presume it would be easier if the candidate were Harris. It's best for the country if our party wins. The question is just what gives us the best chance to do that, and people are going to disagree on the answer.
Doesn’t work that way. Harris wasn’t even #2 in the D primary in 2020. She checked boxes as VP though and she was a trusted friend & colleague. I don’t think people understand the disruption & chaos a change this late in the game would cause. That is not to say I’m blind. It’s not to say I don’t understand people’s concerns. Trust me, I do. But if the Rs r going to run a criminal, who might be marketing smart, but has zero moral compass, & the anti-abortion faction is going to continue to wield their collective Christian Nationalism power, which they are, it would be like starting over. You have to look at the money end of things too & those laws & where the fundraising has been. It’s a tough situation. At the end of the day, people will either hold their nose & vote or they won’t.
excellent post; as I said we need to stand behind Biden. So he had a bad night and now we want to abandon him? The GOP stand behind their candidate (the felon). Buck up and show unity. I read Instagram and X posts where people said, we don't care if Biden is walking with a cane! They are voting for him. It is too late to get another candidate. This is the best we got!
Great post, Alison! We have our nose clips ready & will (again) vote for Biden, (even if he's already embalmed & they can prop him up w/one eye open, vs. that pathetic, depraved monster of a manchild...but we hope to have a better choice.) u go girl! You - you're good!
Would it be the same if the candidate were to pass away? If that's the case either of these campaigns could have trouble. If we truly don't even have an option, even though the convention is several weeks away, then it only makes the already likely outcome even more likely. Either way history is going to hold Democrats accountable too for what happens next.
Yes, as I posted above to Alison...I know this sounds sick, but yes - we'll vote for an embalmed Biden (if they can prop one of his eyes open)...over the disgraced former guy! What a great Admin. team Biden has!
and yes, they'll ALWAYS hold Dems responsible...b/c they're the sole Party who'll take ANY responsibility for anything (some of them, anyway.) ur correct, Zach - "They"...them Dems, whomever "they are?" will always be held to a higher standard & accountable instead of the blight of The GOP."
The GOP =The Party of Lawlessness & Disorder...and ZERO responsibility! It could NOT be more obvious...they are Anarchists!
The R party & the D party are both headed into uncharted waters. The country will polarize, not behind either candidate, but the parties vision put forth for the American people, as well as who the possible picks for SCOTUS will be. Not one msm called for T to step aside even tho he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer one question. This election will come down to who actually votes, for either party, or neither. It’s that simple folks. Pick a side & if you don’t for for Ds you better read Project 2025 & actually understand the ramifications because that’s where this country is headed if T wins.
Yes, it's as if the Dems think their candidate should be the Lone Ranger riding in on his white Charger, while the Greed Over People Party is content with the sleaziest, most corrupt and grifting rat they can find!
I would love for someone to find Trump's little rat book that he has threatened everyone with. That seems to be the only way he's got all the Repug legislators and a few judges going his way.
We couldn't even get the most qualified (white) woman elected in the misogynistic, racist, Patriarchal-religious-disease-ridden country, there is no way we could get any qualified black woman elected at this point, regardless of her ability, and obvious superior intellect.
Idk. My primary concern right now is being ready to fight the incoming regime on day one, because every second is going to count. I do not think we are anywhere near ready for this.
Hang in there warrior Zack! The NYT remains the most respected Newspaper in The USA since 1896 & w/its 137 Pulitzer Prizes.
Yesterday, The NYT's Editorial Board made a bold decision and is urging Pres. Biden to withdraw for the good of Our Nation. Other papers & MSM will follow; it always happens that way. Many Dems are calling for a brokered convention in August...we can do this!
Yesterday, I wrote to President Biden asking him to reconsider, then Gov Gretchen Whitmer, MI, & Sen Mark Kelly, AZ, w/my plea to help save us from ourselves. Today I'll write to Gov J.B Pritzker, IL & ?? Write to VP Harris if you wish. I don't think she can win, nor Gov Newsom, but that's just me...doing my State by State Electoral College math. Any other suggestions?
"A Change is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke - (gone so young...RIP Sam)
Sorry, but it's too late for Biden to resign and many of us don't believe he should. You're not going to get anyone else to step in that can win or who will stand against Biden at this point and the cost and logistics of trying to run someone else at this stage is ridiculous. Once he's re-elected (and I trust he will be), if sometime in the next year or two he seems to be more feeble, then Harris can step in. I want her in and she will not yet get elected on her own. The women are behind Biden (and Harris). Fight for his re-election instead of wasting time on who and if.
I agree that either of the California candidates carries risk, because the Republicans are very good at California-bashing, but I also understand the argument that many people would be angry if the vice president were passed over. Although she could decline interest in running (not sure how that would go down). Pritzker would make a good running mate because he's a billionaire and should be able to spend freely on the election, I think?
None of the options are ideal but the question is what is least bad, gives us the best shot, even if we're still the underdog. And I think it should be clear now that's not Biden.
I'm certain that many on our side are going to think the NYT is promoting what the Republicans want. But it's a pretty basic principle that when you're ahead, you want things to stay the same, and when you're behind, you need something to change. And there's no question the Republicans are ahead and have been the entire cycle. I think they would love for us to think they want Biden to drop out, and then respond by not doing it. It's a head fake. I think the people arguing to stick with Biden are doing the Republicans the bigger favor. They will have their attack lines ready either way, but change gives us a much better chance. The voters who've been telling us over and over 'not Biden' will appreciate us at least trying something different, and give it some consideration. It's not a sure thing, but Biden IS looking like a sure loss. And the top of the ticket could decimate us in all of the other races.
Yes, having lived in MA most of my life (& Maine, now RI, I agree that MA & CA carry the same taint. That's the main reason why neither Newsom nor Harris can win - not in The Midwest or Southwest. Even here in the bluest of blue districts on The RI/MA line I hear ppl say things like, "CA is nothing but a bunch of crazed evil libs!" & these are ppl who 'should' know they're living amidst >70% Reg. Dems, but they either don't know or care...probably both.
Biden's gonna have to step down - ppl r turning on his wife now too. We need MI, WI & PA - that's either Pritzker & or Big Gretch's territory - I don't see Biden winning any of them. Mark Kelly can carry AZ. I don't think ppl realize that States that shouldn't even be in play, e.g. MN, VA & yes, even NH ARE in play - any of the Pols. I mentioned can keep those States blue. It's time, but I guess we should be posting on a political thread...however, the abortion issue is deeply tied in to this election.
And yes, I wrote in all 3 of my letters how Pres. Biden's hubris will take down the US Senate w/him & strengthen The GOP House. We will wake up to a GOP Triumvirate nightmare on Nov 6. Ty for all u do, Zack, but I have more letters to write, "and miles to go before I sleep."
I think we're finding out. No matter how much people may care, they are overwhelmed with what to do about it. It seems a massive, coordinated societal outcry is necessary in reaction to what the Democratic Party has allowed to happen.
This is just SICKENING AND DEPLORABLE, what republican politicians, mostly white men, are doing to girls and women. GODDAMN them!! I really believe in an eye for and eye. How about when a pregnant woman dies because her state won't let her get the abortion care she needs, a republican legislator who voted for the ban loses *** **** . Just asking for a friend !! Something to think about!!!
This is a good time to promote pregnancy testing kits, which should be part of the inventory of birth control for fertile, sexually active women. These use urine to detect hCG, a hormone produced by the blastocyst, an early stage of gestation before implantation.
It is commonly reported that 6 weeks is long before most women know they are pregnant. Does this include those women using pregnancy testing kits?
Not exactly Paul. HCG is produced by the forming placenta AFTER implantation of a fertilized embryo in the uterine lining - it's the hormone needed to secure the pregnancy. The embryo divides very slowly initially & is only 6-10 cells when it leaves the ovary (day 3-4),then makes its way down the length of the fallopian tube over the next 6-12 days. It becomes a blastocyst (a ball of rapidly dividing cells ~5 days later - only then can a scant amt of HCG be detected in blood - then 6-7 days more days b4 detectable in urine. Only ~30-50% of embryos become blastocysts. A 6 week ban is effectively a total abortion ban...
We're generally looking at 2.5-3 weeks post fertilization before HcG is detectable in home pregnancy tests, which is 4.5-5 weeks after a woman's LMC. No woman is testing at 4 wks post her LMC b/c she hasn't even missed her period yet in a 28 day cycle, and scant HCG levels won't show for another 7-12 later days at a minimum. Thus again, a 6 week abortion ban = total ban.
"Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo (syncytiotrophoblast initially), which eventually forms the placenta after implantation."
Quote: The trophoblast is the outer layer of cells of the blastocyst. Trophoblasts are present four days after fertilization in humans.
Trophoblasts are specialized cells of the placenta that play an important role in embryo implantation and interaction with the decidualized maternal uterus. ...
The trophoblast proliferates and differentiates into two cell layers at approximately six days after fertilization for humans. [Notice this again, "for humans"] (Chart shows the Cytotrophyplast and the Syncytiotrophoblast as the outer layer that "lacks cell boundaries ... secretes hCG") End Quote.
"It is the outer layer of the trophoblasts and actively invades the uterine wall, during implantation, rupturing maternal capillaries and thus establishing an interface between maternal blood and embryonic extracellular fluid, facilitating passive exchange of material between the mother and the embryo."
The source of hCG is unquestionably the trophoblast cells in the blastocyst and must exist before implantation. These reports also posit the existence of the trophoblast cells six days after fertilization. It is rather ambiguous in this reference how it exists before implantation, but logically must exist according to this report.
"Secretion of hCG can occur as soon as 6 days following ovulation and on average 8–10 days following ovulation; this is the earliest hCG can be detected in a blood sample."
Strange that it cites ovulation and not fertilization, an ova will not secrete hCG
That's a blood sample, not a urine sample and this report will not commit or imply how early it can be determined in a urine sample.
You say hCG is necessary to secure the pregnancy. Wikipedia says it provides for maternal recognition of pregnancy, which suggests to me that it is a signal from the blastocyst that it is a free floating candidate for implantation and is ready to do so. Not a signal to affirm its validity after implantation. This seems more logical.
The point here is you have hCG metabolites in the body very early, not after implantation. There are some other problems in your post regarding where and when you get blastocysts.
But the real issue here is the role of pregnancy testing kits as a strategy for confronting bans on abortion early in the pregnancy.
It doesn't make any sense to me that a woman should wait until she has a missed a period before using a pregnancy testing kit. If she has had sex and there is some doubt in her mind that birth control has failed, or she knows that it was absent, why not not try the pregnancy testing kit?
You say that hCG levels won't show until 7-12 days after a missed period, but does this mean, "won't show in a pregnancy testing kit"? You and the Wikipedia entry remain rather ambiguous about how long after fertilization a pregnancy test will report a pregnancy.
I won't argue that further restrictions on legal use of abortion according to gestational age are not onerous. I don't think there should be any restrictions at all according to gestational age. But declaring that a 6 week ban is a total ban is defeatist. Obviously, if somehow, a woman can determine she is pregnant and mifepristone or the like is a available, she can abort the pregnancy before six weeks. And furthermore as a strategy for confronting accidental pregnancy in all other cases, pregnancy testing kits are a good idea.
Many thanks to Substack and our host for allowing such long comments.
Paul, ty - I appreciate your input & interest in this issue - I am STRONGLY in favor of women & girls stocking up on home pregnancy tests, & I don't want to go Full Bio on u, but my MS in Bio is just one of my several degrees (my forte being Micro & Infection Control - not OBS/GYN.) Am retired now, but that degree, plus my BA in English & my AD as an RN have served me well. Odd combo of degrees, ikr?...long story...which doesn't matter. While I can answer your question re trophoblast cells, it's more complex, I'll just say that trophoblasts form from the outer layers of the placenta, not just for "feeding" the blastocysts, but also to form the amniotic sac.
I'll simplify this: HCG will show up in urine ~ 7-12 days after a missed period (maybe,) as levels are v. low at that time. That's 3 to 3.5 wks AFTER fertilization...which happens ~2 weeks AFTER the first day of the woman's last period...so the 6 week clock is ticking from the 1st day of the woman's last period...that's 2 weeks b4 conception! (A lot of pregnant virgins may be walking around for 2 weeks, yes?) Therefore, it's 5 - 5.5 wks AFTER a female's first day of her last period b4 HCG will show up in her urine on a home pregnancy test (if she's lucky.) How is she supposed to get an appt, and comply w/one or two visits & ultrasounds w/an OBS/GYN, then make a decision in 3 days to 1 week?
Answer: she cannot! Hence: 6 wks = total abortion ban. ( Do NOT overlook those 2 weeks before fertilization even occurs - that's counted as 2 weeks pregnant - yes, even in virgins!
As many have said, CRUELTY is the point! But, hey - "Joe the Plumber," - sitting in the Legislature in Iowa or Idaho has the expertise to understand all this info better than u or I, right? People like u & I who actually read & can comprehend this "women' stuff" know nothing. "Joe" is an EXPERT in everything! I admit I don't know how to plumb or snake a blocked pipe - I defer to a plumber. How 'bout u?
Some things to learn right away from these sites. All of them sell their product to detect a pregnancy 6 days before your missed period. None of them advise women what might qualify as what that period of time is. None of them talk about where sexual intercourse might occur in that period of time. None of them, absolutely NONE of them are selling to women who wish to avoid pregnancy. All of them are selling their product to women who want to become pregnant.
Which is to say, these sites are very much in tune with the "crisis counseling centers" seeking to steer women away from abortions.
But, no doubt, there is no reason this technology can't be applied by women hoping they are not pregnant and ready to do something about it if they are.
I hope there is currently research either in the US or in Europe to have some type of testing that can be done earlier in a cycle, whether by a finger blood stick or a much more sensitive urine test than currently. The only possible suggestion now for women who cannot use standard birth control methods is to test themselves weekly - regardless if they've had a period as some will continue to menstruate for 1-3 months after becoming pregnant - if they've had unprotected sex. That gets expensive. I'm all for bringing back the free condom programs for both women and men to have available but the idiot states would not cover the cost. They only want an abundance of new citizens for cheap labor at age 14. Those slaughter houses in Iowa and other states are tired of hiring immigrants who can more easily leave as they have no ties to the area. This forced birthing is only for business owners to have cheap labor over the next 20 years. They use their religion only as an excuse.
I was wondering the same thing about a blood test. Glucose monitors for diabetics are an existing technology, but those little digital blood strips that they use are very expensive and have a low sensitive shelf life.
At six weeks after a missed period, the Christian-right so-called "heartbeat" is only an electrical impulse that has to be heard with an expensive doppler where the heart will eventually develop while progenitor cells (a biological cell that can differentiate into a specific cell type) start to move into place where the heart will be, forming a microscopic tube at the heart site. By 8 weeks after a missed period, separation of that tube into chambers begins. By week 14 after a missed period the tiny heart is formed. An echocardiogram can visualize the heart by 16 weeks and it can be seen on an ultrasound by 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. At 22 weeks, the heart starts to have the ability for a survival rate of 5-6% with a preterm birth and by 26 weeks preterm birth, there is an 86-89% survival rate if adequate NICU facilities are available.
That's what drives these men to distraction. They can't abide a world in which women have that kind of power, which is simply to direct the economic and emotional future of their own lives.
The lungs are still a long way from being complete and since we can’t live without lungs, it seems insane to put all this importance on an organ for which there are mechanical options and ignore the lungs for which there’s no substitute. But they aren’t honest about life anyway so this argument is moot.
Yes! I'm not willing to compromise with the anti-science, anti-obstetrical care imbeciles on anything, knowing all the things that can and do go wrong with pregnancies. It is none of their business what decision a woman makes for her life. They could care less if they bankrupt a family with a child with a severe anomaly that would need 24 hour care when that anomaly could be determined for a termination early on in a pregnancy. Yet they go for the most restrictive limits they could not realizing some of their policies with delaying care actually cause more fetal or maternal damage. They just don't care. Sometimes I get angry at myself for wishing there was a dark place somewhere waiting for these bigots.
It is not, the heart valves (which are what makes a heart beat sound) are not formed until much later the heart has barely begun to develop at that point.
I can’t help wondering when I read about restrictions like these, whether a bereaved spouse or relative may, in the heat of emotion and grief, decide to exercise his 2A “rights” on those responsible.
Media has gone bananas and it all feels like a CYA after their dereliction of duty to tell the truth about trump. I mean the stupid man is talking about electric airplanes dropping from the sky in his rallies and he thinks he is a genius for thinking that. He is stupid beyond all means and his followers even more so. Instead of the obvious Biden is old articles, how about writing 100 different articles about this very stupid man and his con, his grift, his lack of morals... And they are not even writing about the corrupt SCOTUS doing more real time damage.
We all have to assume the posture of 'nevertheless she persisted' to get through this election. We have to win a trifecta despite media, despite old Biden, despite everything.
An important part of this response is to help Democrats up and down the ballot running for office in Iowa. We are all talking about abortion, and folks are very fired up to send Iowa Republicans packing.
Today in Ellsworth, Iowa I marched in a parade with the Hamilton County Democrats and wore my T-shirt that said, "Protect Safe, Legal Abortion." Last night we had a solidarity circle in Ames and talked about our next steps. Our group included five of us (Dems) running for the Iowa House and Senate. We are not giving up.
At least you still (somehow) have one statewide elected official who is a Democrat (auditor Rob Sand for other readers). The Iowa Democratic party needs all the help it can get. The state has been decimated in such a short period of time. 💔. Godspeed.
This was fantastic!!! We could use one of these for every state with any kind of ban or even regulation. Does that exist somewhere?? If not, I know you guys are busy, maybe farm it out to lawyer/ subscriber/ volunteers in each state. Also add ballot initiative status. Maybe you could collect commentary from providers in each state of how they are dealing with the laws in their state , but I’m really interested in the legal landscape. A lot of this could be boilerplate, as the laws are similar
Impo - Jessica & Grace - NYT article past two days discusses leaked letter sent by multiple anti-abortion groups to not change language in R party platform. Followed by NYT article about Ts campaign managers meeting in private to “dumb down” (my words) the party platform … (because they know he can’t get elected without women voters outside his 30% cult margin & they are preemptively wanting to tone down Ts /Heritage Foundation/anti-abortion groups fetal personhood views … aka lie.)
Last time they didn't even have a party platform so I've wondered why this time is different.
The NYT article said they didn’t change the 60 page 2015 platform & just used it again in 2020. “It now needs updating due to Roe.”
Jessica, question? When trump and his minions talk about the preposterous idea that Dems are for infanticide, are they trying to conflate and confuse the rubes about the non-viable infant deaths soon after (their forced) birth?
CNN moderators need not be the fact checkers (in a debate which might come across as taking sides) but when trump says these preposterous things, they could follow up and ask him 'are you really saying this ...?' 'do you have evidence to share?' 'spell it out for our viewers' and so on. Why are they so complicit?
That Like means thank you but enraged.
Does anyone have update on Iowa abortion ballot??
This ban (and others like it) will drive away good OBGYNs, leaving ones that either don’t value women’s lives or don’t follow science (or both), which means that women can’t trust the ones that remain.
That is what is known as a feature to them, not a bug.
Fascist fucking Iowa. It was a great place to grow up and go to college when I was there. The Republicans have run it into the ground. Donated to Iowa abortion fund.
Fascist fucking Iowa. It was a great place to grow up and go to college when I was there. The Republicans have run it into the ground. Donated to Iowa abortion fund.
I think last night was a tipping point for me. I am enraged at the Democratic Party. It has failed/is failing women en masse.
The Ds biggest problem is not getting votes down ticket, for years, in too many states. Be mad, but do something to help fix that, which has led to rogue state legislatures and attorney generals and appointed judges who can be “shopped for” by entities.
The Rs problem is they are running a convicted criminal, a wife cheater and a candidate who appears to live in an alternate universe. The party is losing all outside the 20-30% base for the Presidential vote. What we need to do is convince those voters to quit voting R down ticket. I believe many will leave the Presidential vote blank, just like they did in 2020.
Yes. Hoping the polls pick this up because the right thing to do is for Biden to step aside and give Kamala Harris a shot. She may not be able to win either, but she does stand a better chance than Biden. I think she could put her skill set as a prosecutor to use, because the Republican party needs to be put on public trial.
I disagree with you, after coming out of my panic & depression emotions. The public at large is clueless to the amount of organization, money & time it takes to run a Presidential campaign. There’s also a legit amount of paperwork involved all over the country. It’s a vast operation. I’m not ready to throw all that away. The “normal” Rs are in uncharted territory too. Best case, they don’t vote. Support the party. And we need the House & Senate!
Great point. Also, the GOP stands behind their candidate even when he is indicted, says lies . The least we could do is stand behind Biden who didn't have a good night, is a truthful person and is the best shot we have. In my opinion we need to have UNITY and stand behind the candidate who is the best for the long game. That is what the GOP does. All those Christian Nationalists support tRump even though he is a sinner! They are focused on the end game. The Dems need to get it together
That's an excellent point. I think the idea would be to keep the operation but switch the candidate. Not sure how possible that is. I presume it would be easier if the candidate were Harris. It's best for the country if our party wins. The question is just what gives us the best chance to do that, and people are going to disagree on the answer.
Doesn’t work that way. Harris wasn’t even #2 in the D primary in 2020. She checked boxes as VP though and she was a trusted friend & colleague. I don’t think people understand the disruption & chaos a change this late in the game would cause. That is not to say I’m blind. It’s not to say I don’t understand people’s concerns. Trust me, I do. But if the Rs r going to run a criminal, who might be marketing smart, but has zero moral compass, & the anti-abortion faction is going to continue to wield their collective Christian Nationalism power, which they are, it would be like starting over. You have to look at the money end of things too & those laws & where the fundraising has been. It’s a tough situation. At the end of the day, people will either hold their nose & vote or they won’t.
excellent post; as I said we need to stand behind Biden. So he had a bad night and now we want to abandon him? The GOP stand behind their candidate (the felon). Buck up and show unity. I read Instagram and X posts where people said, we don't care if Biden is walking with a cane! They are voting for him. It is too late to get another candidate. This is the best we got!
Great post, Alison! We have our nose clips ready & will (again) vote for Biden, (even if he's already embalmed & they can prop him up w/one eye open, vs. that pathetic, depraved monster of a manchild...but we hope to have a better choice.) u go girl! You - you're good!
Would it be the same if the candidate were to pass away? If that's the case either of these campaigns could have trouble. If we truly don't even have an option, even though the convention is several weeks away, then it only makes the already likely outcome even more likely. Either way history is going to hold Democrats accountable too for what happens next.
Zach, that’s a great question. I do not know the answer, which would lie in Federal & state election laws. Don’t have time to explore that.
Yes, as I posted above to Alison...I know this sounds sick, but yes - we'll vote for an embalmed Biden (if they can prop one of his eyes open)...over the disgraced former guy! What a great Admin. team Biden has!
and yes, they'll ALWAYS hold Dems responsible...b/c they're the sole Party who'll take ANY responsibility for anything (some of them, anyway.) ur correct, Zach - "They"...them Dems, whomever "they are?" will always be held to a higher standard & accountable instead of the blight of The GOP."
The GOP =The Party of Lawlessness & Disorder...and ZERO responsibility! It could NOT be more obvious...they are Anarchists!
The R party & the D party are both headed into uncharted waters. The country will polarize, not behind either candidate, but the parties vision put forth for the American people, as well as who the possible picks for SCOTUS will be. Not one msm called for T to step aside even tho he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer one question. This election will come down to who actually votes, for either party, or neither. It’s that simple folks. Pick a side & if you don’t for for Ds you better read Project 2025 & actually understand the ramifications because that’s where this country is headed if T wins.
Yes, it's as if the Dems think their candidate should be the Lone Ranger riding in on his white Charger, while the Greed Over People Party is content with the sleaziest, most corrupt and grifting rat they can find!
I would love for someone to find Trump's little rat book that he has threatened everyone with. That seems to be the only way he's got all the Repug legislators and a few judges going his way.
We couldn't even get the most qualified (white) woman elected in the misogynistic, racist, Patriarchal-religious-disease-ridden country, there is no way we could get any qualified black woman elected at this point, regardless of her ability, and obvious superior intellect.
Idk. My primary concern right now is being ready to fight the incoming regime on day one, because every second is going to count. I do not think we are anywhere near ready for this.
Hang in there warrior Zack! The NYT remains the most respected Newspaper in The USA since 1896 & w/its 137 Pulitzer Prizes.
Yesterday, The NYT's Editorial Board made a bold decision and is urging Pres. Biden to withdraw for the good of Our Nation. Other papers & MSM will follow; it always happens that way. Many Dems are calling for a brokered convention in August...we can do this!
Yesterday, I wrote to President Biden asking him to reconsider, then Gov Gretchen Whitmer, MI, & Sen Mark Kelly, AZ, w/my plea to help save us from ourselves. Today I'll write to Gov J.B Pritzker, IL & ?? Write to VP Harris if you wish. I don't think she can win, nor Gov Newsom, but that's just me...doing my State by State Electoral College math. Any other suggestions?
"A Change is Gonna Come" - Sam Cooke - (gone so young...RIP Sam)
Sorry, but it's too late for Biden to resign and many of us don't believe he should. You're not going to get anyone else to step in that can win or who will stand against Biden at this point and the cost and logistics of trying to run someone else at this stage is ridiculous. Once he's re-elected (and I trust he will be), if sometime in the next year or two he seems to be more feeble, then Harris can step in. I want her in and she will not yet get elected on her own. The women are behind Biden (and Harris). Fight for his re-election instead of wasting time on who and if.
Sorry, Tully - I vehemently disagree - I've seen Biden as a sure loss for a full year now - brace yourself.
I agree that either of the California candidates carries risk, because the Republicans are very good at California-bashing, but I also understand the argument that many people would be angry if the vice president were passed over. Although she could decline interest in running (not sure how that would go down). Pritzker would make a good running mate because he's a billionaire and should be able to spend freely on the election, I think?
None of the options are ideal but the question is what is least bad, gives us the best shot, even if we're still the underdog. And I think it should be clear now that's not Biden.
I'm certain that many on our side are going to think the NYT is promoting what the Republicans want. But it's a pretty basic principle that when you're ahead, you want things to stay the same, and when you're behind, you need something to change. And there's no question the Republicans are ahead and have been the entire cycle. I think they would love for us to think they want Biden to drop out, and then respond by not doing it. It's a head fake. I think the people arguing to stick with Biden are doing the Republicans the bigger favor. They will have their attack lines ready either way, but change gives us a much better chance. The voters who've been telling us over and over 'not Biden' will appreciate us at least trying something different, and give it some consideration. It's not a sure thing, but Biden IS looking like a sure loss. And the top of the ticket could decimate us in all of the other races.
Yes, having lived in MA most of my life (& Maine, now RI, I agree that MA & CA carry the same taint. That's the main reason why neither Newsom nor Harris can win - not in The Midwest or Southwest. Even here in the bluest of blue districts on The RI/MA line I hear ppl say things like, "CA is nothing but a bunch of crazed evil libs!" & these are ppl who 'should' know they're living amidst >70% Reg. Dems, but they either don't know or care...probably both.
Biden's gonna have to step down - ppl r turning on his wife now too. We need MI, WI & PA - that's either Pritzker & or Big Gretch's territory - I don't see Biden winning any of them. Mark Kelly can carry AZ. I don't think ppl realize that States that shouldn't even be in play, e.g. MN, VA & yes, even NH ARE in play - any of the Pols. I mentioned can keep those States blue. It's time, but I guess we should be posting on a political thread...however, the abortion issue is deeply tied in to this election.
And yes, I wrote in all 3 of my letters how Pres. Biden's hubris will take down the US Senate w/him & strengthen The GOP House. We will wake up to a GOP Triumvirate nightmare on Nov 6. Ty for all u do, Zack, but I have more letters to write, "and miles to go before I sleep."
- Robert Frost
I just wonder how many women 's lives must be lost or blighted before more people care about these draconian bans.
I think we're finding out. No matter how much people may care, they are overwhelmed with what to do about it. It seems a massive, coordinated societal outcry is necessary in reaction to what the Democratic Party has allowed to happen.
This is just SICKENING AND DEPLORABLE, what republican politicians, mostly white men, are doing to girls and women. GODDAMN them!! I really believe in an eye for and eye. How about when a pregnant woman dies because her state won't let her get the abortion care she needs, a republican legislator who voted for the ban loses *** **** . Just asking for a friend !! Something to think about!!!
This is a good time to promote pregnancy testing kits, which should be part of the inventory of birth control for fertile, sexually active women. These use urine to detect hCG, a hormone produced by the blastocyst, an early stage of gestation before implantation.
It is commonly reported that 6 weeks is long before most women know they are pregnant. Does this include those women using pregnancy testing kits?
Not exactly Paul. HCG is produced by the forming placenta AFTER implantation of a fertilized embryo in the uterine lining - it's the hormone needed to secure the pregnancy. The embryo divides very slowly initially & is only 6-10 cells when it leaves the ovary (day 3-4),then makes its way down the length of the fallopian tube over the next 6-12 days. It becomes a blastocyst (a ball of rapidly dividing cells ~5 days later - only then can a scant amt of HCG be detected in blood - then 6-7 days more days b4 detectable in urine. Only ~30-50% of embryos become blastocysts. A 6 week ban is effectively a total abortion ban...
We're generally looking at 2.5-3 weeks post fertilization before HcG is detectable in home pregnancy tests, which is 4.5-5 weeks after a woman's LMC. No woman is testing at 4 wks post her LMC b/c she hasn't even missed her period yet in a 28 day cycle, and scant HCG levels won't show for another 7-12 later days at a minimum. Thus again, a 6 week abortion ban = total ban.
I looked all this up before my previous post.
According to Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin
"Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo (syncytiotrophoblast initially), which eventually forms the placenta after implantation."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophoblast
Quote: The trophoblast is the outer layer of cells of the blastocyst. Trophoblasts are present four days after fertilization in humans.
Trophoblasts are specialized cells of the placenta that play an important role in embryo implantation and interaction with the decidualized maternal uterus. ...
The trophoblast proliferates and differentiates into two cell layers at approximately six days after fertilization for humans. [Notice this again, "for humans"] (Chart shows the Cytotrophyplast and the Syncytiotrophoblast as the outer layer that "lacks cell boundaries ... secretes hCG") End Quote.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncytiotrophoblast
"It is the outer layer of the trophoblasts and actively invades the uterine wall, during implantation, rupturing maternal capillaries and thus establishing an interface between maternal blood and embryonic extracellular fluid, facilitating passive exchange of material between the mother and the embryo."
The source of hCG is unquestionably the trophoblast cells in the blastocyst and must exist before implantation. These reports also posit the existence of the trophoblast cells six days after fertilization. It is rather ambiguous in this reference how it exists before implantation, but logically must exist according to this report.
Also Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy_test
"Secretion of hCG can occur as soon as 6 days following ovulation and on average 8–10 days following ovulation; this is the earliest hCG can be detected in a blood sample."
Strange that it cites ovulation and not fertilization, an ova will not secrete hCG
That's a blood sample, not a urine sample and this report will not commit or imply how early it can be determined in a urine sample.
You say hCG is necessary to secure the pregnancy. Wikipedia says it provides for maternal recognition of pregnancy, which suggests to me that it is a signal from the blastocyst that it is a free floating candidate for implantation and is ready to do so. Not a signal to affirm its validity after implantation. This seems more logical.
The point here is you have hCG metabolites in the body very early, not after implantation. There are some other problems in your post regarding where and when you get blastocysts.
But the real issue here is the role of pregnancy testing kits as a strategy for confronting bans on abortion early in the pregnancy.
It doesn't make any sense to me that a woman should wait until she has a missed a period before using a pregnancy testing kit. If she has had sex and there is some doubt in her mind that birth control has failed, or she knows that it was absent, why not not try the pregnancy testing kit?
You say that hCG levels won't show until 7-12 days after a missed period, but does this mean, "won't show in a pregnancy testing kit"? You and the Wikipedia entry remain rather ambiguous about how long after fertilization a pregnancy test will report a pregnancy.
I won't argue that further restrictions on legal use of abortion according to gestational age are not onerous. I don't think there should be any restrictions at all according to gestational age. But declaring that a 6 week ban is a total ban is defeatist. Obviously, if somehow, a woman can determine she is pregnant and mifepristone or the like is a available, she can abort the pregnancy before six weeks. And furthermore as a strategy for confronting accidental pregnancy in all other cases, pregnancy testing kits are a good idea.
Many thanks to Substack and our host for allowing such long comments.
Paul, ty - I appreciate your input & interest in this issue - I am STRONGLY in favor of women & girls stocking up on home pregnancy tests, & I don't want to go Full Bio on u, but my MS in Bio is just one of my several degrees (my forte being Micro & Infection Control - not OBS/GYN.) Am retired now, but that degree, plus my BA in English & my AD as an RN have served me well. Odd combo of degrees, ikr?...long story...which doesn't matter. While I can answer your question re trophoblast cells, it's more complex, I'll just say that trophoblasts form from the outer layers of the placenta, not just for "feeding" the blastocysts, but also to form the amniotic sac.
I'll simplify this: HCG will show up in urine ~ 7-12 days after a missed period (maybe,) as levels are v. low at that time. That's 3 to 3.5 wks AFTER fertilization...which happens ~2 weeks AFTER the first day of the woman's last period...so the 6 week clock is ticking from the 1st day of the woman's last period...that's 2 weeks b4 conception! (A lot of pregnant virgins may be walking around for 2 weeks, yes?) Therefore, it's 5 - 5.5 wks AFTER a female's first day of her last period b4 HCG will show up in her urine on a home pregnancy test (if she's lucky.) How is she supposed to get an appt, and comply w/one or two visits & ultrasounds w/an OBS/GYN, then make a decision in 3 days to 1 week?
Answer: she cannot! Hence: 6 wks = total abortion ban. ( Do NOT overlook those 2 weeks before fertilization even occurs - that's counted as 2 weeks pregnant - yes, even in virgins!
As many have said, CRUELTY is the point! But, hey - "Joe the Plumber," - sitting in the Legislature in Iowa or Idaho has the expertise to understand all this info better than u or I, right? People like u & I who actually read & can comprehend this "women' stuff" know nothing. "Joe" is an EXPERT in everything! I admit I don't know how to plumb or snake a blocked pipe - I defer to a plumber. How 'bout u?
Thank you for replying. I stand by my conclusions derived from Wikipedia, which I also stand by on this subject so far.
Here are some links to commercial websites for home pregnancy testing kits.
https://www.clearblue.com/pregnancy-tests/early-digital
https://healthcare-manager.com/collections/pregnancy-tests/products/easy-home-40-pregnancy-hcg-urine-test-strips
https://www.firstresponse.com/en/product-listings/early-result-pregnancy-test
Some things to learn right away from these sites. All of them sell their product to detect a pregnancy 6 days before your missed period. None of them advise women what might qualify as what that period of time is. None of them talk about where sexual intercourse might occur in that period of time. None of them, absolutely NONE of them are selling to women who wish to avoid pregnancy. All of them are selling their product to women who want to become pregnant.
Which is to say, these sites are very much in tune with the "crisis counseling centers" seeking to steer women away from abortions.
But, no doubt, there is no reason this technology can't be applied by women hoping they are not pregnant and ready to do something about it if they are.
I hope there is currently research either in the US or in Europe to have some type of testing that can be done earlier in a cycle, whether by a finger blood stick or a much more sensitive urine test than currently. The only possible suggestion now for women who cannot use standard birth control methods is to test themselves weekly - regardless if they've had a period as some will continue to menstruate for 1-3 months after becoming pregnant - if they've had unprotected sex. That gets expensive. I'm all for bringing back the free condom programs for both women and men to have available but the idiot states would not cover the cost. They only want an abundance of new citizens for cheap labor at age 14. Those slaughter houses in Iowa and other states are tired of hiring immigrants who can more easily leave as they have no ties to the area. This forced birthing is only for business owners to have cheap labor over the next 20 years. They use their religion only as an excuse.
I was wondering the same thing about a blood test. Glucose monitors for diabetics are an existing technology, but those little digital blood strips that they use are very expensive and have a low sensitive shelf life.
Excellent explanation.
Jessica, when you say "fetal heartbeat" is that an actual heartbeat? Or, what the Christian-right SAYS is a fetal heartbeat but factually is not.
At six weeks after a missed period, the Christian-right so-called "heartbeat" is only an electrical impulse that has to be heard with an expensive doppler where the heart will eventually develop while progenitor cells (a biological cell that can differentiate into a specific cell type) start to move into place where the heart will be, forming a microscopic tube at the heart site. By 8 weeks after a missed period, separation of that tube into chambers begins. By week 14 after a missed period the tiny heart is formed. An echocardiogram can visualize the heart by 16 weeks and it can be seen on an ultrasound by 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. At 22 weeks, the heart starts to have the ability for a survival rate of 5-6% with a preterm birth and by 26 weeks preterm birth, there is an 86-89% survival rate if adequate NICU facilities are available.
That's what drives these men to distraction. They can't abide a world in which women have that kind of power, which is simply to direct the economic and emotional future of their own lives.
Regardless of when the "heartbeat" occurs, women must have the authority of planning her family.
The lungs are still a long way from being complete and since we can’t live without lungs, it seems insane to put all this importance on an organ for which there are mechanical options and ignore the lungs for which there’s no substitute. But they aren’t honest about life anyway so this argument is moot.
Yes! I'm not willing to compromise with the anti-science, anti-obstetrical care imbeciles on anything, knowing all the things that can and do go wrong with pregnancies. It is none of their business what decision a woman makes for her life. They could care less if they bankrupt a family with a child with a severe anomaly that would need 24 hour care when that anomaly could be determined for a termination early on in a pregnancy. Yet they go for the most restrictive limits they could not realizing some of their policies with delaying care actually cause more fetal or maternal damage. They just don't care. Sometimes I get angry at myself for wishing there was a dark place somewhere waiting for these bigots.
It is not, the heart valves (which are what makes a heart beat sound) are not formed until much later the heart has barely begun to develop at that point.
Not a heartbeat. Fake science from the extremists.