Apropos how the Washington State Senate just passed a measure that would allow the distribution of 30,000 state-stocked abortion pills to care providers -- see above in today's AED text -- here's the information we need to express our support: according to The Spokane Review, the measure is SB5917; the toll-free state legislative hotline, through which we can indicate support for any measure, is 1-800-562-6000.
In trying to understand how states like Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri vote to protect abortion rights, yet remain governed by Republican legislative majorities, I ran some numbers.
This is what the math shows:
In Kansas, an estimated 21–31% of Republican voters approved the abortion rights amendment while also voting for Republican legislators.
In Kentucky, the crossover rate is 18–29%.
In Missouri, it’s roughly 20–35%.
In Arizona, about 16–28%.
These numbers show roughly one out of every four Republicans voted both for abortion protections AND for Republican legislators who oppose them. These voters are making two conflicting choices on the same ballot.
Voters should understand that when a constitutional amendment protecting abortion passes, it becomes binding law and cannot simply be overturned. BUT legislatures still control how that new law/amendment is put into practice. That includes writing the rules about how it works, how it’s administered, how doctors and facilities are regulated, and how it is enforced. When that framework is written by a Republican majority, it will reflect their priorities.
So the right to abortion may be protected on paper, while how it works in real life is shaped by the legislature.
The deeper issue is this: party identity (being a republican) is operating separate from policy preference (abortion rights). A significant share of voters are choosing abortion rights as a policy preference but Republican political identity as their governing preference. Political identity is overriding policy alignment. That reality has consequences.
The question is not whether voters support abortion rights. The referendum results prove that the majority does.
The question is whether voters connect their vote for Republican representation to the highly unfavorable, restrictive and punitive abortion policy consequences that follow.
Until that connection becomes understood, the pattern of discarding the will of the voters will continue in those red states.
Regarding the Tennessee psychopath, when a gubernatorial candidate calls for executing women, it’s worth asking what in his past explains that level of animus. I hope journalists dig deep on this.
Well researched and explained message here, thank you for this. You’ve described the situation in an easy-to-understand way. Frustrating that some voters cannot let go of their party identity and end up voting against their own interests, but don’t realize it because they voted for the pro-choice ballot measures.
Forget white Evangelicals because they are so heavily indoctrinated they will stand by the most vile characters and politicians no matter what (pedophilia and widespread abuse in churches or anywhere for that matter) I believe it’s the other Republicans that we can persuade and simply ask, do you really want the government controlling your life and body?? This is why the GOP thought it necessary to install fear in these voters (fear of the immigrant, the other etc). Unfortunately we need to understand that authoritarianism often feels “safe” to many people who live in perpetual fear even if it’s unwarranted.
Iowan here. While I am relieved to not be in Des Moines at 8 am on a Tuesday of First Funnel Week, I know the Iowa GOP well enough to know that it is a matter of time before the abortion ban comes up tacked on to another bill or during a special session. Our very unpopular governor is a lame duck, so cue the games.
I come from a violent place. I have been eyewitness to murders. This is the most frightening shit I have ever seen or heard. Bullies always pick on the most vulnerable. So do did Sean Hannity. So did Bill Clinton with his drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, depriving the terminally-ill of lifesaving cannabis that stimulates the appetite. Wasting diseases now include the genocidal waste of a judcial seat, named Brett Kavanaugh. .... I am so sorry for all of this, ladies. Thank god I've never been raped, but I do know what it means to be a victim. I was quite ill&weak as a kid. The bullies came hard&heavy. Broken jaw, 40% hearing loss, medical coma, the works. And that was just prep school. Hells Kitchen came next. Jimmy Coonan was actually fine when he was sober. It was his wingman, the little one, who terrified the neighborhood. Make of that what you will. He actually *looked* like Roy Cohn.
"I thought that Brett was trying to kill me." --Christine Blasey Ford
If having an abortion is murder and there is no statute of limitations for murder that would mean anyone who ever terminated their pregnancy could be prosecuted. BONKERS!
I'm legit wondering what would prevent me from going "Better safe than sorry!", messily bagging up my clotty periods and turning it into a public spectacle.
Well cocaine is illegal and that's worked out so well I guess doing the same to mifepristone would work out just as well. have these sexists ever had an original thought?
Correction: They're not punishing women for getting an abortion. They're punishing women for having sex with men who aren't them.
Apropos how the Washington State Senate just passed a measure that would allow the distribution of 30,000 state-stocked abortion pills to care providers -- see above in today's AED text -- here's the information we need to express our support: according to The Spokane Review, the measure is SB5917; the toll-free state legislative hotline, through which we can indicate support for any measure, is 1-800-562-6000.
Amazing!
Feeling the need to comment, but I have no words today. Just rage.
*hugs* You, and Jessica, and Kylie do so much good.
So what is the answer to these bloodthirsty bills?
Should we be introducing bills that outlaw legislating healthcare in any way? (I’m guessing there might be unintended consequences…)
Somehow, these endless attacks on healthcare and the ACTUAL LIVES of more than half of this country’s population, have got to STOP.
In trying to understand how states like Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri vote to protect abortion rights, yet remain governed by Republican legislative majorities, I ran some numbers.
This is what the math shows:
In Kansas, an estimated 21–31% of Republican voters approved the abortion rights amendment while also voting for Republican legislators.
In Kentucky, the crossover rate is 18–29%.
In Missouri, it’s roughly 20–35%.
In Arizona, about 16–28%.
These numbers show roughly one out of every four Republicans voted both for abortion protections AND for Republican legislators who oppose them. These voters are making two conflicting choices on the same ballot.
Voters should understand that when a constitutional amendment protecting abortion passes, it becomes binding law and cannot simply be overturned. BUT legislatures still control how that new law/amendment is put into practice. That includes writing the rules about how it works, how it’s administered, how doctors and facilities are regulated, and how it is enforced. When that framework is written by a Republican majority, it will reflect their priorities.
So the right to abortion may be protected on paper, while how it works in real life is shaped by the legislature.
The deeper issue is this: party identity (being a republican) is operating separate from policy preference (abortion rights). A significant share of voters are choosing abortion rights as a policy preference but Republican political identity as their governing preference. Political identity is overriding policy alignment. That reality has consequences.
The question is not whether voters support abortion rights. The referendum results prove that the majority does.
The question is whether voters connect their vote for Republican representation to the highly unfavorable, restrictive and punitive abortion policy consequences that follow.
Until that connection becomes understood, the pattern of discarding the will of the voters will continue in those red states.
Regarding the Tennessee psychopath, when a gubernatorial candidate calls for executing women, it’s worth asking what in his past explains that level of animus. I hope journalists dig deep on this.
Well researched and explained message here, thank you for this. You’ve described the situation in an easy-to-understand way. Frustrating that some voters cannot let go of their party identity and end up voting against their own interests, but don’t realize it because they voted for the pro-choice ballot measures.
Thank you so much Sara. I'm just trying to make sense of that disconnect.
I don't know that you can.
You are probably right about that.
I have tried as well, they just can't connect the dots.
Forget white Evangelicals because they are so heavily indoctrinated they will stand by the most vile characters and politicians no matter what (pedophilia and widespread abuse in churches or anywhere for that matter) I believe it’s the other Republicans that we can persuade and simply ask, do you really want the government controlling your life and body?? This is why the GOP thought it necessary to install fear in these voters (fear of the immigrant, the other etc). Unfortunately we need to understand that authoritarianism often feels “safe” to many people who live in perpetual fear even if it’s unwarranted.
it's exasperating
Iowan here. While I am relieved to not be in Des Moines at 8 am on a Tuesday of First Funnel Week, I know the Iowa GOP well enough to know that it is a matter of time before the abortion ban comes up tacked on to another bill or during a special session. Our very unpopular governor is a lame duck, so cue the games.
I come from a violent place. I have been eyewitness to murders. This is the most frightening shit I have ever seen or heard. Bullies always pick on the most vulnerable. So do did Sean Hannity. So did Bill Clinton with his drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, depriving the terminally-ill of lifesaving cannabis that stimulates the appetite. Wasting diseases now include the genocidal waste of a judcial seat, named Brett Kavanaugh. .... I am so sorry for all of this, ladies. Thank god I've never been raped, but I do know what it means to be a victim. I was quite ill&weak as a kid. The bullies came hard&heavy. Broken jaw, 40% hearing loss, medical coma, the works. And that was just prep school. Hells Kitchen came next. Jimmy Coonan was actually fine when he was sober. It was his wingman, the little one, who terrified the neighborhood. Make of that what you will. He actually *looked* like Roy Cohn.
"I thought that Brett was trying to kill me." --Christine Blasey Ford
If having an abortion is murder and there is no statute of limitations for murder that would mean anyone who ever terminated their pregnancy could be prosecuted. BONKERS!
Execution for women who have abortions is a BONKERS “ProLife'“ stance. Its just about power over and control. Nothing more.
I've been having dark thoughts lately about "catch kits" and malicious compliance.
Remember "Periods For Pence"? Time for a repeat.
How about "catch kits" for men? Potential children being wasted, killed?
I love your dark dreams. 😈
Bagging up bloody tissue and sending it to RFK, Jr., "Dr." Oz, thr White House, Sam Alito...
I'm legit wondering what would prevent me from going "Better safe than sorry!", messily bagging up my clotty periods and turning it into a public spectacle.
Well cocaine is illegal and that's worked out so well I guess doing the same to mifepristone would work out just as well. have these sexists ever had an original thought?
Evil is incapable of creativity. It can only warp and distort the ideas of decent ppl.