After half a century of screeching that abortion policy should be returned to the states (Federalism!! Federalism!), the GOP overturns Roe/Casey and sends American women all across the fruited plains into CRISIS, a crisis that would look even worse if women weren't so good at banding together and helping each other.
And then, just to make things even more insane and dangerous, they send a CLOSETED GAY MAN to the podium to shill for a national abortion ban! Holy hell - is it possible for a political party to disrespect women more than this? Again, I ask - who raised these people?!
We need clear cut ads on abortion like this one on the immigration bill (from the Lincoln Project and I don't think they will help us with abortion ads though).
The inability of the Democrats to out this stuff is really alarming. They need to do a better job. From NYTimes today -- questions to a focus group of independents who are leaning to Trump:
"How many of you want to hear more from Biden on abortion rights? [Nobody raises a hand.] How do you feel about that issue in the election?"
Their answers, sigh --
"Natalie 22, white, New Jersey, administrative clerk
It’s the states. It’s not the president. I don’t want to hear Biden talking about my abortion.
Kim 43, Black, North Carolina, counselor
I hate to say, there’s bigger issues besides abortion right now.
Gary 64, white, Michigan, driving instructor
It’s already been solved. Leave it alone, like they said."
The economy is number one issue to this group of 13 undecideds. Group was diverse and it was clear that the work the Dems are doing on a whole host of issues, no matter how little or substantive, is not getting through to these voters.
The special election to replace wacko Santos will be interesting as well. The Republican woman who is running to replace him says (and I scream at these stances) that she is personally pro-life but wouldn't tell another woman how to decide, so she is pro-choice. Yeah, that's BS and she'd vote along party lines for a national ban. I'd bet quite a sum on that.
Great piece, Jessica. I listen to the pro-life podcasts a LOT and those people are living in the deepest den of denial. They traffic in unreality, so let them keep trafficking their bullshit polling to all the old white men in the GOP who don't know how women's bodies work. Nutbags, the lot of them!
So, how do we activate young voters? My kids are activated, but that is because of me. They get their news from Tik Tok or YouTube. I'm trying to work on getting my kids to educate other kids and get my friends to activate their kids. All of these kids are actually adults, but you know what I mean. My US rep is Rob Wittman (R-VA) and he is "100% pro-life," whatever that means. I feel like if all the young people and women in this district were aware of that, they would vote him out.
Yes, I think so. I’m 73 & I become more pissed off every day about this issue. I called both my Senators & practically screamed at the poor person taking my messages. I said I don’t want to hear Joe Biden make another negative sounding comment about “abortion on demand”, it categorizes some abortions as better than another person’s abortion, that my reason for wanting an abortion is just as important as your reason.
Then I said they needed to have Biden stand in front of a mirror & say
“ABORTION ABORTION ABORTION”
until he gets comfortable with the word.
I tried to call the WH but found they only answer from 1100 - 1500 EST so I’ll have to catch POTUS tomorrow
I read Dannsfelder’s (I’m not looking up how to spell her name, but you know who I mean) letter to Republicans after the VA loss. I wish we could know exactly how much money SBA Pro-Life America and its billionaire-funded super PACs have given Republicans. Because she talked like she owns them. And they do her bidding even in the face of clear election losses.
But this is also part of the Christian Nationalist/Christo-fascist mentality on the right. “The Bible says abortion is murder; that is the One True God’s law; therefore, we must force everyone to live by it, ignore those who disagree, suppress votes that go against us, and cheat to win.”
You’ve written on a very important and overlooked aspect of the forced birther’s strategy. I hope that if there are any sane Republicans left that they read this and wake up. But I fear that they are so obsessed with power over others that they won’t be able to face reality.
I am going to start asking these maniacs why women are so murderous and fickle. According to them, women get pregnant without thought or even on purpose and then murder babies because they can. Or they carry that life for months, enduring all the discomfort and risks and physical damage and distortion and then just change their minds and abort the day they go into labor. Why are they forcing such fickle, cruel women to have children and then allowing those children to be raised by such maniacs? It really boggles the mind.
“No wonder the GOP keeps losing. They’ve been tricked into believing that Americans are on their side—duped by a movement willing to sacrifice short-term election victories for their long-term agenda.” I don’t care why the christofascist Republican Party is losing. I just want it to continue. We need to keep up the pressure and continue to talk about real stories of harm to real women.
During a campaign rally in South Carolina this weekend, former President Trump warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to nations that are “delinquent.”
Trump’s quote: “‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted saying. “‘No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”
How NATO reacted to the comment: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
G.O.P. Officials, Once Critical, Stand by Trump After NATO Comments.
He is de facto running the House, the Senate, and the RNC and he has already helped Russia/Putin in many ways, the most recent being stopping Ukraine aid. Our media meanwhile is talking about Biden's age. Everything is fucked up and I just have to believe there are enough of us to stop this march to autocracy. SCOTUS asked for Jack's response for the immunity case and gave him until 2/20! Are they also going to take this case up further slowing down the only case that would justly hurt him (and wake people up?) before the election? Nothing is working as they should and I am more than worried.
Seriously. This is unhinged, and I am so tired of it being excused as “Oh, that’s just 45. He doesn’t mean it. You know how he is.” He means every damn bit of it.
But this is also how fascist governments take hold. Do one outrageous thing. Get people used to it. Do something even more outrageous. Get used to that. Etc.
I'm still angry the MSM is too busy fapping over "Biden's too old." to pay attention to the orange Douchecanoe, telling us exactly how dangerous he is.
Great information about skewing the answers by carefully misleading questons in polls. Nothing new but polling results then mislead the GOP hopefuls and the voters soundly defeat so-called prolife candidates when voting on election day.
Hey, whatever works. Let's hope they stay as deluded as possible, so we can hang overturning Roe, and the subsequent state-mandated suffering that results, around their whole damn party.
Great piece, Jessica! I think you’re explanation of the polls is right on.
I looked into this guy Tom Suozzi (D) running for his old House seat that Santos held. Suozzi wrote this piece when Biden won. He sounds like a Manchin-esque dem to me. He was a member of the Problem Solvers (who never solved anything I’m aware of but kept pulling the dems to the right).
Oh barf 🤮 Sounds like he is very much like the Protestant Evangelicals & certainly will be no help toward reclaiming abortion rights. He’s blathering on like the Catholic Pope is running the USA. NO
Heard Suozzi on Morning Joe talk about how divisive Biden is and he needs to do more to work with Republicans. And he does not want you to forget the extremist Democrats! But once he gets elected everything will magically change since he can work with anyone. Ughh! And I gave to his campaign because of course his opponent is an extremist. So sick of Democrats still not calling out Republican extremism!
Yeah, I was watching Jon Heileman’s face while Suozzi was speaking. I think everyone at that table was surprised by what he was saying. I can’t believe New York couldn’t come up with someone better. We need New York to help flip the House.
After half a century of screeching that abortion policy should be returned to the states (Federalism!! Federalism!), the GOP overturns Roe/Casey and sends American women all across the fruited plains into CRISIS, a crisis that would look even worse if women weren't so good at banding together and helping each other.
And then, just to make things even more insane and dangerous, they send a CLOSETED GAY MAN to the podium to shill for a national abortion ban! Holy hell - is it possible for a political party to disrespect women more than this? Again, I ask - who raised these people?!
We need clear cut ads on abortion like this one on the immigration bill (from the Lincoln Project and I don't think they will help us with abortion ads though).
https://twitter.com/Angry_Staffer/status/1757431887977468222
{video link in the tweet}
The inability of the Democrats to out this stuff is really alarming. They need to do a better job. From NYTimes today -- questions to a focus group of independents who are leaning to Trump:
"How many of you want to hear more from Biden on abortion rights? [Nobody raises a hand.] How do you feel about that issue in the election?"
Their answers, sigh --
"Natalie 22, white, New Jersey, administrative clerk
It’s the states. It’s not the president. I don’t want to hear Biden talking about my abortion.
Kim 43, Black, North Carolina, counselor
I hate to say, there’s bigger issues besides abortion right now.
Gary 64, white, Michigan, driving instructor
It’s already been solved. Leave it alone, like they said."
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/13/opinion/independents-biden-focus-group.html
Gary's really irked me.
The economy is number one issue to this group of 13 undecideds. Group was diverse and it was clear that the work the Dems are doing on a whole host of issues, no matter how little or substantive, is not getting through to these voters.
The special election to replace wacko Santos will be interesting as well. The Republican woman who is running to replace him says (and I scream at these stances) that she is personally pro-life but wouldn't tell another woman how to decide, so she is pro-choice. Yeah, that's BS and she'd vote along party lines for a national ban. I'd bet quite a sum on that.
Great piece, Jessica. I listen to the pro-life podcasts a LOT and those people are living in the deepest den of denial. They traffic in unreality, so let them keep trafficking their bullshit polling to all the old white men in the GOP who don't know how women's bodies work. Nutbags, the lot of them!
Great two-part strategy.
1. Generate misleading statistics with polls.
2. Use the techniques shown in "How to Lie With Statistics" to create misinformative ads.
So, how do we activate young voters? My kids are activated, but that is because of me. They get their news from Tik Tok or YouTube. I'm trying to work on getting my kids to educate other kids and get my friends to activate their kids. All of these kids are actually adults, but you know what I mean. My US rep is Rob Wittman (R-VA) and he is "100% pro-life," whatever that means. I feel like if all the young people and women in this district were aware of that, they would vote him out.
Have those young adults that you know to make TikToks promoting
“Keep govt out of pregnancy” type things.
Are you & they tuned into Jessica’s
TikTok channel? You can find her under auntiekilljoy there. They could share those videos with their friends
Will the anger and backlash against Dobbs hold out until November ? Asking as a concerned non American who is terrified the Fanta Menace might win.
Yes, I think so. I’m 73 & I become more pissed off every day about this issue. I called both my Senators & practically screamed at the poor person taking my messages. I said I don’t want to hear Joe Biden make another negative sounding comment about “abortion on demand”, it categorizes some abortions as better than another person’s abortion, that my reason for wanting an abortion is just as important as your reason.
Then I said they needed to have Biden stand in front of a mirror & say
“ABORTION ABORTION ABORTION”
until he gets comfortable with the word.
I tried to call the WH but found they only answer from 1100 - 1500 EST so I’ll have to catch POTUS tomorrow
Yes, I believe it will. We women are angrier than ever. This issue isn’t going away.
I read Dannsfelder’s (I’m not looking up how to spell her name, but you know who I mean) letter to Republicans after the VA loss. I wish we could know exactly how much money SBA Pro-Life America and its billionaire-funded super PACs have given Republicans. Because she talked like she owns them. And they do her bidding even in the face of clear election losses.
But this is also part of the Christian Nationalist/Christo-fascist mentality on the right. “The Bible says abortion is murder; that is the One True God’s law; therefore, we must force everyone to live by it, ignore those who disagree, suppress votes that go against us, and cheat to win.”
She does own them, they are the party of forced-birthers, now.
You’ve written on a very important and overlooked aspect of the forced birther’s strategy. I hope that if there are any sane Republicans left that they read this and wake up. But I fear that they are so obsessed with power over others that they won’t be able to face reality.
I am going to start asking these maniacs why women are so murderous and fickle. According to them, women get pregnant without thought or even on purpose and then murder babies because they can. Or they carry that life for months, enduring all the discomfort and risks and physical damage and distortion and then just change their minds and abort the day they go into labor. Why are they forcing such fickle, cruel women to have children and then allowing those children to be raised by such maniacs? It really boggles the mind.
And thank you Jessica for this column. I don’t often comment, but I read it every day.
I read it every single day too. It is my touchstone to stay sane and stay in the fight.
“No wonder the GOP keeps losing. They’ve been tricked into believing that Americans are on their side—duped by a movement willing to sacrifice short-term election victories for their long-term agenda.” I don’t care why the christofascist Republican Party is losing. I just want it to continue. We need to keep up the pressure and continue to talk about real stories of harm to real women.
I'm with you, let them keep losing!
In case anyone missed this clusterfuck:
During a campaign rally in South Carolina this weekend, former President Trump warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to nations that are “delinquent.”
Trump’s quote: “‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted saying. “‘No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”
How NATO reacted to the comment: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
G.O.P. Officials, Once Critical, Stand by Trump After NATO Comments.
He is de facto running the House, the Senate, and the RNC and he has already helped Russia/Putin in many ways, the most recent being stopping Ukraine aid. Our media meanwhile is talking about Biden's age. Everything is fucked up and I just have to believe there are enough of us to stop this march to autocracy. SCOTUS asked for Jack's response for the immunity case and gave him until 2/20! Are they also going to take this case up further slowing down the only case that would justly hurt him (and wake people up?) before the election? Nothing is working as they should and I am more than worried.
Seriously. This is unhinged, and I am so tired of it being excused as “Oh, that’s just 45. He doesn’t mean it. You know how he is.” He means every damn bit of it.
It's amazing what you can get people used to.
But this is also how fascist governments take hold. Do one outrageous thing. Get people used to it. Do something even more outrageous. Get used to that. Etc.
Exactly.
I'm still angry the MSM is too busy fapping over "Biden's too old." to pay attention to the orange Douchecanoe, telling us exactly how dangerous he is.
douchecanoe......I love that
I stole it from Evan on Wonkette. There is also my other favorite douche-bro, which is the modern day Frat-boy type .
Great information about skewing the answers by carefully misleading questons in polls. Nothing new but polling results then mislead the GOP hopefuls and the voters soundly defeat so-called prolife candidates when voting on election day.
Hey, whatever works. Let's hope they stay as deluded as possible, so we can hang overturning Roe, and the subsequent state-mandated suffering that results, around their whole damn party.
Great piece, Jessica! I think you’re explanation of the polls is right on.
I looked into this guy Tom Suozzi (D) running for his old House seat that Santos held. Suozzi wrote this piece when Biden won. He sounds like a Manchin-esque dem to me. He was a member of the Problem Solvers (who never solved anything I’m aware of but kept pulling the dems to the right).
I wanted to share the screed:
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/01/21/tom-suozzi-joe-biden-catholic-faith-president-239717
Oh barf 🤮 Sounds like he is very much like the Protestant Evangelicals & certainly will be no help toward reclaiming abortion rights. He’s blathering on like the Catholic Pope is running the USA. NO
Heard Suozzi on Morning Joe talk about how divisive Biden is and he needs to do more to work with Republicans. And he does not want you to forget the extremist Democrats! But once he gets elected everything will magically change since he can work with anyone. Ughh! And I gave to his campaign because of course his opponent is an extremist. So sick of Democrats still not calling out Republican extremism!
Yeah, I was watching Jon Heileman’s face while Suozzi was speaking. I think everyone at that table was surprised by what he was saying. I can’t believe New York couldn’t come up with someone better. We need New York to help flip the House.
Crap, the last thing we need is another hostage-taking repub disguised as a dem.
Shhhhh!