Republican Fuckery XX: MTG Says That Stepparents are Not Parents & 2024 Presidential Election Nominee Vivek Ramaswamy Talks a Good Game

No one expects our politicians to be paragons of perfection. We are all human and therefore, imperfect. However, what I would hope is that we expect those in the halls of power to do what is right for the country and its citizens.

About two weeks ago, Marjorie Taylor Greene was asking questions grilling AFT (American Federation of Teachers) Union President Randi Weingarten about her “political activism”. Greene also stated Weingarten is not a mother because she is “a mother by marriage”.

Basically, what she is saying is that the only adult who can parent is one who has similar DNA. A child cannot be raised by the spouse of their parent or by one who had adopted a member of the younger generation. This is interesting, considering that the right often touts the preference for adoption over abortion. It is also curious that Greene makes this declaration after Weingarten stated that her wife was in the audience.

Last weekend, 2024 Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was a guest on Meet the Press. Like Nikki Haley, he talked a good game. But underneath was the same old bullshit.

We have to get them out of office. There is no other option if we are to save this nation.

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The Republican Stance on Abortion is Going to Kill Someone

The debate over abortion, in a nutshell, can be boiled down to two perspectives: pro-life and pro-choice. One claims they are protecting the life of the fetus and the parent. The other is putting its money where its mouth is.

Last week, 2024 Presidential nominee Nikki Haley stated the following on the procedure:

“I do believe there is a federal role on abortion. Whether we can save more lives nationally depends entirely on doing what no one has done to date: finding consensus,” she said. “That’s what I will strive to do.”

“Abortion is a deeply personal topic for both women and men,” she said. “I understand why. Someone’s body and someone else’s life are not things to be taken lightly, and they should not be politicized. The issue should be addressed with sensitivity and respect, not judgment and hate.”

She talks a good game, but underneath the “consensus” is the same old bs. If they were truly pro-life, they would leave the decision in the hands of the pregnant person and their doctor. They would support the national programs that help the children who are here. When push comes to shove they will (as they have done in the past), make it illegal and eventually kill someone.

Speaking of, Amanda Zurawski from Texas addressed the Senate about her death due to the abortion ban. Conveniently her Senators, Ted Cruz, and John Cornyn, were not in the room.

“I wanted to address my senators, Cruz and Cornyn, neither of whom, regrettably, are in the room right now. But I would like for them to know that what happened to me … it’s a direct result of the policies that they support,” Zurawski said. “I nearly died on their watch and furthermore, as a result of what happened to me, I may have been robbed of the opportunity to have children in the future.”

Ms. Zurawski’s story is one of many. She was one of the lucky ones. Someone else might not be so lucky.

My great fear is that things will change only after the needless death of the mother/pregnant person and their fetus. Unfortunately, it may be the only way to stop this madness.

P.S. Haley took a swipe at Biden due to his age. I would rather him be competent at 86 than talking out of both sides of their mouth in their 50s.

It Takes a Person With a Cold Heart to Deny an Abortion to a 10-Year-Old Rape Victim

For most of human history, women have been seen only for their ability to carry, give birth, and care for the next generation. Her wants, her needs, and her ambitions for anything other than motherhood have been denied, laughed at, or denigrated.

Last summer, a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio was forced to travel to Indiana to end her pregnancy.

Earlier this week, a hearing was held in the Ohio state capitol. The Republican leadership (no surprise there) did everything they could to block an abortion rights ballot measure, knowing full well that most voters are for the measure.

Laura Strietmann, leader of the Cincinnati Right to Life group, stated the following during the hearing:

“While a pregnancy might have been difficult on a 10-year-old body, a woman’s body is designed to carry life. That is a biological fact,”

Is a female’s body designed to carry life? Absolutely. The question (which is really no one else’s business) is whether she wants to or is able to.

I think this woman has no heart. The victim, in this case, is not an adult with at least some ability to properly parent the fetus once it is born. This is a young girl, who is in no way shape, or form able to give birth safely and be the mother this child needs.

I don’t have any kids of my own, but I remember when it was like to be 10. The last thing I was thinking of being anyone’s mother. This girl has the right to enjoy childhood. When and if the time comes, she will decide what is best for her and her future. It is her business and her business alone.

The Latest in Abortion News: Confused Guidelines and Janet Protasiewicz Wins the WI SC Election

Bodily autonomy for women is a relatively new concept. For most of our time on Earth, we (and our uteruses by extension) have been seen as the property of our husbands, fathers, or another male relative.

In Texas, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) must suspend approval of mifepristone, one of the drugs included in the abortion pill. Meanwhile, in Washington State, Judge Thomas O. Rice ruled in the opposite direction. The FDA cannot make changes to access to the drugs in a handful of states that sued to keep them available.

While I am grateful to Judge Rice, I cannot help but be concerned. Judge Kacsmaryk basically stated that he, a lone judge in a red state, can decide for a woman in a blue state on what to do with her body. And as usual, these decisions are made by someone whose only likely experience in the medical field is as a patient.

The main problem is that the unclear guidelines put lives in danger and confuse both doctors and insurance companies. The last thing we need is more muck thrown into our unnecessarily convoluted health system.

However, there is a bright spot. Janet Protasiewicz won her election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Though it is just one state, potential deliberations made can make or break the future of abortion rights in this country.

My hope is that one day, women in this country and around will truly be free of the confines that held previous generations back. While we have come very far, there is still a long way to go.

Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America Book Review

When our rights are being taken away, the only thing we can do is protest. Not online, not via a petition, but in person.

Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America, by Lauren A. Rankin, was published last April. The book tells the story of clinic escorts. Their job is to ensure that patients who have appointments at abortion clinics arrive safely at their destination. Standing in their way are protestors who will do anything to prevent the procedure from happening.

The stories coming out of this book are human. I applaud the escorts for doing G-d’s work. They know the risks, but they do it anyway. My heart breaks for the women who have no choice but to end their pregnancies. They want to have children the old-fashioned way, but nature (or the heavenly creator, depending on the perspective) says otherwise.

One of the subjects hit home for me. She had an ectopic pregnancy. The only option was to end the pregnancy and hope that the next one would be uneventful. If she didn’t, she would have likely died. For the life of me, I cannot imagine why anyone would deny her this life-saving medical care.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America is available wherever books are sold.

Republican Fuckery XVI: Doctors Fleeing Due to Abortion Laws and the Case for Whole Milk

It has been said that our overall is everything (both physical and mental). If we do not have that, our quality of life will obviously suffer.

In the wake of the recent and extreme abortion laws that have become the legal norm across the country, physicians and hospitals in some states have been forced to make what can only be described as an inhuman decision: save your career or save the patient.

What irks me is that those who are writing these laws are likely to have little to no medical experience. In crafting these pieces of legislation, they are putting lives in danger. Not just parents/pregnant persons, but anyone who is seeking treatment. What is worse is that there are places in this country where there are more patients than clinics or hospitals. In a medical emergency, a few minutes can be the difference between life and death.

Meanwhile, Rep John Joyce of Pennsylvania has decided (with everything else going on in this country) that the biggest problem is that schools serve soy and almond milk.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I know plenty of people who avoid cows’ milk for any number of reasons. Soy milk and dairy products made from soy are not that bad. I would hope that given the significant number of school shootings (specifically the one last week in Nashville), the safety of our children is more important than the type of milk they are consuming.

Joyce: The whole milk that cannot be replicated by inadequate imitations that are found in plants and in nuts. Our students deserve better than these fraudulent products and we cannot allow almonds or soy to be passed off as dairy pic.twitter.com/hW4xsSPKlw

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 22, 2023

We need to vote these people out. We need to make it that focus should be on real issues and not the bullshit they are slinging at us.

Republican Fuckery XIIII: Randy McNally (TN Republican Hypocrite), TX Sued for Abortion Law, & SVB Woke Accusation

No one is perfect. We all have our flaws and mistakes to recover from. But there is a difference between knowing your imperfections and pretending that they don’t exist when it is convenient.

In Tennessee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally was accused of making adult comments on the Instagram page of a younger man who is in various stages of undress (otherwise known as a thirst trap). The young man whose images he responded to is gay. These Republican hypocrites claim to be for “traditional family values“. They talk a good game, but never walk the walk.

INTERESTING: Tennessee @LtGovMcNally has been liking and commenting on this young man’s Instagram page for an extended period of time—the most attention from @BillLeeTN’s second in command going toward the racier photographs. We’ve reached out to the Lt. Gov for comment. pic.twitter.com/mOgItZWeHS

— Walter Murphy (@WMurphyNews) March 9, 2023

In Texas, five women have sued the state over its abortion ban. They are suing because they believe that the ban puts their life and the lives of their fetuses at risk. These women are my heroes. They are not just standing up for themselves and their families. They are speaking for all of us who are affected by arbitrary legislation that has more to do with the beliefs of a few than reality.

And finally, one of the major headlines of the last seven days is the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank. The most disconcerting offshoots of the story are the accusations that “wokeness” was the cause of the bank’s downfall. Instead of zeroing in on the real problems that were the cause, the right once again chooses to pick the answer that suits them.

Two major points have been part of the discourse around the bank. The first is the repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act by the former guy. Like the accident in East Palestine, all of this might have been prevented had the regulations remained as is. The second is the irony that the organization received financial assistance from the federal government. However, when they wanted the government to be hands-off, they got what they wanted. They can’t have it both ways. Either there are structures in place to head off a collapse or it is the wild wild west.

Just another day in America.

Republican Fuckery XIII: TN Marriage Clerks, Walgreens Will Not Sell Abortion Medication and AR Governor Allows Child Labor And Trans Care Malpractice Laws

One of the ways a country’s values can be judged is the legislation.

In Tennessee, a new law may allow marriage clerks to deny licenses based on that person’s beliefs. In short, a public servant (whose salary comes from our tax dollars), can tell a tax-paying citizen that they have no right to marry. If this person was a clergy of a specific faith and was using that as a context, their reasons are understandable (even if one disagrees with that decision). But a clergyperson’s paycheck comes from their congregation and not from the public.

Meanwhile, Walgreens has decided to not sell the abortion pill in twenty states. This is nothing more than a corporation bowing to the wishes of a minority. Granted, the right could accuse the left of the same thing. However, when it comes to medical care (which is what abortion is), that’s another story.

And finally in Arkansas, comes a double whammy from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (former mouthpiece from the previous administration). The Youth Hiring Act of 2023 allows children under 16 to work without a permit. We know how this is going to go. Those forced to go to work (instead of school) are poor, immigrants, and people of color. These jobs (as in the past), will likely be dangerous, low-paying, and life-altering.

She also signed a bill that allows anyone who received gender-affirming care as a minor to sue a medical practitioner once they turn 18. Though it will not be enforced until this summer, the statute of limitations is good until that individual turns 33. This is a tactic that Republicans often use. By deputizing the person on the street, they keep their hands clean.

Just another day in America and another reason to vote them all out.

Looking for Jane: A Novel Book Review

Pregnancy and abortion have been part of the human experience for eons. Unfortunately, they have been turned into cultural, religious, or political pawns for those in power to mold society as they see fit.

Looking for Jane: A Novel, by Heather Marshall, was published this month. The story takes place in three timelines that eventually intertwine. In the early 1960s, Evelyn is an unwed pregnant teenage girl. She has been sent to a “home” to prepare for the birth of her child. Once she gives birth, she will return to her family as if nothing has happened. A decade later, she is a doctor and part of an underground network to provide safe abortions.

In 1980, Nancy makes two earth-shattering discoveries. The first is that she was adopted. The second is that she is pregnant and knows that she is not ready to be a parent. Without no one to turn to, she finds the Janes. After her procedure is done by Evelyn, she joins the group. But while is living a double life, her secrets weigh on her.

In 2017, Angela is a bookstore owner in Toronto. While she and her wife are desperately trying to get pregnant, she discovers a letter that opens the door to a decades-old mystery.

I loved this book. It was engaging, entertaining, and to be frank, it made me angry. Granted, drama makes for good fiction. But the real women’s stories behind the novel shouldn’t have occurred in the first place. It is a reminder that Roe v. Wade and other similar legalization is still a necessity.

Unlike last year’s Call Jane, the legal and medical danger in Evelyn and Nancy’s time is part and parcel of their experience. What the author does successfully ensure all of her protagonists have equal weight within the narrative. It is difficult to balance a tale of this kind with two storylines. Three is asking for trouble if it is not done properly. Thankfully, Marshall succeeds.

If nothing else, it is a reminder of how far we have come and how far we need to go.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Looking for Jane: A Novel is available wherever books are sold.

Republican Fuckery Part IX: MTG Complains About Her Salary, the Balloon, and TX Banning the Abortion Pill

In both life and politics, there is no rule that we have to get along and agree on everything all of the time. However, there are certain times when compromise and understanding where the other person is coming from is paramount.

Recently Marjorie Taylor Greene complained about her salary. This woman makes a healthy 6 figure income. There are millions of Americans (myself included) whose paychecks don’t even come close to hers. If she is so unhappy, she should resign and let someone take the job who is in for the right reasons.

Speaking of MTG, she accused Mitch McConnell of being a Democrat. In her world, the “d” word is an insult. By directing it at McConnell, she is basically saying that he is not MAGA enough for her.

Over the last couple of weeks, several balloons of unknown origin have been sighed across the US. According to new reports, all signs point to China. The right has accused the President of letting the first one float across the country before shooting it down when it was over the Atlantic ocean.

I would love to know where else it might have been shot down without potentially damaging property or killing someone? Even in the most rural of areas, there was still the chance that an innocent life could have been taken.

And finally, in Texas (because they have nothing better to do?) a District Judge possibly has the power to enshrine a national ban on the abortion pill. It’s one thing to try to push this archaic law on the residents of his own state. It is beyond reprehensible that he can do the same for the rest of the country.

What I don’t get is that these people would do anything to prevent abortion. But, when it comes to providing adequate parental leave that prevents the new parents from going into debt, they are silent.

I hate to say it, but I miss the days when Republicans were reasonable and at least pretended to work with their colleagues on the left. Those days are sadly, in the rearview mirror.