306 Comments
Nov 19, 2022·edited Nov 19, 2022

I listened to your podcast with David Corn and he made a great point about how we never talk about sex in the abortion debate. I think along those same lines is the fact that Republicans, and the pro-life coalition in general, never talk about men at all. I hear a lot of pro-lifers - from this organization even - say things like, 'well where do women get this notion that it's all about controlling women and not what it's really about which is saving babies?' I'm a pro-life person in my own choices and the mother of 3 kids, and even I can see that the actions and arguments that have been put forth by the pro-life coalition are squarely focused on solely blaming, punishing, controlling and holding women responsible...meanwhile the men who cause these unwanted pregnancies' walk away completely unscathed and absent from recrimination or responsibility. Where are all the laws criminalizing men for impregnating women, and all the government mandated intrusion into their sperm count? Well, if pro-lifers and Republicans wanted to actually save babies as they claim, they would do what most Americans would probably say is the most viable, ethical and logical solution which is focus on preventing unwanted pregnancies. They won't do that though because they've been holding hands with religious zealots who have actively worked to prevent easy access to contraceptives. Remember all the Obamacare fights over religious organizations not wanted to pay for contraceptives, or even worse, not even allow them to be covered in their employer based healthcare plans? What is this the Puritan States of America? Not to mention this effort would require having to actually speak to men about being more responsible and maybe even making some efforts on the contraceptive side themselves. God forbid men be held responsible amirite?! This entire debate is so rife with sexism and medieval views of women it's nauseating. I don't know if Republicans or men who are avidly pro-life will ever recognize their lack of self reflection on this issue since the reaction to the midterm losses for Republicans has led them to, as you point out - blame women - AGAIN. Read the room dudes.

Expand full comment
Nov 18, 2022·edited Nov 18, 2022

People actually voted for Hershel Walker for Senator, one of only 100 in the country, after hearing his speeches? Incredible!

Expand full comment

Quote From: "It turns out that American Greatness hates… Americans.": "... The GOP’s dejection is understandable. If the party can’t score a “red wave” under these conditions, then when will they ever? Those dispirited by the outcome should take another dose of reality and consider what elections will look like after another 10 or 15 years of mass immigration have taken their toll..." And, there's your trouble dear dejected GOP'ers - that last sentance - The Party has not had a very forward thinking platform of late. It's all about us and now. 10-15 years seems to be the distant, and not concerning, future. No wonder GenZ, who look to their immediate future, at least, are going to buy-in to existential policies, if they can even be called that.

Expand full comment

The loss of Michael Gerson is a great blow to me. I so much looked forward to his columns during these last years of madness in our nation. His voice was so clarifying in seeing thru the murkiness and ugliness of the GOP politics. I identified with him strongly and will miss his writing so much. I hope there are others that will take up his torch. Thank you. Dave.

Expand full comment
Nov 17, 2022·edited Nov 17, 2022

Charlie you nearly got the name right, you left out the most important name…

The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latterday Saints..

Expand full comment

Agree wholeheartedly. Not necessarily because they are consciously against abortion, but because they don’t really care - it’s not their problem, it’s the woman’s. But DNA tests now should be scaring them to death. And if a woman is denied an abortion, the father should have some lifetime charges put against them. Can you imagine how bad this will become should birth control be banned by SCOTUS?

Expand full comment

The insecurity that oozes from that human lawn gnome Ben Shapiro is hilarious. I will never understand how a "conservative" who believes in restricting the role the government plays in individuals' lives, believes the government should select who gets to participate in a civil institution. And let's be clear: that's what marriage is and has been for a very, very long time. If some churches/congregations choose not to recognize it or allow it, so be it. But the argument that same-sex secular marriages can't exist alongside hetero secular marriages is absurd on its face. Hell, despite being raised Catholic, my wedding was non-religious and licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Why should the sex of my partner have anything to do with it?

Expand full comment

Yes, it was back in a time that SCOTUS did their job by interpreting the law - not making it, as they do now.

Expand full comment

No, Grumpy, they can't offer fries. Then it becomes solicitation.

Expand full comment

For those concerned about immigration, I came upon a factoid:

<<<

Between 1880 and 1930, more than 27 million immigrants arrived, mainly from Europe and Canada. This peak immigration period—the last major wave >>>

A lot of the current GOP anti immigration proponents are probably the children and grand children of these folks.

Which brings me to the Hispanics moving to Republicans. They do have a lot in common with the party. They are anti illegal immigrants even though they or their parents were illegal immigrants. (I got mine, screw you.) Polish immigrants are also strongly Republican because they are better than illegal brown skin immigrants due to our favoring immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

As far as young women preferring Democrats and also being in favor of reproductive choice, I have one question, If they hate young single women so much, why do they want them to breed? And on the same note, why aren't they more in favor of gay rights. Same sex partners have no unplanned pregnancies so they don't need abortions.

Sorry for my long random comments.

Expand full comment

“Fear of the Other” is the very definition of bigotry. If they (others) aren’t like me, I can’t trust them and will fight them - immigrants, blacks, Jews, Dems, etc.. The point is hate. And most of who to hate hasn’t changed for centuries. The misguided fear of embracing them will somehow nullify me is the basis Republicans use to continue that hate/bigotry. And boomers are the most susceptible to that propaganda. The same hate was directed toward Italians, Poles, Irish, Germans and more when my parents were younger. The boomers moved beyond that - at least most. I remember my father being upset that my sister was marrying an Italian in the early 60s despite the great guy he was and remains. I thought my dad was nuts and remember laughing at the absurdity, and I was 9 yrs old.

Expand full comment

Soooo...MAGA * Fox Prime Time wants America to be Anti-Cat Owning Unmarried Skank, Anti-Spanish/Brazilian Portuguese/Hindi speaking Brown, and Anti-Elton John/RuPaul...maybe I am wrong, but, I really don't see that happening on this plane of existence. Maybe MAGA should spend less time using near-infrared red light therapy on their testicles and spend a bit more time looking around the world as it is and realize everyday existence in America is not the hellshow/sh*t casserole they make it out to be.

Expand full comment

Just because a Justice is conservative doesn't mean they aren’t liberal on some topics. Many examples in the history of SCOTUS of that. Unfortunately, not so on Trump’s picks. Federalist Society insured that. And now the Federalist Society picks justices for all Republican presidents now - not how it used to be.

From Wikipedia:

“ Although Burger was nominated by a conservative president,[2] the Burger Court also delivered some of the most liberal decisions regarding abortion, capital punishment, religious establishment, and school desegregation[3] during his tenure”

Expand full comment

Free, plentiful porn has convinced some segment of the male population that they don’t need women. They don’t want to have children because that would require them to compete with them for attention. And they likely believe that if women can’t get abortions, they will stop having children.

Expand full comment

After reading the language used to describe single women by this all male cast of incels, it makes me wonder what blinds them to their own elitist attitudes. Perhaps they are lonely, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and have cried too many tears into the coats of their cats.

Expand full comment

The GOP is becoming the Party of Incels. Just like in Canada, where Conservative Party videos were blind-tagged to a misogynist movement ("Men Going Their Own Way"). Guess the right wing's efforts at political division and culture warfare haven't been enough, and they are now trying to incite gender division and hostilities?

Expand full comment