I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
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Heather Cox Richardson
· November 7, 2023 (Tuesday)Today was Election Day across the country. In a number of key state elections, voters rejected the extremism of MAGA Republicans and backed Democrats and Democratic policies. Four of the most closely watched races were in Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
In Ohio, voters enshrined the right of individuals to make their own healthcare decisions, including the right to abortion, into the state constitution. Opponents of abortion rights have worked hard since the summer to stop the measure from passing, trying first to make it more difficult to amend the constitution—voters overwhelmingly rejected that measure in an August special election—then by blanketing the state with disinformation about the measure, including through official state websites and with ads by former Fox News Channel personality Tucker Carlson, and finally by dropping 26,000 voters from the rolls. None of it worked. Voters protected the right to abortion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognizing the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, voters in all seven state elections where the issue was on the ballot have fought back to protect abortion rights. Today’s vote in Ohio, where the end of Roe v. Wade resurrected an extreme antiabortion bill, makes it eight.
Abortion was also on the ballot In Virginia, where the entire state legislature was up for grabs today. Republican governor Glenn Youngkin made it clear he wanted control of the legislature in order to push through a measure banning abortion after 15 weeks. This ploy was one Republicans were using to seem to soften their antiabortion stance, which has proven terribly unpopular. Youngkin was taking the idea out for a spin to see how it might play in a presidential election, perhaps with a hope of entering the Republican race for the presidential nomination as someone who could claim to have turned a blue state red. It didn’t work. Voters recognized that it was disingenuous to call a 15-week limit a compromise on the abortion issue, since most serious birth defects are not detected until 20 weeks into a pregnancy.Going into the election, Democrats held the state senate. But rather than giving Youngkin control over both houses of the state legislature, voters left Democrats in charge of the Senate and flipped the House of Delegates over to the Democrats. The Democrats are expected to elevate House minority leader Don Scott of Portsmouth to the speakership, making him the first Black House speaker in Virginia history. Virginia voters also elevated Delegate Danica Roem, the first known transgender delegate, to the state senate. At the same time, voters in Loudoun County, which had become a hot spot in the culture wars with attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals and with activists insisting the schools must not teach critical race theory, rejected that extremism and turned control of the school board over to those who championed diversity and equity.
In Kentucky, voters reelected Democratic governor Andy Beshear, who was running against Republican state attorney general Daniel Cameron. A defender of Kentucky’s abortion ban, Cameron was also the attorney general who declined to bring charges against the law enforcement officers who killed Breonna Taylor in her bed in 2020 after breaking into her apartment in a mistaken search for drugs.
In Pennsylvania, Democrat Daniel McCaffery won a supreme court seat, enabling the Democrats to increase their majority there. McCaffery positioned himself as a defender of abortion rights.
There will be more news about election results and what they tell us in the coming days. Tonight, though, political analyst Tom Bonier wrote: “My biggest takeaway from tonight: in '22 abortion rights had the biggest impact where it was literally on the ballot, less so when trying to draw the connection in candidate races. That has changed. Voters clearly made the connection that voting for GOP candidates=abortion bans.”
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I like to frame Ohio Issue One as a win for women’ reproductive health. A lot of men on social media pissed that the measure passed start accusing women of killing babies. (The men are, imo, pissed they are losing control over women). In my opinion, the majority of men have almost no idea what all is involved in women’s reproductive issues, starting with how so many men have such little knowledge of woman’s anatomy. So I like to remind them that this is medical matter to be discussed with a woman’s doctor, not something to be determined by politicians or religious leaders.
Yes, I almost forgot about the Ohio August special election where they tried to make it difficult to amend the state constitution. I also came across many articles claiming that Issue 1 was confusing, blah blah blah. It wasn’t.
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I was also happy to read the news here that Moms for Liberty candidates lost big time. I have no tolerance for their ilk. There are plenty of moms like them in my area (our county library has been under attack for months by the conservative religious who take up residence around here because of a Catholic university in one town). I am learning to recognize these moms and avoid them. I think their attempts at trying to ban books is similar to those who are against reproductive freedom. For them it’s an easy target. They don’t really want to exert much effort or do anything constructive. They just want control and to tell people how to live. I get angry over how limiting religion is.
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My DH is of the opinion that no man should get to vote on any issues that involve women's reproductive health! (One of the reasons that he IS my DH!)
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Spooky all great and I sure like your last one.
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Good to see you back Betrayal. Been missing you here.
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I’m a blue dot in a sea of red. My county in VA is overwhelmingly republican. I was happy to see VA stay blue and show Youngkin that he’s not a viable presidential candidate. He was hoping that a strong showing for republicans would help launch his candidacy and campaign for 2024. Thankfully in VA, he’s not able to run for governor again in 2025.
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I so enjoy Heather Cox Richardson and so glad you dropped that in Ruth. I had a lot going on and was going to go back and read HCR and forgot. She is so good at explaining so people like me get it.
Divine, I too loved that Moms for Liberty LOST. I'm not sure but aren't they the types that used to be called dilettantes. They like to take the name and recognition as long as someone else provides the energy and work involved. Between you and cardplayer having to live directly in the midst of Reps I'd find it so difficult. There are a lot here in our town and I made it a point not to say much unless I am sure by what others have said that I can speak a bit more freely. That means I don't have much conversation usually when I'm out and about.
Lately the BIL says almost nothing about politics and despite trying to palm himself off as a Libertarian he is still I know very many Reps. He is pretty bright (not that it means much where the Loon is concerned) but I think part of the reason he doesn't is he knows at some point someone is going to blurt out all the things about the Loon Reps. would rather not have to face up to. It does save us from constantly reminding him we don't talk politics, especially with family.
I do fight an urge now and then to say something to him to the effect that how can someone with his intelligence justify hanging in with the Loon and the party. What does someone that smart tell themselves. It is my big curiosity.
Ruth, you are indeed a lucky woman to have a hubby who thinks like yours.
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Darn right.
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Not surprising to me. Guess they'd like to turn Christ into the Loon.
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Almosts that far gone.
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Finally — something true out of this one.
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Well we know there are no adults in the Reps. party.
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Red wave — another Red embarrassment.
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A total waste of skin, bones, teeth and clothes.
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and grifting.
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Degradation to the absolute maximum.
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Last night gets even better for Democrats.
Billionaire Governor and Democrat JB Pritzker, who just spent $1.5 MILLION dollars in states like Virginia and Ohio to bring in massive gains for Democrats now days he is ready to move to swing states in 2024.
Oh this is good.
Pritzker’s organization contributed of $25,000 each to four state Senate Democratic candidates in Virginia, and an additional $150,000 to the state’s Democratic Party.
The move helped catapult candidates in the pivotal Nov. 7 election that will reshape abortion restrictions.
Pritzker will promote these issues and convince voters that DEMOCRATS deliver.
This is a huge win for DEMOCRATS.1 -
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Grievances and vengeance is all he has had in his head since he got forced out of the WH.
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