He captured the Supreme Court. His SCOTUS selections torpedoed Roe, just like he wanted—needlessly endangering women's lives. And he walked away with millions.
Did you see this in the NYT this morning? Women are fighting back in Texas after being denied abortions because their fetuses were severely malformed - 2 didn’t even have a skull. The 5 women were denied abortions (one is the woman you highlighted above).
These are the stories that may eventually break through. For those of us who are old enough to remember, the tipping point in the late 60s/early 70s came after the publication of the nude, dead woman in a pool of blood after a back alley botched abortion. White, male, Republicans must be forced to respond to these women, and the families of women who die, as a result of their imposition of a narrow, non-Biblical, version of "Christianity" on the women of their states.
Yes, these are the stories I hope can “break through”. Although, based on what they did to that poor doctor in Indiana who provided an abortion to a 10 year old rape victim, I’m not holding my breath.
The problem is that Republicans keep saying “but we put these provisions in there to save the life of the mother” while making the laws as ambiguous as possible in order to keep doctors (and their lawyer overlords) second guessing every decision. It’s the new Republican playbook - draft a law, make it as all encompassing and as vague as possible, watch chaos unfold. It’s the same shit The Meatball is doing in Florida. Creating laws that are so vague that no one is quite sure how to interpret them and since people are terrified that they’ll be targeted for not applying the most draconian version of said law, that they do just that. I want to smack every person I know who still even considers voting for the GOP in any capacity and scream “WAKE THE FUCK UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE”. And then I realize, it might just already be too late.
People were saying the same thing in the late 60s and early 70s, but that photo was a tipping point. We have not reached today's tipping point, but we surely will. Let's also keep in front of us this reality, the Repubs learned nothing from the midterms and continue to double down on their Christo-fascist anti-abortion actions. Dobbs was a disaster for them, what do you think will happen when that Trump stooge in Amarillo rules that mifepristone is banned nationwide? The shit, as they say, will hit the fan. And anyone who thinks that Republicans will be viable in 2024 will be kidding themselves.
As I recall, that doctor has filed suit against a whole bunch of people for the shit she took over to 10 year old. And as for Rhonda Santis, what he is doing in Floriduh is unsustainable. The state is on the brink of a massive housing and insurance crisis brought on by his failed fiscal policies and relentless focus on culture war bullshit. And he is going to have a very hard time blaming the disaster on the Democrats, the libs, the gays or Biden. Also take comfort in the knowledge that within a decade Miami Beach and Mierdalardo will both be underwater because of climate change.
There are also three generations of Americans who never knew what it was like NOT to have Roe...until now. A right has been TAKEN AWAY that a vast swath of us have always known. That's a lot harder to maintain.
Just saw a Amanda Zurawski clip on MSNBC ~ she sums it up, "Nothing about this is pro-life." Leo and the Federalist Society's hypocrisy is astounding and must be addressed non-stop. Thanks for clanging the bell. More power to the TX women courageously suing...
It's so terrible. They will sue, but Leo's minions control a lot of the judiciary. This is why we MUST expand the Court. The way to beat them is to have 27 Justices. In one swoop, it ruins all their years of hard work.
The little fairy in the sky nonsense created in fear of death, has brought more death than any sane society should be willing to accept! All this misogynistic treatment of women is blood on Alito’s fucking hands, first and foremost! Leo realized opportunity, and has certainly cashed it in...Knights of Malta belong in a oubliette. Perhaps reviving the hanging on the cross practice is far humane a treatment for these connards!
Walgreens has fallen in line with 21 of the jamokes in states banning the day after pill, that’s serious fuckery!
Greg, thanks for this column. Not much news to me as Ive been following Religions evilness since about 1945. I was old enough to know about the Revival tents that came to rural America led by the Elmer Gantrys of the day.
The little towns were always poorer when th tents left.
These kooks goal is to make the US a Religious nation such as Iran and Isreal. No separation from their god.
As I recall there are more than 4000 religions.
Thats a lot of evil?
I wonder if Thomas, an alleged sexual harassment dude, is keeping an eye on Leo and Gini?
Puke on that thought, but as Mark Twain said “The easy confidence with which I know another man’s religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.”
Is harming women the point? Yes, but more importantly, controlling women is the point, and further, controlling PEOPLE is the point. When is enough, enough? Apparently, never. Leonard Leo and his ilk, or as I like to call them, "Mel Gibson Catholics," will never, ever be satisfied with whatever they accomplish in the taking down of the US as it now stands. There will always be something else to go after, something else to ban, something else to change to their liking. If anyone thinks that they will EVER be satisfied, and that eventually this will stop, it won't. The CONTROL is the point. Their goal is to bring 1984 into reality, and that's no hyperbole.
I used to be a Catholic, a NORMAL Catholic, who accompanied mom and dad to church every week, was an altar boy, went to a Catholic grade school until 7th grade, the whole nine yards. When I got informed enough to know what I was doing, I drifted away from the church -- the pedophilia and the money grubbing were too much unlike what they were preaching for my taste. And still, to this day, we're still hearing about priests being arrested or placed on leave for more salacious accusations of sexual abuse. In addition, every time you turn around, there's a new donation envelope to fill for this charity or that "mission." My mom, who is 90, and a devout Catholic, not only has to deal with the extra envelopes in her box of donation envelopes, but letters from the archdiocese with MORE donation envelopes inside, and a Letter from the Archbishop about the "World this", or the "International that." How do you turn your back on that when you're 90 and have been raised to believe that the Church was doing good work, and is basically, infallible? I don't begrudge my mom's faith, but when she commented that there were an awful lot of donations being requested of her, I expressed my opinion that maybe it would be more honest if the church just put up a box office at the entrance. The Catholic Church, like any other CORPORATION, is a FOR profit racket. So, then, take all of this and put Leonard Leo and the rest of the Mel Gibson Catholics on top of it and you have IRAN, only Catholics.
THAT is so far from democracy, you can't even reach it by satellite phone. Even MOM strongly believes in the separation of church and state! This co-mingling that's been going on needs to come to an end. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of faith. Our laws may have originated with the Ten Commandments, but most of them are just common sense and we would probably have gotten to them without a burning bush and a long trek up a mountain, twice. We are certainly free to have faith in whatever god we want to, or not have faith in anything outside the realm of what we can see, but neither should be imposed on us. That is not a free country. That is a theocracy that would require a king or a dictator or a pope or a mullah to keep everyone in line. The right-wing Christo-fascists keep trying, and we have to keep fighting against it. It's a damned shame that we have to spend ANY of our short time on earth doing it, but they keep forcing the issue like they force EVERY issue. As I think I've said before, if you're against abortion, don't have one. If you're against gay marriage, ONLY marry people of the opposite sex. And if you're against democracy, get the fuck out.
Yes. I am old enough to remember all the unjust clamor from Protestants about the DANGER of electing JFK, a CATHOLIC, president. Why, the Pope would take over America. Such nonsense...
I was a Catholic too. Not by choice but by family tradition and baptism. Went to Catholic school until the 5th grade in the late 50s early 60s while during that time my dad decided he wanted to be with another woman and family he started while still married to my mom. So my dad was ok in the eyes of the church it seems but my mom was not allowed to “accept” communion because she was divorced. She was a devout Catholic and accepted what ever they said and kept going to church every Sunday. Thank Dog we moved to California and I was able to change to public school. I refused to go to church or the catechism classes my mom wanted me to go to for my continued Catholic indoctrination. She allowed me to make my choice at age 11 that I now see as my age of reason. It makes me sad that she was never able to shake off that ridiculous Catholic guilt, and always felt like it was her fault. Like I have said in other Substack posts the only religion story I will listen to is George Carlin’s. That said we must band together and stand against their efforts to take away our freedom and control of women. They are already controlling children in some states by banning books and true history. Everyone is next unless we stop them. Sorry to sound so dark but I’m afraid this is a real threat.
A REAL threat. So sorry for what your mom endured, Karen, and was convinced to believe. I wanted to buy the old Catholic church in a village up here in northern Michigan, change the name to United Church of Karlin, and feature only the teachings of George Carlin. No pews, just comfy recliners, and goodness. A furnace company bought it for storage instead. At least it's not hurting people anymore.
And I thought Rupert was the worst we had to worry about. These cretins have been behind the scenes manipulators for decades and now they are in plain sight, destroying our rights just as the rulers of white Europe did to every perceived enemy, or lesser creature. As equality for women seemed on its way to reality, it scared the crap out of the likes of Catholic self-righteous bastards. Domination is the goal, in league with the likes of Putin. Anything but Christian…. The stage is set,
"Man is a living lie--a bitter jest upon himself--a conscious grain of sand lost in a desert of unconsciousness, thirsting for God and mocked by his own thirst-- Henry Van Dyke
Damn fine reporting. Thank you. I hope like hell this goes viral.
Thanks. Much appreciated!
Did you see this in the NYT this morning? Women are fighting back in Texas after being denied abortions because their fetuses were severely malformed - 2 didn’t even have a skull. The 5 women were denied abortions (one is the woman you highlighted above).
🎁article.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/06/us/texas-abortion-ban-suit.html?unlocked_article_code=H6h0d7kAsOMyghPZXblSv76ROMEPVBKFpvetolVzL4xkXNRDzEb4KJLXXJOebmmlqOxPoroNQ5kbsCyYumMPpP_rGgMGIfRJtxlmckWoCpXXhh6iMWCmg5DNb2z0e9Ynlc8BJUnNteX-Na0WZtPOnPmdwgVHVPu2RULJWVMjQzM4WiG0Uj2zd_WKWGFITelwVOba-5MXEw9MW25J1rvcfZU0vfyvFM8bkjGCiQVULwcd8cszzC2xGkyzCGwWX4uTNP70STEwbSTXpN752aafN2Uc3Xic3YxANT_FUhBNFcJHanNo97ehTC5at89FRBiaN2LcDJR6TLXZ7AP2&smid=url-share
Yes, and I’m appalled and scared. What happened to the separation of church and state?
The fanatics want it razed.
These are the stories that may eventually break through. For those of us who are old enough to remember, the tipping point in the late 60s/early 70s came after the publication of the nude, dead woman in a pool of blood after a back alley botched abortion. White, male, Republicans must be forced to respond to these women, and the families of women who die, as a result of their imposition of a narrow, non-Biblical, version of "Christianity" on the women of their states.
Yes, these are the stories I hope can “break through”. Although, based on what they did to that poor doctor in Indiana who provided an abortion to a 10 year old rape victim, I’m not holding my breath.
The problem is that Republicans keep saying “but we put these provisions in there to save the life of the mother” while making the laws as ambiguous as possible in order to keep doctors (and their lawyer overlords) second guessing every decision. It’s the new Republican playbook - draft a law, make it as all encompassing and as vague as possible, watch chaos unfold. It’s the same shit The Meatball is doing in Florida. Creating laws that are so vague that no one is quite sure how to interpret them and since people are terrified that they’ll be targeted for not applying the most draconian version of said law, that they do just that. I want to smack every person I know who still even considers voting for the GOP in any capacity and scream “WAKE THE FUCK UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE”. And then I realize, it might just already be too late.
People were saying the same thing in the late 60s and early 70s, but that photo was a tipping point. We have not reached today's tipping point, but we surely will. Let's also keep in front of us this reality, the Repubs learned nothing from the midterms and continue to double down on their Christo-fascist anti-abortion actions. Dobbs was a disaster for them, what do you think will happen when that Trump stooge in Amarillo rules that mifepristone is banned nationwide? The shit, as they say, will hit the fan. And anyone who thinks that Republicans will be viable in 2024 will be kidding themselves.
As I recall, that doctor has filed suit against a whole bunch of people for the shit she took over to 10 year old. And as for Rhonda Santis, what he is doing in Floriduh is unsustainable. The state is on the brink of a massive housing and insurance crisis brought on by his failed fiscal policies and relentless focus on culture war bullshit. And he is going to have a very hard time blaming the disaster on the Democrats, the libs, the gays or Biden. Also take comfort in the knowledge that within a decade Miami Beach and Mierdalardo will both be underwater because of climate change.
Thanks, Peter.
There are also three generations of Americans who never knew what it was like NOT to have Roe...until now. A right has been TAKEN AWAY that a vast swath of us have always known. That's a lot harder to maintain.
Hey, is that a silver lining?
Chaos, that's exactly right -- chaos and cruelty. They don't care who gets sick or dies. They WANT us to get sick, go broke, and die.
I certainly hope so. It is appalling. And they DARE call themselves "pro life." Gaslighters, is what they are.
Her name was Gerri Santoro. I remember the picture being published in Ms. Magazine.
Thanks for sharing.
This is like scenes from a horror movie, it really is. But hey, Leonard Leo has a direct line to God, so...
Sadly, that smarmy, sanctimonious, tailored-up, bespectacled prig is kicking democracy where it counts. Exposing him is the start of fighting back
He doesn't like being in the spotlight, so shine the spotlight on him.
Another Rupert, who likes to rule from the dark
Thank You. Excellent, and devastating. Shared.
Thanks.
Just saw a Amanda Zurawski clip on MSNBC ~ she sums it up, "Nothing about this is pro-life." Leo and the Federalist Society's hypocrisy is astounding and must be addressed non-stop. Thanks for clanging the bell. More power to the TX women courageously suing...
It's so terrible. They will sue, but Leo's minions control a lot of the judiciary. This is why we MUST expand the Court. The way to beat them is to have 27 Justices. In one swoop, it ruins all their years of hard work.
Agree wholeheartedly in court expansion ~ the only way to dilute the majority and at that number, would take way beyond Leo's lifetime to recapture!
The little fairy in the sky nonsense created in fear of death, has brought more death than any sane society should be willing to accept! All this misogynistic treatment of women is blood on Alito’s fucking hands, first and foremost! Leo realized opportunity, and has certainly cashed it in...Knights of Malta belong in a oubliette. Perhaps reviving the hanging on the cross practice is far humane a treatment for these connards!
Walgreens has fallen in line with 21 of the jamokes in states banning the day after pill, that’s serious fuckery!
Exceptional piece Greg!!
Thanks, Patrick. Blood, real blood, and THEY are responsible. If there is a hell, they will know its heat.
Would change to CVS but they have right-wing nutter ties so I hear
Greg, thanks for this column. Not much news to me as Ive been following Religions evilness since about 1945. I was old enough to know about the Revival tents that came to rural America led by the Elmer Gantrys of the day.
The little towns were always poorer when th tents left.
These kooks goal is to make the US a Religious nation such as Iran and Isreal. No separation from their god.
As I recall there are more than 4000 religions.
Thats a lot of evil?
I wonder if Thomas, an alleged sexual harassment dude, is keeping an eye on Leo and Gini?
Ha! One does wonder about that relationship and dynamic...
Puke on that thought, but as Mark Twain said “The easy confidence with which I know another man’s religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.”
Is harming women the point? Yes, but more importantly, controlling women is the point, and further, controlling PEOPLE is the point. When is enough, enough? Apparently, never. Leonard Leo and his ilk, or as I like to call them, "Mel Gibson Catholics," will never, ever be satisfied with whatever they accomplish in the taking down of the US as it now stands. There will always be something else to go after, something else to ban, something else to change to their liking. If anyone thinks that they will EVER be satisfied, and that eventually this will stop, it won't. The CONTROL is the point. Their goal is to bring 1984 into reality, and that's no hyperbole.
I used to be a Catholic, a NORMAL Catholic, who accompanied mom and dad to church every week, was an altar boy, went to a Catholic grade school until 7th grade, the whole nine yards. When I got informed enough to know what I was doing, I drifted away from the church -- the pedophilia and the money grubbing were too much unlike what they were preaching for my taste. And still, to this day, we're still hearing about priests being arrested or placed on leave for more salacious accusations of sexual abuse. In addition, every time you turn around, there's a new donation envelope to fill for this charity or that "mission." My mom, who is 90, and a devout Catholic, not only has to deal with the extra envelopes in her box of donation envelopes, but letters from the archdiocese with MORE donation envelopes inside, and a Letter from the Archbishop about the "World this", or the "International that." How do you turn your back on that when you're 90 and have been raised to believe that the Church was doing good work, and is basically, infallible? I don't begrudge my mom's faith, but when she commented that there were an awful lot of donations being requested of her, I expressed my opinion that maybe it would be more honest if the church just put up a box office at the entrance. The Catholic Church, like any other CORPORATION, is a FOR profit racket. So, then, take all of this and put Leonard Leo and the rest of the Mel Gibson Catholics on top of it and you have IRAN, only Catholics.
THAT is so far from democracy, you can't even reach it by satellite phone. Even MOM strongly believes in the separation of church and state! This co-mingling that's been going on needs to come to an end. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of faith. Our laws may have originated with the Ten Commandments, but most of them are just common sense and we would probably have gotten to them without a burning bush and a long trek up a mountain, twice. We are certainly free to have faith in whatever god we want to, or not have faith in anything outside the realm of what we can see, but neither should be imposed on us. That is not a free country. That is a theocracy that would require a king or a dictator or a pope or a mullah to keep everyone in line. The right-wing Christo-fascists keep trying, and we have to keep fighting against it. It's a damned shame that we have to spend ANY of our short time on earth doing it, but they keep forcing the issue like they force EVERY issue. As I think I've said before, if you're against abortion, don't have one. If you're against gay marriage, ONLY marry people of the opposite sex. And if you're against democracy, get the fuck out.
I love you, Steve.
Yes. I am old enough to remember all the unjust clamor from Protestants about the DANGER of electing JFK, a CATHOLIC, president. Why, the Pope would take over America. Such nonsense...
I remember too,
I was a Catholic too. Not by choice but by family tradition and baptism. Went to Catholic school until the 5th grade in the late 50s early 60s while during that time my dad decided he wanted to be with another woman and family he started while still married to my mom. So my dad was ok in the eyes of the church it seems but my mom was not allowed to “accept” communion because she was divorced. She was a devout Catholic and accepted what ever they said and kept going to church every Sunday. Thank Dog we moved to California and I was able to change to public school. I refused to go to church or the catechism classes my mom wanted me to go to for my continued Catholic indoctrination. She allowed me to make my choice at age 11 that I now see as my age of reason. It makes me sad that she was never able to shake off that ridiculous Catholic guilt, and always felt like it was her fault. Like I have said in other Substack posts the only religion story I will listen to is George Carlin’s. That said we must band together and stand against their efforts to take away our freedom and control of women. They are already controlling children in some states by banning books and true history. Everyone is next unless we stop them. Sorry to sound so dark but I’m afraid this is a real threat.
As real as the law allows, sadly
A REAL threat. So sorry for what your mom endured, Karen, and was convinced to believe. I wanted to buy the old Catholic church in a village up here in northern Michigan, change the name to United Church of Karlin, and feature only the teachings of George Carlin. No pews, just comfy recliners, and goodness. A furnace company bought it for storage instead. At least it's not hurting people anymore.
Oh I love your idea MaryPat! I would have gone in on it with you.
100%, you know them well…
And I thought Rupert was the worst we had to worry about. These cretins have been behind the scenes manipulators for decades and now they are in plain sight, destroying our rights just as the rulers of white Europe did to every perceived enemy, or lesser creature. As equality for women seemed on its way to reality, it scared the crap out of the likes of Catholic self-righteous bastards. Domination is the goal, in league with the likes of Putin. Anything but Christian…. The stage is set,
"But here is the devoutly pious Leonard Leo, a Knight of Malta don’t you know, greasing up the camels!"
That could have so many profane meanings.
Still no nickel under my pillow this morning
Here’s hoping Ms. Zurawski has very good legal council; she should take her case all the way to SCOTUS.
"Man is a living lie--a bitter jest upon himself--a conscious grain of sand lost in a desert of unconsciousness, thirsting for God and mocked by his own thirst-- Henry Van Dyke