Less than four years ago a tearful, angry Brett Kavanaugh, hours from his confirmation until his lifetime appointment to the most powerful judicial body in the United States, vows to one day avenge the ways he has been wronged. “You’ve planted the wind,” he told Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The country will reap whirlwinds.”
I suspect that he envisioned that his opportunity to bond with people he believed was wrong with him would come so quickly.
On Monday night, Politico released details of a leaked Supreme Court opinion draft in Dobbs sues Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case is about to break with nearly half a century of court precedent. For the roughly 73 million Americans who are women of childbearing age (and millions not to mention those who look down on them on the surface), bad news.
“We hold that Roe and Casey must be thoroughly examined,” wrote Justice Samuel Alito, the archenemy of reproductive freedom. This is the first time in court history that a draft ruling has been leaked. If someone with Susan Collins-level unknown needed a clear sign that the court had gone the animated partisan route to the other two branches of federal government, that’s it. Alito may have written his draft comments in crayons on the back of an invitation a brochure about the Federation of Cinema Nights and just a little clearer.
There is much to blame where we find ourselves today. The biggest portion of fault (or, in their view, “credit”) goes to right-wing supporters who have worked with this goal since the Reagan administration. If the fight against Roe as a person, they will be old enough to near the end of their reproductive years, if not already past them.
But we cannot talk about credit and blame without acknowledging the efforts of self-styled, self-defeating mainstream Democrats and moderates who have not made threats against them. again Roe serious enough or not interested enough in building any kind of long-term, organized, organized plan to save it other than crafting fundraising email subject lines that make donors feel as if chipping in $10 would make some sort of difference in the “war . “Prayer says: What the hell fight?
At the exact moment this news broke, my Instagram feed is a veritable museum of contemporary privilege as the super-rich — from the Kardashians to Hillary Clinton — have Met Gala red carpet themed Golden Age in a display that feels obscene. Blake Lively appeared in a gown reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty! How very! I’m sure once they’ve finished their official event, Anna Wintour’s favorite political libertarian celebrities will find time to post about how gruesome this is. before continuing their important work in promoting celebrity awareness.
While Alito’s leaked opinion is still a draft, if it were to be the final verdict of the court, abortion would immediately become illegal or restricted in the future. at least 26 states. Concurring with Alito’s draft comments were four of the court’s other conservative judges—Thomas, Gorsuch, Barrett, and, yes, Brett Kavanaugh, the mother of the vortexes.
Since the 2016 election, the court has veered sharply to the right, thanks to Mitch McConnell’s pre-Trump obstructionism, the retirement of Anthony Kennedy, and the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Kavanaugh now finds himself, ideologically, in the middle of everything, which means in 5-4 Roe v. Wade straw poll, he’s the swing voter.
This is ironic, and not “like rain on your wedding day”. In an editor’s note it said “so hot, why don’t you cross another path” this way. Kavanaugh can do the right thing by the American people (more than 70 percent of them do not want Roe overturned) or he can follow his threat to vent his fury on those who probably couldn’t pick him out of the lineup of chubby suburban dads.
Not that this will make a difference in fait compeli, but here’s a fun trivia: The average age of first-time mothers in the US is 26 years old. The average age of members of the US House of Representatives is twice as high– about 58. The average age of US Senators is close to 64. The average gender is “male”. I’m racking my brains and can’t think of a comparable legislature where young women can make rules governing the fertility of old men but can’t think of one. anything outside of very niche fantasy pages might require some creative googling to find.
It makes no sense that we’ve come to this place, though those of us “come here is the end of Roe” beat saw this happen even before Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his unscheduled retirement in 2018. I’m sure when we check our inboxes tomorrow, there will be no “please” cards. sorry for calling you hysterical” from the forge in Washington dipshits who took forever to finally let us know that our concerns were overblown. Senator Susan Collins will still be a senator tomorrow. Kathleen Parker will still be a columnist for Washington Post. Brian Stelter will still have a show on CNN.
In the Bullshit ecosystem, there are no consequences if wrong, only rewards for doubling down.
Smash the trapdoor.
