The smug Trumpian majority on the US Supreme Court, in basically looking the

[Atticus]

Last edited Thu Sep 2, 2021, 10:45 AM - Edit history (1)

other way while moralistic Texas zealots overturned Roe v. Wade, have done something that their predecessors have ridiculed for decades: they have "exalted form over substance".

The misogynists who drafted the Texas bill produced a statute that substitutes the frenzied lynch-mob mentality of anti-choice extremists for the usual enforcement mechanisms of traditional statutes. And, by design, it APPEARS that it is not the state of Texas that is denying womens' rights; it is individuals. And, the transparent pretense that Texas could say "It ain't us, Your Honors!" was all that the five judicial whores who voted to allow this fiasco needed.

Everyone understands that Texas has intentionally taken action that has encouraged anti-choice zealots to do what the Constitution and decades of precedent would not allow: overruling Roe v. Wade. That is the "substance", but the transparent and arrogant pretense is the "form" and that was enough for what is now a SCOTUS that MUST be reformed!

[Walleye]

1. I don't understand where this $10,000 bounty is coming from

Is there a special fund. If it’s state funds then it’s the state acting against the rights of women. How long before somebody tries to claim the money by turning in their ex-girlfriend. This is such an obvious consequence I have to think it was intentional. We should start a go fund me defense fund. Insurrectionists are making millions with it

[Irish_Dem]

2. The defendants have to pay the $10K and the attorney fees of the person filing the complaint.

If the defendant wins the case, they don't get their attorney fees paid.

[Walleye]

9. So the courts are tied up, and the taxpayers pay for that

How do they intend to force somebody to pay these damages. They act as if they write a law and it’s automatically enforced. These judgments will be appealed to the highest courts. Who would even pay this without a fight

[leftieNanner]

13. "without a fight..."

They will target low income people with this law who cannot afford to fight.

That's by design.

The rich and connected will always be able to get an abortion.

[Walleye]

20. I know. It's so discouraging I just can't

[Tree Lady]

18. They can attach wages to people bill companies

They are taking the people who help women get the abortion not the woman to court for the money. So doctors, clinics, any citizen that donates or helps someone.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Yes taxpayers will pay in the end. Courts can garnish wages I think.

Or put liens on houses. Or you can get an attorney to pursue it for you.

[Walleye]

28. It sounds like a total mess. The farthest thing from good legislation.

Oh that’s right they don’t believe in good legislation. They believe in prayer and propaganda

[Irish_Dem]

33. It is designed as a way to harass and bully women, create chaos and division.

It is not in good faith or thoughtful legislation.

It is just more crime family tactics.

[C_U_L8R]

6. It's multilevel marketing for magats, morons and misogynists.

Republican ideology is reaching its inevitable conclusion.

[Walleye]

21. We can only hope it's a conclusion

[ancianita]

29. It is the state, yes. That proves the state is presuming an overriding interest in banning abortion.

This should not be a contest of money as billionaires have made our politics, and now our constitutional rights.

Even given this logic, I doubt we can turn to SCOTUS to overrule itself.

[Lonestarblue]

30. The law says that anyone helping a woman obtain an abortion after six weeks can be sued.

Those being sued will mostly be clinics like Planned Parenthood and their employees, especially the team doing the abortion. Every clinic should be on the alert for the anti-abortion wing nuts who will pose as a patient so they can gather information about what staff are saying to pregnant women for whom they can no longer provide an abortion. They can’t even suggest going to another state or give them contact information for other states because that is aiding a woman.

All clinics should just announce that they are no longer doing abortions, only healthcare. That would take away legal abortions before six weeks, but that’s already a much smaller number, and it takes away the excuse for lawsuits. The anti-abortion crowd would crow about such a result, but the fact that this law in effect stopped all abortion except for very extreme cases like a woman bleeding to death from an ectopic pregnancy might work against Republicans in future elections. A majority of Texas favor keeping Roe v. Wade.

[Walleye]

31. Wow. This is the America they want?

[fwvinson]

3. The only people I know who have had an abortion are Republicans.

[SallyHemmings]

4. Me too

[Midnight Writer]

5. I'd never thought of it that way, but me three.

[Tanuki]

11. I knew some scared, desperate young girls who weren't old enough to vote.

[jaxexpat]

12. Then this is an opportunity for PAYBACK: Texas Style

Contact your local abortion tattle hotline, anonymously, and name every GQP'er you can think of as suspiciously associated with abortionists. Suspects are plentiful. Facts don't matter. Borrow your conservative co-worker's phone and call now, nobody will know.

[HUAJIAO]

32. remind you of the Salem witch trials?

[jaxexpat]

38. How very adroit, Huajiao.

As often as that scenario has played out and ALWAYS with the sanctimonious ones being the bad guys. It's like, by now, one of those basic human truths, touching the hearts of an overwhelming majority. Judgmental and sanctimonious people are simply incapable of introspection while infinitely capable of cruelty. Makes for a perfect combo of EVIL.

[jaxexpat]

39. How very adroit, Huajiao.

As often as that scenario has played out and ALWAYS with the sanctimonious ones being the bad guys. It's like, by now, one of those basic human truths, touching the hearts of an overwhelming majority. Judgmental and sanctimonious people are simply incapable of introspection while infinitely capable of cruelty. Makes for a perfect combo of EVIL.

[dalton99a]

7. The Texas Taliban are sneaky

They're forcing providers out of business without banning them

Roe v. Wade is dead without being killed (ignore the Trump judges' perfunctory bullshit about not ruling on the constitutionality of the Texas law)

[leftieNanner]

14. Idaho too

I read an article in the paper this morning that Idaho passed a 6 week ban a while back with a trigger in it that allows it to go into effect if a Federal Court allows it to happen in another state.

Every Republican controlled state will now pass the Texas law and abortion will be banned in many states.

If you live in one, get your daughters on birth control now.

[pecosbob]

8. They obviously looked away as the new Jim Crow laws were passed

Miscegeny laws and all white townships are likely next. You can count on them subverting antidiscriminatory law in housing and education.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. Exactly eom

[blm]

10. I think the Texas law as written would've lost Scalia, even.

[rdking647]

16. what to do

find every company that donates to GOP candidates.
boycott them.
boycott every entertainer that appears in texas.
boycott any sport team that plays an away game in texas.

any flight crew that has to fly to texas on an airline should refuse.
shut this whole fucking state down

[Corgigal]

17. Texas wants business to think

they are so business friendly. Not if you’re a woman, married to a woman , or have a daughter in your life. This is a good time to brain drain that state.

[dalton99a]

23. Pretty and nice are adjectives not applicable to Texas

It is an ugly and mean state. There is not much love for Texas among transplants, except the Trump trash

[Corgigal]

25. I agree.

I was only stationed there for three months. I would never go back, unless a short trip to Austin.

[Jon King]

19. This is a scare tactic, there will never be a lawsuit actually filed.

Lets see if they prove me wrong. Actually filing a civil lawsuit would open this fake law up to all sorts of federal civil rights scrutiny regarding the woman, HIPAA issues, defendant's civil rights issues regarding the provider's ability to defend themselves, etc.

Any actual lawsuit filed would bring along with it the entire progressive lawyers, Planned Parenthood lawyers, DOJ, you name it. The medical provider sued would have a team of well funded lawyers the likes of which we have rarely seen before. The test case would be tied up in the courts forever.

And the Repugs know this. Like I said, maybe I am wrong.....but I highly doubt anyone dares test this in the court system.

[nini]

27. The cult followers will most definitely try this

They see a monetary reward for their fascist views. They will see themselves as heroes.

[maxsolomon]

35. The RTL Zealots are chomping at the bit to try.

They have armies of lawyers, too, who will rack up impressive fees.

[RVN VET71]

22. Please remember that Texas also passed a law regarding concealed carry.

It adds to the danger of those seeking abortions, seeking to help those seeking abortion, or just those who look like they may be in some way either seeking or looking to help a seeker of an abortion.

Of course, Texas also permits -- even encourages -- fascist goons to “monitor” polling places -- armed, of course. Nothing intimidating about that, is there?

[bucolic_frolic]

24. One Radical State cannot be allowed to overturn the US Constitution

[maxsolomon]

36. Soon it will be every state with a GQP Legislature & Governor.

before the year is out.

[ancianita]

34. I have a feeling that fictional personhoods have been behind this, too. In Alabama, for instance,

Our congressional Democrats should know that these corporations have DONATED to the Alabama politicians who banned the majority of their state from any abortions for any reason.

Pro-choicers? These corporate donors are more important to boycott and call than any others. We see them.

-- Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, Atlanta, GA
-- AT&T CEO Randall L. Stephenson, Dallas, TX
-- Exxon Mobile CEO Darren Woods, Irving, TX
-- Pfizer Albert Bourla and Ian Read, New York, NY
-- Walmart Greg Penner and Doug McMillon,Bentonville, AR
-- Boeing Dennis Muilenburg - Chicago, IL
-- State Farm Michael Tipsord - Bloomington, IL
-- Eli Lilly David A. Ricks, Joshua Smiley, Indianapolis, IN
-- Caterpillar Jim Umpleby, Deerfield, IL

-- The rest:
Koch Industries, Witchita, KS -- run by the supposedly libertarian Koch brothers, donated $2,500 to Ainsworth, $1,500 to Chambliss, $1,500 to Ledbetter, and $2,000 to Reed.

Fantasy sports site Draft Kings -- Boston, MA -- donated $5,000 to McCutcheon, and $500 to Ainsworth.

Tobacco-maker Altria -- Henrico County, Virginia -- Howard Willard -- donated $1,000 to Chambliss, and $500 to Reed.

Cable provider Comcast -- Tupelo, MS -- Ralph J. Roberts -- donated $2,500 to McCutcheon.

Health insurance giant Caremark -- Birmingham, AL and Northbrook, IL -- donated $1,500 to McCutcheon.

Anheuser-Busch -- St. Louis, MO -- Michael Doukeris -- donated $1,000 to McCutcheon, and $1,500 to Reed.

DONATION UPDATE (5/16): From Judd Legum, the corporate contributors to Governor Ivey herself (per tweet) :

Judd Legum's list
@JuddLegum

Here are the corporations backing @GovernorKayIvey, who signed the ban into law:

@BCBSAssociation (BlueCross) (75K)
@ATT (113K)
@LillyPad (30K)
@StateFarm (10K)
@Boeing (10K)
@Walmart (7K)
@CocaCola (10K)
@exxonmobil (5K)
@comcast (21K)
@pfizer (5K)

The creep is certain. The darkness unfolds.

The question is: Why should human beings be subject to the dictates of corporate personhoods. This is real harm, physical and legal, enabled by those fictional personhoods, with no consequence to themselves. All they had to do was have their state house tools write the law.

This will be how corporations rule this nation in the future.

Women can send the fictions the reminder that women constitute much of their investment and end consumer markets.

As for Congress and the White House they need to ask themselves:

why half the population be embattled when the fully state ratified ERA sits waiting to be passed. It will end ALL of this.

AND they should both ask why should American women have to be embattled at all?!

Why should women's reproductive freedom always come down to what they can afford to pay to get that freedom. Then Koch would have been right -- "money is freedom."

It's as if half the American population live on a corporate campus and democracy is over.

[bluestarone]

37. Need to turn THIS into the biggest reason to VOTE!!

VOTE like never before. LOCAL elections matter!!! Get them ALL the fuck out of office.