This morning I started writing a column that would give Senator Mitch McConnell some credit for: FINALLY allowing some action to curb our insane gun violence.
But while I was typing, Supreme Court decision until overthrow Roe v. Wade was released, and I was again reminded that all the small, positive steps Mitch is taking (under duress, I might add) pale in comparison to the infernal theocracy he has unleashed on this country.
It was he who effectively ushered in the Supreme Court Citizens United decision and opened the floodgates to the tsunamis of money in politics that have so completely corrupted our legislative process. That, in turn, has left Washington awash with dirty money, even influencing the already corrupt and daring way McConnell has cluttered the Court with right-wing activists. People who promised that Roe v. Wade, by the way, was a standing law. Those judges fulfilled many conservative dreams this term and ended much of what made this country great: A hard separation between church and statethe ability of states and cities to regulate gun violenceand last, but most importantly, a woman’s right to choose.
Thanks to Kentucky’s own right-wing government, a trigger law makes any abortion illegal in Kentucky today, immediately at 10:06 a.m. It won’t end abortion, of course, but it will take women to alleys and dirty rooms where they used to go, to die from dangerous, unregulated procedures. Under this trigger law, there are no exceptions for rape, incest or teens. Think about that for a moment. If a 12-year-old is raped by her father and becomes pregnant, she cannot have an abortion in the state of Kentucky. Even with safe and effective medication.
Remember how in the leaked version, Justice Alito said this decision only concerns abortion? Well, Judge Clarence Thomas (whose wife, Ginni, appears to have been very involved in undoing the 2020 presidential election) said wait a second. “For that reason, in future cases, we must reconsider all substantive precedents of this Court, including Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell.”
to remind you, Griswold legalized contraception, Laurentius legalized same-sex relationships and Obergefell legalized same-sex marriage. Theocracy is perhaps too weak a word to describe what is coming down.
The only bright spot is the tireless work of the Kentuckians who planned this travesty. As documented by Alex Acquistogroups like the Kentucky Health Justice Network have been planning and raising money for women to leave the state to get the health care they need.
It is still deeply depressing that Mitch McConnell’s personal display of power over 30 years has caused so many innocent victims, including our democracy. And wait for his henchmen and women to take over contraception and gay rights.
This is all I’m getting through right now. By his own accountMcConnell’s move on guns didn’t come because he was personally traumatized by the thought of 19 dead children in Uvalde. He wasn’t traumatized enough by Sandy Hook to do anything. It came because of the public pressure on Republicans to do something. And that was because hundreds of thousands of people protested and called their representative and senators demanding action.
It will be a long time before our democracy is back. Supreme Court justices are there for life. There are legal remedies, but the only way to get them is to get rid of politicians like McConnell, Rand Paul, our local Republicans, and anyone who puts personal power above the needs of women and children. It’s really the only way we can do it, but we all have to show up.