Argentina Legalizes Abortion, a Milestone in a Conservative Region
Source: New York Times
Argentina on Wednesday became the largest nation in Latin America to legalize abortion, a landmark vote in a conservative region and a victory for a grass-roots movement that turned years of rallies into political power.
The high-stakes vote in the Senate gripped the nation into the early morning, and the measure’s approval — by a wider-than-expected margin of 38 to 29, with one abstention — came after hours of often dramatic debate, exposing the tensions between the long-dominant Roman Catholic Church, whose influence is waning, and a growing feminist movement.
Argentina’s president, Alberto Fernández, has promised to sign the bill into law, making it legal for women to end pregnancies for any reason up to 14 weeks. After that, there will be exceptions allowed for rape and the health of the mother.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/world/americas/argentina-legalizes-abortion.html
Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner presides today's Senate vote legalizing abortion on demand up to the 14th week.
The bill, the ninth public effort to legalize abortion in Argentina since 1984, is supported by President Alberto Fernández - the country's first openly pro-choice president.
"Abortion is a public health problem," Fernández noted. "The rest is hypocrisy."
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Let's hope the leftover fascists in Argentina will not be strong enough to create any serious threat, as they do here.
Congratulations to an admirable administration with President Alberto Fernández, and a healthy, civilized, progressive citizenry.
Thank you, sandensea! 
Polls usually show a 25-50-25 split in Argentina:
Around 25% in favor of abortion being legal on demand (this bill grants that, up to the 14th week)
Around 50%, in "certain circumstances" (this varies greatly from voter to voter)
And around 25%, illegal in all cases.
It was all the more courageous, given the litany of other challenges (Covid, the 'Macrisis', 44% poverty, etc.) - and coming just 10 months before key mid-term elections.
Macri, as you might expect, was busy making phone calls to try to persuade fence-sitters to vote against this.
The most work he's no doubt done in years.
Thanks as always for your insights, Judi. And if I don't see you until then, Happy New Year!! 
but Macri did bring the classist, racist, misogynist segment out from behind the trees and under the rocks there, just as it happened when Trump stole the Presidency for his own one term.
Those people wield a lot more power than they should. I think they do intimidate the normals while they drive the economies right back into the ditch after progressive Presidents restore balance. Looks as if there is a clear pattern which has announced itself in unmistakable terms, both in Argentina, and in the U.S.
To learn Macri is trying to do some arm-twisting from off-stage is really depressing. What a shame. He probably does still maintain power, as he worked hard, and deviously to amass it, with so many dedicated, destructive saboteurs as President. No doubt he is still coercing some powerful ones he bent to his will in the recent past.
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That would make it even better for this progressive achievement, knowing what they had going against them beyond the conventional public views.
Oh, yeah, I just remembered hearing Macri is also in with those Catholic extremists like some of the worst ones in the US, like Justice Scalia! Right! Opus Dei. They are some brutal, hard-nosed, remorseless a-holes.
I could be since Macri still feels he needs to help direct the government from behind the scenes, he intends to take another shot at it, just like Trump.
True tyrants really intend to control, don't they?
Well, this victory for women is that much valuable, as it has been so hard to win, against angry, violent, misogyistic zealots. Good for all of them, and they must be allowed to keep it without goblins trying to steal it again, as they are doing here.
It's always a great step forward hearing your informed perceptions, deeper background on politics inside and outside this country. Very special, always.
Very best wishes for your New Year's celebration. So glad we can slam the door shut on 2020 tomorrow night. Can't wait!
It's OK if Trump goes away mad, we just want to see his backside waddling off for the last time.
Happy New Year's, sandensea! 🍻 🍸 🍹 🍷
Macri failed to persuade even one undecided/persuadable senator to vote against this.
My guess is that his 'Change' coalition just wishes he'd go off and retire in Miami or Sardinia.
Much as most GOP lawmakers wish Cheeto would do the same (though none will admit it!).
Which reminds me: it should be fun to see GOP congresscritters make fools of themselves on Jan. 6 trying to "overturn" Biden's election.
All that grandstanding and showboating, of course, can only mean one thing: what we'll actually be witnessing are the first round of auditions for the 2024 Republican nomination.
It'll be a real race to the right - and to the bottom.
Enjoy the show - and above all, Happiest of New Years! Best to you and yours, Judi. 
Maybe even set up drinking games for clearly memorable, mockable Trumpican behaviors.
Love your "real race" observation. Flawless.
January 6. Proud Bois will probably be crowding the visitors' gallery, their sweaty snouts proudly gleaming, unencumbered by masks.
They will probably wear their best kilts.
Happiest of all to you, sandensea! 
No one noticed him before that.
Didn't take him long to repudiate the faith and esteem McCain had for him. Guess he was only pretending!
Them was the days.
Buddies. Forever.
So many Republicans are.
Hoover looked like a cicada.
Roy Cohn as Igor in Dr. Frankenstein.
Can you imagine anyone wanting to be associated with any of those characters, then or now?
If Pubic Hair Thomas wanted to redeem himself in the least, he'd have a massive stroke sometime next year.
So many good people do after all - and most never did anything to anyone.
On a lighter note, Happy New Year! All the Best to you and yours for 2021.
I keep telling all I know, it's got to be better than the last one. And on the bright side, you never know when the universe will hand an unexpected gift.
