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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
May 12, 2022
Known Alias: How Stephen King Was Outed as Richard Bachman
A bookstore clerk reads through King’s deception, kicking off the final chapter in the story of Richard Bachman.
Mental Floss
Jake Rossen
Steve Brown was working his shift at Olsson’s Bookstore in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 1985 when he heard his name come over the store intercom. There was a call waiting for him.
When Brown picked up the telephone, he heard a voice ask, “Steve Brown? This is Steve King. Okay, you know I’m Bachman, I know I’m Bachman, what are we going to do about it? Let’s talk.”
King was referring to Richard Bachman, the alias he had adopted eight years earlier and carried through four books (Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man). The titles had floated in and out of the market in relative obscurity, drawing only passing suspicion that their true author was one of the most well-known and successful writers of the 20th century. New American Library (NAL), Bachman's publisher, refuted any suggestion that the author was fictional.
But Brown—a bookstore clerk, writer, and fanzine publisher—had read enough King novels to recognize that Bachman’s latest book, Thinner, was unequivocally a King work. After some additional investigation, Brown wrote a letter to King’s agent sharing his discovery and asked how they’d like to proceed. It marked the beginning of the end for Bachman, who would soon perish, King wrote, owing to “cancer of the pseudonym.”
more...
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/known-alias-how-stephen-king-was-outed-as-richard-bachman?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Known Alias: How Stephen King Was Outed as Richard Bachman
Known Alias: How Stephen King Was Outed as Richard Bachman
A bookstore clerk reads through King’s deception, kicking off the final chapter in the story of Richard Bachman.
Mental Floss
Jake Rossen
Steve Brown was working his shift at Olsson’s Bookstore in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 1985 when he heard his name come over the store intercom. There was a call waiting for him.
When Brown picked up the telephone, he heard a voice ask, “Steve Brown? This is Steve King. Okay, you know I’m Bachman, I know I’m Bachman, what are we going to do about it? Let’s talk.”
King was referring to Richard Bachman, the alias he had adopted eight years earlier and carried through four books (Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man). The titles had floated in and out of the market in relative obscurity, drawing only passing suspicion that their true author was one of the most well-known and successful writers of the 20th century. New American Library (NAL), Bachman's publisher, refuted any suggestion that the author was fictional.
But Brown—a bookstore clerk, writer, and fanzine publisher—had read enough King novels to recognize that Bachman’s latest book, Thinner, was unequivocally a King work. After some additional investigation, Brown wrote a letter to King’s agent sharing his discovery and asked how they’d like to proceed. It marked the beginning of the end for Bachman, who would soon perish, King wrote, owing to “cancer of the pseudonym.”
more...
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/known-alias-how-stephen-king-was-outed-as-richard-bachman?utm_source=pocket-newtab
May 12, 2022
Democrats finally get their FTC majority back
With the confirmation of Alvaro Bedoya, FTC chair Lina Khan is free to carry out her vision.
By Sara Morrison Updated May 11, 2022, 5:07pm EDT
Share this story
It took eight months of hearings, nominations, health-related delays, and a tie-breaking vote from the vice president, but the Senate has confirmed Alvaro Bedoya as the Federal Trade Commission’s fifth commissioner. More importantly — and almost certainly why his confirmation was such a drawn-out and contentious process — he’s its third Democrat, and soon will likely be a deciding vote himself.
snip//
At his hearing, Senate Republicans claimed they took issue not with Bedoya’s privacy stance but with his public tweets. Bedoya has tweeted that President Trump is a white supremacist and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a “domestic surveillance agency.” At the hearing, Sen. Ted Cruz accused Bedoya of being a “left-wing activist, a provocateur, a bomb-thrower, and an extremist. Sen. Roger Wicker said he thought Bedoya’s “strident views” meant he wouldn’t be able to work with the Republican commissioners. Bedoya said those tweets were made when he was a private citizen and were in response to government actions that he believed were harmful. On Tuesday, the day before Bedoya’s confirmation, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Bedoya a “foolish choice” and an “awful nomination.”
It’s more likely that Republicans’ issues were not with Bedoya or his tweets, but with the fact that Bedoya gives the FTC the Democratic majority it has lacked since Rohit Chopra left in October. Republicans aren’t thrilled with Khan’s work at the FTC, to say the least, seeing her as a divisive radical progressive who is intent on reshaping the agency’s approach to antitrust and giving it more authority than they think it should have. The business world isn’t a fan of Khan, either. The lobbying group US Chamber of Commerce has made no secret of its issues with her, and recently sent a letter to Sens. Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell urging them to put off the Bedoya vote because his confirmation would give Khan a majority.
Antitrust reform and privacy advocates, on the other hand, celebrated Bedoya’s confirmation.
more...
https://www.vox.com/recode/23066131/alvaro-bedoya-ftc-confirmation-lina-khan
Democrats finally get their FTC majority back
Democrats finally get their FTC majority back
With the confirmation of Alvaro Bedoya, FTC chair Lina Khan is free to carry out her vision.
By Sara Morrison Updated May 11, 2022, 5:07pm EDT
Share this story
It took eight months of hearings, nominations, health-related delays, and a tie-breaking vote from the vice president, but the Senate has confirmed Alvaro Bedoya as the Federal Trade Commission’s fifth commissioner. More importantly — and almost certainly why his confirmation was such a drawn-out and contentious process — he’s its third Democrat, and soon will likely be a deciding vote himself.
snip//
At his hearing, Senate Republicans claimed they took issue not with Bedoya’s privacy stance but with his public tweets. Bedoya has tweeted that President Trump is a white supremacist and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a “domestic surveillance agency.” At the hearing, Sen. Ted Cruz accused Bedoya of being a “left-wing activist, a provocateur, a bomb-thrower, and an extremist. Sen. Roger Wicker said he thought Bedoya’s “strident views” meant he wouldn’t be able to work with the Republican commissioners. Bedoya said those tweets were made when he was a private citizen and were in response to government actions that he believed were harmful. On Tuesday, the day before Bedoya’s confirmation, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Bedoya a “foolish choice” and an “awful nomination.”
It’s more likely that Republicans’ issues were not with Bedoya or his tweets, but with the fact that Bedoya gives the FTC the Democratic majority it has lacked since Rohit Chopra left in October. Republicans aren’t thrilled with Khan’s work at the FTC, to say the least, seeing her as a divisive radical progressive who is intent on reshaping the agency’s approach to antitrust and giving it more authority than they think it should have. The business world isn’t a fan of Khan, either. The lobbying group US Chamber of Commerce has made no secret of its issues with her, and recently sent a letter to Sens. Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell urging them to put off the Bedoya vote because his confirmation would give Khan a majority.
Antitrust reform and privacy advocates, on the other hand, celebrated Bedoya’s confirmation.
“Alongside Chair Lina Khan and Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, we can finally envision an effective FTC that plays a vital role in leveling the playing field and restoring our nation’s economy,” Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, said in a statement.
more...
https://www.vox.com/recode/23066131/alvaro-bedoya-ftc-confirmation-lina-khan
May 11, 2022
Patti LuPone Chastises Maskless Theater Goer During Performance of ‘Company’
THE FULL PATTI
Dia Gill
Breaking News Intern
Updated May. 11, 2022 5:27PM ET /
Published May. 11, 2022 5:26PM ET
Hiroyuki Ito
https://twitter.com/i/status/1524250508533370880
Patti LuPone Chastises Maskless Theater Goer During Performance of 'Company'
https://www.thedailybeast.com/patti-lupone-chastises-maskless-theater-goer-during-performance-of-company?ref=homePatti LuPone Chastises Maskless Theater Goer During Performance of ‘Company’
THE FULL PATTI
Dia Gill
Breaking News Intern
Updated May. 11, 2022 5:27PM ET /
Published May. 11, 2022 5:26PM ET
Hiroyuki Ito
Broadway icon Patti LuPone was captured on video berating a maskless audience member at Tuesday night’s performance of her hit musical revival, Company. The two-time Tony winner can be heard telling the unmasked theatergoer, “Put your mask over your nose, that’s why you’re in the theater.” She goes on to exclaim, “That is the rule. If you don’t want to follow the rule, get the fuck out! I’m serious. Who do you think you are that you do not respect the people that are sitting around you?” When the woman responded, “I pay your salary,” LuPone scoffed, “You pay my salary! Bullshit. Chris Harper pays my salary. Who do you think you are? Just put you mask over your nose. Oh my fucking god.” Harper is the producer for Company. On Wednesday, LuPone doubled down on her message with the support of her show’s producers. In a tweet shared to Company’s official Twitter page, the production shared a GIF showing LuPone gesturing to her face while mouthing the words: “Wear a mask.” This isn’t the first time that LuPone has lashed out at an audience member—previous incidents have involved chastising guests who were texting or taking photos during performances.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1524250508533370880
May 11, 2022
Fox Welcomes Karine Jean-Pierre With Racist Sexist Anti-Gay Smears
Fox must be desperate to have lost all pretense of being anything but race-baiting, anti-gay, anti-woman screechers.
By John Amato — May 11, 2022
Video @ link~
On Tuesday's Tucker Carlson's Fox "News" program, Carlson and Charlie Hurt attacked the incoming press secretary being proud she's the first Black gay female press secretary.
I have never seen an incoming press secretary from any administration take this kind of abuse before taking over the job.
Fox News and Republicans despise Jen Psaki because of how effective she is. She's never belligerent or mean-spirited. Psaki even treats Peter Doocy with respect.
Not so with Tuckems and Fox News.
Notice how many times Hurt describes Jean-Pierre as "this woman."
Hurt said so far she's been bad at the podium.
"But this is the thing that sort of gets me about her is that her father was a taxi driver. Have you ever met a taxi driver you did not think was interesting? This woman is not a product of her father who was probably a very interesting guy,"
Sexism much? What's her father got to do with it? Every taxi driver they meet is some sort of Kreskin/Seinfeld? I bet these two never bother talking to a taxi (Uber/Lyft) driver if they ever take one.
Continuing Republicans constant assault on public education, Hurt then made these asinine remarks.
Commenting on the insane state of the Republican party is not peddling conspiracy theories, jackass.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/fox-news-karine-jean-pierre-lowest
Fox Welcomes Karine Jean-Pierre With Racist Sexist Anti-Gay Smears
Fox Welcomes Karine Jean-Pierre With Racist Sexist Anti-Gay Smears
Fox must be desperate to have lost all pretense of being anything but race-baiting, anti-gay, anti-woman screechers.
By John Amato — May 11, 2022
Video @ link~
On Tuesday's Tucker Carlson's Fox "News" program, Carlson and Charlie Hurt attacked the incoming press secretary being proud she's the first Black gay female press secretary.
I have never seen an incoming press secretary from any administration take this kind of abuse before taking over the job.
Fox News and Republicans despise Jen Psaki because of how effective she is. She's never belligerent or mean-spirited. Psaki even treats Peter Doocy with respect.
Not so with Tuckems and Fox News.
Carlson said, "I feel like we're in for a huge helping of more of the same same."
Hurt agreed and said, "This woman is the purest, lowest distillation of everything that the Biden administration stands for."
He continued, "They are absolutely beside themselves. Watching the hand-off between Jen Psaki and Karine [Jean-Pierre] and her gushing over the fact that she is the first black press secretary and the first out press secretary."
Hurt agreed and said, "This woman is the purest, lowest distillation of everything that the Biden administration stands for."
He continued, "They are absolutely beside themselves. Watching the hand-off between Jen Psaki and Karine [Jean-Pierre] and her gushing over the fact that she is the first black press secretary and the first out press secretary."
Notice how many times Hurt describes Jean-Pierre as "this woman."
Hurt said so far she's been bad at the podium.
"But this is the thing that sort of gets me about her is that her father was a taxi driver. Have you ever met a taxi driver you did not think was interesting? This woman is not a product of her father who was probably a very interesting guy,"
Sexism much? What's her father got to do with it? Every taxi driver they meet is some sort of Kreskin/Seinfeld? I bet these two never bother talking to a taxi (Uber/Lyft) driver if they ever take one.
Continuing Republicans constant assault on public education, Hurt then made these asinine remarks.
"She's a product of American education today, and this is the kind of dribble that you wind up with. You think, you turn everything into race. You accuse everybody of being a racist, and you peddle conspiracy theories," Hurt opined.
Commenting on the insane state of the Republican party is not peddling conspiracy theories, jackass.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/fox-news-karine-jean-pierre-lowest
May 11, 2022
Psaki Truth Bomb: GOP Silent On All Protests From The Right
It's the Republican outrage of the day.
By John Amato — May 10, 2022
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki humiliated Fox News over trying to distract from the overturning of Roe v. Wade by fear mongering peaceful protests at Supreme Court justices' houses.
Fox News correspondent Alexandria Hoff followed the Republican line and asked about if Biden has been worried enough about demonstrations to Supreme Court justices.
Hoff echoed the unproven story that Alito ran from his home to hide which has been called out as a rumor by Aaron Blake.
Psaki repeated Biden's line about supporting peaceful protests and then whipped out a truth bomb.
Boom.
Right-wingers are doing everything they can trying to deflect from the upcoming horrific ruling from the radical conservative Supreme Court that will do irreparable damage to the country and open up a whole other can of worms of Salem witch type laws passed against women in this country.
Psaki Truth Bomb: GOP Silent On All Protests From The Right
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/psaki-bomb-republicans-silent-all-protestsPsaki Truth Bomb: GOP Silent On All Protests From The Right
It's the Republican outrage of the day.
By John Amato — May 10, 2022
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki humiliated Fox News over trying to distract from the overturning of Roe v. Wade by fear mongering peaceful protests at Supreme Court justices' houses.
Fox News correspondent Alexandria Hoff followed the Republican line and asked about if Biden has been worried enough about demonstrations to Supreme Court justices.
Hoff echoed the unproven story that Alito ran from his home to hide which has been called out as a rumor by Aaron Blake.
Psaki repeated Biden's line about supporting peaceful protests and then whipped out a truth bomb.
Psaki said, "There are voices on the right who have called out this protest that are happening while remaining silent for years on protests that have happened outside of the houses of school board members, the Michigan Secretary of State, or including threats to women seeking reproductive health care or even an insurrection against our Capitol."
"So I know that there's an outrage right now (When isn't there?) I guess about protests that have been peaceful to date and we certainly continue to encourage that outside of judges homes, but the silence is pretty deafening about all of the other intimidation that we've seen to a number of people," she snapped.
"So I know that there's an outrage right now (When isn't there?) I guess about protests that have been peaceful to date and we certainly continue to encourage that outside of judges homes, but the silence is pretty deafening about all of the other intimidation that we've seen to a number of people," she snapped.
Boom.
Right-wingers are doing everything they can trying to deflect from the upcoming horrific ruling from the radical conservative Supreme Court that will do irreparable damage to the country and open up a whole other can of worms of Salem witch type laws passed against women in this country.
May 10, 2022
Musk grew more animated as he continued to speak on the topic. “I think it was a morally bad decision, to be clear. And foolish to the extreme,” he said.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-vows-to-end-donald-trumps-twitter-ban-if-takeover-goes-through?ref=home
'Foolish to the Extreme': Musk Vows to End Twitter's 'Morally Bad' Trump Ban
This guy sounds like he craves as much if not more attention as tfg...
‘Foolish to the Extreme’: Musk Vows to End Twitter’s ‘Morally Bad’ Trump Ban
‘A MISTAKE’
“I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country,” he said Tuesday.
Noah Kirsch
Wealth and Power Reporter
Updated May. 10, 2022 2:31PM ET / Published May. 10, 2022 1:58PM ET
Elon Musk confirmed on Tuesday that he would reinstate former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account if his takeover of the social media company goes through.
“I do think that it was not correct to ban Donald Trump. I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice,” the Tesla founder said at a car summit hosted by the Financial Times.
“I guess the answer is I would reverse the perma-ban.”
“I guess the answer is I would reverse the perma-ban.”
Musk grew more animated as he continued to speak on the topic. “I think it was a morally bad decision, to be clear. And foolish to the extreme,” he said.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-vows-to-end-donald-trumps-twitter-ban-if-takeover-goes-through?ref=home
May 10, 2022
MoveOn has joined with reproductive rights champions at Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, and Women's March and hundreds of local, state, and national reproductive justice groups, to hold rallies across the country on Saturday, May 14, to declare we won't go back and demand our elected officials use all their power to protect our rights. RSVP now to an event near you. Or consider hosting one if there isn't one planned in your community yet.
Planned Parenthood:
https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/?org_ids=157&show_all_events=true
Move On:
https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/?show_all_events=true&tag_ids=20121
People Power!! Taking it to the streets this weekend...
This weekend, hundreds of thousands of us are taking to the streets at events all across the country, in a public, visible display of people power. Join a May 14 Bans Off Our Bodies rally near you to demand that our elected officials act to protect and expand abortion rights before any more vital services are cut off.MoveOn has joined with reproductive rights champions at Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, and Women's March and hundreds of local, state, and national reproductive justice groups, to hold rallies across the country on Saturday, May 14, to declare we won't go back and demand our elected officials use all their power to protect our rights. RSVP now to an event near you. Or consider hosting one if there isn't one planned in your community yet.
Planned Parenthood:
https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/?org_ids=157&show_all_events=true
Move On:
https://www.mobilize.us/moveon/?show_all_events=true&tag_ids=20121
May 8, 2022
The Washington Post Editorial Board finally wakes up to reality
Dartagnan
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Sunday May 08, 2022 · 2:57 AM EDT
The title of the Post’s Editorial page says it all:
Jan. 6 was worse than you remember. It must define our politics.
Yes. This is not a dream. It’s not a Facebook Post. It’s not a dystopian fantasy.
It’s reality.
From the Editorial page of the Washington Post:
mm-hmm. No, it wasn’t a “cartoon,” either.
Emphasis on the word “led.” And fascinating that they’re just now realizing this.
You don’t say! Damn. where have I heard this before?
Oh wait! It was on DailyKos!
The Washington Post Editorial Board finally wakes up to reality
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/5/7/2096662/-The-Washington-Post-Editorial-Board-finally-wakes-up-to-realityThe Washington Post Editorial Board finally wakes up to reality
Dartagnan
Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)
Sunday May 08, 2022 · 2:57 AM EDT
The title of the Post’s Editorial page says it all:
Jan. 6 was worse than you remember. It must define our politics.
Yes. This is not a dream. It’s not a Facebook Post. It’s not a dystopian fantasy.
It’s reality.
From the Editorial page of the Washington Post:
The attackers did not behave like “tourists”; they were not unarmed; Jan. 6 was not a normal protest that got out of hand; the attack was not staged by far-left agitators posing as Trump supporters. Instead, it was a coordinated and concerted effort on the part of pro-Trump zealots, riled up by then-President Donald Trump himself, to reverse a presidential election by intimidation and force.
mm-hmm. No, it wasn’t a “cartoon,” either.
William Todd Wilson led a North Carolina cell of the Oath Keepers, a heavily-armed far-right radical group. According to the Justice Department, Mr. Wilson admitted that “he agreed with others to take part in a plan to use force to prevent, hinder, and delay the execution of the laws of the United States governing the transfer of presidential power. He and others used encrypted and private communications, equipped themselves with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear, and were prepared to answer a call to take up arms.” The goal was “to stop the transfer of power by disrupting a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.”
Emphasis on the word “led.” And fascinating that they’re just now realizing this.
Jan. 6 should have been a turning point in our politics. Voters must recognize that where politicians stand on democracy is more important than tax rates, inflation, gas prices or any other policy issue. Lawmakers who see the threat that growing illiberal forces pose to the nation must secure its democratic institutions.
You don’t say! Damn. where have I heard this before?
Oh wait! It was on DailyKos!
May 8, 2022
I finally watched "Hello, My Name Is Doris" which is now available on Netflix.
No scifi, no violence, no car chases, just a sweet little flick starring Sally Field. I loved it and she was really outstanding in it.
Nice to watch a movie with a plot and decent acting.
May 8, 2022
Supreme Court Puts Democrats on Notice: Stand Up for Abortion Rights or Risk Losing Everything
by Heather Digby Parton | May 8, 2022 - 7:01am
— from Alternet
snip//
Even before this week, I believed there was ample material for going on the offensive against Republican extremism. From Trump's obsession with the Big Lie to the January 6th insurrection to the ongoing assault on democracy in the states to four years of Republican anarchy starting with Muslim bans, family separations and building that stupid wall, culminating in the tragically inept handling of the global pandemic and consequential economic fallout. That's the mess Democrats are having to clean up. I think if people are reminded of these things instead of a bunch of defensive arguments telling them they should be feeling better than they do, the people might just aim their discontent where it belongs.
snip//
Democrats have never run on this, apparently because they felt this was a settled issue which meant they could play around with it on the edges to possibly attract a few anti-choice votes without really putting much of anything on the line. They acted skittish about it and it carried over into policy. From the Hyde Amendment banning government assistance for abortion to the egregious political malpractice that led to the showdowns over abortion coverage in the Affordable Care Act, they have never put any muscle into defending this right that majorities clearly support. If anything they have used abortion as a bargaining chip, giving the impression that it is an expendable issue they can give to the other side without consequence.
Those days are over. This is now a vital and potent political issue for the Democrats and they cannot shirk their duty. The Republicans are clearly spooked by this decision and are not at all confident that it's not going to seriously hurt their chances in the fall. Their clumsy attempts to misdirect the revelation to the leak shows how much they are off their game. They quickly released a set of talking points in which they attempted to soften the rhetoric and pretend that Republicans all over the country are not working night and day to force pregnant women to give birth against their will regardless of the circumstances. They advise their members to outright lie about everything. Axios featured these excerpts from their memo:
snip//
If Roe is overturned next month as expected, the Democratic Party will no longer be able to have it both ways. One hopes that Democratic candidates everywhere will see that this is no longer a debatable issue and seize upon the opportunity to illustrate to the American people just how radical these Republicans have become. They simply have to wage the fight now whether they want to or not.
digby: SC Puts Democrats on Notice: Stand Up for Abortion Rights or Risk Losing Everything
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/heather-digby-parton/101497/supreme-court-puts-democrats-on-notice-stand-up-for-abortion-rights-or-risk-losing-everythingSupreme Court Puts Democrats on Notice: Stand Up for Abortion Rights or Risk Losing Everything
by Heather Digby Parton | May 8, 2022 - 7:01am
— from Alternet
snip//
Even before this week, I believed there was ample material for going on the offensive against Republican extremism. From Trump's obsession with the Big Lie to the January 6th insurrection to the ongoing assault on democracy in the states to four years of Republican anarchy starting with Muslim bans, family separations and building that stupid wall, culminating in the tragically inept handling of the global pandemic and consequential economic fallout. That's the mess Democrats are having to clean up. I think if people are reminded of these things instead of a bunch of defensive arguments telling them they should be feeling better than they do, the people might just aim their discontent where it belongs.
snip//
Democrats have never run on this, apparently because they felt this was a settled issue which meant they could play around with it on the edges to possibly attract a few anti-choice votes without really putting much of anything on the line. They acted skittish about it and it carried over into policy. From the Hyde Amendment banning government assistance for abortion to the egregious political malpractice that led to the showdowns over abortion coverage in the Affordable Care Act, they have never put any muscle into defending this right that majorities clearly support. If anything they have used abortion as a bargaining chip, giving the impression that it is an expendable issue they can give to the other side without consequence.
Those days are over. This is now a vital and potent political issue for the Democrats and they cannot shirk their duty. The Republicans are clearly spooked by this decision and are not at all confident that it's not going to seriously hurt their chances in the fall. Their clumsy attempts to misdirect the revelation to the leak shows how much they are off their game. They quickly released a set of talking points in which they attempted to soften the rhetoric and pretend that Republicans all over the country are not working night and day to force pregnant women to give birth against their will regardless of the circumstances. They advise their members to outright lie about everything. Axios featured these excerpts from their memo:
snip//
If Roe is overturned next month as expected, the Democratic Party will no longer be able to have it both ways. One hopes that Democratic candidates everywhere will see that this is no longer a debatable issue and seize upon the opportunity to illustrate to the American people just how radical these Republicans have become. They simply have to wage the fight now whether they want to or not.
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