It’s all over the media. Biden made a deal with Mitch McConnell to appoint an anti-abortion judge in Kentucky to a federal judgeship.
According to The Hill, this judge is an extremist.
President Biden plans to nominate a conservative lawyer who has represented anti-abortion causes to a federal judgeship in Kentucky, according to Rep. John Yarmuth’s (D-Ky.) office.
Chad Meredith, the attorney, has previously served as Kentucky’s solicitor general and represented a number of Kentucky’s top GOP officials in cases curbing abortion access and COVID-19 public health measures.
Meredith represented Kentucky’s then-Gov. Matt Bevin (R) in a 2019 legal battle against an abortion clinic, saying at one point that effectively eliminating access to abortion in the state would have a negligible impact on women seeking the procedure.
He also defended a 2017 state law requiring doctors to perform an ultrasound and describe the image to a patient before providing an abortion, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, which first reported the news of his pending nomination…
Meredith, who served as chief deputy general counsel under Bevin, asked a federal appeals court in 2019 to restore a state law requiring abortion clinics to have written transfer agreements with a hospital and ambulance service in case of emergency, according to the Associated Press.
The outlet reported that the law had been struck down by a federal judge who believed it would effectively eliminate the right to abortion in the state. That argument was echoed by the abortion clinic’s attorney opposing Meredith in the appeal.
Bevin said at the time that if the law “results in no abortion clinics, fantastic,” according to the Associated Press.
Meredith said if the state’s last abortion clinic shut down, the impact would be “essentially none” for women, since they would still be within 150 miles of an out-of-state clinic due to Kentucky’s geography.
Kentucky Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, said it was “very impressed” with Meredith’s work on behalf of the Bevin administration.
Call your representatives and complain. Make noise.
This is a sellout.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane This also reflects McConnell’s position as a professional extortionist. CBK
I just want to update that I was wrong, when I posted below. There IS an opening on the Kentucky federal bench (this wasn’t announced until just recently), so clearly Biden and McConnell’s deal was because they knew they knew about this upcoming opening.
This deal sounds terrible on the face of it. It’s not some nefarious attempt to help the right wing enact their agenda, but some decision that having 30 new progressive/liberal federal judges and one far right wing hack is better than having 10 or 15 new progressive/liberal federal judges and leaving the rest open. Two bad choices.
If Biden had a decent majority in the Senate instead of a tied Senate, this wouldn’t be necessary. If Manchin and Sinema were like Susan Collins, this wouldn’t be necessary.
People forget that Trump had a 53-47 Republican Senate majority right up until the 2020 election. No one expected the Dems to get 50 Senate seats. Not one. The fact that 2 Democrats won in Georgia was incredible and thanks to the hard and brilliant work of the incredible Stacey Abrams.
The problem is that Manchin and Susan Collins are very different “party animals”. Susan Collins always, always votes the way Mitch McConnell wants her to whenever he needs her vote. The bottom line with Kavanaugh’s nomination wasn’t Susan Collins lie that she believed Kavanaugh wouldn’t overturn Roe. Collins didn’t care about that. The bottom line is that Mitch McConnell needed her vote to confirm Kavanaugh. Collins obeys Mitch, and sometimes Mitch “allows” Collins to vote against something, but only when her vote is not necessary and helps her pretend to be anything but McConnell’s lackey.** In October 2020, McConnell didn’t need her vote to confirm Barrett so he allowed Collins – running for re-election – to pretend to be independent and vote against her nomination.
With Manchin is the opposite. He almost never (maybe never?) votes with the Dems when his vote is actually needed. That’s when he helps Republicans block whatever they want to do.
It’s a shame that no one appreciates how much that 50-50 Senate tie has helped the Democrats and how much ONLY having a 50-50 Senate tie hampers the Democrats.
The answer is to give Biden what Trump had — a 53-47 Senate majority (ideally even more) so that Manchin and Sinema are irrelevant. Because they are NOT Susan Collins following McConnell’s orders. They just want to thwart Biden.
**One of my favorite moments in history is that Mitch allowed Susan Collins to vote against repealing Obamacare because he didn’t need her vote. John McCain seemed to assure him that he was voting for repeal. I believe John McCain knew exactly what kind of sycophant Susan Collins was. McCain’s vote was LAST. He came in and voted last, after Susan Collins had already voted, and voted against repeal. I wish I could have seen Susan Collins’ face. Probably a lot of concern knowing her “boss” Mitch McConnell might be mad at her even though she only did it because he gave her permission.
“Under the deal, McConnell agreed not to hold up Biden’s future federal nominations, according to the report.”
FLERP “Under the deal, McConnell agreed not to hold up Biden’s future federal nominations, according to the report.”
I believe, as in poker, that’s known as a bluff. I seriously doubt McConnell isn’t aware that he has already “gone too far” in his political machinations, topped by SCOTUS. He’s already laughing all the way to his political bank. Anything else, he can afford to gamble with and, if he lost, still come up having accomplished his long-term goals. Democrats are so often “played.” CBK
Yep. But, is Biden a Democrat with a small ‘d’? Well, he has a history, and it ain’t democratic.
I was thinking about this. What was the trade off? Deals usually mean both sides get something so Biden did ask for something in return to agree to appoint this fascist to be a federal judge in Kentucky.
But, I do not think Biden can trust McConnell. Biden gives McConnell what he wants and then down the line McConnel may well ignore what he agreed to do and continue to block approval of Biden’s future nominations.
Was it a handshake or a singed contract with pain for McConnel if he doesn’t live up to his side of the bargain?
McConnell has proven himself repeatedly to be untrustworthy and a lying bag of vomit.
I think a contract for a quid-pro-quo political deal would be unenforceable. It has to be tacit, so not legally enforceable. Loss of credibility and fear of repercussions is what maintains agreements like this.
Stakes could be pretty high if the Republicans take the Senate this fall.
FLERP!
How can McConnell hold up future federal nominations? Is this a reference to when the Republicans win the Senate?
Presumably, which is by no means a given.
https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1542544652628361216
The Palmer Report is a satire site.
Bob Cringe. The irony for me is that I was talking about democrats being “played.” Cringe. CBK
I thought it was more “fake news” than satire.
For example, where’s the satire in this tweet? I don’t get it. And it’s correct that there are no vacancies in Kentucky.
The Kentucky newspaper was the Louisville Courier-Journal. The story in the Courier-Journal said that this was a deal for a future appointment and that there are no current vacancies.
Sounds like we all got played. McConnell can’t hold up future appointments until the Republicans win the Senate.
mrobmsu . . . you are new . . . where to you hail from? CBK
Just a reminder that Biden has been openly anti-abortion most (if not all) of his political career. He is on record stating that Roe went too far and that a woman should not have unlimited control over her body.
Now, it’s possible that he’s evolved on this opinion, but I certainly haven’t heard him explicitly say so nor have I seen any actions on his behalf that would indicate such. Sure, he campaigned on codifying Roe (as did both Clinton and Obama), but he also campaigned on $2,000 checks, student debt relief, significant climate action, $15 minimum wage, a public option, lowering the age of Medicare to 60 and many other things he clearly has no intention of fulfilling – and never did (remember his biggest campaign promise to the most important people: Nothing will fundamentally change.
He now says he supports ending the filibuster to protect Roe v Wade, but we’ve seen this movie before. He only supports progressive legislation when Manchin and Sinema can and will upend it. All show, no substance. Nothing will fundamentally change.
Plus, Sen. Biden was the Chair of the Committee that badgered (I know that’s not the official Committee name, but that’s what it did) Anita Hill (that hysterical female!) & got us…clarence thomas. Thanx for that, too, Joe!
Gotta hand it to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot–when berated for her un-mayoral language–she famously said “F**k clarence thomas!” @ a Pride Rally last Sunday– Paul Vallas, perennial candidate for ANYTHING–once again for mayor 2023–called it “mob inciting”), said, when asked to apologize/told how uncouth she was for her position, replied (as per her usual non-apology), “I said what I said.”
& I say c.t. is a pervert–was shown to be in those Hill hearings & is even more so now–a bitter, angry person (& this said by many who knew him in law school) who has a wife involved in the insurrection, refused to recuse himself in such judgments, wreaking havoc on the lives of ALL Americans, if not the world, now (taking away EPA authority, dooming us to uncontrollable & fatal climate change) & would take away all LGBTQ rights in the blink of an eye (but not, as Diane said, make miscegenation illegal again because, after all, that’s HIS life…although he & his wife, just as everyone else, will burn to a crisp).
So, yes, Lori, please go on…
OMG the Catholic Bishops tried to deny Joe Biden communion for his positions.
“Biden tried to get the wage hike included in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that passed in March. But the Senate parliamentarian said ‘that can’t happen’ because it goes against certain rules around the budget reconciliation process. In the meantime, Biden signed an executive order raising the min wage for federal contract workers to $15 an hour — which took effect on Jan. 30. “
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the liberals gone?
Gone to bad deals every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
yup
I see I’ve been had and it’s not true in this case, but sadly, my ditty us still accurate — the very thing that makes people susceptible to believing this stuff.
At this time in history, two statements have never been truer. Votes have consequences and support for conservative religion has consequences.
Linda A good rule: When we lose an argument, state what was true about it and what we were using as cover for our own bias. Good catch. CBK
Support for any type of religion has consequences. But especially the three Abrahamic religions. Forcing children to believe on “faith” (shall I say enforced stupidity) the many absurdities of those religions, especially the sky-daddy one, sets the individual up for a lifetime of not only “faith” beliefs that are absurd, inane and blatantly wrong takes on the very real world we live in but also political, cultural and economic faith beliefs, i.e., beliefs without a basis in reality as in skeptical rationo-logical thought.
And, there’s the research that shows the religious incline toward authoritarianism. In my experience, the religious demand and expect an immunity card for their sects’ politicking in behalf of the right wing.
Thanks, Duane. Well said.
Amen, Duane! You nailed it.
Amen, Duane! You nailed it.
“rationo-logic” – perfect
Duane:
I’m a BIG fan of Ron Reagan Jr.
“Agnostic & not afraid of burning in hell!”
Or something like that…
Just a reminder – media reported that the VP of EdChoice in Kentucky is also the Associate Director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky.
In any state, women of child-bearing ages should be advised about Catholic hospitals. St. Luke’s in Kansas City halted emergency contraception. If it happened to me and I was steered to anti-abortion propaganda, I’d be very angry.
Biden won’t expand SCOTUS for reasons now made obvious.
The votes aren’t there anyway.
Biden could not expand the court if he wanted to .
He can’t get a filibuster over ride on single issues can’t even get a reconciliation deal on BBB so what is your point.
And if he stood on his head and screamed it would do no good.
Probably that Biden’s Catholic.
Has he ever tried?
Biden – the left is in the rear view mirror.
McConnell, as minority leader, moving the country to the right.
Yep. I think the left understands that Biden is not their friend. Time to start a ‘People’s Party’ , or something. I think Bernie tried to moderate the Democrats, but it’s becoming clear that the Democratic Part isn’t democratic and refuses to give up it’s corporate sugar-daddys. This is what happens when money (not people) has the power.
Unfortunately, Nader showed us the 3rd party outcome (Gore v Bush). Our system of government would be better if it was similar to the form in England.
Wow, I never knew that the corporate sugar-daddies were anti-abortion — thanks, Daedalus for that insight. Do you have any evidence to support it?
Linda is channeling McCarthy and his communists again. Maybe this will help: We all know that the right-wing hierarchy cabal of the Catholic Church is pushing for the Orwellian “school choice.” It’s all of one cloth, so to speak; though I know of many in the Church who are overly defensive, but for real existential reasons; but I think most here also know it’s bigger than what your “under every rock” diversions relate to the whole picture of what’s presently going on.
I am remembering this tune: “When will” you “EEEVER learn.” CBK
I can’t believe this!
How can he do this?
Biden’s deal with McConnell may fit the category of cabal or betrayal.
The other moves to take away majority rule, replacing it with theocracy, have been made in plain sight.
Susan Collins: I Want To Believe !!!
Joe Biden; Hold My Beer !!!
Jon Awbrey Trump: “You can believe me!”
At least Ketanji Brown-Jackson was sworn in today. Granted, still a 6-3 supermajority but amongst all this backsliding towards constrictive pre-war America, it’s good to see some progress.
The deal that preceded Biden’s was the exchange of anti-abortion decisions for corporations’ carte blanc in energy decisions?
The Intercept reported that Charles Koch and Leonard Leo (father of 9) are close. We know that Koch funded Paul Weyrich’s work. He was a co-founder of the religious right. In the Intercept’s most recent story, “How Charles Koch Purchased the Supreme Court’s EPA Decision,” readers are told again about AFP’s campaign to put Gorsuch, Barrett and K on SCOTUS. The same AFP co-hosted with state Catholic Conferences, rallies for school choice in state capitols.
From a different source, “The right wing abortion movement sprung out of the White supremacist movement that fought to maintain school segregation.”
Available as public information- the influencing activities and entities. Each person can form his or her own opinion about interconnectedness.
Linda “From a different source, ‘The right wing abortion movement sprung out of the White supremacist movement that fought to maintain school segregation.’”
What “abortion movement,” and what source is that? CBK
Actually if you read “Democracy In Chains” Maclean details the meeting that birth of the Moral Majority and the adoption of Abortion as the issue to run with against Carter. Carter had threatened the tax exemption of segregated Christian academies. At the time Protestant sects were fairly tollerant of abortion. .
The source for her information the actors taking part in its creation, including Weyrich. They all bragged about it, at one time or another . (I wish I had a print copy)
Linda is correct on Koch as well. The growth of the Libertarian Right was birthed by Brown as well. A Court /Government that could tell a State how to deal with its Blacks could also dictate economic terms. She traces the American intellectual roots of that economic movement as well.
Katharine Stewart in her book “The Power Worshippers” (about white nationalism) says that the evangelicals were not interested in abortion. They were interested in protecting the tax-exempt status of their religious schools and colleges. But they could not get much traction on their issue so they latched on to abortion.
Joel If you read my notes, you will know that I am quite aware of how bad our present alliances are. I have no illusions about the Catholic hierarchy and have agreed with Linda on many issues. My critiques are not about that. It’s about deliberate misinformation, omissions, and bias. If you are interested, read my prior notes just this month to her. I won’t repeat here.
For one, it takes away from the main point of OBVIOUS oligarchic stranglehold on our democracy, or at least what’s left of it. Note what followed in the wake of the abortion ruling . . . about the environment and big oil, which is intimately connected with Koch Industries, and so with CORPORATE REGULATION. What a surprise. My only hope is that the voters will wake up across the board, or Koch has a moral conversion (ha!), considering what some say awaits him after his death.
But Koch is an odd bird considering (1) taking such a stand on anti-abortion coupled with (2) Koch Industries poisoning everything and everyone on the planet. How does that work in someone’s mind? I became aware of “the Koch brothers” a few years back when they were messing around with George Mason University’s curriculum (particularly on economics), their teacher/professor selections and other foundational issues . . . they were such big donors, so (the donor logic goes) they can buy any influence they want, anywhere.
Fortunately, the students at the time got wind of it and started an “un-Koch My Campus” movement (in case you don’t know of it). You can google the group if you want. But Koch hasn’t stopped trying to influence higher education either, “donating” entire programs, complete with buildings, at some universities. I seriously doubt, considering his business interests and tacit disregard for anything close to Christianity, it’s about the money and power, and not about a religious stance, though my guess is: that stance runs interference for much of what they do, and GET, from Congress. CBK
tolerant
So the correction posted while the comment did not .
This is actually quite well documented by a variety of sources ranging from liberal to conservative. It is a fact not in dispute. It is a well known fact that historically Catholic leadership and policy has feared communism and liberal democracy, not fascism or authoritarianism. This is also a well documented in nations throughout the globe over centuries, even further back than the 13th century! Almost as well as its tens, if not hundreds, of thousands…or millions, of documented international sex crimes and cover ups.
GregB Thank you for your information. I was asking questions. “Abortion movement” . . . Anti-abortion, pro-abortion? Also, did you follow the thread? More twisted misquotes. CBK
All Things Considered, NPR, 5-12-2022, Odette Yousef interview,
“The evolution of the anti-abortion coalition in the U.S. has long been a shared project of supremacist movements.” Yousef quotes Alex DiBranco who runs the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism as confirmation, in part, for her points.
Linda Hmmmm. Here is your original note, with quote “from a different source,” with no citation, and then your later citation:
(1) “‘The right wing abortion movement sprung out of the White supremacist movement that fought to maintain school segregation.’”
(2) “The evolution of the anti-abortion coalition in the U.S. has long been a shared project of supremacist movements.”
Linda: You don’t think the meaning of your first “quotation” got changed around a bit? (Do you even recognize the difference?) CBK
“All Things Considered, NPR, 5-12-2022, Odette Yousef interview. Yousef quotes Alex DiBranco who runs the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism as confirmation, in part, for her points.”
2nd paragraph, The Guardian, “Why were Democrats caught flat-footed by the end of Roe v Wade, June 28, 2022.
If the interest was in the content, an Internet search of the statement would produce the source as it did for me a couple of minutes ago. The intent of the commenter’s request for the quote’s source is, IMO, a game of one ups-man-ship.
Going forward, readers can assume I included quotation marks because I did not want to appear to be plagiarizing. My intent is/was/will not be to prepare bibliographical footnotes for a research project. Feel free to agree with the quotes or not.
I won’t engage in this exercise for this commenter again.
Linda You ended up misquoting the interview on NPR.
That this is not an academic site with formal citations pages somehow makes it okay to misquote at the service of whatever is our biased purpose? Wow! I didn’t know that. What a boon to the propaganda business and to the manufacture of lies. I learn something new here every day.
BTW, if you cite something, whether you quote it or not, it’s not plagiarizing. CBK
Even if this post were true, it would not matter because lower court rulings have clearly become irrelevant to the final outcome.
If the Supreme Court majority’s decision in the Kennedy case shows us anything, it is that any lower court ruling that goes against the ideology of the Court majority will simply be overturned regardless of the facts, regardless of the Constitution and regardless of how many lies the Majority has to tell.
Any respect for the majority of the SC in the Kennedy case should be withdrawn, rescinded and otherwise condemned due to their playing foot loose and fancy free with the facts of the case. The majority literally put up a bullshit explanation full of lies and misinformation that I don’t see how anyone could believe a damn thing that they say. Well, we were forewarned of their lying ways during their confirmation hearings, so the joke is on us.
Perhaps given how slippery McConnell is, the deal should be reversed: first let ALL of Biden’s judges be approved, and only then, appoint McConnell’s choice.
How would that plan reflect McConnell besting Biden?
“How would that plan reflect McConnell besting Biden?” I don’t think it’s a matter of McConnell besting Biden, rather if Biden is even willing to cut a deal with McConnell, it would guarantee that all of Biden’s judges would be confirmed giving no chance that McConnell would renege on the deal….which would most likely occur otherwise.
Hannah,
You and I are on the same side.
My comment was tongue-in-cheek.
The fact that a minority Senate leader is dictating the terms of a deal, in a situation where the President and Speaker of the House are Democrats, certainly wouldn’t enhance Biden’s reputation as author of a how-to book about exerting power.
What did you expect? Biden, after all, has been a lackey for his entire political career. That’s why he sat in the Senate for so long as a ‘representative’. Biden did the bidding of the corporations that infest Delaware.
Please don’t be naive. This is who Joe Biden is. We already know he is centrist and corporatist. Democrats have been demanding all of their voters to be loyal to him, and penalizing those who refuse to do so. It’s so easy to blame Trump and right-wing Supreme Court judges for the overturning of Roe, but don’t forget that Democrats had plenty of time and opportunity to codify abortion before Trump sworn in. They didn’t.
This is what we just saw as their subsequent move.
What voters? How does Biden penalize voters? Do you mean Manchin, because if Biden’s using penalties, they’re working no better than carrots like Manchin’s wife’s salary as a Biden-appointed highly paid government employee.
I think your comment is boiler plate.
I didn’t say Biden himself penalizes voters. Many of those elites and media pundits are the ones who are taking care of dirty job to accuse, smear, and humiliate people in the public as an ordinary business practice — instead of him and his aides. That’s why so more voters are losing trust not just in GOP but also in Democrats.
Beware that Biden’s approval rating is the lowest among young people(both Democrats and Independent). He’s out of touch. They know it so well.
Who do the young people like instead of Biden?
Trump?
DeSantis?
Cruz?
Hawley?
Diane About Ken W.s note:
I always love it when they give the Typical Trump Chant: “You know it, I know it, everyone knows it.”
A dead giveaway. Somebody must be writing a “Trump Playbook” while we speak. CBK
Ken Watanabe Ho Hum . . . . CBK
The judge can only rule on Kentucky cases, and they keep on electing McConnell. I call that a wash. If McConnell honors his agreement to not obstruct any more Biden nominees, (nation wide) I call that a win. 3D chess
Yes, I too missed the part about this being an agreement for future nominations. So, they are both rolling the dice based on who controls the house and senate going forward. The point that was made about McConnell already having achieved a ton of his agenda is well made, he risks little by this, especially if a different Rethuglican becomes minority leader or God forbid, speaker.
I fess up to being the one who sent the link to Diane & asked her to post it. I don’t know about the Louisville Courier-Journal (Randy Wieck, are you reading this? If so, can you comment? Thanks in advance!), but I have been a reader of & trusted in The Hill’s journalism, which is where I got the info. from.
It doesn’t matter that it’s a “future” appointment (thanks for that caveat, Bob) or present: either way, a deal w/the devil, & one that shouldn’t be made.
EVER.
This may be true, but if you read the links carefully, it is completely unclear where this is coming from.
Do we think this is just a fortunate coincidence for the Republicans that is came out in a Kentucky newspaper on the very same day that one of the most reprehensible right wing Supreme Court decisions that is likely to be very unpopular is announced?
Remember, there isn’t even an open seat in Kentucky, so suddenly today this was “news”? Designed to make Democrats feel betrayed and forget about the Supreme Court?
Can someone please tell me who the Louisville Courier’s source about this deal is? I was looking for some reference of who told the reporter. Someone from McConnell’s office? Did it say anywhere in the article that Biden confirmed this deal?
There isn’t an open seat in Kentucky. And why does Biden need Mitch to confirm federal judges when they can be confirmed by majority only – a change that the Republicans invoked to justify their ending the filibuster for the Supreme Court?
Are we all getting played to distract us from the news? And please, Biden is anti abortion in his personal life, but for at least a decade (probably more) has supported abortion rights.
Biden didn’t make the “safe” pick for Supreme Court, he nominated the progressive justice who made the Republicans nuts.
Again, NYCpsp, I have never had a problem w/the veracity of The Hill. I’m unfamiliar w/the Louisville Courier, so, once again, I ask any KY reader here (& Randy Wieck, a teacher from KY, who has posted on this blog numerous times) to please respond. Other than that, I’m not going to do an analysis of the whys & wherefores & “coincidence” that this news broke on the day Ketanji Jackson-Brown was confirmed.
The few times I’ve read the Louisville Courier, the paper has bravely covered topics in the best tradition of a free press.
While I have no basis for the following speculation I’ll add it. As a courtesy to Ky.’ Democratic Gov., a call was placed as a head’s up. The Louisville paper got wind of it.
The Biden administration has not denied the reporting.
Mr. Biden has a track record of acquiescing to the Republicans while punching left. (See the expansion of privatization in the “bipartisan” infrastructure bill, and his open contempt for Single Payer.)
The Senator from Master Card, who gave us Clarence Thomas, is now willing to continue to barter away women’s lives with Mitch McConnell, who’s already promised to block all of Mr. Biden’s judicial appointments should the Republicans regain the Senate.
Really? What the H#!!?
AOC and Elizabeth Warren are demonstrating courage and real leadership on abortion rights, while Mr. Biden is keeping his promise to his donors that nothing will fundamentally change.
As least women can take some cold comfort in listening to Nancy Pelosi recite poetry and members of Congress singing God Bless America. And Texas women can re-elect forced birther Henry Cueller, with another big assist form Nancy and Jim Clyburn.
Perhaps its truly time for Americans to respectfully don kente cloth and mourn for the women who will die and for the death of our civil rights.
I’m not holding out much that the Democrat leadership will fight this.
I share your pain, Eleanor.
It’s a remote possibility that Biden wants anti abortion sentiment to remain at a fevered pitch for the Nov. elections.
The Senator from Mastercard
LOL!!!
Eleanor:
I don’t recall seeing you comment here before, but you’re most welcome. These are great comments (&, sadly, true: Nancy & Jim, Henry Cuellar–who needs dem,
not to mention Joe’s role in clearance’s–whoops, should be clarence’s– not-so-Freudian-slip–confirmation).
BTW–to all:if you have HBO, you really should watch the movie “Confirmation.” Today, though, totally exonerates Anita Hill, although she is owed a humongous apology. Anita, thank you–you tried to save us.
&–let’s all remember & honor The Grande Dame of July 4th: Betsy Ross. Finally, have all of you seen that great cartoon of The Statue of Liberty, captioned, “Take me back to France!” (Or, “I want to go back to France!”)? Look it up.
Looked up the L.C-J. It’s owned by Gannett, making it part of the USA Today family. The last editor cited is Mary Irby-Jones, an award-winning, longtime Black journalist.
Methinks some here are reading too much into this.
I stand by my statement of confidence in the reporting of The Hill.
‘Nuff said…roger & out…
Ok, now I see a specific quote in The Hill: “Christopher Schuler, Yarmuth’s communications director, told The Hill that White House staff informed the congressman of Biden’s intent to nominate Meredith, but declined to provide further comment to The Hill.”
I wrongly understood The Hill to be citing the reporting of the Louisville Courier, which is why I wanted to know who the source was. If the Hill learned directly from Yarmuth’s office that White House staff told him that Biden planned to nominate Meredith, that is more credible.
I find it hard to believe that Biden would trust McConnell given the history. But it’s weird to make a deal about a potential future when McConnell doesn’t yet have that power.
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/06/debbie-reynolds-revealed-heartbreak-forced
Thanks for the link. Because of the Catholic church, this is a very dangerous time for women of child bearing age. Those women should be warned about the link between the USCCB and Catholic hospitals (I in 6 in the U.S.). Jamie Manson’s article at the Catholics for Choice
site explains. The key word search is Nun’s Excommunication Bishops Attacks on Biden. Even Manson, in 2019, evidently didn’t anticipate a Catholic hospital’s denial of emergency contraception three years later. But then, she had no way of knowing a conservative Catholic SCOTUS would create the U.S. theocracy.
ALL, Linda, and SOMEDAM: Linda writes: “Because of the Catholic church, this is a very dangerous time for women of child bearing age.”
REALLY? Apparently, Linda hasn’t read or heeded the history of Roe v. Wade or what followed. Instead, we are bombarded with statements of pure bias like the above. It would be truer to state: “In part because of the Catholic Church . . . ”
Others here have written about that history; and at present, in my view, the right-wing of the Catholic Church and of the other evangelical churches is an embarrassment to Christianity itself and has allot to account for (and on their own terms, probably will); but the Church is not the sole source of the entire problem as Linda’s note suggests; and yet, we get “Because of the Catholic church, . . . ” Linda: We can walk and chew gum?
The larger issue is that: Christian concerns are a cover. Implied in a single-focus view is a limit that keeps the light from shining on the oligarchs, CEO’s, and corporate hierarchy into whose hands the right wing of the whole group of churches is playing and have been for a very long time. It’s THEM who care nothing about climate change and pull their power strings to stunt efforts to head it off. The abortion issue will mean nothing if everyone and everything is dying from the heat and environmental poison.
Though their shorts are quite knotted at present, the oligarchs et al, in fact, own the field; and many could care less about religious affiliations but for the votes that come along with them over the abortion and other single-issue vote getters.
Their good intelligence remains at the service of their moral depravity.
I have often thought that “Deep State” is a good descriptive term for their influential presence in this democracy.
And while I’m at it, and to SOME DAM, there is no room on a democratic Supreme Court for vindictive thinking, if that’s what Thomas’ decisions are about . . . for his so-called high-tech lynching. Since your earlier notes, I’ve seen mention of it on some of the talking heads shows. If it’s true, it’s just another dagger in the heart of democracy. CBK
Thanks for this, Greg.
Diane and all We’re in luck. I don’t know what took them so long, but the below FBI probe, coupled with other recent revelations in other church communities, (and the Boy Scouts, etc.) MAY help lessen the present power of the religious right, including the Catholic hierarchy. We can hope.
“FBI OPENS SWEEPING PROBE OF CLERGY SEX ABUSE IN NEW ORLEANS The FBI has reportedly opened a widening investigation into sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in New Orleans going back decades, looking specifically at whether priests took children across state lines to molest them. The probe could deepen the legal peril for the Archdiocese of New Orleans as it reels from a bankruptcy brought on by a flood of sex abuse lawsuits.”
Reminiscences of the movie “Spotlight” which should be a “must see” for everyone on the planet. CBK
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fbi-opens-probe-of-clergy-sex-abuse-in-new-orleans_n_62bc67c2e4b0187add1b1dfa?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20Email%2C%206-30-2022&utm_term=us-morning-email