Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

STATEMENT FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK B. GARLAND, SEPT. 6, 2021

 




28 comments:

skudrunner said...

So far there has not been anything filed with the SCOTUS for them to consider and once it is the Texas law will be overturned. It is a shame because biden's handlers are using this to divert attention from the huge slush fund proposal and his horrid performance as the sleeper in chief.

On to pressing matters, Wheres Kamala. She is not at the border trying to straighten that out, she is not in Afghanistan trying to free American citizens even though she pledges support for Afgan women and that Afghanistan is the highest priority. I did hear she is going to be in Cali to stump for newsome so I guess politics takes precedence over people.

The Prophet Dervish Z Sanders said...

Barbara McQuade: Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that, because this case is procedurally complex, this is exactly the kind of case where we should put a stay in. Preserve the status quo, and let us look at this in the normal docket, where we have full briefings, full oral arguments, and lengthy consideration of the issues. As opposed to trying to decide it on the fly, as they did in this case [because the court is on summer break]. ...

This does not bode well for the substance of this decision. One of the key criteria when deciding to grant a stay, is a likelihood of success on the merits. I think most people would look at ... Roe V Wade which says you cannot restrict abortions before 22-24 weeks (viability) -- this one restricts at 6 weeks -- it's clearly unconstitutional. And yet a majority of the court -- 5 justices -- did not find that this challenge to that law is likely to succeed on the merits. And so I think that does not bode well for the case that is coming up before the court this fall in Dobbs, a Mississippi abortion case that restricts abortion right after 15 weeks.

Dave Miller said...

Nice Skud... rather than deal directly with the post, you slipped in 2 pieces of snark aimed at both Pres Biden and VP Harris.

Shaw... it remains to be seem what the feds can do. A law won't ultimately help, because moving forward, the GOP in states will just work to get a case in front of a conservative SCOTUS simply to get it overturned.

As it relates to Texas, perhaps this idea some have had about moving federal medical trailers, staffed by doctors, to provide abortions of women need them in Texas.

Thinking on the "fetal heartbeat" there's a series of articles out right now along the lines of this one. Scientists are arguing that in fact at 6 weeks, monitors are not hearing heartbeats. Instead what they are hearing, due to incredible advances in the quality of the monitors, are "a grouping of cells that are initiating some electrical activity... In no way [say scientists] is this detecting a functional cardiovascular system or a functional heart.”

Here's one of the articles...


Shaw Kenawe said...

Skud, in addition to your not knowing details about which you post here, your snark and galloping jealousy of Biden's presidency is pretty hilarious.

Biden's poll numbers have taken a hit, we acknowledge that, but every sentient American also acknowledges that President Biden is far and away a more fully human being with empathy and a knowledge of how government works than that embarrassing failed businessman that 30% of the country still admires.

You apparently have nothing better to do than to come here to piss and moan about Biden. My advice? Get a life. Enjoy a walk in the country. Listen to the sounds of nature, and try not to think about how Trump tried to overthrow his own government and have his own vice president killed. Try not to think about how Trump was impeached TWICE and is under investigation for the illegal acts he committed when he tried to strong arm the officials in Georgia to cheat and recount the votes in his favor -- also Arizona. Shall I go on?

Your snark about Biden will NEVER, NEVER come close to the wreckage the morally corrupt Trump and his morally corrupt followers have wreaked on America.

And that's because Joe Biden is essentially a decent man, and Donald J. Trump is an unprincipled, dishonest, and craven wreck of human flesh.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave

From your link:

"In fact, “fetus” isn’t technically accurate at six weeks of gestation either, says Kerns, since “embryo” is the scientific term for that stage of development. Obstetricians don’t usually start using the term “fetus” until at least eight weeks into the pregnancy.

But “fetus” may have an appeal that the word “embryo” does not, Kern says: “The term ‘fetus’ certainly evokes images of a well-formed baby, so it’s advantageous to use that term instead of ’embryo’ — which may not be as easy for the public to feel strongly about, since embryos don’t look like a baby,” she explains. “So those terms are very purposefully used [in these laws] — and are also misleading.”

Later in a pregnancy is when a clinician might use the term “fetal heartbeat,” after the sound of the heart valves can be heard, she says. That sound “usually can’t be heard with our Doppler machines until about 10 weeks.”

The term “fetal heartbeat” has been used in laws restricting access to abortion for years. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks reproductive health policy, the first such law was passed in North Dakota in 2013, but it was struck down in the courts. Since then, over a dozen states have passed similar laws, but Texas’ is the first to go into effect."

Shaw Kenawe said...

Derv

I don't believe the Texas law will stand up against arguments before the SCOTUS.

But there are 5 Catholic justices, and perhaps their religion will color their civic judgement which should rest solely on law, secular law, not Biblical.

As Dave pointed out, Jews allow abortion and do not believe life begins until the head breaches the cervix.

The Texas law is NOT based on Judeo-Christian beliefs, since Judaism allows for abortion, as do other religions, some with limitations, others with none:

"On the other side of the debate, a number of religious groups, including the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the two largest American Jewish movements – Reform and Conservative Judaism – favor a woman’s right to have an abortion with few or no exceptions.

Many of the nation’s largest mainline Protestant denominations – including the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Methodists – also support abortion rights, although several of these churches temper this support with the call for some limits on when a woman can terminate her pregnancy. For instance, while the Episcopal Church opposes statutory limits on abortion, it teaches that “it should be used only in extreme situations.”

There are several religious groups that have no public position on abortion. For instance, in Islam, which lacks a single organizational authority, there are a range of views among scholars about when life begins and thus when abortion is morally acceptable. Similarly, in Orthodox Judaism there is disagreement among rabbis and scholars about the issue. And for the National Baptist Convention, a historically black Protestant denomination in the U.S., church policy is to allow each individual congregation to determine its views on abortion.

Even when a religious institution has a clearly stated policy on abortion, church members may not always agree. For instance, roughly half of all U.S. Catholics (48%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, in spite of the Catholic Church’s strong opposition."


SOURCE

Les Carpenter said...

Generally all spiritual paths advise against abortion. Cut the political considerations away and it is hard to not acknowledge that a developing sentient being is, in reality, being snuffed. In any case abortion belongs in the column of negatives.

However, as the Dalai Lama said in 1993, and I paraphrase, abortion is generally a negative, however, I believe abortion should be granted or denied on a case by case basis.. As you may know Tibetan Mahayanna Buddhism is more liberal than Christian Catholicism. In fact in Japan Buddhist practioners can actually partake in a ceremony recognizing a life that was not allowed to blossom. As I understand the ceremony is healing for the women who felt they had no viable alternative to abortion.

I hope your belief that the SCOTUS will ultimately do the right thing is correct Shaw. I'm not as confident.

skudrunner said...

Ms. Shaw and Rev, Sorry to correct you but what is being asked of the SCOTUS is not in their function. They are charged with making "constitutional" decisions based on filings not make judgements based on a request. I feel they will make a decision after it has been properly filed. The supremes' are suppose to a non biased, non political group even though we know that is not the case it is nice to dream. I think they will say RvW is federal law and stands.Of course I thought they would throw out obamacare and they didn't so who knows.

As far as my feelings about biden I will admit it is a selfish decision. I would like for my grandchildren to inherit a country with opportunities for all. Joey is continuing the actions of his mentor who believed in income/wealth distribution so the ones who worked give it to the ones who don't. He has yet to make a decision that is good for the majority of the American citizens, has left the border open, has confused the vaccine issue and has been responsible for thirteen soldiers deaths. His great giveaway is all he can focus on or at least what his handlers say he should focus on and although trump was a buffoon biden is dangerous. You are fine with that but we differ. He is making obama look like a decent president and that is tough to do.

Shaw Kenawe said...

skud, no one who regularly comes here would agree with what you wrote. It's all generalizations inspired by your right-wing ideology. But it's your opinion. And you know what they say about opinions. Right?

The notion that President Biden is "dangerous" is laughable.

I must note that you NEVER used that word to describe Trump. Ever. And he incited an insurrection against his own government which included his armed thugs attempt to hang his own vice president. You never mention this treason, do you? But Joe Biden is "dangerous?"

You've got chutzpah to even write such outrageous bosh! But since you're an ideologue, I'm not surprised.

Just read what President Biden's economic plans are. They're not what you wrote.

Jerry said...

"has been responsible for thirteen soldiers deaths."
If Biden is responsible for the acts of terrorists that killed 13, then Bush is responsible for the acts of terrorists that killed 3,000 and more thousands that died in his Afghan and Iraq wars. Making Bush the biggest mass murder to ever be president.

Les Carpenter said...

skud reads? Who knew?

Shaw Kenawe said...

RN, I don't believe anyone is for aborting a viable fetus. When that happens, it is usually to save the life of the mother, or for some other tragic reason that luckily you and I have not had to face.

Abortion of a cluster of cells where a heart has not yet developed is not an abortion of a baby/child as many anti-choice fanatics like to describe it. It is against the law to "abort" a full-term fetus, and there is no reason to do so. The anti-choice people always push that narrative because of its emotional value, but it is a lie. No hospital aborts a full term healthy fetus.

It is not unusual for a fetus to have serious developmental problems, like missing organs, or not having a full brain stem, or other natural mistakes. With the sanctions Abbott has written into his law, a woman would have to carry a fetus that has no chance to live once born. And that's why it should be a doctor and the woman who decides, not an ideological governor who's trying to please his base, and has no concern for the mother who has to make a tragic decision.

I hope the SCOTUS makes the correct decision once these draconian laws have been challenged.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Jerry,

Let's not forget this either:

"President Donald Trump drew laughs from some of his aides as he joked about what a “rough business” terrorism is while discussing an ambush in Niger that left four U.S. soldiers dead last year, according to a covert recording released Monday.

Trump made the comments during a closed-door meeting at the White House in the wake of the Oct. 4, 2017, attack on the U.S. special forces, who were advising local troops fighting Islamic extremists in the African nation.

Former White House communications aide Omarosa Manigault Newman secretly recorded the conversation and provided a tape of it to MSNBC on Monday afternoon.

The president can be heard on the tape telling his aides the U.S. and Nigerien troops “got attacked by 50 real fighters,” who he claimed were in Africa because the American military had chased them out of the Middle East."


SOURCE

I don't remember skud ever coming here and placing responsibility on Trump after that tragedy.

Mike said...

"and Donald J. Trump is an unprincipled, dishonest, and craven wreck of human flesh."
Shaw, you're being too kind to that POS.

skudrunner said...

Ms. Shaw, Did orange man order the ambush, I can't say I ever heard of this incident but will take your word for it. Joey set in motion the afgan withdrawal with incredible lack of knowledge and execution. Not directly his fault because it was his handlers who planned it but in his words he is responsible. That and the afgan people, military, president and of course the Americans who didn't request Uber early enough.

Jerry, no that distinction goes to FDR and Truman but Bush was certainly uninformed about the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Prophet Dervish Z Sanders said...

Charlie Pierce (on the Stephanie Miller Show 9/8/2021): I don't have any real optimism on this Mississippi case that ... they won't overturn Roe completely.

Mystere (from a 9/7/2021 post on his blog): Abortion is murder. One who slays a pregnant woman gets charged for double murder. Planned Parenthood worships the altar of Baal. ... Biden will be behind bars! Next one to occupy Oval Office won't be a Democrat!

Shaw Kenawe said...

Derv, The American people overwhelmingly support pro-choice. This will play out once the SCOTUS gets a case. We shall see.

As for Mystere: I would believe a talking gerbil before I put any credence in anything he says. He's a crackpot.

Dave Miller said...

Skud... as a personal responsibility guy, you are sure selling a huge pile there, especially your UBER snark.

You failed to mention that the Biden Admin began notifying Americans and Afghan allies back in May that we were leaving and that they should get out ASAP through normal channels and commercial flights. And we even offered financial help to make this safely happen.

Over the months we communicated more than 15 times with everyone there who had registered with the Feds. Everyone.

Whose fault is it that those people were still there months later? Who bears responsibility for them not leaving? The Biden Admin after telling them to leave and offering financial help, or the people who ignored those notices?

At the end of the day, yes it was confusing, looked unplanned and horrible for those that lost their lives, but we got over 110,000 people out in a number of days. The largest airlift in history and only one country in the world could have done this.

The US.

Was it perfect? Nope. And Biden took responsibility for that. Something Trump never did when he was president. [BTW, we've asked you to provide an example of Pres Trump taking responsibility for any SNAFU of his admin, and so far you've failed. Why?] Seriously amigo, your snark, [Joey, his handlers, UBER, I'll take your word, et al] is getting tiresome. Why are you here? Yes it's an open forum but I know you can offer some snark free intelligent comments. You did it the other day.

Try it more often.

Dave Miller said...

Shaw... Mystere??? Hahaha...

Such an interesting sock puppet.

Jerry said...

Uninformed Skud? NO, he lied.
Afghanistan did not bomb the U.S. Japan did. Hitler declared war against the U.S. Until then Hitler attacked many countries, but the U.S. stayed out of it.
Your comparisons are wrong and silly.
I wasn't reading your commentary back when Bush was president, but you must have been in a very small group if you criticized Bush back then.

skudrunner said...

Rev, tRump Never took responsibility for any screw up and always took credit for something that worked. He turned into a politician and everything was all about him which is a requirement for being a politician. He was the same way when he was a private citizen just not followed everywhere and every thing he said made public. I have never been a trumper or an anti-biden and the last president I truly supported was RR.

Dave Miller said...

BTW Skud... as it relates to what went went wrong in Afghanistan, itself a sideshow not related to this post, let me pose another couple of questions I doubt you will answer.

Was it a good idea for the Trump Admin to push the Afghan government to release 5000 Taliban terrorists, including the man now calling the shots in Kabul?

Do you think the release of those terrorists might have helped lead to the quick fall of Afghanistan?

Was what Pres Trump did with that release a good decision. Has he taken any responsibility for it?

Dave Miller said...

Jerry... none of these clowns who are now critical of GW Bush said a word back then.

Not. A. Word.

Some on the Mothership have defended that silence as not wanting to give us libs ammunition.

The carping on him now is simply revisionist history and ppl trying to cover up the reality of their past GW Love.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Skud, Ronald Reagan??? The Reagan Administration was one of the most corrupt in post-WW II American history. Fact. Do your research. 100+ from the Reagan era we’re indicted and/or went to jail. And you admire that?

You mock President Obama by calling him the “Swell Guy”. The Obama administration was scandal and corruption free. And you mock him every chance you get.

There’s a reason we’re a messed up country. And the above is one explanation. Millions of Americans admire a man who led a corrupt administration and mocked and defamed a man whose administration was scandal free.

It’s no wonder Trump had so much support from Republicans and especially Evangelical Christians.

skudrunner said...

Ms. Shaw, We look at leaders from different lenses. I look to someone who will accomplish something for the majority, you judge someone on their likability. I am from the private sector and believe in personal responsibility and productivity apparently you do not.

Shaw Kenawe said...

skud: "Ms. Shaw, We look at leaders from different lenses. I look to someone who will accomplish something for the majority, you judge someone on their likability."

I've NEVER said such rot! Again, you're putting words in my mouth. That's an example of lazy thinking. Joe Biden has accomplished a lot. Because you're anti-liberal/Democrat, you refuse to see what he's done. That's lazy thinking, too, and extreme partisanship. Biden's accomplishments are one Google search away, but perhaps that's too much effort for someone who might be feeling a bit lazy?


skud: "I am from the private sector and believe in personal responsibility and productivity apparently you do not."


Can you find evidence to show this "apparent" disbelief in personal responsibility and productivity?" Please do so. BTW, you'll fail because I've never expressed such bosh.

Somewhere there's a quote on responsibility while in office by the former REPUBLICAN president who was beaten by 7+ million popular votes and an electoral landslide and who is admired and loved by "personal responsibility" Republicans.

"Oh. Here it is.

Dave Miller said...

Skud said... "We look at leaders from different lenses. I look to someone who will accomplish something for the majority..."

Of all the things you've said here, this may be the biggest bunch of garbage we've ever seen.

In 2008 Barack Obama ran on providing universal health care for everyone, among many other positions. He received 53% of the vote, the largest popular vote win since 1988.

As president, Obama worked to enact his agenda, an agenda a clear majority of the American people supported and believed would be good for them and America.

And at every step of the way, he was opposed and blocked by a group of people representing a minority view here in the US.

While you, and Mitch McConnell may not have agreed with the Obama agenda, there can be no argument that a majority of the US voters approved.

You, like your blood brothers already calling the California election recall a sham, find it impossible to believe that a majority of Americans do not want your agenda. And so you you've taken to whatever it takes to deflect, call into question our elections and characterize people who do not agree with you as unAmerican, a la Jim Jordan.

Les Carpenter said...

Those who see the world and everything in it revolving around them may very well think their view is that of the majority. Even when it is contrary to actual reality.

skud, what is your GREATEST fear? Look deeply within during meditation, really deep and you'll discover it.