196 Comments

This piece has been edited post-publication to correct the spelling of Judge Chutkan’s name.

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Why is it always the women who have to save our asses?

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Because we know what it is like to live under patriarchy so we want others to be free too.

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Because we're not afraid to speak truth to power.

We women are used to not being listened to so when we get a venue to speak, we seize the opportunity because it may not present itself again.

These horrible men who have taken what little rights women have fought so hard for and only promise to take more away have awoken the Mamma Bear in us.

Look out because here we come. Not a threat, a promise.

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I feel like women are a whole lot more empathetic than men. If I had my way, all of Congress would be nothing but women. BTW, Tammy Duckworth deserves an honorable mention because of her recent roasting of several of the Orange Puffalo's cabinet picks.

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YES! And Elizabeth Warren - she ripped Hegseth to pieces during the hearing. He is probably having nightmares about them both now.

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She did, She did but I doubt that he even HEARD what she said.

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Women aren't inherently more empathetic; pls keep in ind that for centuries many men made great art. And pls keep in mind that blanket statements, even complimentary ones, can easily be used in harmful ways (ex.: "Women are more empathetic, so they should take on all of the child-rearing duties").

The reality is that any group that has been disenfranchised for a long time -- all women, all people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and so on -- have experienced an enormous amount of pain, and that pain often leads to empathy. In addition every member of a disenfranchised group is forced to examine the world and the self far more closely in order to figure out how to survive; that often leads to insight, empathy, compassion, etc. Not always, but often.

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Dee and Charles, I’ll offer another perspective. While men are not inherently less empathetic, sex role stereotypes and social training discourages boys and men from showing their empathy, often characterizing it as feminine or even “gay.” So it takes fortitude and support for males to accept and display their empathy.

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Good points! Thank you!

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Sorry, but I’m not going to have my speech regulated like this. If someone says, “Women are more empathetic, so they should take on all of the child-rearing duties"),” that is on them, not me. Poor word association among the various tribes is a completely different affair than me simply expressing an opinion.

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Good point

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53% of white women voted for Trump, let’s not mythologize a demographic here

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"let’s not mythologize a demographic here"

You're trying to direct me into what I should say or not say? I'll say what's on my mind, without any regard to trollish comments like this.

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I have no idea if that percentage is correct, but it would be 53% of white women that voted. Historically, the percentage of eligible voters that actually vote in the US is a rather pathetic 35%.

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I agree with you completely! Women are more of everything than men.

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Wait a minute! :-)

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We know that everything written in the handmaid‘s Tale has a historical precedent, and we refuse to go back.

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I read about someone who dreamed of a menopausal superhero whose name is, appropriately, Hot Flash. Now I can't stop wishing someone would write this fabulous superhero's story. We need her!!

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That name, and a (fictitious) magazine by that name, came from Ugly Betty.

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I was thinking the same damn thing... Don't we do enough already? The whole "your body - my choice" had just been shoved at us, the country once again failed to elect a highly intelligent, qualified woman and went with a.... whatever THAT is, and now we have to clean up THIS mess as well?

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I was about to write the EXACT same words!!

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I just read about Vivian Wilson calling out her father for his gesture. She said "Let's call a spade a spade". And later "I was clearly just talking about card suits'. Genius!

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... because many men, and especially MAGAroons, are particularly stupid.

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This Bishop was amazing in her speech and her delivery of it. May she be well protected 💙🇺🇸💙

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What was it that Abigail Adams said? “Remember the ladies.” We must flex our collective muscles and fight back against what the cowardly men amongst us will not.

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The thorough thrashing of a REAL Christian , by the man who was ‘ appointed by God to lead America’

Is quite interesting.

These people who deem they are Christians , their actions say otherwise. This Bishop words and actions were in fact, a Christian in action in accordance with Gods teachings.

How like Trump to categorize her as a “nasty Trump hater. “

Because , as we know , it’s always all about him.

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As soon as she spoke truth directly to his face, in public, before an international audience, I started the countdown clock to him calling her 'nasty' and 'not very smart.' It's his MO whenever a woman lands a punch.

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The funny thing is that I don't see her as a person who "hates" anyone. I honestly don't believe she hates him, she exudes true Christianity and that is not what he is about, obviously. But in his world you are either on board with his hate or you are a hater of him.

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She said explicitly in her Time interview that she does not hate Trump.

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Yea I didn't see/read that interview but you can just tell

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Besides her words, it was her delivery. Firm, resolute, quiet, confident in her faith. Entirely devoid of venom.

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I just watched her interview with Rachel Maddow and it was the same. Rachel gave her a chance to respond to fRump's rant asking for an apology and calling her names. Her response was great, like you said entirely devoid of venom. But she did not apologize. She obviously has nothing to apologize for and did not give him that power.

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She is so clearly a person who tries to understand, who doesn't judge, who doesn't hate.

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I would proudly wear the badge of "Nasty trump Hater" (capitalization deliberate)

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Not to mention Nasty Woman.

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Same

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I want to make a Tshirt saying"PROUD Enemy of the State!"

One of my ex boyfriends used to say,"Did I get your goat and now you want it back?"

My favorite line to name calling is,"Takes one to know one!"

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I bought a T-shirt a couple of weeks before the election (back when I still had hope) that said, "I am the Enemy of the State". Since I'm in my 70's, I thought it was so funny. Not everyone here in my Southern city agreed.

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That's awesome!!Where can I get one?

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Maybe from "Liber-Tees"? I can't remember. Sorry!

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In addition to Judge Chutkin, two other judges (also women) published their scathing replies to the order to stop J6 cases. They had to comply by law, but they all spoke truth to power.

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I considered amplifying those as well but decided to stop at three examples from different angles.

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Judges Beryl Howell and Colleen Kollar-Kotelly were also unsparing in their denunciation of tRump's actions, leaving NO doubt as to the blow to justice and accountability his gestures delivered...can't wait for the GOP House to begin impeachment hearings against the three DC judges. tRump speaks, MAGA listens.

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Judge Beryl Howell was magnificent!

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Rachel Maddow did a good job of talking about Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, too. There was nothing remotely inflammatory in what this Episcopalian clergywoman said, and if Trump's cult members have a problem with it, they need to take a good hard look at who they are actually following.

John Pavlovitz had a good piece on Substack about this on Jan. 21, based on the words of Scripture that “no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” He said that people must make their choice; they can serve Jesus or Trump, but they can't do both.

[the judge's name is Chutkan, not Chutkin]

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Thanks, will correct!

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Thanks for this today. May we all have the courage to be a bright spot.

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Food for thought: We are only beginning to reap the whirlwind. Here’s hoping others will have the courage to address the coming conflagrations.

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Yes. While the earthly conflagrations burn rampant, there are tiny sparks of light in the darkened sky that may shine a narrow foot path forward, step by step, inch by inch. Let us hope indeed.

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Lovely thought, thanks for that!🙂💙👍🏾

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Been thinking about Drumpf (of course).

One thing that occurs to me is that the worse Trump gets - and he will - perhaps the better. His pile of caca will soon reach the point where the stench of it will reach even some of the MAGA faithful, and any who may be on the fence about him. Chickens DO come to roost, and these will.

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I believe that the women across our country will make a joyful noise (joyful to some, not to others) as we decide which issue to put our passion,our energy,our voices behind- and we will make some Good Trouble (in the memory of John Lewis)

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"Courage is contagious." Yes! May we all heed the call.

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I also want to call out another woman. Pamela Hemphill was one of the 1500 - she has refused to accept the pardon, saying they had been guilty, , and it would insult the capital police officers and the rule of law. A different kind of courage maybe, she will face MAGA blowback. Integrity certainly.

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Thanks Jay! I am solely reading your posts on Substack now as I am not looking at Facebook any longer. I still have the account but only because the community I live in posts issues there that I need to know about. But as far as interacting with anyone else, I’m done.

I admire these three women very much, especially the bishop. I have said all along that these MAGA “Christians“ are nothing but liars and cheats and think they can pull the wall over every Americans eye that their praise God and all above. They are definitely showing their true colors now and especially their Tangerine king.

I appreciate all you are doing as well as the big picture, MeidasTouch network, and the contrarian. Following all three of you!

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There aren't too many "Christians" on the right who haven't coopted and sullied what "Christian" actually means.

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Let's start with Hegseth, the presumptive SecDef nominee. His church believes women should be barefoot and in the kitchen. The 19th A should be repealed. He wears tatoos of dubious Crusader origin. He has been put forward to a position he is enormously unqualified to do. Then let's go on to Mike Johnson (whose surname is seemingly appropriate) who shares with his son his porn site visits and visa versa so they can keep each other in the proper lane when they have "thoughts." He's a purported Christian, too. Then there is Marge and Boebert -- both avowed Christians with anti-Christlike behaviors going back years.

I think DJT looked so poorly at that service because he was fully expecting lightening to strike him dead. Melania shared the same look. So did the kids, Tiffany looked especially alarmed.

SMH.

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The smirk on Lara’s face. 😡

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Eric was different. I watched him. He really listened, still and respectful. I don't know what he left with, but he heard something new to him while he was there.

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IKR! I am sick to death of listening to these Christian extremist who think they know God better than an average person. I doubt very much that they really attend church regularly, don’t cheat on their wives and families, as they can’t even show respect to people.

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(clears throat). Look how many of these ministers and evangelical politicians have been *arrested* for child abuse or child porn. Hopefully somebody, somewhere, is keeping track because it is in my feeds every day.

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I recently read an article that registered all of the (religious idiots) who were outed! It is almost beyond my comprehension. The Christians just don't get it. They continue to give donations ( their last dollar ) to perverts. I learned the premise of born again religion is that once you've confessed to your sins, G-d is going to understand that you are a mere human and you're going to fuck up now and again. The word FORGIVE does not exist in my vocabulary.

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And of course we have to include the Catholics in the abusive hierarchy. I grew up in the late 50s early 60s and went to Catholic school for eight years. High school was public high school and I never went to college until I was in my 30s. My ex ex-husband was Lutheran and at that time I felt more comfortable in that church that I did in the Catholic church. I wonder at times what went on in our parish.

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You are beautiful, Jay. Thank you

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Hoping hard that courage and truth telling is infectious and we have an epidemic of it.

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It isn't

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We have to find what ever glimmers of hope are out there. These women are all incredibly courageous and words cannot express enough gratitude and support for them . The fight must continue.

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