18 Comments

Okay, Eric, now that the Supreme Court has allowed Americans to express their views on abortion publicly, two questions for you: 1. If the majority of Americans disagree with the Supreme Court on the issue (which I doubt, by the way; I’ll wager the cost of my Founding Member Subscription to TPS that most Americans have never read either Roe v. Wade or the Dobbs opinion and have no idea what either one actually says), then why is that a problem? Because the majority will all vote for abortion on demand, right? Dobbs doesn’t outlaw abortion; it says the Constitution is silent on the issue, so let the people decide. 2. Not to be personal, but then you introduced it: why won’t your wife travel to anti-abortion states? Are you that rapacious or has she never heard of birth control? (Cf. your own visual tweet about the cost of condone vs. the cost of Huggies.). (Asking for friends, of course.)

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RE: "Jonathan L." The ability to turn against tyranny - but in a Social Media world where everyone feels they are the end all and everyone else is wrong - 'tyranny' becomes very subjective. Since social media pushes people to likeminded sources - it has led to some of the troubles these days

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"It's an Improbable Life" -- It seemed to me that in the wake of the new photos from the Webb space telescope, the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" was in desperate need of a scientifically accurate (except for talking galaxies) update. The wait is over. Best of all, it's only a minute long -- no getting bogged down in all that holiday sentimentality. (Turn up your sound.)

https://youtu.be/CCNVqiXQCdg

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“…no responsible journalist ever wants to misquote someone.”

I know that’s true. That’s why I have no ethical issues with allowing a source some level of review. I’d like to believe that the definition of responsible journalism also excludes a primary goal of “gotcha”, unless for a story like the Mirage Tavern, or a case where a questionable interview answer requires a follow-up question to call out a deliberate falsehood. But then that’s where the profession has gotten into trouble in the realm of public esteem for journalists. What may or may not be a falsehood now seems to be in the ear of the beholder.

By the way, how sacrosanct is the confidentiality of a subscriber list? Should Mitch Pugh have a right to expect not to be outed as a subscriber to the Sentinel?

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Regarding "Mike N"s angst about a court undoing a state's statutes: Segregation of schools by race was enabled by statute in many places before Brown v. Board of Education. The fact that it was a "law" in Kansas did not make it right.

We are born with rights, and the Constitution should be ensuring that legislatures do not take those rights away. For 50 years the SCOTUS recognized personal autonomy was a God-given right, until they didn't.

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Agree with Mrs. Zorn....avoid spending money in states that ban abortion...the pro-fetus/forced birthing ones. Also try to avoid purchasing any goods made in those states.

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I can't imagine living in one of these restrictive states or spending precious vacation $$$ visiting them. Fortunately their weather makes them even more unattractive to me. However, my sympathies lie with those want to reclaim their rights when one of those states is their home. I'm heartened to see groups like Mothers against Greg Abbott rising up and wish them luck and support. I hope it spreads.

https://mothersagainstgregabbott.com/

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I agree that Sun Belt states are slowly changing politically, but those new more liberal residents are and will have a tough time affecting change. The reason? Gerrymandering, in the extreme. All the legislatures are controlled by Republicans, who have drawn state senate and house districts so horrible that only Republicans have a voice. Chief Justice has no problem with this

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It occurred to me that if the abortion laws were to affect inbound migration, then it should also affect outbound migration. So, you would expect to see significant numbers of households leaving states with laws that they do not support, bound for states with laws that they prefer. If the polls are correct, that would be a boon for Illinois which should see a significant reversal in migration trends, with large numbers moving in from surrounding states.

As for travel and business, there have been many popular issues over the past 20 years that motivated groups (including state and local governments) to announce travel, meeting, and business boycotts. I am not aware of any that had any impact beyond the first few months. But again, if abortion laws are an important factor, then we should see a rapid growth in Chicago's lagging convention business as it takes business away from cities in restrictive states.

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The most depressing thing about the survey results that were posted was in the 'feelings' chart. The choice was 'pick all that apply'. But there were very high 'upset', 'mad', and 'hopeless' numbers but only 9% 'motivated'. That is a very bad sign for political action and a sad reflection on how younger people think the world works.

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Regarding the end of abortion rights, in the last 50 years medical advances have come a long way for needed and life-saving procedures to treat abnormal or life-threatening pregnancies, often resulting in abortions. Now, in many red states, doctors can't perform these necessary procedures until the embryo/fetus can be certified "lifeless" causing the woman to suffer needless, possibly fatal, harm.

There have to be challenges to these total bans, including bans after a number of weeks, to protect the life and health of the woman.

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The idea of a Pritzker Presidential run is ludicrous on its face. He has been the Chief Executive of a state that leads the nation in unfunded pension liabilities and has done nothing to address it from continuing to worsen, and which also has lead the country in net population loss for several years from people fleeing the horrendously high taxation, out of control violent crime and general dereliction of governanca. Yeah, that's the guy that this country needs - sheesh!

BTW - I would be very interested in your thoughts in the leftist craziness that has overtaken the People's Republic of Evanston. Councilmember Devon Reid, an individual who was living in Chicago a few years ago until Jan Shakowski recruited him to run and become Evanston City Clerk and is now a city council member, heads up a committee and has several proposals under consideration which include decriminalizing throwing rocks at people and buildings, as well as doing away with Evanston restriction against females being topless, saying that this nipple equity was required under the Illinois equal rights laws - seriously!

Witness the lead editorial in yesterday's Chicago Tribune decrying the hyper activism in Evanston at has prevented the hiring of a city manager and generally bringing dysfunction to city operations. This group that is primarily white and female likes to brand everybody and everything that is not on board with their proposals as racist whether it is against high-rise development in downtown, use of the Harley Clark mansion on the lakeshore, etc. To me this is a textbook example of the dysfunction when the leftist street activists actually gain control, and it is not pretty. Your thoughts?

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Eric, I'm flattered that you responded to my recent comment re Dobbs and abortion. I note that you did not respond to my point that you had no problem with Roe overturning the rule of people and legislatures, and that Dobbs merely restores the status quo ante.

And as far as your reference to that piece of feminist porn, The Handmaid's Tale, no marks to you for originality. I just want to see that the violence against the unborn is reduced, and as far as my children and abortion are concerned, you and I really should talk because you owe me an apology and a retraction. I mean that. You know where to reach me.

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It was too hard to choose my favorite 'You Gotta See These Tweets' - I laughed out loud at 3 of them and chortled at the rest!

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I am glad to see that some of the downtown alders are trying to address the automotive mayhem. However, I doubt that their ordinance will have any impact because it is unlikely to be enforced. The police don't even respond to these activities, even when they last for hours. The type of drifting event in the west loop that was on the news is just a sample of what goes on in many locations across the city and in the loop. Street racing by motorcycles and cars also occurs throughout the city, in addition to 'cruises' and parades of very loud cars/cycles with loud music. (We also have noise ordinances.) Crowds blocking intersections, streets. and even the expressways are common. The police are spread too thin and do not have the political or policy support for enforcement. Besides, if some cars are impounded or fines assessed, it will be immediately decried as racist because it disproportionately affects minorities and is an excessive punishment.

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