Last night I came home from a rough night at the paying job and, after cleaning up, looked on a certain social media site that doesn't need my help for publicity to learn about the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87. While we all knew she was struggling healthwise (that form of cancer is notorious for killing most of the people diagnosed with it) it still came as a shock for multiple reasons from timing (just a little over a month before the 2020 Presidential election) to what's on the line (the new appointee from the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago could, if approved push back nearly 100 years of progress for women and various marginalized peoples as well as on various environmental and other issues). In fact Ginsburg herself had reportedly stated to her granddaughter a few days before her death that she didn't want her replacement chosen under the current President. The fact she apparently had to say that even on her last day is saddening enough but what';s at stake ranging form the reprodutvie rights of those people who can get pregnant to LGBTQIA rights. We also know that the new choice, if forced through,k could give the Mad Fuhrer license to turn this country full on to a authoritarian extreme right wing state more in line with apartheid era South Africa or Brazil under Bulsonaro than even what this country was like 20 years ago.
Now most of us know what's at stake here so I'll leave other people who have more details to share of that tell them. However, before I suggest or support any next steps I feel I have ot discuss a few things briefly. Yes, I'm aware that I'm not alone in saying these things but they need to be said.
First, Ruth Bader Ginsburg should have never been positioned as the one person who's passing could endanger the rights of millions of people. That it ended up that way due to several stolen elections (2000 and 2016) as well as an increasing lust for power from the Repubs (to the point where when Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland in 2016 Repubs denied Garland a hearing claiming it was against the rules for the President to nominate someone in an election year (though Addison the Turtle relishes the though of pushing through a justice for his side now). A system is broken when too much power is in the hands of too few people. And anyone who has actually laid attention can attest to - the system has been broken for a long long time.
In addition, Obama's mistake in not, when the Repubs refused to give Garland a hearing, putting Garland in as a recess appointment was a misfire. Granted conventional wisdom thought that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election and this wouldn't be an issue. However, we got electoral vote winner Donny which lead to SCOTUS justices like Neil Gorsuch and Bretty Brett Kavanaugh. Garland's nomination itself was an attempt to triangulate with a candidate both Dems and Repubs said was worthy to be a justice. However, when Obama tried this he learned yet again that even when he tried to satisfy the Repubs theGOP moved the goalposts and continued their quest to do everything possible to make sure he got as little as possible done (and why suggestions that if Biden wins the Repubs will suddenly come to their senses and work with them is naive at best).
Meanwhile both Senate Majority Leader Addison the Turtle and the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago seem hell-bent on pushing through a candidate with a little over a moth before the election and, if electoral vote winner Donny loses (and more importantly, if the asshiole concedes in the aftermath) a lame duck session. While some have suggested that there are a few Repubs that might not vote for a new justice in these circumstances we have to remember that Repubs in government often voice mild concerns but tend to vote in goosestep with the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago so we should be skeptical of this.
So what should be done. In the bigger picture - VOTE!!!! Yeah, I know it's not a great choice and there's enough misinformation designed to try and keep people home and away from the polls (or mailing in their vote, depending on location et al) but it's a step that has to be taken. While I won't outright tell you whom to vote for I do agree with Beau of the Fifth Column that Biden represents breathing room in the path of trying to change the way things are now. Yes, we'll have to protest him as well but the breathing room is necessary after the overwhelming shit sandwich that the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has made the last four years.
Also, I know some people are going in for vote shaming and I understand that. However, it might not be the best way to get potential allies to your side on an electoral basis down the road. In addition I've heard anecdote that some people on the far left are nto voting or claiming that four more years of Donny will disgust people enough to choose a truly progressive candidate. However, Donny's had one term and the DNC still found a way to make the majority in its ranks vote for Biden (even if some will do so than throw up as soon as they find a nearby trash can) - so that isn't an accurate path either.
It's going to take the diversity of tactics or, to paraphrase Jello Biafra, rebellion both in the voting booth and on the streets. Yes, voting is an important step but, unlike what those in power tell you, it's not the only thing that can be done. People are going to have to do everything from contacting their elected officials to voice that a new justice appointment shouldn't happen until after the election to even taking up the First Amendment right to protest (i.e.: what is meant by people have to petition their government for a redress of grievances). Yes, this means Repubs but also pressuring the Democratic party establishment who seems more interested in making money than in creating solid substantial policy (the latter of which ould offend wealthy donors).
As I said earlier these are merely a few brief thoughts, many in line with what other people are saying but is my take on them. While people may be in mourning last night and today the fight got a lot more real and has to be taken up tomorrow. We have less than 45 days until election day and shit got a lot more scary - and a lot more real.
