178 Comments

Brilliant Obama speech, as always. The little crowd size thing he did, an instant classic.

Now, whenever Trump uses that accordion hands gesture (and how can he ever stop?) his audience will think of Obama's superb putdown. 🤣

“Who is going to tell Trump the job he’s seeking is one of those black jobs…” such a great line from Michelle. She gave a master class in how to deliver the message. Superb.

Thank you Barack and Michelle for making us feel better. We needed that. Warmth, humour, hope and just plain decency. It’s just refreshing.

Can't wait to celebrate Harris landslide victory wearing this funny Bye Don shirt on Tuesday, November 5 👇 🤣

https://libtees-2.creator-spring.com/listing/bye-don24w

We've forgotten how to be joyful. The contagious power of hope!

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

I believe it was Michael Cohen who made the observation that his old boss used "accordion hands" when he was in the act of telling a porky pie. He sure has been doing this a lot lately,. I noticed that the cadence picks up as the anxiety kicks in. He goes from conducting a fugue to a fast and furious "Flight of the Bumble Bees".

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It’s the audible sniffing for me…

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Michael Cohen and Mary Trump both know him well, we need to listen to them. I am a big fan of both!

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Can’t wait till the hillbilly eulogy!

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You nailed it. I can't stop laughing.

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I was always under the impression that Trump's hands were gesturing how large a fish he caught; In other words, he's always telling the liess about how big a fish he just caught when, in reality, he never caught any. A failure as a fisherman, Trump spun his tired cliches, day-after-day, showing us the size of the non-existent fishes he was catching. The Con-in-Chief was excelled at that, and - taxpayer bilking, illegally amassing money from foreign governments, preying on victims, demanding loyalty but giving none, and, of course, causing the insurrection - where people died. he should've been in prison for that...and the number of people dying from COVID because he was too stupid, too cowardly, to inept, to do anything.

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Agreed! Most of us have almost forgotten about how good we are and have it! And having two,old, wealthy white MEN running for the presidency was truly a "downer"! Especially when Trump has been using "gloom and doom" to frighten so many people!

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I appreciate Josh Marshall's comment on Talking Points Memo: Democrats remind us of what normal looks like. So true. We've been suffering through Trump's and his ilk's abnormality for far too long.

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If Trump really wanted Hillary locked up, he should have just hired her...

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She wouldn't have worked for such a childish sociopath.

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🤣👍💕

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She would have never represented him!

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Of course not.

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The icing on the cake would be if Taylor Swift comes out for Kamala.

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He just gave her the perfect opening. In fact, all she needs to do is is make a very public reply saying something like "I had intended to keep my own political views private, but now that Trump has chosen to insert me into to campaign I feel a need to make this very clear. I am not voting for Trump and am certainly not endorsing him. I believe that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the best options for the country and I fully stand behind them. I look forward to casting my vote for them in November."

It can be that simple. While the right wing medial will definitely criticize her, it will be hard to deny that she felt forced to take a public position after Donald Trump decided to generate a false image of her and take advantage of her influence by claiming to have her support.

Btw- how amazing would it be if Taylor Swift was already booked to have a surprise appearance right before Kamala accepts the nomination on Thursday?!!

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Yes. Agreed. She certainly has the motive for a response now.

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She played London Tuesday, but she's off now, so it is possible.

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Yes Taylor swift, please do your patreonic duty and save us from fascism. You know what that looks like. You could decide the race! If it's that tip the election and save america. You would be a hero. Damn it! do your job for your country. Please... . Endorse the Harris and Tim campaign.

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I truly hope that if Taylor Swift is on board, and I assume she will be, that she waits a while. The level of hate that will be spewed by the GOP will be guaranteed to detract from solid issues discussion, and spawn a culture war the likes of which we haven't seen for years.

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I have a suspicion that Taylor's boyfriend may be a Trumpite. So that may be an issue. Just guessing. Hope I'm wrong.

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I hope so too, but Taylor Swift strikes me as a strong and independent woman. I don't think she is the type who wouldn't speak up just to keep peace with her boyfriend (after all, he is also a star and would be welcome to come out publically for Trump).

Also, if her boyfriend is willing to vote for Trump after all the ways he and his right wing media have attacked and spoken about his girlfriend, then maybe Taylor should be reevaluating their relationship.

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Her football playing boyfriend would surely respect her for being an independent, free thinking Woman. Vote your conscience... placating your boyfriend, or allegiance to your country? Fascism or democracy?

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He supported Harris

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Maybe it would rock the relationship and she’s been through a few.

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No. He is a blue collar fan; his father was a union man.

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I’m not sure and I don’t have first-hand knowledge, but I don’t think he is. Several things that I’ve heard he said we’re not directly against Trump but hinted that way. I think they’re probably on the same page politically and culturally. She wouldn’t be with somebody who Would like Trump

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I believe her tour ends in September so the timing will be interesting.

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Aug 21·edited Aug 22

I would like to see her come out in the AI Uncle Sam costume from Trumps fake post and Say "I the REAL Taylor Swift support Kamala Harris for president. "

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I think she will... tonight!

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He is running to stay out of prison, why can’t this be talking points every day?

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Or about the foreign money he has received?

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Why did the Egyptian story about Trump receiving $ just before he took office just disappear from all media?

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

Good question. I hate to even think like this, but if Trump offers favors to oil executives (which he said openly — $$ for favors), is it possible to give favors to/buy off media executives? It is precisely his style. And who would report it?

(I don’t want to start a rumor, but I can’t get it out of my head, the way corporate media has such a ridiculous rightwing slant.)

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Me either! They must really care more for their tax breaks! Corporate Greed is alive and well and to hell with our freedom.

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By George, we've got it! The slant has been there for a very long time. Les Moonves, head honcho of one of those media companies smilingly said about Trumps election in 2016, "ITS terrible for America but great for CBS". I think he headed CBS then. That's the mentality in a nutshell. Screw the rest of you we got ours. It seems to me that his comment summarizes the capitalistic system. There's no room for caring for the good of the whole as long as each rich component thrives, at the expense of others. And yet this is considered a Christian nation?

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Our forefathers commented on this not being a Christian nation, the importance of keeping church and state separated. It is documented by more than one of them!

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I have posted about John Adams addressing this NOT being a Christian nation on my Substack. Interesting what he, a religious man, said on this.

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Because they found out after the statute of limitation ran out so there is nothing they can do to him now, but I still think that he should be held to the fire and so should Jared Kushner for the $2 billion he got from the Saudis.

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Because there is SO much terrible stuff about Trump, the media has just started to overlook it and say "well, that is just how he is". That attitude (people just getting sick of his c*** and choosing to ignore it, since confrontation is pointless) is exactly why he has been able to get where he is.

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agreed..i cannot tell you how many times since 2015 i have heard the phrase "thats just donald trump being donald trump"..yes and he has NOT changed but he has spread much more nastiness and divisiveness..suddenly the media is saying,oh no,just 2 and a half months until the election,so i guess we really should start more fact checking and careful criticism,especially since the project 2025 thing came out..!!

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Thanks Donna, I did not realize that the statute of limitations was the reason.

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You KNOW it was good when everyone else is praising it but Eric Trump is calling it "unwatchable." LOL Gotta love it!

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Of course it is unwatchable. For him, having to hear the truth about his father is probably more traumatic than it would be to see his father naked. Close call though.

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Oh my gosh! My eyes, My eyes! I can never unsee that now! Hahahahahaha!

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Apparently he did watch it, Mary Jo!

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Exactly!…how else would he “know”🤔

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I find the Trump children's looks unwatchable, truly a demonstration of the worst possible genes deciding to string together on chromosomes.

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The momentum just keeps going. I haven’t been this excited since Obama became president. Truly a wonderful time!

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Absolutely! (And Michelle was fantastic!!) 💕

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"

Pro-life" is solely about the life of the baby. NOT about the life (possibly fatal) of the mother. Or her impossible situation economically or professionally or socially.

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Or about the welfare of that baby after it's born. Just make sure the woman delivers that baby, no matter how unwanted, uncared for, miserable & resentful that child will turn out.

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There have been some women in TX that are having medical problems themselves or with their babies that have been unable to seek an abortion. The doctors are too concerned about committing a crime and possibly losing their licenses when there is a diagnosed need. Women are forced to leave the state for medical treatment elsewhere. This is very sad to me. I blame the orange con man and the red politicians for this terrible situation we are in today.

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I really appreciated how this problem was highlighted at the DNC by REAL people who spoke about their REAL experiences.

I would love to see the Dems or an interest group like Planned Parenthood running ads that feature such people telling their stories.

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Me too. Women have come forward on our local news channels. But, there are many who choose not share their stories. These are women that want their babies. Overturning R v W has had many terrible consequences.

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i might add that i live in the houston texas area,and over the las 2 or 3 week there have been (sadly)confirmed cases ( i believe at least 3)of newborns with umbilical cords attatched,one being found in a dumpster and one actually in the back of a garbage truck picking up the cans in a neighbohood,while another one was found in a small creek by a bridge in a neighborhood,and a video camera picked up on a young man dumping the baby...1 was alive and 2 were deceased,and the identity of only one mother has been released with pictures of her in front of a judge-a VERY YOUNG looking hispanic girl...babies are blessings to those who want a child and they are a hope and a wish for others,that sometimes does not go as planned..

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Those real life, gruesome examples Are the “Great Again” from the last 2 letters in the stupid slogan “maga.” Nothing “Great Again” about The Cruel, Sadistic State of Texas, that Drove Women to the Fear, Desperation & Sheer Terror, of forced birth, that’s what they were Back to: the Dark Ages. Doctors Forced by Law to Not Treat Them. Only Wealthy Women, are able to escape the clutches of the Devil Men with Torture Mentality that are in Reality ‘Practicing Medicine WITHOUT a License;’ By being a Politician (with a Sick Mind). They can get away, to states with sane Laws. Get the medical care they need. MD’s are able to treat patients for the Medical Procedures, their Medical trading, Experience & That Patient Requires: No Wacko, Religiosity, Fantasy, Preventing Medical Necessity-leading to Harm and/ or Death of Mother and Child.

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I don't live on your planet and don't understand the "crossing state lines" thing. If you cross the line to get an abortion in a state that condones them, how do you get found out? Does the doctor tattle and send your name to your state?

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They don’t. It’s called patient/doctor privilege. There are HIPPA laws that protect us.

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Then how do women get prosecuted for "crossing state lines" for an abortion? (as we hear on the news)

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I haven’t heard of anyone in TX being prosecuted. That would be a huge story here if that were to happen. Women leave the state for healthcare. In fact NM is recruiting doctors from TX. Abortion is legal there and in CO.

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I asked because we keep hearing about "crossing state lines" to get an abortion being illegal. But if nobody is caught....

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Some states with wacko politicians are Passing “Laws” forcing Reports of anyone Crossing State Lines to get Medical Procedures for Forbidden Treatments ( such as Abortions and/ or Medication to lead to that. Gestapo Laws: like Nazis, Welcome to “MAGA” Hell! Anyone is Supposed to Squeal on You. Control Freaks Are Out to Get You. Republicans Project 2025 Plan for their Presidential Policy Win, full of Nasty Surprises, along these lines.

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The questions of what is life and when does life begin have been debated since the beginning of civilization and invoke many different religious, philosophical, metaphysical and legal ideologies. To me, until the mother gives birth, no government, no legal authority, no religious authority and no anyone has a right greater than the mother to decide what the mother may and may not do with her body.

Should women need a reminder of the urgency to vote on November 5, they need only remember JD Vance's following comment:

"Should a woman be forced to cary a child to term after she has been the victim of incest or rape? My view on this has been very clear, and I think the question betrays a certain presumption that is wrong. It's not whether a woman should be forced to bring a child to term. It's whether a child should be allowed to live even though the circumstances of the child's birth are somehow inconvenient or a problem to the society...."

Vance's position could not be clearer: The "inconvenience" to women for being raped does not outweigh the need to compel the raped woman to give birth to the rapist's child.

With Trump going into his 80's in the next couple of years and already showing symptoms of physical and mental debilitation, JD Vance would only be a single heartbeat away from being the President of the United States.

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Luckily, judging from the last 3 days, I think his chances are pretty nil.

Still, your country makes me nervous. It's like having a monster under your bed.

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Only about when the baby os in the womb. Afterwards: no financial, social, educational, nutritional, or medical support for baby or mother. No vaccinations, no well baby check up. No school lunches or breakfasts, no jobs for moms or POC. It's hate- filled nothingness.

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Thank you for posting this.

In 2016 a friend revealed that her family was "Trump all the way". I couldn't understand this because she is one of the kindest people I have ever met. I know that she holds certain social views that are related to her church (for example, she homeschooling because he is concerned that liberals have "taken over" public schools and are trying to push a "homosexual agenda" on little kids, and make "normal" kids convert to become homosexual. But in most respects, she should be far more in line with moderate or moderate democrat positions. Especially after hearing the terrible things said by Trump.

I said to her "I can understand having conservative positions, but aren't you concerned by the things Trump says, especially about women (she has 2 daughters) and how he mocks disabled people (she has two nephews with disabilities).

Her response is "Of course I don't like it and wish he would be a little nicer, but in the end we need something to change in the government, and since he is not a politician and was a success businessman, I think it would be a good change. Really, words don't matter if he can do a better job running the country."

As someone who was bullied throughout all of school (until I left for college) that "words don't matter" really struck me badly. I said, you do know that entire wars have been been started by words, don't you?" She said something along the lines if "Well right now he is just campaigning so he is speaking his mind. I am sure he will be more careful when he talks to foreign governments when he is President."

I left it at that, and then blocked her from my life for the next 6 years.

Words matter.

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I’m so glad you are there Mary🥰 Thank you….I feel it ❤️😎

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There Are No Conservatives In Foxholes... Let's keep our powder dry and our humor wry.

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I’ll go with pro birth, as so called pro life republican politicians vote against everything that would actually help children and families.

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

I’ll go with anti-woman, anti-freedom, misogynist.

Their ultimate goal isn’t really anything about babies; it’s about keeping women locked down/ under their control.

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I Do NOT Trust Control Freaks. They always turn out to be people that think they know better than you do, what’s best for you. Never learned to mind their own Business.

They have Major Boundary Issues. Do Not Listen well. Too busy, jumping ahead, figuring out what They Assume you need. 99-100% of the time, they are Wrong.

Only later, when they Made a mess Interfering, to an Occasional few, get a Clue. A few may ask, why didn’t you say so? Duh! When We Did, All but Hit you with a Hammer, after Telling You, Many times, But Never Listened. Argued, Denied, Said your way was better. Bullied. Forced. Your Way or the Highway. Had to Control it. Till Destroyed.

Too Late. That’s MAGAt. Never Vote for Any.

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It isn't even pro-birth. If it were they would want free access to pre-natal care, and would clarify that there are exceptions for after the fetus dies in utero (so much for the heartbeat justification!), as well as for embryos created for IVF (which, last time I checked would promote MORE pregnancies).

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

Yes, definitely. Plus they don’t care if the woman has an ectopic pregnancy, which, if not taken care of by an emergency abortion, can leave her unable to bear children.

It’s simply a matter of controlling women; it has nothing at all to do with helping births.

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pro forced birth

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Thank you so much, Mary, for all you do!!!

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My question about 'pro life' - Why aren't there lawsuits in the red states that will require the states provide income for all of the women that are forced to have children? That would include medical care, both for mother and child, food and housing for those who are fleeing domestic abuse or are well below the poverty line. You see, it's not just having the child, it's everything that that follows. The red states should be footing the bill for it all and someone should be bringing class action lawsuits for this!! But no! What they do is force the woman to have the child, and let them fall through the cracks and reduce or eliminate funding, that could even MARGINALLY support them. Hypocrisy! Bring on the lawsuits!!

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Aug 21·edited Aug 21

Mary, this abortion thing has so many of us up in arms. Here is my own story.

It’s 1988, and I’m living just south of San Francisco when I find myself pregnant. My then-husband and I receive the news happily. Other than bouts of morning sickness, everything goes swimmingly through the first trimester. If feel my baby move at around 4 months or so. I go for an amniocentesis test at the recommended 17 weeks. It takes about 2 weeks to get the results, and they are both devastating and unquestionable.

My baby girl has a severe genetic defect called Trisomy 13, also called Patau syndrome. Most infants with Trisomy 13 die within their first days or weeks of life, if they even make it that far.

As much as I want her, there is no question of carrying this baby to term. Not only because caring for this ill-fated child would be impossible under our circumstances, but because I was frightened by what had happened to my own mother.

She became pregnant with her 4th child when I was 2, and he died in utero at 8 months. Back in the 1950s, the only option available was for her to deliver the baby naturally. So she carried him, knowing he was dead, until he was born at 9 months. The experience drove her into terrible postpartum depression from which she never recovered. By the time I was 5 years old she’d devolved into paranoid schizophrenia. When I was 12, she was institutionalized. She received 35 shock treatments that did nothing to restore her mental health, and died when I was 17.

I felt that I too could easily be driven into unrecoverable depression myself if my situation continued. So I finally received my abortion at 22 weeks after a difficult search for a provider. My milk came in afterwards. I cried for weeks. The moral of the story is this: forcing a woman to have even a <wanted> but seriously deformed baby can be devastating. Just imagine what it’s like for desperate women everywhere right now.

We need to stop these fascist assholes, NOW and forever.

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I am truly very sorry for everything you as a child , teenager and a woman have been through. I too feel as you do. I had become pregnant young I was scared, I lived in Van Nuys, Ca had to have Abortion with possibility of never have kids. What goes through your mind is beyond what I could explain. I did have 2 healthy girls, the last pregnancy was hard. I had to have hysterectomy after.

I never want to wish what I went through on any woman. Women must be able along with her doctor to make the choice that’s right for her. So sad

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Thank you for your report. It is nice to have what feels like a conversation with and intelligent and insightful person who is sharing her thoughts and experiences and provoking our thoughts, too. I, too, am interested in how language is used and words are chosen and thought your analysis quite an important one. I look forward to more from you and I'm going back to some I missed. P.S.The Obamas are clever and creative and great communicators and you can see they choose their words carefully and perfectly.

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Nobody ever speaks about back alley abortions either.

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I think about that often. I wonder if it is because I was alive when that is what abortions were...

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Yes! My friend was pregnant and her parents didn’t want her to have the baby,they contacted someone to fly her to New York where it was legal at the time for the abortion, the (70’s).I was supposed to meet her the next day for lunch, she never showed up. Days to weeks to months to years, what happened to Sarah? Fast forward years down the road, the Illinois bureau of Investigations called me wanting to meet. Long story short, they found her in a grave on a farm in Wisconsin. What happened was, they took her downtown Chicago to a motel and she died during the abortion. They drove her body to someone’s farm and buried her. They also found several other girl’s remains buried there also. The man’s name that killed her was Silas Fletcher😡 Sarah was a straight A student in high school, and got pregnant. Her parents were stuffy old principals of schools and that was a huge blemish to their name. I hope they rot in hell!

I know this is going to happen again! I know and people don’t bring this up and it truly upsets me even after all these years.

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What a horrible thing to happen and I am so sorry that happened to your friend. I've read that it happened quite often then with back alley butchers. I am afraid also of that starting to happening again in many states since Roe v Wade was overturned. Hopefully, before it begins happening again and countless women die, laws will be changed once again giving women the freedom to make their own choices.

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Your story is one of so many. And we Dd to that those who became sterilized or otherwise harmed because of the unsterilized conditions or challenges of no follow up care. The stories and reasons are endless. Add to this being a child who does not feel or believe there are others who will help her access resources or care Bout her story. This is why Planned Parenthood existed: to provide reproductive healthcare. And the real reason people have felt uneasy about them: they can say the words and talk about the things that many were taught ( or just don't know) to not talk about.

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That’s what we Are Forced Back to Talking About, Back Alley Abortions, thanks to MAGA. They Are a result of voting for them. Nothing Great about that.Horrific.

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