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Preparing for the worst, Baker signs measure to delete old laws that might one day ban abortion and contraception
By adamg on Fri, 07/27/2018 - 1:56pm
Boston Magazine reports that Gov. Baker today signed a law stripping old laws off the Massachusetts books that could have been used to bar abortion should Roe v. Wade be overturned.
The laws are among a number of laws that technically still existed in Massachusetts because legislators never moved to get rid of them after they were overturned by court decisions. In addition to the 19th-century ban on abortion, this also included a prohibition against unmarried people acquiring contraception - a law the Supreme Court specifically overturned in 1972 - and a law that set fines for people writing articles on how to get an abortion.
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Comments
'Bout time.
'Bout time.
The laws are among a number
I get the reasoning behind this, because it's always easier to campaign on shiny new things instead of solid but boring managerial tasks, but I really wish the legislature would spend a little more time dealing with these things. Maybe 1 day per legislative session could be put aside for administrative purposes like old law clean up.
there are two types of laws
There are two types of laws: those that are enforced thoroughly and vigorously, and those that should be taken off of the books. Anything else invites selective enforcement, which invites corruption.
He must be preparing to do
He must be preparing to do something bad then. He never does something good alone without doing something draconian too.
Who is advising Baker?
I usually don't use nicknames but who is advising Tall Deval, Charlie Baker? Of course abortion would never be restricted in MA (sadly) but he is one of the only GOP governors refusing to sign on to the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh? Why not switch parties?
I know little about Scott Lively other than the dutiful media (many now in government as six-figure spokesmen) criticizing him. The miniscule, secret ballot Republican primary will be interesting, especially with Lively getting the vote of 27% of NAMED delegates at the convention. How will those of us vote in secret?
We will likely be stuck with Baker another four years (Democrats no chance) but he is proving to be a fool. Have we heard from Cardinal O'Malley on this or just on him favoring illegal immigration? I'm sure Cardinal Sean's mostly Joe Biden pro-abortion staff won't address it while confused about declining attendance at Mass in the two Dorchester parishes facing closure.
Or...
Charlie Baker probably doesn't switch parties because he is the last real republican in the party and, like a good yankee, wants to make sure someone is still there to turn the lights out when the party finally implodes, so as not to waste electricity. Your republican party should just rename itself something else, and let real republicans, like Baker, get back to worrying about being fiscally conservative and stop all the hand wringing over things that are really just religious issues and don't belong in politics.
Why would you remotely be concerned about women health choices
Other than the fact that you are a bottom dwelling, mysoginistic, ignoramus.
Many women in the family, that's why
It was a joy to protect battered women on the job and be very protective of the women in my life. As for ignoramus, my point was obviously over your head.
Abortion, even if Roe is overturned as Ms. "Roe" now wishes, the matter will be returned to the states and there is no chance of MA outlawing it. Baker "getting ahead" of the issue is just another political stunt and a reminder of the joke he has become.
May we hear from Cardinal Sean? The last we heard here he was torn over which Dorchester parish to close while blasting Trump on illegal immigration enforcement. The sheep are looking for our shepherd, well handled by Joe Biden's former staff in favor of partial birth abortion in the 9th month and eliminating ICE. Might as well close all of the Catholic churches now, why wait? Barbaric.
It was a joy to protect battered women, you say...
You are an idiot...if they are battered women than you did a piss poor job of protecting them.
What a chauvinist pig...like women are relying on you for anything. Plus, I don’t believe most of what you say about when you were a cop. Where were you a cop...what city, town or agency?
Why won’t you disclose it? You are retired - what’s the big deal. I suspect the truth is that either you were some flunking LEO eventually drummed out or you have history that would expose you for the fraud you are.
Here your chance to prove everyone wrong - prove that you were what you say you were or don’t answer and confirm that you are a lying sack of shit. Your play Fish Breath.
Watch his silence and/or excuses - anything short of a fact base answer confirm what he is...a right wing troll.
"...and there is no chance of
"...and there is no chance of MA outlawing it." Fish, doesn't this miss the point-- that MA already had outlawed it long ago? Hence the perceived need to tidy up our local laws-- to make them match our current status quo-- in case the Federal system does kick it back to the states.... I'm surprised those against letting women make their own decisions regarding abortion didn't fight harder against the legalization of abortion in Massachusetts.
A little history lesson
The state Republican convention backed Steven Pierce over Bill Weld, but Weld gained enough support to force a primary, and won that primary 60 to 40 in an upset election.
So it would seem that being backed by the named delegates at the party convention - even a MAJORITY of named delegates means nothing if you are a "social conservative". The MA GOP faithful may contain a fair number of rabid kithkin, but history has shown time and again that the government-in-your-bedroom type of Republican candidate is not ever favored to win much of anything in this state - not even their own party nomination.
Another history lesson: it was REPUBLICAN governors and legislatures that acted first to remove bans on birth control and abortion in the 1960s and 1970s. So Baker is just continuing that legacy of freedom from unwarranted government intrusion.
Claiming They Favor Illegal Immigration Is A Lie
( when you repeat blatant lies, people dismiss any valid arguments you might have )
Puts Geoff Diehl in an
Puts Geoff Diehl in an awkward spot. He could greatly benefit from Baker's support but would seemingly need to distance himself from Baker over this to retain his conservative bona fides.
Charlie and Liz sitting in a tree
They are pretty tight. Can't see him coming near Herr Diehl.
this seals the deal
I guess we can be assured that Baker has no presidential ambitions -- at least not as a Republican.
Wait, what?
Like you think this was what settled that? There hasn't been a viable Republican presidential candidate of Baker's type since John Anderson in, oh, 1980.
Oh?
The current president had several affairs, multiple wives, supports "populist" economic policies, is opposed to free trade, and is contrary to just about everything republicans held dear for the better part of 30 years. Yet he's widely popular with the <40% of the country which identifies as republican.
Baker might not win a primary but he'd beat most democrats in a general election. He actually supports the types of things which are popular with the majority of people in the US. For example, support for abortion is at an all-time high nationally, it's just that GOP politicians would rather cater to their vocal minority.
Why do I feel like Republican
Why do I feel like Republican governors in the last few decades have done more for MA than Democratic ones? Under Romney, we got Romneycare, same sex marriage, booze buying on Sundays, no smoking in bars, and now Baker is actually listening to the progressives.
There is a big difference between being Pro Choice, and Pro Abortion, just like there is a big difference between being pro 2nd Amendment and Pro NRA.
Bravo for Carlie, maybe once he serves another term and loosens up a bit more, he could be a viable candidate for President. Though I am a Demi-crat, I was never a fan of Deval - call me shall, but he always looked and seemed awkward, and sounded like Kermit the frog to the point it was distracting.
Competition is good
In spite of the fact that I have always favored the other party perhaps having a competition between parties is good for democracy. If only the other citizens of the other states understood that.
What happened to the Bill regarding circumcising?
a) What happened to the Bill regarding circumcising?
b) What Legislators sponsored the Bill regarding circumcising?
Apparently, It Was Cut