Mike Luckovich for December 12, 2023

Does anyone remember 1993, when Bill Clinton assigned his wife Hillary the task of putting together a universal healthcare program? Republicans ridiculed it and called it “Hillarycare.”

The Republicans ran extremely misleading TV ads showing doctors with patients and then politicians coming between them to dictate medical care which, of course, was completely false since the Clinton health care proposals would have broadened choices, not limited them.

Fast forward to today.

Republicans in Texas, Florida and many other states where they have legislative majorities, are literally sending politicians to dictate medical choices for women, even in extreme cases of medical emergency where a woman’s life and her capacity for future fertility are put at risk.

So much for the Republican LIE when the promised to “get the government off our backs.”

Get the government off our backs? Don’t make me laugh (or more likely cry).

When conservatives say “get the government off our backs,” what they mean is “get the government off the backs” of ginormous corporations so they can have the “freedom” and “liberty” to run roughshod over the rights of workers, consumers and our shared environment, but they want to micromanage and dictate control over every aspect of your personal lives.

But for YOU? Conservatives and Republicans want to take away liberty and freedom from everyone else and micromanage every aspect of everyone else’s private lives.

Latest news is that she left Texas to get her abortion while the all-Republican Texas supreme court was in the process of ruling that she absolutely could not get one in Texas. CNN.Com today reported that 1 out of 5 abortions performed in the US since Dobbs struck down Roe v. Wade was performed for out-of-state residents. So now we live in a nation where your right to bodily autonomy depends on where you live.

I’m just waiting for the Supremes to rule that, hey, the Constitution and Bill of Rights don’t explicitly say you have a right to be free of torture in exactly those words. And all these mere assumptions that you’re entitled to all the free oxygen you want, no questions asked? Well, Greg Abbott has this plan to supplement the state’s prison budget while cutting way back on its overcrowding problem.

Too bad insurance wont cover xmas miracles

If I were in the same position as the lady needing the abortion…..I would never return to Texas! I pray for her health.

I’d like to see the TX PTB stop Santa. Health care should be a right, not a gift.

Hey Texans, Amazon can deliver wire coat hangers on Monday – Saturday if you have Prime.

Greyhound. Amtrak. Airlines. Auto. Plenty of ways to leave Texas.

So, Texas then sues Santa Claus or don’t the Christofascists believe in Santa Claus?

“A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion,” the court wrote in its decision, adding: “The law leaves to physicians — not judges — both the discretion and the responsibility to exercise their reasonable medical judgment, given the unique facts and circumstances of each patient.”

That’s from the TX Supreme Court order. So what’s the issue. It’s a decision for the patient and doctor.

At least Santa treats women with respect.

Just more repub BS ! THAT IS ALL YOU’LL GET FROM THEM IS TRUMP LIES!

Democrats – The one policy that keeps them unified…killing babies.

I thought killing your unborn child would put you on the naughty list.

Why for does texas want to kill women?

One hopes the majority of Texans are pro-Santa

Maybe we should have a law requiring men to get the court’s permission to get health care for prostate issues.

“Handmaid’s Tale” is a work of fiction, NOT a manual of governance.

Truly, it’s incredible how mean-spirited and perverse Texas Republicans are. Why are they acting this way toward women ?

thank you dd wiz for all the sane comments you put in various strips. nice to know there is someone out there with intelligence and reasonable understanding of the mess we’re in.

This Texas abortion thing really show America needs to wake up come voting time. This/that is gonna be the norm if republicans continue to dominate politics.

A couple of imbeciles in the Missouri state legislature are pushing a bill that would let the state prosecute women who have abortions for murder. Meanwhile there will probably be a ballot issue next year to enshrine the right to an abortion in our constitution, and it’s likely to pass.

Here is the relevant passage from the ruling the Texas SC made:

Though the statute affords physicians discretion, it requires more than a doctor’s mere subjective belief. By requiring the doctor to exercise “reasonable medical judgment,” the Legislature determined that the medical judgment involved must meet an objective standard.4 Dr. Karsan asserted that she has a “good faith belief” that Ms. Cox meets the exception’s requirements. Certainly, a doctor cannot exercise “reasonable medical judgment” if she does not hold her judgment in good faith. But the statute requires that judgment be a “reasonable medical” judgment, and Dr. Karsan has not asserted that her “good faith belief” about Ms. Cox’s condition meets that standard.

In other words, the Texas SC took the words of Dr. Karsan, refused to admit it met their threshold, and refused to grant an exception, giving Paxton the opportunity to prosecute anyone performing the medical procedure for Ms. Cox. The Texas court knew exactly what they were doing when they made this ruling.

Women have to unite to beat back these women-hating authoritarians and regain their rights.

A perfect comment.

I wish. And a big bag of noncombustible coal for Ken “Popeye” Paxton.

Fascist republican men want to control women’s lives.

Highly trained elves are expert surgeons. Aftercare includes hot chocolate and candy canes. Abbott and Paxton are slated for bundles of switches.

A good reminder to vote BLUE. A vote for a red candidate, and aren’t they all red now with their abandonment of Ukraine in their time of need, is a vote against our flag and all it stands for.

Santa better watch his back, now that Texas has a law that allows ANYONE to sue someone who gets an abortion, or abets same.

Lying traitor ignorant republicans claim to know more than your doctor and they will put you in jail if you ignore their political scams.

99% are of their own creation.

99% are of their own creation.