As if the "news" this month weren't bad enough, we lost a champion whose presence reverberated with the same drive of her Mom, Texas Governor Ann Richards. I never met or knew either of these wonderful women (I'm not even a Texan), but I benefitted greatly for all the hard work each did for women everywhere in the States. Each of them is irreplaceable, but thinking of each gives me the courage necessary to fight the good fight against the war on ALL women with the support of its co-conspiratorial Federalist Society fascists lurking in every level of government.
To be fair, Southern Democrats are far more conservative than mainstream ones, even though the political realignment can said to have ended when the last Dixiecrat retired in 2005 and when it stabilized when Obama and McCain became frontrunners in 2007. Southern Democrats are Blue Dogs, which are an alliance of Dixiecrats and New Democrats: New Democrats are the Very Serious People (Beltway Republicans), of 1960-1970, which opposed the civil rights movement since the Very Serious People thought protests were wrong in the same way the anti-police brutality movement is criticized for having protests, the Very Serious People also opposing ethnic feminism and the non-heteronormative movement due to them holding rallies even though they didn't protest.
The Very Serious People are the white moderates MLK Junior talked about, and I can trace their roots back to 1872, when there was conflict between the Rutherfraud Republicans and the Radical Republicans: this can be considered the beginning of the political realignment, and the Very Serious People/New Democrats can be considered Republicans who use realpolitik to get conservative policies passed. The Blue Dogs can be considered Democrats and Republicans who use realpolitik to get conservative policies passed, and Ann and Cecile Richards can be considered the Rutherfraud Republicans/Very Serious People of the Blue Dogs.
The New Democrats can be identified with one of "the Four Americas," more precisely the one which values tokenism, greenwashing, and pseudo-meritocracy and can be identified with the Atlantica of "The Nine Nations of North America," the Northern Tier of "Albion's Seed," the service worker centres in "Our Patchwork Nation," and Yankeedom of "The Eleven Nations of North America."
Cecile Richards is one of my heroes. Thank you for your touching tribute, Beto. Will you run for governor of Texas again? We need to defend ourselves from the Christofascists who are banning our vital right to abortions. Meanwhile, anti-science anti-vaxxers have taken over HHS: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/maga-fascists-gave-me-covid
I can think of no way he could better honor her memory and make the evil man pay who has killed so many without mercy, than to defeat him and turn Texas Blue: Beto, don’t give up, you just need a single win for people to take you seriously and if you run again & defeat Abbott the entire national GOP will fear you- what you did in 2018 was their worst nightmare short of victory. Texans have the power to end our national nightmare, remember that- no one has shown more dedication or love for their state through both good times and bad times politically than you, Former Congressman, please seriously consider running again in 2026- I have a good feeling it’ll be the opposite of how it went in 2022 and might finally be the time it can be done if you are on the ballot in front, Abbott will have an anchor dragging him down this time not you in Trump.
Thanks for getting back in the fight. Inspiring words about an American hero for women’s rights, which ultimately translates into rights for all of us.
I first heard of her when I learned in 2006 (I was ten), she stood up to the Branch Davidians, although sadly the Davidians accidentally shot their own buildings and caused a fire, meaning Jim Jones was never charged. She also starred as herself on "King of the Hill," although in reality I would think she was culturally conservative, not culturally liberal: the Democrats of Texas are Blue Dogs like Joe Manchin.
I’m a Texas Dem, but nothing like Joe Manchin- ugh! Beto is not either! There are lots of progressive Dems in TX, our state is very big, please don’t assume we are all awful! I am so proud to have Beto in Texas! He works for the people tirelessly, year round, when not even elected. He is my hero, as was Cecile. May she rest in Peace.
I apologize: you are New Democrats who live alongside Blue Dogs, but are still culturally and sexually conservative (but support reproductive rights on the state level).
Our often short lives can never be only about ourselves. And a great many are denied even that. As Rabbi Hillel once wrote, "if I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
Great respect for both Cecile and her mother Ann. I, too, was one of those teenagers in a Texas public school sent to the principal's office for wearing a black armband to honor all the dead from both the Vietnam War and Cambodian incursion in 1971. Before that happened, some good ole' yahoos tried to rip it off my arm first --- but my mother had patiently sewed it onto my shirt, so there it stayed. Thank you, Beto, for honoring Cecile Richards with this tribute.
Thank You,Beto, for remembering Cecile Richards, she was a true Champion for Women's Rights and Healthcare. Her lifetime of hard work and dedication will live on 🙏 Because you're in Texas, how's that Gender Camera working out for you folks? Unbelievable 😫 Thank You again, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Hearts and minds aren't won without inspirational people speaking up. We stood on the shoulders of our grandmothers who fought for the right to choose. They also had much to lose as unsafe methods of birth control could cost their lives or future ability to have children. Often forced to give up the possibility of a career or education, they were forced to marry young when they found themselves "in a bad way."
Shotgun weddings affected men as well. Many dropped out of school or rearranged their lives to take on the responsibility of supporting a family long before they planned to.
The consequences of banning abortion have been profound. Texas is a good example of women forced to continue unviable fetuses to term. Infant mortality rates rose. At least one woman was arrested and charged with murder when she sought health care after taking mifepristone. Women's healthcare has suffered as diagnostic D&Cs and other treatment options are curtailed. Fewer medical students choose obstetrics and gynecology.
The stakes are high for physicians who treat "female problems", but exponentially higher for women and girls who miss early cancer diagnoses.
As Planned Parenthood and other clinics close, many won't hear, "No, that type of lump/cyst/discomfort isn't normal. Here are some doctors that can help."
I honor and am grateful for Cecile and many others who taught us to speak out.
Your words resonate. 60 years ago, when I was in High School, abortions were illegal. Nevertheless, my young desperate friends sought out the procedures by an inner city quack to terminate their pregnancies. I witnessed the most horrific, violent and barbaric methods used on these young girls who were terrified, but could not have a child. One nearly bled to death and died, from the metal rod inserted into her uterus to cause a miscarriage. These are the memories I live with, as Trump gloat's about stacking the Supreme Court and takes credit for overturning Roe v Wade.
It is good to see someone who admits, whilst RFK is a Russian shill, we must separate subversion from the policies: of course, this is also why many Stupublicans support Trump. RFK, Tulsi "Cadet Bone Spurs" Gabbard, and Jimmy "Donny Tinyhands" Dore are all Bernie Bros who will provide a check on Trump's policies... meaning that the Stupublicans won't be able to get anything done, even when Trump replaces the Conservative Lions with anti-migrant Rockefeller Republicans. Of course, when Trump unleashes a Second Constitution at the end of 2027, he WILL be able to get the Trumpanzee agenda unleashed (but at least we won't see 1970 neoconservative policies implemented).
Thank you for bringing together both her spirit and the history that many don’t know. I watched the live stream Saturday. Which I could have been back in Austin for this. We need this spirit and purpose more than ever.
As if the "news" this month weren't bad enough, we lost a champion whose presence reverberated with the same drive of her Mom, Texas Governor Ann Richards. I never met or knew either of these wonderful women (I'm not even a Texan), but I benefitted greatly for all the hard work each did for women everywhere in the States. Each of them is irreplaceable, but thinking of each gives me the courage necessary to fight the good fight against the war on ALL women with the support of its co-conspiratorial Federalist Society fascists lurking in every level of government.
Namasté 🕊️
To be fair, Southern Democrats are far more conservative than mainstream ones, even though the political realignment can said to have ended when the last Dixiecrat retired in 2005 and when it stabilized when Obama and McCain became frontrunners in 2007. Southern Democrats are Blue Dogs, which are an alliance of Dixiecrats and New Democrats: New Democrats are the Very Serious People (Beltway Republicans), of 1960-1970, which opposed the civil rights movement since the Very Serious People thought protests were wrong in the same way the anti-police brutality movement is criticized for having protests, the Very Serious People also opposing ethnic feminism and the non-heteronormative movement due to them holding rallies even though they didn't protest.
The Very Serious People are the white moderates MLK Junior talked about, and I can trace their roots back to 1872, when there was conflict between the Rutherfraud Republicans and the Radical Republicans: this can be considered the beginning of the political realignment, and the Very Serious People/New Democrats can be considered Republicans who use realpolitik to get conservative policies passed. The Blue Dogs can be considered Democrats and Republicans who use realpolitik to get conservative policies passed, and Ann and Cecile Richards can be considered the Rutherfraud Republicans/Very Serious People of the Blue Dogs.
The New Democrats can be identified with one of "the Four Americas," more precisely the one which values tokenism, greenwashing, and pseudo-meritocracy and can be identified with the Atlantica of "The Nine Nations of North America," the Northern Tier of "Albion's Seed," the service worker centres in "Our Patchwork Nation," and Yankeedom of "The Eleven Nations of North America."
Cecile Richards is one of my heroes. Thank you for your touching tribute, Beto. Will you run for governor of Texas again? We need to defend ourselves from the Christofascists who are banning our vital right to abortions. Meanwhile, anti-science anti-vaxxers have taken over HHS: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/maga-fascists-gave-me-covid
I can think of no way he could better honor her memory and make the evil man pay who has killed so many without mercy, than to defeat him and turn Texas Blue: Beto, don’t give up, you just need a single win for people to take you seriously and if you run again & defeat Abbott the entire national GOP will fear you- what you did in 2018 was their worst nightmare short of victory. Texans have the power to end our national nightmare, remember that- no one has shown more dedication or love for their state through both good times and bad times politically than you, Former Congressman, please seriously consider running again in 2026- I have a good feeling it’ll be the opposite of how it went in 2022 and might finally be the time it can be done if you are on the ballot in front, Abbott will have an anchor dragging him down this time not you in Trump.
Oh Beto, thank you for these beautiful inspiring words about a fighter we should all want to emulate.
Thanks for getting back in the fight. Inspiring words about an American hero for women’s rights, which ultimately translates into rights for all of us.
I remember Ann Richatds and her Cecilia . I am a member of Planned Parenthood . Wonderful intelligent women . They are both missed.
I first heard of her when I learned in 2006 (I was ten), she stood up to the Branch Davidians, although sadly the Davidians accidentally shot their own buildings and caused a fire, meaning Jim Jones was never charged. She also starred as herself on "King of the Hill," although in reality I would think she was culturally conservative, not culturally liberal: the Democrats of Texas are Blue Dogs like Joe Manchin.
I actually saw that “King of the Hill”! Believe it or not!! —Jodi
I’m a Texas Dem, but nothing like Joe Manchin- ugh! Beto is not either! There are lots of progressive Dems in TX, our state is very big, please don’t assume we are all awful! I am so proud to have Beto in Texas! He works for the people tirelessly, year round, when not even elected. He is my hero, as was Cecile. May she rest in Peace.
I apologize: you are New Democrats who live alongside Blue Dogs, but are still culturally and sexually conservative (but support reproductive rights on the state level).
Our often short lives can never be only about ourselves. And a great many are denied even that. As Rabbi Hillel once wrote, "if I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
Great respect for both Cecile and her mother Ann. I, too, was one of those teenagers in a Texas public school sent to the principal's office for wearing a black armband to honor all the dead from both the Vietnam War and Cambodian incursion in 1971. Before that happened, some good ole' yahoos tried to rip it off my arm first --- but my mother had patiently sewed it onto my shirt, so there it stayed. Thank you, Beto, for honoring Cecile Richards with this tribute.
Love the quote you shared from Rabbi Hillel.
Yes, if not now, when?
Years ago, she gave me and my clinic an award for our EC work. Made me cry. Totally fan boyed out.
This was a wonderful tribute. I know a lot of us need the encouragement to stay in the fight. Thanks for the inspiring words. To Cecile RIP
Beautiful tribute to an even more beautiful human being.
Thank You,Beto, for remembering Cecile Richards, she was a true Champion for Women's Rights and Healthcare. Her lifetime of hard work and dedication will live on 🙏 Because you're in Texas, how's that Gender Camera working out for you folks? Unbelievable 😫 Thank You again, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Hearts and minds aren't won without inspirational people speaking up. We stood on the shoulders of our grandmothers who fought for the right to choose. They also had much to lose as unsafe methods of birth control could cost their lives or future ability to have children. Often forced to give up the possibility of a career or education, they were forced to marry young when they found themselves "in a bad way."
Shotgun weddings affected men as well. Many dropped out of school or rearranged their lives to take on the responsibility of supporting a family long before they planned to.
The consequences of banning abortion have been profound. Texas is a good example of women forced to continue unviable fetuses to term. Infant mortality rates rose. At least one woman was arrested and charged with murder when she sought health care after taking mifepristone. Women's healthcare has suffered as diagnostic D&Cs and other treatment options are curtailed. Fewer medical students choose obstetrics and gynecology.
The stakes are high for physicians who treat "female problems", but exponentially higher for women and girls who miss early cancer diagnoses.
As Planned Parenthood and other clinics close, many won't hear, "No, that type of lump/cyst/discomfort isn't normal. Here are some doctors that can help."
I honor and am grateful for Cecile and many others who taught us to speak out.
Your words resonate. 60 years ago, when I was in High School, abortions were illegal. Nevertheless, my young desperate friends sought out the procedures by an inner city quack to terminate their pregnancies. I witnessed the most horrific, violent and barbaric methods used on these young girls who were terrified, but could not have a child. One nearly bled to death and died, from the metal rod inserted into her uterus to cause a miscarriage. These are the memories I live with, as Trump gloat's about stacking the Supreme Court and takes credit for overturning Roe v Wade.
Inspiring words from RFK and Cecile Richards — thanks for reminding us we all need to step out and do something!
It is good to see someone who admits, whilst RFK is a Russian shill, we must separate subversion from the policies: of course, this is also why many Stupublicans support Trump. RFK, Tulsi "Cadet Bone Spurs" Gabbard, and Jimmy "Donny Tinyhands" Dore are all Bernie Bros who will provide a check on Trump's policies... meaning that the Stupublicans won't be able to get anything done, even when Trump replaces the Conservative Lions with anti-migrant Rockefeller Republicans. Of course, when Trump unleashes a Second Constitution at the end of 2027, he WILL be able to get the Trumpanzee agenda unleashed (but at least we won't see 1970 neoconservative policies implemented).
Thank you for bringing together both her spirit and the history that many don’t know. I watched the live stream Saturday. Which I could have been back in Austin for this. We need this spirit and purpose more than ever.
Thank you for this encouragement and call to carry on with the mindset of Cecile Richards!
Thank you. This is absolutely beautiful and, yes, inspiring and energizing. Perfect for this moment.
“ Why should our lives be only about us?” Indeed. ♥️
Thank you for this beautiful tribute and urging us all to fight for each other.