Five years ago, when state Sen. Richard Briggs co-sponsored legislation that would codify some of the country’s most austere abortion restrictions in Tennessee – it seemed to him like little more than political theater.
“The truth was I thought it would never come to be,” he says.
But three years later it did come to be. The Tennessee state law was triggered after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the federal right to abortion. The state law established strict abortion bans and potential criminal penalties for doctors who violate them.
Now Briggs is fighting an uphill battle to undo some of the legislation he helped to put into place. It’s a battle that some experts say could be instructive for the rest of the country.
Irresponsible and reckless republican passes terrible, damaging law as political theater. Surprised that terrible, damaging law is terrible and damaging. Am I supposed to give him kudos for backpedaling now that checks notes THREE years have passed?
Article describes him as a “middle of the road” republican. No, sorry, those are all gone now. All you have left is an entire party devoted to a christian theocracy with what could reasonably pass as the anti-christ for its leader.
“If you stick a knife in my back 9 inches and pull it out 6 inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out, that’s not progress. The progress is healing the wound that the blow made… And they won’t even admit the knife is there.” - Malcolm X.
Insert surprised Pikachu face
“I helped build the pyre, but I never thought somebody would actually set it on fire!”
Proof positive that at least some politicians think politics is merely a game to be won, not a job that directly affects people’s lives.
“I helped build the pyre, but I never thought somebody would actually set it on fire!”
cute twist on the “leopards eating my face” trope
Yeah.
“The truth was I thought it would never come to be”
What the actual fuck. Is there not some way to immediately sack this person for being so shit at the job they don’t even fundamentally understand what it is?
“I’m a rich white guy - it never occurred to me that anyone actually has to FOLLOW these laws!”
- him, probably
Recall, but that’s up to the constituents.
This is the result of performative politics.
Except it wasn’t theatre. It blew wind into the sails of those wishing to strike down Roe.
He is literally the cause of this and the only fair action is to abort him.
it seemed to him like little more than political theater.
“The truth was I thought it would never come to be,” he says.
Imagine saying this in some other job. “I pushed the controls downward but I was just trying to make a point; I wasn’t trying to crash the plane. I didn’t think it’d really have an impact.”
when state Sen. Richard Briggs co-sponsored legislation that would codify some of the country’s most austere abortion restrictions in Tennessee – it seemed to him like little more than political theater. “The truth was I thought it would never come to be,” he says.
Maybe you should spend more time thinking about the implications of a law instead of political grandstanding.
in this case, Briggs acknowledges, changing the law to restore a woman’s right to end a dangerous pregnancy has been difficult. “It’s been proven to be very stubborn,” he says.
Maybe you should think about the people your laws are going to effect (especially when they’ll never affect you, rich elderly white man), and actually listen when they try to tell you how your laws will affect them.
You’re talking crazy. Briggs is a moron.
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The party of “The Democrats made me do it and then didn’t stop me when I tried!”
A decent person would be ashamed of themselves.
(Hint: he’s not)
Sounds like he’s at the “find out” stage.
I expected senetor’s mistress getting pregnant was the reason for his back pedaling from the law he passed.
“oh, no! my political expediency!”
Political theater hurting constituencies. Please resign, you’ve been derelict in your duties.
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I would be fine with wishing violence upon his person but it’s not his kids’ fault he’s a monster
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You need help.
Some monsters can only be defeated by other monsters.
naw. sometimes monsters can be dispelled with flashlights. sometimes.
No. Absolutely not.
Say what you want about him. Leave his daughters out of it.
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I think I hear your mom calling. She’s super pissed.
Removed, rule 6, 24 hour ban. He is a disgusting fuckface, leave his daughters out of it.
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