However you feel about the outcome of last night’s election, if you care about evidence-based policymaking, there’s one thing to cheer: The House Committee on Space, Science, and Technology will, for the first time in nearly a decade, be led by someone who accepts the conclusions of mainstream climate science.
With Democrats now in control of the House, leadership of the House Science Committee is likely to fall to Texas Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson. Johnson, who became the committee’s first African American and first female ranking member in 2010, is a strong advocate for funding STEM education and expanding educational opportunities for minorities, in particular. She’s also a solidly pro-environment politician, according to her League of Conservation Voters scorecard.
Anyone who goes to shul tomorrow and doesn’t recite mi sheberach for Justice Ginsburg and her three broken ribs (WHY AREN’T YOU WALKING AROUND WRAPPED IN BUBBLE WRAP BUBBE???) is a hillul HaShem and shande fur die goyim.
Her Hebrew name is Yitta Rochel bat Tzirel Leah!
Thank you (and anon)! How did you find her father and mother’s names though? Because I’m coming up blank.
Amazing. I love it.I love that I wasn’t the only one who was like “PEOPLE BETTER BE SAYING MI SHEBEIRACH FOR RBG.” I love us.
I just want to add that (afaik) you can say Mi Shebeirach without a minyan, so even if you don’t go to shul this week (or at all), you can still say it at home. And you should.
It’s easy to find the Orthodox and Reform versions of Mi Shebeirakh online, but not the Conservative version, so I figured I’d post it here for those who prefer to daven Conservative. Here’s a photo of it in my copy of Siddur Lev Shalem:
(with bonus brakha for joyous occasions, in case we ever have one of those)
Transliteration (with RBG’s details filled in):
Mi shebeirakh avoteinu Avraham, Yitzchak, v’Ya’akov, v’imoteinu Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, v’Leah, hu y’vareikh virapei et-hacholah Yita Rachel bat Tzirel Leah.
HaKadosh Barukh Hu yimalei rachamim aleyha, l’hachazikah ul’rapotah, v’yishlach la m’heirah r’fuah shleimah min hashamayim, r’fuat hanefesh ur’fuat haguf, b’tokh sh’ar hacholim, v’chazeik et y’dey ha’oskim b’tzarkheihem, Shabbat hi miliz’ok ur’fuah krovah lavo, hashta ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’nomar amen.
Note: I’m not fluent in Hebrew, so please let me know if you spot any mistakes in my transliteration.
The big story tonight, honestly I think, are the ballot initiatives. Here’s a partial list (note, I’m ignoring some really shitty ones, and the ones I know nothing about whatsoever, but…)
Colorado ended slavery in prisons
Florida added a constitutional amendment enfranchising felons
Maryland got same-day voter registration
Massachussetts got gender identity protection
Michigan got straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and no-excuse absentee ballots as well as independent redistricting!
Missouri is getting $12 minimum wage by 2023 (currently it’s $7.85)
Nebraska expanded Medicaid
Oregon refused to ban public money for abortion
Then there’s taking the House, coming to a near miss in Texas Senate (get Beto more funding and have him take another shot in 2020, he’d do more good challenging for Senate again than running for President and losing the primary early), some state houses and senates, some governorships (even if not as many as we’d like)…
Over all, though it doesn’t FEEL like it because the big name races didn’t go great and the Senate got worse, this WAS a good night.
Caveat: these are all preliminary, but that’s what the numbers seem to show right now
I want to add one in my state: Washington votes to require all Law Enforcement to be trained in first aid, mental illnesses, and de-escalation techniques. They will also be required to administer first aid when needed and prove they attempted to de-escalate a situation. This absolutely will save lives.
That’s great! It didn’t have any results when I posted, but I am also here in Washington and was watching it.
Nevada also got automatic voter registration, 50% renewable energy by 2050 and repealed state taxes on menstrual products.
Trump will spin Democrats “only” winning the House as good because it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I heard a few weeks ago that their line is going to be anything falling short of 63 seats like the GOP won in 2010 is a victory. Don’t buy it, this is devastating for Republicans and for Trump personally.
The media narrative will be “We remain a nation divided and isn’t it sad that Democrats couldn’t win the Senate.” Don’t buy that either. The economy is good, unemployment is low, the GOP passed a tax bill. By the traditional political wisdom, Democrats should have stayed home and Republicans maintained control everywhere. This is a huge blow.
This is a big victory for Democrats. Your hard work and dedication did this. Thank you for having the backs of your fellow Americans.
Can’t vote because you have to work?Check the laws in your state. Many states DO have laws that require employers to let you vote.
Can’t vote because you don’t have transportation?Lyft is currently offering rides free or at 50% off to anyone who needs to get to the polls. Uber is offering $10 off. Even many bike- and scooter-share companies are offering deals right now, and some cities (including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, and Tampa) are making public transit free on voting day. And, chances are, you have friends who also need to vote, so see if you can carpool.
Worried you don’t know enough to vote?Vote.org will show you everything on your local ballot. Several organizations also have voting guides which will give you more in-depth information. Make sure you choose an organization you trust. I recommend starting with the website for your state’s ACLU or Planned Parenthood.
Don’t like any of the candidates? My recommendation to you is to pick the least objectionable person you think can win. I would never tell you to vote against your conscience, but I do still think it’s important to make your choice with the understanding that it has consequences. Trump’s victory margin was smaller than total Stein votes in key swing states. As for write-ins, know that your write-in could be equivalent to a vote for the candidate you like least and be sure you’re comfortable with that before doing it.
Reminders
Voting day is Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Hours vary by location, but the day does not.
Do not take pictures of your ballot.
Do not campaign at the polling place.
Make sure you have proper ID, if needed.
If you’re voting electronically, double, even triple-check every vote before submitting, even if you have an option to vote straight ticket. There have been cases where this doesn’t work as expected. If you can’t find your party candidate, make sure to check the next page as there have also been glitches (at least in my state) that push the Democratic candidate after the massive list of independent candidates.
If you’re voting on paper, check every side of every page to avoid missing any votes.
And most importantly, offer to take your friends, family, or co-workers with you to vote if they weren’t already planning to go.
Eight Jews Dead in an Antisemitic Hate Crime, and Trump is Already Victim Blaming
This morning, a white man named Robert Bowers entered Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, shouted “all jews must die,” and shot 14 people. At least 8 so far are dead.
When asked if this reflected on gun control, the president of the united states said, “If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better…if they had some kind of a protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. They didn’t — he was able to do things that unfortunately he shouldn’t have been able to do.”
This is victim blaming. He is saying that because these congregants had chosen not to defile a house of g-d with instruments of death, they were shot.
When building the Temple in Jerusalem, it’s said, g-d required the stones not be cut with metal tools, as such things could be used to kill people. We believe that instruments of death have no place in the praising of g-d. We should not be required to sacrifice this value in order to stay alive.
May their memories be a blessing.
I appreciate that people are liking this, but please reblog as well
The issue is AIDS… where do the candidates stand on treatment research, housing, health care, discrimination? Your vote is a weapon… use it… we are at war. (Gran Fury, 1988)
Please pay special attention to the ballot measures in Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Utah, which would expand Medicaid coverage. Health care access is crucial to preventing and treating HIV and ending AIDS.
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