Sunday, August 6, 2017
Governor Jerry Brown on Meet the Press
My governor, Jerry Brown, on Meet the Press today ...
I'm glad he stood up for Nancy Pelosi. I think he's been a good governor, both times. He doesn't see a conflict between being Catholic and being a defender of LGBT rights, pro-choice rights, and patient's rights (California Gov. Signs Four LGBT-Supportive Bills ... Brown signs bill targeting crisis pregnancy centers ... California Governor Signs Physician-Assisted-Suicide Bill Into Law). Given this and his environmental policies (Gov. Brown signs sweeping legislation to combat climate change), I think he's a good example of what the Democratic party stands for.
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I thought the Jerry Brown segment was good. I hope he is right about the pendulum effect; that things go so far, and then they go the other direction. That in fact, it has already started to swing back. Thought he made a good point that we aren't just one country, there are a lot of regional differences in politics. And I agree with him that there shouldn't be litmus tests. Though I wouldn't agree with him on everything, I definitely respect his dedication and long years of service. He was right to defend Nancy Pelosi. I don't understand why she has attracted so much criticism from her own party.
ReplyDeleteI don't hear Brown defending abortion or any "particulars" that you mention in this clip. In fact, he talks against litmus tests and ideology. He talks about the party, historically, being for the Roosevelt-Truman idea of the "common man." He talks about wage stagnation, home costs, and big money unfairly influencing politics (Koch brothers). He leans toward pragmatism. He notes that a Democrat running in San Fran is not going to be the same as one who runs in Mobile. He notes there is no perfect candidate.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Jerry Brown, largely because he sees people with different ideas as having the ability to find common goals.
Yeah, me either - I'm not sure what it is about her that has so alienated some people. Can it just be that she's from San Francisco? I remember Brown as governor from back in the distant past (70s) - he was so cool, with giving up the gov's mansion and sleeping on a mattress on the floor of his apartment ;) He's probably changed a lot in the intervening years.
ReplyDeleteYes, Brown is a pragmatist, yet he does hold to his ideals even when it doesn't seem practical = when proposition 8 happened here (a ban on marriage equality),and he was the attorney general, he decided NOT to defend it ... California Attorney General Jerry Brown Asks Court to Overturn Prop 8
ReplyDeleteAnd he is a very strong defender of women's rights and pro-choice - California Just Took Two Huge Steps Forward To Protect Reproductive Rights ...
"California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) made it official. The governor approved two pieces of legislation, Assembly Bill 154 and Assembly Bill 980, that will help expand women’s access to safe, legal abortion services. The first new law will allow a wider pool of medical professionals to perform abortions, helping to address the state’s current abortion provider shortage. The second will eliminate unnecessary and burdensome regulations on abortion clinics, ensuring that clinics won’t be forced to close because they can’t adhere to harsh standards that don’t actually have anything to do with patient safety."
And this against the dishonesty of pro-life crisis pregnancy clinics ... Op-Ed In California, free speech meets abortion
"Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed into law the Reproductive FACT Act, which is quite straightforward: Licensed healthcare facilities must post or distribute a notice that states,"California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services (including all FDA-approved methods of contraception), prenatal care, and abortion for eligible women. To determine whether you qualify, contact the county social services office at [insert the telephone number]." That's it."
Yes, you have extensively documented Brown's unwillingness to curtail access to abortion in California. Is that what you mean when you say he's a good example of what the party stands for?
ReplyDeleteBecause I see nothing in what he said to Chuck Todd that indicates he wants to kick out of the party those who favor some restrictions on abortion.
In fact, I know of no Michigan Democrats who are fighting restrictions on abortion here: waiting period, informed consent, no abortions past viability, and etc. And I know of not statements by Jerry Brown saying those people should be ashamed to call themselves Democrats.
Brown seems to indicate that those who are sincerely interested in leveling the playing field for working stiffs are welcome in the party, to widen the tent, and stop obsessing over single issues.
Sure, he's saying the Democratic party can include pro-life people. What is questionable is the idea that the Democratic party would change its officiak platform on reproductive rights, which included the promise to appoint pro-choice judges, oppose any restrictions, and repeal the Hyde Amendment, in 2016.
ReplyDeleteTry to imagine how bizarre it would be if the Republican party said it was willing to change its stance on abortion and it would officially support pro-abortion Republican candidates. People's heads would explode. yet somehow the Democratic party is expected to officially change its stance on this issue?
Jerry Brown is 79. The next presidential term will end when he is 86. I don't want to be ageist, but the politicians lighting up this blog site tend to be old enough to be my twin.
ReplyDeleteYes, better Jerry Brown with senior dementia than Donald J. Trump with whatever he already has. But, c'mon.
ReplyDeleteTom, yes he's too old to run for president. I was thinking of a past post where we were talking about what Democrats are like and I thought that he's a good example of what I think of as a reliable Democrat - he cares about those less fortunate, he cares about women's rights and the civil rights of others, cares about the environment.
DeleteThe Republican party is already bizarre, as we have seen through daily examples since November.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think the abortion plank in the Dem platform should be toned down. It reflects only the most radical view on abortion, and does not consider that many who generally support Roe also support specific restrictions.
The fact that this blog seems to be turning into a forum about why Catholics are social justice hypocrites, often according to selective and subjective criteria, is wearying and unproductive.
Done now.
I didn't mention anything about hypocritical Catholics.
Delete