this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2024
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politics

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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.

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[–] jpreston2005@lemmy.world 98 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] Aidinthel@reddthat.com 62 points 9 months ago

"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.

[–] SupraMario@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago

Insert surprised Pikachu face

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 56 points 9 months ago (2 children)

"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.

[–] gregorum@lemm.ee 23 points 9 months ago

“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

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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?

[–] JackiesFridge@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

"I'm a rich white guy - it never occurred to me that anyone actually has to FOLLOW these laws!"

  • him, probably
[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 1 points 9 months ago

Recall, but that's up to the constituents.

[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 38 points 9 months ago

This is the result of performative politics.

[–] killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

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.

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 29 points 9 months ago

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."

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 10 points 9 months ago

The party of "The Democrats made me do it and then didn't stop me when I tried!"

[–] charonn0@startrek.website 9 points 9 months ago

A decent person would be ashamed of themselves.

(Hint: he's not)

[–] son_named_bort@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

Sounds like he's at the "find out" stage.

[–] gregorum@lemm.ee 7 points 9 months ago

"oh, no! my political expediency!"

[–] TheDarkKnight@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

Political theater hurting constituencies. Please resign, you’ve been derelict in your duties.

[–] reddit_sux@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

I expected senetor's mistress getting pregnant was the reason for his back pedaling from the law he passed.