For Democrats: A night to remember
Last year at this time, Republicans were scratching their heads after their expected 鈥淩ed Wave鈥� fizzled.
That must鈥檝e hurt.
They had expected to be able to take full control of Congress the following January. But instead, they鈥檝e been in complete disarray ever since.
Not my monkey. Not my circus, I suppose.
What is of real concern is the fact that Democrats, on a national level, seem to be stronger than they鈥檝e ever been, thanks to a little handiwork by ex-President Donald Trump.
It was Trump蘑菇视频 Supreme Court nominees, Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 who were launched headlong into action to demolish Roe vs. Wade that has ultimately caused Republicans a variety of dilemmas.
Republicans have set in motion several ballot initiatives and special elections designed to curb abortions.
So far, none of them has worked. Not in Montana, Kansas, California, Michigan, Kentucky or Vermont.
The latest attempt took place in Ohio last Tuesday.
Ohio蘑菇视频 voters overwhelmingly approved (by 57%) a state constitutional amendment that includes protections for abortion access.
Ohio is a 鈥淩ed鈥� state. It heavily leans Republican.
Yet, Ohio蘑菇视频 voters approved a change to the state蘑菇视频 constitution which includes these words: 鈥渁n individual right to one蘑菇视频 own reproductive medical treatment,鈥� which would include miscarriage care, contraception, and, of course, abortions.
It was thought after Dobbs (the overturning of Roe vs. Wade) that there would be bans on abortions 鈥� nationwide. That certainly hasn鈥檛 happened.
The contrary has taken place when putting the issue before state voters.
In Virginia, the sitting governor, Glenn Youngkin, was hoping to pass a ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
To do that, he needs a Republican-leaning legislature. He campaigned hard for some Republican candidates to help them gain control of Virginia蘑菇视频 state House.
But on election day, Virginia蘑菇视频 voters signaled to Gov. Youngkin that they don鈥檛 want any curbs on abortions. They even voted to increase the number of Democrats in the state蘑菇视频 House of Delegates 鈥� while holding onto control of the state Senate.
Virginia蘑菇视频 ban on abortions after 26 weeks and 6 days will remain in effect.
Meanwhile, out in Kentucky, those Republicans hoping to bring about a complete abortion ban were disappointed by the result of the governor蘑菇视频 race.
Kentucky蘑菇视频 Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, challenged the state蘑菇视频 Democratic governor, Andy Beshear. Cameron was endorsed by Donald Trump.
He was also a staunch pro-life candidate.
Perhaps too staunch.
Beshear released a powerful campaign ad involving a young woman who had been raped when she was 12 years old, saying that anybody who believes there should be no exceptions for rape and incest should stand in her shoes.
Cameron was slow to react to that ad. But he eventually did indicate that if he was offered a bill by the Kentucky state legislature with exceptions for rape and incest 鈥� he鈥檇 sign it when he becomes the governor.
That was too late.
Kentucky蘑菇视频 voters reelected Beshear.
Once again, the abortion issue foiled the hopes of Republicans.
And, predictably, Trump, who had been all in for Cameron before the election, turned on him after it.
鈥淒aniel Cameron lost because he couldn鈥檛 alleviate the stench of Mitch McConnell,鈥� he said on Truth Social.
Trump fails to understand that his endorsements have been a kiss of death to several Republican candidates.
It蘑菇视频 not clear if Republicans will ever learn that most of the nation蘑菇视频 women are standing strong against curbs on abortion rights.
Not only that. Men who have mothers and daughters and wives are feeling the same way.
Republicans are sharpening their political knives and preparing to attack Democrats on the issues of the economy, the southern border crisis, and crime in the nation蘑菇视频 streets.
Yet, they don鈥檛 seem to be able to get out of the way of their own crusade, when it comes to reproductive rights for the nation蘑菇视频 women.
There will, no doubt, be even more ballot initiatives aimed at ending abortions.
But there will, no doubt, be emphatic votes against those ballot initiatives.
Al Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter, and anchor for Entertainment Tonight, and 50-year TV news and newspaper veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.