GREAT newsletter. Loved the layout, the image, and the update. Keep up the great work. This was the easiest to read update I've ever received from a Representative. Kudos to you and your team.
Not much, unless you live in AL and can vote against him in the next election. Schumer and McConnell are the only ones who are in a position to 'persuade' the Senator to get out of the way. It isn't even clear what he wants because he's changed it a couple of times.
I'm 81 and have told my family and surviving friends that I want "the hell out of what used to be my country. I can't abide what is going on. It is breaking my heart".
@Madison - would you like to sponsor a nice LGBTQ+ couple and their fur baby?! Everything you said, plus an evil inhumane for-profit healthcare system is exactly why we are now "country shopping". I just don't think we will be able to live peacefully here after we retire. Sad.
I’m afraid it doesn’t quite work that way. You both would need to apply for your D7 Visas, which is a daunting task.
If you are interested in more details, I would recommend joining the Americans and Friends in Portugal Facebook group.
Take everything with a grain of salt, and if you are interested, I can point you to someone that can better assist in locating a property here. They don’t deal with the D7 stuff, but you have to start somewhere.
Wow - things are really broken in US politics. Many/most of our representatives have forsaken representation for their individual power campaigns instead.
Jeff - thanks as always for sharing your insights re. what's really going on behind the scenes vs. what's reported.
Wow! I have read all this before but to see it all in this email…. Sigh 😌. I’m hoping everyone reading this will be voting and getting their family and friends to vote.
I’m hopeful that there is a special place in hades for Coach Tommy Tuberville, the less than esteemed Senior Senator from Alabama who is holding up the military promotions. Clearly he continues to be a bully. Meanwhile, thank you for the updates and your courage to stand with the military. This eastern North Carolinian is quite proud of you.
So will attacks on the US by forces seeing our weakness from lack of anyone HEADING the military. A whole lot MORE innocent people. This is quite apart from the fact that there is dispute whether a pre-viability fetus qualifies as a human being. It does so only for the beliefs of PART of one particular religion, being foisted on everyone else in violation of the First Amendment.
"medical science" has proven no such thing. DNA just shows something has the POTENTIAL to become a human being. It is perfectly within the realm of science to argue that that potential has been realized only when the fetus has the capability of living outside the womb, with medical intervention if necessary. Pre-viability fetuses cannot do so.
How exactly is giving a pregnant soldier the ability to get medical attention needed "detracting" from the military mission? Should we deploy her so that she can go into labor mid-mission? Or let a male soldier be distracted by the suffering his spouse is undergoing?
Any maybe there are a lot of soldiers out there who can miraculously fight the enemy without leadership. Military history suggests otherwise. But that fact doesn't stop attacks from others who see the opportunity and believe that we weak because of it. 9/11 should be a wake-up call.
No, pre-viability fetuses don't "matter" in comparison to the rights of the mother. Only when the fetus becomes a possibly viable "person" does the balancing between rights of mother and fetus arise. And then it DOES have to be balanced. Not just the "life" of the mother, but also such things as her continued ability to bear children when she wants to. Or the long term health effects of pre-eclampsia. Certainly there is little support for post BIRTH people who happen to be born poor. Or, for that matter, support for assuring the health of a pregnant poor woman during the pregnancy.
The simple solution, of course, is to move all military bases to places that don't require travel for healthcare. How would the economies of the "red" states like THEM apples?
Organism, yes. "Human?" Depends on your definition of human. That's where all the controversy lies. Or to put it in religious terms, when does it acquire a soul? News flash: religions differ on that.
Fertilization is an important step. So is the strength of the sperm or egg before they meet. Or the chemical environment of the womb, which may or may cause a miscarriage, even before the woman has missed a cycle. On miscarriages: are we to assume that God is a murderer? That great abortionist in the sky?
I know of no medical science way to measure when the fetus receives a soul. Do you? I DO know that there is a medical science way to measure when a fetus is viable.
"There are 1000 of organizations to help a woman...." Thus the richest country in the world has the highest maternal AND infant mortality rate in the world. I'd say those organizations need a tad more efficiency. Particularly in the south, where the figures show, by increased rates, that those "organizations" are failing miserably.
Sure there are many people qualified to fill the roles of head of various military branches. Tommy Tuberville has blocked over 250 of them from being sworn in. By year end, over 900. If not sworn in they have NO command authority. All because of paying NOT for abortions. Just for transportation costs. The same costs they pay for anyone who can't get the treatment needed locally. Maybe some particular form of prostate cancer?
I'm not arguing that you have no right to believe abortion is wrong. Don't allow any partner or child of yours to get one (assuming they agree and you can actually stop them). What I AM questioning is why YOUR opinion should be the basis of laws governing a whole lot of people who do not agree with you.
Because most republicans are anti-abortion and pro capital punishment. And against food stamps and many social services for the poor. In fact many think the poor are lazy. Or it’s their own fault. Which really infuriates me.
Give me a break! God had no problem slaughtering all the first born of Egypt, who were ALIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB. God didn’t have a problem allowing the slaughter of more than 6,000,000,000 Jews in concentration camps.
Bruce, more than 80% of Americans believe that abortion is a personal choice and should not be regulated by the government. Senator Tuberville is using this issue to get the attention of the 20%. He is hurting military leadership and recruitment as a result. The Republicans don't govern, they stir up hate and division.
you know better. Abortion doesn't kill human beings. I'd say more, but really, what's the point? you won't listen to me. Tuberville, by the way, is NOT stopping any abortion. If what he wants happens, women in the military will still get abortions -it's just going to cost them more. So effectively he's taxing women in the military.
To stay on topic - there is no justification for Tuberville holding up the nominations because he is not stopping even one abortion. He is impacting our national defense for nothing.
Abortions kill fetuses that may have the potential to be born human beings. (miscarriages, fetal anomalies, hydro cephaly, etc keep a good number of fetuses from even being born alive, even without abortions). But obviously I think abortion should be legal regardless of what you call the fetus. But whether abortions should be allowed or not is NOT on topic. The question is should Tuberville hold up promotions to keep the military from helping its members get legal medical care. I say no.
You don't think holding up all these promotions has an impact on national defense?
Can u explain why the govt is involved in abortion? I’m sorry it’s none of yours or mine business what woman does to her body I guess if your daughter was raped you would make her have this incestiuant child sad
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and cogent email reports. I especially like that your comments are both factual and drama-free. Please keep it up!
Jeff, as a veteran myself, I understand how difficult it was to vote against a Defense Bill, but I agree with your decision for the very reasons you implied. Thank you for all you do for your Country and your constituents. Best regards,
Thanks, Jeff. Tuberville is just an embarassment... I saw recently that his "I am for the military" is just hot air, when he has totally reneged on his pledge to donate his salary to veteran's causes, in addition to his blocking of confirmations. Is there no way around this? Shameful.
I am so thankful for you, Jeff, and the integrity you bring to the table. Thank you for the updates and prayers the senator from Alabama will do the right thing soon
Man, your AI skills are terrific! As for the extremes and the Supremes, this culture war stuff is going to bite them so hard they may lose some important limbs. Jeff, you are doing such a great job! But I always figured you would.
Mr Jackson (and good-hearted fellow readers), kindly ignore the unfortunate, punctuation-and-formation-of-plurals-challenged troll Mr Brown, who clearly knows nothing about you, your record of service to this country as well as to the state of NC, or reality-based definitions of various political systems. Thank you for these updates and your exemplary representation.
I wish you were my congress person. You write the clearest, least spin updates I have ever read. Your emails should be REQUIRED reading for every US citizen to show some of the insanity that has become our Congress....sigh
Thank you, Rep Jackson. Just when this Independent voter thinks the supposed “freedom-of-individual-choice-and-liberty Conservative Party” can’t go farther down the Non-liberty trail, they let a football coach/apparent Rus pawn dictate terms to the entire US military. A rules change is in order and the coach needs a new team.
If the Senate is so dysfunctional that one gut and gonad klansmen can bring the legislative process to a halt, then the "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" Democrats need to shut up and change the rules! Civility in the face of tyranny is cowardice!!! Centrist government can only work if both sides are engaged. The trumpnazi Republicans want nothing absolutely nothing to do with willy nilly bipartisanship. When will the Democrats learn you cannot dialogue with a bully let alone snake oil salesmen or women, you can only beat a bully by strength. Out bully the bully!
GREAT newsletter. Loved the layout, the image, and the update. Keep up the great work. This was the easiest to read update I've ever received from a Representative. Kudos to you and your team.
Also, what can we do about the Alabama senator?
Crazy ONE senator can have so much power. Especially a crazy ex coach from Alabama.
…Who could not correctly name the three branches of Federal government when sworn into office !
I remember that
Not much, unless you live in AL and can vote against him in the next election. Schumer and McConnell are the only ones who are in a position to 'persuade' the Senator to get out of the way. It isn't even clear what he wants because he's changed it a couple of times.
So. Frustrating. 😠
I appreciate your tenacity in trying to make a difference. This political nightmare known as the Republican Party is why we moved abroad.
I wake up every day now not hearing about the orange one, the racism, bigotry, mass shootings, and utter insanity happening back in the States.
I’m still a US citizen, and will vote, but I don’t recognize the country of my birth anymore. It’s reverted back to the years before I was born.
Keep up the good work!
I'm 81 and have told my family and surviving friends that I want "the hell out of what used to be my country. I can't abide what is going on. It is breaking my heart".
@Madison - would you like to sponsor a nice LGBTQ+ couple and their fur baby?! Everything you said, plus an evil inhumane for-profit healthcare system is exactly why we are now "country shopping". I just don't think we will be able to live peacefully here after we retire. Sad.
Hi Frankie,
I’m afraid it doesn’t quite work that way. You both would need to apply for your D7 Visas, which is a daunting task.
If you are interested in more details, I would recommend joining the Americans and Friends in Portugal Facebook group.
Take everything with a grain of salt, and if you are interested, I can point you to someone that can better assist in locating a property here. They don’t deal with the D7 stuff, but you have to start somewhere.
Best regards,
Madison
Obrigado Madison! I appreciate the information and will check out the FB group per your suggestion.
Is it better in your new country?
Portugal has its challenges, but you don’t have all of the divisions, racism, bigotry, and violent crimes.
The people are so kind and welcoming.
Wow - things are really broken in US politics. Many/most of our representatives have forsaken representation for their individual power campaigns instead.
Jeff - thanks as always for sharing your insights re. what's really going on behind the scenes vs. what's reported.
Wow! I have read all this before but to see it all in this email…. Sigh 😌. I’m hoping everyone reading this will be voting and getting their family and friends to vote.
I’m hopeful that there is a special place in hades for Coach Tommy Tuberville, the less than esteemed Senior Senator from Alabama who is holding up the military promotions. Clearly he continues to be a bully. Meanwhile, thank you for the updates and your courage to stand with the military. This eastern North Carolinian is quite proud of you.
So will attacks on the US by forces seeing our weakness from lack of anyone HEADING the military. A whole lot MORE innocent people. This is quite apart from the fact that there is dispute whether a pre-viability fetus qualifies as a human being. It does so only for the beliefs of PART of one particular religion, being foisted on everyone else in violation of the First Amendment.
Well said Susan.
"medical science" has proven no such thing. DNA just shows something has the POTENTIAL to become a human being. It is perfectly within the realm of science to argue that that potential has been realized only when the fetus has the capability of living outside the womb, with medical intervention if necessary. Pre-viability fetuses cannot do so.
How exactly is giving a pregnant soldier the ability to get medical attention needed "detracting" from the military mission? Should we deploy her so that she can go into labor mid-mission? Or let a male soldier be distracted by the suffering his spouse is undergoing?
Any maybe there are a lot of soldiers out there who can miraculously fight the enemy without leadership. Military history suggests otherwise. But that fact doesn't stop attacks from others who see the opportunity and believe that we weak because of it. 9/11 should be a wake-up call.
No, pre-viability fetuses don't "matter" in comparison to the rights of the mother. Only when the fetus becomes a possibly viable "person" does the balancing between rights of mother and fetus arise. And then it DOES have to be balanced. Not just the "life" of the mother, but also such things as her continued ability to bear children when she wants to. Or the long term health effects of pre-eclampsia. Certainly there is little support for post BIRTH people who happen to be born poor. Or, for that matter, support for assuring the health of a pregnant poor woman during the pregnancy.
The simple solution, of course, is to move all military bases to places that don't require travel for healthcare. How would the economies of the "red" states like THEM apples?
Agreed. Republicans insist that poor families have more kids than they can adequately care for, but balk at any help for same, calling it welfare.
Organism, yes. "Human?" Depends on your definition of human. That's where all the controversy lies. Or to put it in religious terms, when does it acquire a soul? News flash: religions differ on that.
Fertilization is an important step. So is the strength of the sperm or egg before they meet. Or the chemical environment of the womb, which may or may cause a miscarriage, even before the woman has missed a cycle. On miscarriages: are we to assume that God is a murderer? That great abortionist in the sky?
I know of no medical science way to measure when the fetus receives a soul. Do you? I DO know that there is a medical science way to measure when a fetus is viable.
"There are 1000 of organizations to help a woman...." Thus the richest country in the world has the highest maternal AND infant mortality rate in the world. I'd say those organizations need a tad more efficiency. Particularly in the south, where the figures show, by increased rates, that those "organizations" are failing miserably.
Sure there are many people qualified to fill the roles of head of various military branches. Tommy Tuberville has blocked over 250 of them from being sworn in. By year end, over 900. If not sworn in they have NO command authority. All because of paying NOT for abortions. Just for transportation costs. The same costs they pay for anyone who can't get the treatment needed locally. Maybe some particular form of prostate cancer?
I'm not arguing that you have no right to believe abortion is wrong. Don't allow any partner or child of yours to get one (assuming they agree and you can actually stop them). What I AM questioning is why YOUR opinion should be the basis of laws governing a whole lot of people who do not agree with you.
Why aren’t you worried about innocent people being murdered by the state by Capitol punishment. What about the babies after they are born?
Because most republicans are anti-abortion and pro capital punishment. And against food stamps and many social services for the poor. In fact many think the poor are lazy. Or it’s their own fault. Which really infuriates me.
Give me a break! God had no problem slaughtering all the first born of Egypt, who were ALIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB. God didn’t have a problem allowing the slaughter of more than 6,000,000,000 Jews in concentration camps.
Please come down off the cross. We need the wood.
Bruce, more than 80% of Americans believe that abortion is a personal choice and should not be regulated by the government. Senator Tuberville is using this issue to get the attention of the 20%. He is hurting military leadership and recruitment as a result. The Republicans don't govern, they stir up hate and division.
you know better. Abortion doesn't kill human beings. I'd say more, but really, what's the point? you won't listen to me. Tuberville, by the way, is NOT stopping any abortion. If what he wants happens, women in the military will still get abortions -it's just going to cost them more. So effectively he's taxing women in the military.
good point
To stay on topic - there is no justification for Tuberville holding up the nominations because he is not stopping even one abortion. He is impacting our national defense for nothing.
Abortions kill fetuses that may have the potential to be born human beings. (miscarriages, fetal anomalies, hydro cephaly, etc keep a good number of fetuses from even being born alive, even without abortions). But obviously I think abortion should be legal regardless of what you call the fetus. But whether abortions should be allowed or not is NOT on topic. The question is should Tuberville hold up promotions to keep the military from helping its members get legal medical care. I say no.
You don't think holding up all these promotions has an impact on national defense?
Can u explain why the govt is involved in abortion? I’m sorry it’s none of yours or mine business what woman does to her body I guess if your daughter was raped you would make her have this incestiuant child sad
Right. That’s why foster care is warehousing so few children. /s
Time for you to face reality.
No woman should be forced to give birth. Healthcare is between a woman and her doctor. Not between politicians and priests.
What branch of the US military did you serve in.
Nobody special… would like to know what you know about life in the military …..
Officer or enlisted ? Thank you for your service. I completed 20 yrs USN.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and cogent email reports. I especially like that your comments are both factual and drama-free. Please keep it up!
Jeff, as a veteran myself, I understand how difficult it was to vote against a Defense Bill, but I agree with your decision for the very reasons you implied. Thank you for all you do for your Country and your constituents. Best regards,
Bill Satterwhite, Burke County
Thanks, Jeff. Tuberville is just an embarassment... I saw recently that his "I am for the military" is just hot air, when he has totally reneged on his pledge to donate his salary to veteran's causes, in addition to his blocking of confirmations. Is there no way around this? Shameful.
I am so thankful for you, Jeff, and the integrity you bring to the table. Thank you for the updates and prayers the senator from Alabama will do the right thing soon
Is there any hope that the Senate rules can be changed to stop this "one Senator objecting" stuff--at least in matters affecting national defense?
Thank you sir, can say how much I appreciate the clarity of your succinct updates.
Man, your AI skills are terrific! As for the extremes and the Supremes, this culture war stuff is going to bite them so hard they may lose some important limbs. Jeff, you are doing such a great job! But I always figured you would.
Mr Jackson (and good-hearted fellow readers), kindly ignore the unfortunate, punctuation-and-formation-of-plurals-challenged troll Mr Brown, who clearly knows nothing about you, your record of service to this country as well as to the state of NC, or reality-based definitions of various political systems. Thank you for these updates and your exemplary representation.
Oh - posted my comment and then saw the troll had been banned! Thanks for that.
I wish you were my congress person. You write the clearest, least spin updates I have ever read. Your emails should be REQUIRED reading for every US citizen to show some of the insanity that has become our Congress....sigh
Thank you, Rep Jackson. Just when this Independent voter thinks the supposed “freedom-of-individual-choice-and-liberty Conservative Party” can’t go farther down the Non-liberty trail, they let a football coach/apparent Rus pawn dictate terms to the entire US military. A rules change is in order and the coach needs a new team.
If the Senate is so dysfunctional that one gut and gonad klansmen can bring the legislative process to a halt, then the "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" Democrats need to shut up and change the rules! Civility in the face of tyranny is cowardice!!! Centrist government can only work if both sides are engaged. The trumpnazi Republicans want nothing absolutely nothing to do with willy nilly bipartisanship. When will the Democrats learn you cannot dialogue with a bully let alone snake oil salesmen or women, you can only beat a bully by strength. Out bully the bully!