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Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

The story out of Politico shouldn’t have surprised anyone, but somehow we were all surprised by it. Of course, the Conservatives on the Supreme Court were going to overturn Roe; everyone knew this. It’s been their goal for thirty years.

I do grow very tired of Chief Justice Roberts insistence that the SCOTUS is not a political institution, and is an independent deliberative body. Sadly, the truth is that you are not an independent thinker if your reasoning is completely predictable. That goes for both sides. Its why I want liberals on the court to protect Roe, just like how they want conservative up there to destroy Roe. Again, we all know this. Roberts needs to get with the program.

Also, if you don’t want to be seen as a political body, then stop doing political shit. The reality of the matter is that there are at least four justices up there that want it to be political. They could have concurred with the lower court’s ruling, but no, they had to her the case. They chose to be political on this matter.

And this should be the Democrats rallying cry from here on out, but I’m not encouraged. The Democrats will fuck this up. They have just been given a political gift of a major issue to talk about that NOT the economy, and it’s an issue they can win on. If the Dems frame it as “They take away your rights, we defend your rights.” The Roberts court limited voting rights, labor rights, free speech rights, now women’s rights. What could be next? Gay Marriage? Interracial Marriage? Right to Council?

But they won’t. The Democrats will drop the ball. They already have. Chuck Schumer is already calling for a vote in the Senate so Americans will know where each Senator stands. We already know where everyone stands!!! That does nothing! Why do Democrats keep bringing balloons to the gun fight? Conservatives got the upper hand on this issue by appealing directly to people’s emotions. Not by calling for symbolic votes. Chuck, you gotta start playing the same game, but you won’t. Schumer and the other Democrat leadership will roll out useless gestures and meaningless facts, when they need to be telling people that the house is on fire, because the house really is on fire!

The implications of this probable ruling are quite simple; Two Americas – Abortion, and Anti-Abortion. There will be states where women can live in liberty with equal rights, and states where liberty is claimed but denied to women. But it won’t end there, for the goal is to defeat all forms of abortion, to where women lose the basic human right to decide if and when they want to get pregnant. The hypocrisy of this possible ruling remarkable in its inability to hide how unworkable it would be in practice. House Divided, remember.

There is no exception for a basic human right.

I thought that I would skip writing today. The kid is on Spring Break, which means that I am “on” the whole day. Add on to that, dealing with our car’s repairs, the laundry, and all the other chores; It just didn’t seem like it would be possible to jot anything down.

And that was true

Up to about thirty minutes ago.

The wife is in bed, the kid is in bed, the dishes are done, coffee is made for the morning, and I am watching the Mavericks play the Jazz.

Why aren’t I writing?

I am tired, but I should just get something out.

And I am having trouble holding on to what it is that I should be doing. Most days I don’t know. Most days, I feel like I am still faking it, like a kid on the first day of junior high. Most days, I feel like I am letting the kid down.

I try to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, with the hope that I am leading myself in the right direction.

But most days, I feel like I missed my shot. Most days I feel like I am too late to the party.

And I try to take these feelings and make something out of it.

Which is why I am so fucking tired right now, and I should go to bed, but I’m not.

I’m going to write something, because that makes me feel better.

And that means something.

I never thought I would go to a gym, let alone go for a month. I have completed four weeks of really just going to run on a treadmill for thirty minutes. The conventional wisdom is that I need to get eight more weeks in for it to become a habit. I would hope that with eight additional weeks, that I might start to enjoy it.

For the record, none of the benefits of going to the gym have arrived. I have lost one pound, but I am not convinced that my working out caused that, or the fact that Trader Joe’s hasn’t had my favorite ice cream for the past two weeks. I am not sleeping better, I do not have more energy, and I do not feel more positive about life. So, 0 for 4 on the life changes.

The one thing that I do like is that going to the gym has given a better structure to my week. Adding this activity means that I have less time to sit around and look at my phone, if I want to get all of my tasks, errand, and responsibilities taken care of. Not sure I would say that I am being more efficient, but I am more aware of how much time I have to get stuff done.

Also, just like hiking last summer, I have to go buy more gear. I need more workout clothes, and I need a new pair of running shoes. The financial commitment has started, which is the sign that I want to take it seriously. Sink in the game means you want to win.

And I do want to get healthier. At least, trying to be healthier so I have a little more time with the people I care about.