Sorry, I Enjoy Beating a Dead Horse


"Beating a dead horse" must have come from the days when horses were the economic engine of the English-speaking world. The thing is, when one enjoys saying something, it's also enjoyable to say it over and over. It's not so enjoyable to those who have to listen.

The dead horse I have beaten is the view that abortion will be the issue that determines the outcome of the 2024 election. I've been saying this for several years. As time moves us closer to the Nov. election, polls are changing steadily. 

The old adage is people vote the economy. Every election year, the out of office party asks people, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" It's not hard to find lots of people who think they are worse off and can be made to think it is because of the current President. A few elections back, James Carvell, the well know liberal political consultant, admonished Clinton and Democrats where to focus, "It's the economy, stupid." 

In this election, Republicans and trying to sex up economic arguments. Grocery prices are up and farm prices down. But, try as they will, it doesn't seem it will be successful.

According to the New York Times, abortion rights has risen above the economy to become the number one concern for women 35 years of age and younger. I think we will be surprised, ultimately, by the support abortion rights have among men. The NYT article points out abortion rights is rising in importance to voters in the famous swing states. Truth-be-told, abortion is often about the economy, the micro economy of one person or one household. A woman or a couple often feel they cannot afford the birth that is coming. Abortion is the white horse that rides in to save them. 

I encountered on a religious page what I'm certain is a Trump operative trying to argue the upcoming election has nothing to do with abortion. The technique is to argue abortion is now in the hands of states so people should not even consider it when deciding presidential candidate to vote for. What a joke. The President and Senate appoint Federal Judges. State abortion cases appear constantly in front of Federal judges. 

The freight train is bearing down on Trump, the Senate and the House. They are tied to the tracks anti abortion rights and cannot slip the knot.  

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