HGoTW: Arizona Republicans

The Republicans really are bad at this. Remember, you can't spell "Crazy" without R-AZ

The week started with the Arizona Supreme Court doing their best to ensure that the state goes from a blue tinge to solidly blue by affirming an 1864 law that completely outlawed abortion in the territory¹.

The Arizona supreme court ruled on Tuesday to let a law banning almost all abortions in the state go into effect, a decision that could curtail abortion access in the US south-west and could make Arizona one of the biggest battlefields in the 2024 electoral fight over abortion rights.

The justices said Arizona could enforce an 1864 near-total abortion ban, first passed before Arizona became a state, that went unenforced for decades after the US supreme court legalized abortion nationwide in the 1973 decision Roe v Wade. However, the justices also ruled to hold off on requiring the state to enforce the ban for 14 days, in order to allow advocates to ask a lower court to pause it again.

And suddenly the Arizona election becomes one that the Republicans will have to backpedal and scramble. From the NY Times:

But the revival of the 1864 law in Arizona amounts to something of a nightmare scenario for Republicans in the state. The Civil War-era law, which had lain dormant for decades, was enacted shortly after Arizona was organized as a remote frontier territory of less than 10,000 residents — and almost half a century before Arizona became a state and, months later, adopted women’s suffrage.

They aren’t going to be able to walk this back. In fact, today the legislature in Arizona failed to address this, with all the Republicans thwarting Democrat’s efforts to toss them a lifeline.

I mean, they really must love losing.

But, since I can’t name the whole cohort of Republican politicians in Arizona as the Human Garbage of the week, I will choose 2.

Kari Lake

Back when Arizona passed their existing 15 week abortion law, she spoke loudly and authoritatively that she hoped that the Supreme Court of Arizona would bring back the territorial era law, even mentioning it by its number (ARS 13-3603):

… But in that 2022 appearance, Ms. Lake cited the 1864 law’s number in the Arizona state code.

“I’m incredibly thrilled that we are going to have a great law that’s already on the books. I believe it’s ARS 13-3603,” she said in a 2022 interview on “The Conservative Circus With James T. Harris.” She made other remarks in support of the 1864 law during that campaign as well. (From the NY Times)

And while you might think she would have enough self-awareness to quit digging the hole, you would be mistaken. Sure, she is trying to pretend that she didn’t publicly call for the return of the earlier draconian law, and hoping for the reversal of Roe to allow it to come back into practice.

But this is a golden opportunity for the Dems to really stick it to the Republican party in Arizona.

Former Governor Doug Doucey

The former governor gleefully signed his 15 week ban into law, but at the time, his comments were that he had the big sadz because of Roe the original law wasn’t in effect, and he looked to the day when his 15 week ban would be superseded by the old, draconian law.

The state’s total ban traces its roots back to 1864, when Arizona was a territory, and was codified in 1901. It remained in effect until 1973, when it was blocked by a court injunction after Roe v. Wade was decided, creating a federal constitutional right to an abortion.

Decades later, then-Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed a 15-week abortion limit, with no exceptions for rape or incest, into law in March 2022. The law explicitly stated that it did not overrule the 1864 ban. It snapped into effect after Roe was overturned that summer.

Then, in September 2022, an Arizona judge ruled that the 19^th century old total ban could be enforced. Weeks later, an appeals court blocked it. (from CNN)

Not surprising, he, like Lake, is backing away from that position.

It will not work. No, you were a terrible fucking governor, and you deserve all the shit you are going to get.

For your shitbird attitude, you deserve to join Ms. Lake as my Human Garbage of the Week.

And, how dope is it that this decision dropped the day after Trump stuck his foot in his maw and stated that he believed that the states should decide.

Well, they have, and it is not gonna be good for the R’s on the ballot in November.

1. Arizona did not become a state until 1912, so it was just a western territory

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