Keep Up the Fight, Everybody

[READER]( In the category of good news...Mitch McConnell’s assertion that he’d advance a successor to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—an assertion made just after her death—was not the single most cynical act Republicans have committed in the game of filling judicial vacancies. It’s not even the second most cynical act, as evil and hypocritical as it is. No, second place goes to Donald Trump for announcing, just a few hours later, that he’d nominate a replacement, but only after RBG’s funeral. Cause, you know, he didn’t want to look too ghoulish. I was hoping Trump would name a man to replace RBG (say Ted Cruz)—just to let everyone know how much contempt he has for the rest of us. I have no doubt that it wouldn’t matter had Trump nominated Cruz or Rick Santorum or Jerry Falwell Jr. (pool boy scandal and all) to replace Justice Ginsburg. MAGA would cheer and Republican senators, terrified of a Trump tweet, would dutifully vote to confirm. But, no, Trump swears up and down he’ll name a woman. We shall see. But I was going to cheer you up. Oh, yes, the most cynical act came in 1991 when George Bush (aka, daddy Bush) nominated Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall on the grounds that—what the heck, they’re both Black, so who’s gonna know the difference? Thus, Bush selected a right-wing, Republican hack to undo the strides Marshall—a true giant for justice—had dedicated his life to accomplishing. Now, that’s cynical. Now for the good news. Putting Thomas on the court helped turn the tides against Bush. In 1992, he lost his re-election campaign. And so, it was Bill Clinton—not Bush—who got to name someone to replace Justice Byron White, when he retired in 1993. And that someone was, of course, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And the rest is history. So, you see, there’s always hope, even if it’s just a glimmer in the midst of stressful gloomy times. Keep up the fight, everybody—we have an election to win and a country to save. Sincerely, [Maya Dukmasova]( a controversial eviction in Rogers Park… [Grace Del Vecchio]( on a new landlords database… [Ben Joravsky]( on John Kass’s bromance with William Barr… [Professor Leslie Harris]( on slavery denial… [Michael Thurman]( on confronting Joe Biden and denouncing Donald Trump… [Candis Castillo]( on what’s at stake in November... [“Anthem” addresses the past and present of voter suppression]( The virtual exhibit reached beyond Chicago to battleground states in the upcoming election. By [Katie Powers]( [@katieeepowers]( [After the shutdown, Lips is unsealed]( Fire, break-ins, and COVID: the Motor Row drag palace has had a bumpy first year. By [Catey Sullivan]( [@CateySullivan]( [Moving through KAOS]( Rigoberto Saura's new piece for Hedwig Dances documents our current disorientation. By [Irene Hsiao]( [@IreneCHsiao]( [Issue of Sep 17-30, 2020 Vol. 49, No. 44]( The Housing Issue [Download Issue]( (PDF) [DONATE]( [View this e-mail as a web page]( [@chicago_reader]( [/chicagoreader]( [@chicago_reader]( [Chicago Reader on LinkedIn]( [/chicagoreader]( [chicagoreader.com]( [Forward this e-mail to a friend](. Want to change how you receive these e-mails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. Copyright © 2020 Chicago Reader Store, All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Chicago Reader Store Our mailing address is: Chicago Reader Store 2930 S. Michigan Ave.Chicago, IL 60616 [Add us to your address book](