California Rep. Jackie Speier, survivor of Jonestown massacre, to retire from Congress

[lostnfound]

Source: Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — California Rep. Jackie Speier said Tuesday she would not run for reelection next year, the latest House Democrat to retire in the face of what could be a difficult election cycle for the party.
Speier, who has represented San Mateo County and San Francisco since 2008, said in a video announcement that it’s “time for me to come home.”

“Time for me to be more than a weekend wife, mother and friend,” said Speier, who is a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-11-16/jackie-speier-to-retire-from-congress

[ck4829]

1. Hopefully, not before another cult rolls into power

[Chicago1980]

2. Stupid media...

"California Rep. Jackie Speier said Tuesday she would not run for reelection next year, the latest House Democrat to retire in the face of what could be a difficult election cycle for the party. "


Hey LA Times, she's retiring not because she'd have a problem getting reelected... She's just retiring.

[Mr.Bill]

3. And that district is pretty safe

for the Democrats.

[LenaBaby61]

18. "And that district is pretty safe for Democrats"

I'll miss her, but thank goodness her district is extremely safe.

You're correct.

[obamanut2012]

24. It is 100% safe, not pretty safe

She will be missed, however.

[dsc]

7. the issue is when shoo ins with seniority retire it is often due to

the thought they will be in the minority.

[musette_sf]

4. I understand, Rep Speier has given more than almost any public servant

should be expected to give. But DAMN, this makes me sad. And I hope that we don't get a nominal "Democrat" tech bro to replace her, which is my fear.

[BlueStater]

5. One of the only people who can say they've had their life threatened by rabid cult members twice.

On November 18, 1978 AND on January 6, 2021.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

12. Excluding former Scientologist?

[spike jones]

14. I just read the book "Trouble Maker" surviving hollywood and Scientology. by Leah Remini

I was surprised how abusive that system is. Different direction, but on the same level as Fundamenal Mormonism.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

15. To be fair, I don't know any Scientologist.

But if 1/4 of the rumors are true...No thank you.

[LenaBaby61]

19. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[spike jones]

6. Off topic. Did the expression, to drink the cool-aid start from Jonestown? n/t

BTW it was Flavor-aid not Kool-aid.

[dsc]

8. yes

[AuntieKatie]

9. It makes me cringe

when people say that.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

13. I always thought it was the Acid Tests from the late sixties.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Electric_Kool-Aid_Acid_Test

[Hekate]

10. Yes, exactly then

[Hekate]

11. Jackie Speier will be missed. What a life she has had.

[lostnfound]

22. I didn't count it as handwringing. I'll just miss her. Nt

[BigmanPigman]

16. She will be missed!

She wrote a bill to eliminate the "pink tax" where certain products are created to appeal to women and girls but are the same as products for men which cost less.

I went to CVS to buy deodorant. I looked at two identical products. The size, ingredients, etc were the same but the one which was pink and marketed for women cost $1 more (20%). She also worked to get rid of a sales tax on tampons, etc.

[RussBLib]

17. I have yet to see a story that mentions....

... how many GOPers are not seeking re-election.

No, it's all hand-wringing by the Dems.

[LenaBaby61]

20. THIS 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

[question everything]

21. And a major voice for second term abortion

Jackie Speier On Sharing Her Pregnancy-Termination Story: 'It Just Overwhelmed Me'

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jackie Speier listened to debate on the House floor on Thursday evening as a Republican Rep. Chris Smith read a long, detailed description of an abortion and a "mangled image of a dead, tiny baby." Finally, Speier stood up and told her colleagues she had undergone an abortion in the early 1990s following a complication nearly four months into her pregnancy.

"As the night wore on, the vitriol and grotesque commentary got worse and worse," Speier, a second-term Democrat from California, told HuffPost. "I sat there thinking, none of these men on the other side have even come close to experiencing this, and yet they can pontificate about what it's like. It just overwhelmed me."

Speier underwent an abortion in her early 40s, while she was serving in the California State Assembly. The procedure used to terminate the pregnancy was the same type that Smith's book described. As she listened, Speier said she became more emotional and made the decision to speak out.

"This was a wanted pregnancy, it was the second miscarriage I had had," she told HuffPost. "What they express doesn't come close to the experience that a woman goes through when she is losing a baby or when a pregnancy is terminated. It's a painful, gut-wrenching loss."

After she told her story, Speier said many colleagues -- both male and female -- offered their support, some saying she put tears in their eyes. One Republican told her the amendment was inappropriate, she said, while Smith, whose remarks caused her to speak up, said nothing.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jackie-speier-on-abortion-story-overwhelmed_n_825348

[Nululu]

25. A great leader and representative

Sorry to hear that she's retiring. She'll be missed.