* is warned about anti-abortion judges...

[flygal]

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/11/03/abortion/index.html

Bush is warned about anti-abortion judges


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By Lara Jakaes Jordan



Nov. 3, 2004 | PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Republican expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee next year bluntly warned newly re-elected President Bush on Wednesday against putting forth Supreme Court nominees who would seek to overturn abortion rights or are otherwise too conservative to win confirmation.

Sen. Arlen Specter, fresh from winning a fifth term in Pennsylvania, also said the current Supreme Court now lacks legal ``giants'' on the bench.

``When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely,'' Specter said, referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

``The president is well aware of what happened, when a number of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster,'' Specter added, referring to Senate Democrats' success over the past four years in blocking the confirmation of many of Bush's conservative judicial picks. ``... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning.''

[aquart]

1. Oh, look. Arlen's balls. Where have they been?

Opening guns in the battle for the Republican Party.

[Julien Sorel]

14. What balls?

He's fighting for his own ass. If Roe v Wade goes, the Republicans will be destroyed, and the entire party in Washington knows it. They are dangerously close to being forced to live up to their rhetoric and do something about it, so good old Arlen is publicly providing Bush with cover, while maintaining his own moderate credentials. There is absolutely no other reason for him to make this pronouncement publicly -- he could have conveyed the same message in private and spared Bush the lecture.

[GoSolar]

18. Exactly.

"If Roe v Wade goes, the Republicans will be destroyed".

And if it does not go, they will be destroyed.
Looks like they put themselves in a no-win situation here.

[KansDem]

21. Left on a gurney in Dallas on November 22, 1963...(eom)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Thank God they don't have enough Senators

to stop a filibuster. And I hope the Dems filibuster any judicial nominee with a far right agenda. When they do, it is paramont that they tell why-from a moral perspective, even if it is about abortion. Most folks say abortion is ok if it is for a rape/incest victim or to save the life of the mother. The right wingers want these restrictions out, and we must bring that home-tell the truth, that they think a woman's life isn't as valuable as that of a fetus. Sure, it won't convince those too far gone, but the majority of Americans will sit up and take notice.

[Merlin]

6. Dream on.

What are you going to do, find some magic words that have eluded the entire liberal community for a generation?

[mazzarro]

9. Democrats in the Senate have never been cohisive in their

fight against the reThuglicans before how do expect them to suddenly do that now? Though the lackluster Senator Daschle will be there no more, I still expect the democrats to only put up token opposition as before since most are members of the DLC.

[AndyTiedye]

20. They Have Fought The Worst of the Judicial Nominations

That's the ONLY thing the Dems in the Senate have done for us in the past four years.

[Quetzal]

3. Pfftt

That is a joke.

Spectre: I will not support your nominee Mr. Bush

Bush: You will support my nominee, or else I will strip you of your committee chair.

Spectre: You woudn't dare.

Bush: Don't even try - you know I can.

[Merlin]

4. I'll lay odds Specter's health will "deteriorate" in the very near future.

He has staked out a position as the only obstacle to the dream which tens of millions of gun-toting, right-wing religious fanatics have sustained for more than a generation, and he thinks he will stop them?

He is attempting to interpose himself as Judiciary Committee chairman between the reversal of Roe v Wade and the absolute imperative for Bush, Rove & Co. to deliver on their promises?

Rots-a-ruck Arlen.

[bushisanidiot]

5. I can't think of a more divisive issue for the "uniter" to start pushing

he is such a fucking liar. he said he wants us all to come together now, but to him that means we're all supposed to go along with everything he wants. he will NEVER swing to the center or anywhere near the left.

[enough]

7. The senator who gave us Clarence Thomas

and then later said that "if I'd known how conservative he was going to be I might have acted differently."

I feel really good knowing this person is our defense against RW justices.

[sendero]

16. Oh..

.... isn't that sweet. Fuck you Arlen.

I will never forget the unfair attacks he levelled at Anita Hill. Never forget, and never forgive. It was shameless pukery at its finest.

[Francesca]

8. forgive my naivety

but honestly what would be the best approach for average people who want to protest a proposed judge... In another words would it be as I understand it appropriate to bombard our own state senators (in my case repubs) with letters?? or is there someone else we should pressuring.. Sorry for the silly question I am young and never got involved till the last year...

[mazzarro]

10. Deluge the state senator but do not ecpect much from that

action since they are wired to the reThuglican base.

[cali]

11. It's Not At All A Silly Question

The first thing you do, is contact NOW or other groups that are active in fighting against uber conservative judges being confirmed. Truthfully, I don't hold out much hope for blocking judges, but it's still worth trying.

[Yavin4]

23. Move To Canada

That's your only alternative at this point.

[Meryton]

12. split the party

I have one neighbor who voted for bush because she thinks he will "Outlaw" abortions. The other voted for bush but is prochoice. One half of the party is going to be disappointed. :)

[devinsgram]

13. This is why some of the repugs in PA

wanted Toomey instead of him. Toomey is more like Santorum. Spector is more towards the left. Michael Fox campaigned for him because of stem cell research.

[sendero]

15. Oh Gee Arlen....

... aren't you the fuckwad who played a major role in putting that MORON Thomas on the bench. And now you want to warn against idealogue judges?

Could it be that you now realize what all of us paying attention did way back in the 80s.

God I wish that asshat would have lost his race.

[drscm]

17. The president and his ilk would never propose an anti-abortion

judge on the SC because they need abortion as a wedge issue. Preventing two women or two men from holding hands as a wedge issue can only go so far.

[BrotherBuzz]

24. There may be more truth in your thought then you know

Sadly, I think the the Straussians are ahead of us on that one. Thanks for that 'outside the box' thought.

[lilymidnite]

19. Pro-lifers

"Pro-lifer"

2-cell zygote -- YES!!
100,00 dead Iraqs -- no

Where's the outrage?
If this is you then:

Pro-life=Hypocrite majeur

[Supersedeas]

22. Mr. President, don't spend that HUUUUGGGE mandate all in one place, hear?