Wow, we really are fucked. Not that I doubted Bush would consult a radical Rightwing zealot such as Falwell for “advice” on choosing a judicial nominee, but still–um,….wow.
Washington, DC ““ Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, expressed concern about reports today that the Bush Administration has actively sought the advice of radical right leader Jerry Falwell on whom to nominate for vacancy on the Supreme Court, stripping the White House of any credibility in searching for a consensus candidate who can unify the country.
In a story published in today’s New York Times, Falwell … who enraged Americans after the September 11, 2001 attacks by saying that we could expect more attacks if “God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve” … confirmed that the White House reached out to him to seek his advice on a Supreme Court nominee. The paper reported that Falwell “declined to offer advice, telling the White House staff member that, because of Mr. Bush’s track record appointing conservative judges, `”I am willing to sit back and trust him and pray for him.”
“We’re glad that President Bush is reaching out for advice, but this isn’t the direction we had in mind,” said Keenan. “Consulting with Jerry Falwell is not a recipe for bringing America together. Even more troubling is the assurance Falwell has apparently been given that any nominee would meet his litmus test of opposing personal freedoms like the right to privacy and a woman’s right to choose. Any nominee who can earn Jerry Falwell’s trust is someone who’ll likely be hard for mainstream America to swallow.
Keenan added “When Americans read the vicious words that came from Jerry Falwell in the wake of our worst tragedy ever, they saw his true colors. That the President would seek the counsel of such a person is unconscionable.”
Start stocking up on your birth control ladies and buy a few plane tickets to Canada–you know, just in case. I hope the pro-choice groups, pro-contraception pharmacists, and physicians who perform safe abortions have a “plan B” should women loose their right to control their reproductive destinies. In the worst case scenario; an underground system, perhaps?
It could be worse. Jerry Falwell could’ve been the nominee instead of the one asked for advice about the nominee. Yeah, what Falwell knows about being a Justice could be written on a piece of toilet paper (and that’s the best place to put anything he says), but since when has Bush cared about whether someone is qualified. Take a look at some of his federal nominations, for example.
And the article didn’t include the other hurtful thing he said about 9/11. He seems to think gays and feminists and Pagans were at fault–don’t ask me why. It’s the worst leap in logic since the British blamed Boston Harbor for the Boston Tea Party. (Boston Harbor is what got punished, by being blockaded by the Navy for a year. Although, in all fairness, I guess the tea took a beating, too.)
Now with the latest on Rehnquist being in the hospital, this is beginning to look more and more like a train wreck. I am currently trying to cheer myself up by imagining highly unlikely scenarios for the avoidance of this disaster. My favorites so far:
Bush nominates an extremist. The Republicans invoke the nuclear option and confirm. We lose our 5-4 majority. The Senate Democrats sue the Senate Republicans about the nuclear option being unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court hears the case. Meanwhile, all the liberal judges resign in protest, leaving the Supreme Court without a quorum. Bush nominates, the Democrats filibuster, the Republicans can’t use the nuclear option because its constitutionality hasn’t been decided, and the Court can’t rule on its constitutionality because they don’t have a quorum.
Bush nominates, the Democrats filibuster, the Republicans use the nuclear option, but right before the vote, the Democrats and the moderate Republicans all leave, except for one Democratic senator who asks for a quorum call, it is found out that there is no quorum, which means the Senate can’t conduct business, and the nominee cannot be confirmed.
Somebody sues to overturn the Supreme Court decision that made Bush the President in 2000. The court overturns it, which has no effect except that someone else charges that Bush had an advantage in the polls as the incumbent, which isn’t fair since he wasn’t the incumbent, the court calculates the advantages and deducts it from Bush’s percentage total, and Kerry is declared the winner of the popular vote. Unhappy with 2 consecutive terms of the popular vote and the electoral college disagreeing with each other, someone files suit against the electoral college, and the Supreme Court agrees that the electing vote should comply with the wishes of the people, and the electoral college is abolished. As the winner of the popular vote, Kerry is declared President, sworn in, and proceeds to nominate someone halfway qualified.
Nobody pick these apart. They’re for amusement, not strategy.
buy a few plane tickets to Canada
are we sure we’ll be allowed to travel freely and won’t be searched for contraband medications upon our return?
[Andi climbs on her hobby horse]
Regardless of what happens with the supreme court, the key to keeping (and getting back ) reproductive rights is to get progressives elected to state legislatures. And this is an area where even a few people willing to donate time and money can dramatically effect who gets elected.
This is just Bush pandering to his base again. No matter who he picks, if he didn’t make the phone call to Falwell, he would have been toast with the fundies. (Trying to think optimistically) Maybe this means he’s leaning toward a more moderate choice?
ol cranky –
are we sure we’ll be allowed to travel freely and won’t be searched for contraband medications upon our return?
um, “return”?
wow, kyra talk about pipe dreams!!
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