"Abortion is Big Loser in Confirmation Vote; Roe's Days are Numbered"

[Bluebear]

They're really feeling their oats now.

===

To: National Desk

Contact: Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Operation Rescue Outreach Coordinator, 316-516-3034

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Abortion supporters were dealt a crucial blow when the U.S. Senate voted 58-42 to confirm judge Samuel Alito to the United Stated Supreme Court, increasing their fears that abortion may soon be declared unconstitutional.

The first loss to the abortion lobby came in the Senate on Tuesday night when it failed to muster the required 41 votes to block the confirmation vote of Judge Alito.

Alito faced stiffer opposition because, unlike Chief Justice John Roberts, he never admitted that Roe is “settled law.”

“This lack of capitulation to the pro-abortion crowd incited a feeble coalition of pro-abortion Senators to mount a filibuster attempt,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “That effort predictably failed, opening the way for today’s vote.”

Senators John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Edward Kennedy and 21 other Senators pinned their failed hopes of defeating Alito’s confirmation on his opposition to abortion. But a number of Democratic Senators broke ranks with the abortion lobby and cast their votes in support of Judge Alito.

“Pro-life is a winning position,” said Newman. “Abortion lost today, abortion lost in the last two presidential elections, and abortion will continue to lose its death grip on the American people.”

“Support for abortion on demand is dying and Roe’s supporters are gasping for air. It is only the out- dated Senators, like Ted Kennedy, hanging on to the past who haven’t figured out that abortion’s days are numbered,” Newman said.

http://www.earnedmedia.org/or01311.htm

[Hissyspit]

1. Majority of U.S. citizens STILL support women's right to controlling

their bodies/reproductive processes.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Sez they

The fight to re-criminalize abortion will have to be fought in the Congress, then in each governmental branch of all 50 states.

Do you have any idea how much activism that will create? Instead of having to swat nine hornets, the anti-choice brigade will have to swat tens of thousands, with millions left in reserve. It will obsess the Press and civil government for years.

It's the second best thing that could happen.

The first, of course, is that our government would respect women's rights to control their own bodies. Since they don't even respect our vote, respecting our bodies, whether male or female, is too much to expect. And they have a perverse, perverted, special interest in controlling the bodies of women. But most of us have a similar strange impulse to resist tyranny. Funny how that works.

Sure, this is a "Sweet Lemons" scenario, but in the event of a major challenge to Roe v. Wade, it is the likely one. As much political traction as "Gay Marriage" cost legislative Democrats among conservative Democratic voters, an anti-Roe jihad would cripple the Religious Right.

I can't say I'm exactly dancing in the streets here. Many women will be hurt in the interregnum -- as well as a number of men, who will be targeted by bloodthirsty DAs (some of whom have made their intentions known). But if the Right goes for it, it will be like grasping a locomotive's third rail -- while soaking wet.

--p!

[regnaD kciN]

24. Not quite true...

The fight to re-criminalize abortion will have to be fought in the Congress, then in each governmental branch of all 50 states.

As I've posted previously, given the way that the so-called "strict constructionists" now on the Supreme Court seem to love radically redefining long-settled Constitutional concepts (signing statements, "unitary executive") to fit their ideological positions, it would not surprise me one bit to see this new Court overturn Roe in a decision that states, as a matter of legal definition, that "fully human life begins at the moment of conception." If that is part of their decision, every single state and federal homicide law automatically applies to any embryo or fetus, and abortion is de facto outlawed everywhere in the U.S. The burden of effort would then be on the pro-choicers to convince their legislators to re-write the homicide laws to apply only to "humans who have been born." And, even if that were possible in one's own state, there would still be the federal laws, and to change them would require getting such a bill through Congress (including the Senate, where it's a safe bet that well more than half of all Senators come from "red" states), not to mention signed by whoever is in the White House at the time. It might be possible if Democrats capture both Houses of Congress (by substantial margins, so there would be no worries about residual DINO votes defeating such legislation) as well as the Presidency. Until that comes to pass, not a chance.

But, even if the SCOTUS doesn't go that far, a defeat of Roe does not mean that there would be a battle in every state to "re-criminalize abortion." The fact is that thirty of the fifty states have already passed laws banning abortion...to take effect if and when Roe is repealed. Those laws are already on the books. So, if the anti-choicers have their way with the Court, abortion would instantly become illegal in 60% of U.S. states, without anyone having to do anything.

[Dogmudgeon]

25. But all those fights will immediately be re-started

The situation, as you describe, is more complicated than my own simplified overview, but I don't think that anyone on the left -- even nominal liberals like Joe Lieberman -- will just take this without a fight.

The can of worms this issue would open up would be ENORMOUS. While the instant-criminalizing effects you described would happen, enforcement would be a nightmare, and the reaction would be likewise immediate and enraged.

I think the likely course is that choice will be chipped away at, like the early days of the drug war. But the country has been strongly pro-choice since the 1960s, and resistance to most right-wing causes is growing.

It's tough to predict the reaction, but for my own part, I'd fight recrim strongly -- and I'm a man, so I supposedly don't have a stake in the issue. But most men I know are strongly pro-choice, and there's a pro-choice element in the conservative movement that's far stronger than the anti-choicers' among liberals and progressives.

Of course, I hardly thought I would ever have to consider something like recrim.

--p!

[The Traveler]

3. Dammit, the abortion thing is a case of conscience

The Bible makes no comment on the matter. Jesus says much about taking care of the poor but nothing on this. Even that crashing bore Paul had nothing to say on this.

I have been making evangelicals very uncomfortable with the following train of argument.

1) Hebrew mystical tradition contemporary with Jesus claimed that "ensoulment" ocurred at the time of the first breath, not at the time of conception.

2) The concept of "life beginning at conception" was based on the notion of Greek natural philosophers that sperm were complete itty bitty humans, and the female merely housed nourished the little fellers. This notion, in turn, was based on their pagan theology.

3) The concept is introduced by the Church sometime in the 13th Century, as it fell increasingly under the sway of Greek philosophy.

4) Devoted attention to a topic or concept constitutes a form of worship. This concept derives from a polytheistic pagan theology, with no Biblical support. To put much energy into it is to put faith behind pagan teachings, which is idolatry.


5) The Bible tells me what I need to know to live a moral life. It tells me to take care of the poor. It tells me nothing about abortion. Abortions were performed during the time of Jesus (and so were Caesarian sections) so if it was an important issue it would have been mentioned.

6) As a Christian, I'll be damned if I follow a lunatic fringe into the worship of false gods or the acceptance of their teachings.

Try this one out and watch the heads spin.

[beam me up scottie]

6. THanks, your post

rocked, Traveler.

Can I use it when I run into those who need clarification?

edit, confusion sets in

[bluestateguy]

4. Make all the laws you want. A JURY still has to convict....

I've already decided. If my state bans abortion and they waste my time by putting me on a jury in case where someone is charged with having/performing an illegal abortion, I will be a nullifying juror. I won't even listen to testimony. Not guilty, no matter what! If there are enough jury nullifications, then abortion laws can be made unenforceable. Jury nullification is democratic and empowering.

[Erika]

14. But the woman will be going thru hell in the process n/t

[beam me up scottie]

5. We'll just form another underground.

I was in last time and I'm even more determined now, we won't go back.

[Erika]

7. Women to become chattel in the U.S.

They will be forced to bear children against their will. Even if they are 10 and 11 year old rape victims.

Not in my lifetime.

[beam me up scottie]

8. Nope.

It won't be like before.

We are WAY too powerful now.

Just TRY to put us back in the box.

[Erika]

13. Agreed. It ain't going to happen

I have no problem with Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Roberts being tarred and feathered.

[beam me up scottie]

16. They thought we were pissed last time?

Just wait.

God damn the women who didn't vote in the last two elections.

They might not need an abortion, but they'd better hope their daughters or granddaughters don't.

[Erika]

18. We are ANGRY

I don't know where the U.S. can come off in treating its women as chattel. It won't happen.

[beam me up scottie]

21. Right now, I'm more pissed at

the stupid cows who didn't vote.

"I don't get politics. It's too complicated." one said in an interview in 2004.

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. Oh Gawd no!

"I don't get politics. It's too complicated." How embarrassing for her to admit that and yet I'll bet she didn't feel one ounce of embarrassment, did she?

[KakistocracyHater]

9. this is really about self-sovereignty vs the gov controlling you

end of life decisions: made by you & yours OR decided by the government. Need proof? That woman, Terry Schiavo struck a chord with a lot of people. Pain management: decided by you & your doctor OR the gov. Birth control(since most "pro-lifers" openly admit they feel contraceptives are abortion too & they hate condoms): controlled by you OR the gov gets to plan your family for you. They admitted(repubs) during the Harriet Myers uproar that it's not just abortion they have on their agendas, that just gets their foot in the door. This is about control-who gets to control you & your family.

[Erika]

11. The GOP love to shove their morality on personal issues

down the throats of others. Too bad they don't take care of their own immorality. Newt is status quo for them.

[azurnoir]

10. There is something

that never gets mentioned. If Roe is overturned abortion will not be illegal, over turning Roe would say that there is no constitutional right to privacy. This and not back alley abortions is what should scare the b-jeebus out of people. Given this administrations warrentless spying amongst other things I really wonder if this isn't why at least adim types are hot to see Roe gone.

[Erika]

12. That's one strange post.

Really.

[azurnoir]

17. Roe

doesn't say abortion is legal the legal precedent was based on the "right to privacy", if Roe is over turned abortion will become a "states" issue, what will be struck down is the constitutional "right to privacy" The up side is that abortion will no longer be a "national issue" ie presidential elections, but the privacy issue is never looked at on it's own.

[Erika]

19. The 14th amendment applies to the U.S. Constitution

not the individual states!

[beam me up scottie]

15. I get what you're saying.

But we've already lost that battle as well.

If the NSA investigation ever ends in indictments and it goes to the courts, guess who'll lose?

[azurnoir]

20. I know it's hard

after the last couple of days but really don't be so pessimistic, there is a quiet revolution going on "the sleepers are awakening"

[beam me up scottie]

22. I've been through this before.

It's real this time.

I work with the freepers and the religious sheep.

I'm afraid we're going to have to break a few laws.

My dad says he's glad he won't be around to see what happens.



Sorry, don't mean to be a downer, but this was really the last straw.
This appointment is for life, we can't fix it.
They will be challenging Roe at every opportunity now, all in hopes that one case makes it to the Supreme Court.

I wonder how Ms. O'Connor is holding up.
The lady couldn't hold out for ever.

[kevinbgoode]

23. Who said these people are "christians?"

They sound like fascists to me.

[desi826]

26. as soon as they gut Roe v. Wade

there goes the single women's vote for Dems(and there are more of them, than there are of those who will vote for Repubs) which means 2008 is already lost, since there are more women than men in this country.
In 2007, the Voting Rights Act will be up for renewal, Dems won't fight for that either; as soon as other minorities see that Dems won't fight for their most loyal constituancy, they won't bother to fight for them.
There goes the minority vote.
Unless we run people against them, to vote them out of office, we are done as a party. We simply won't have the numbers.
Des

[DanCa]

27. So if a terrorist forces himsefl on a female US Soldier

And she comes up pregnant arent the anti choicers helping the terrorist by forcing the soldier to relive the rape night afte night?

[Vinca]

28. Comments made by Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough on

Hardball last night sent a chill up my spine. They were laughing, gleeful and confident Roe will be history. The Democrats who failed to filibuster made a huge, huge mistake.

[Broke In Jersey]

29. I saw those comments on MSNBC

But they still need 1 more justice to have their majority.