Supreme Court

[Onlooker]

We all know that one of the dangers of another Bush term is that we will have a hopelessly conservative Supreme Court. As a gay man, I think this is a grave danger, but I also think this issue should resonate with women, workers, immigrants, people of color, retirees, and others. While this issue should resonate with a diverse cross-section of the population, in the past it has not. What can be done to make people aware of the danger of a Bush Supreme Court? Is there a way to make this important issue more potent?

[serryjw]

1. Why is JK not talking about this?

Time to go over to his website again!The idea of 9 Scalia's frightens the hell out of me.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Kerry is Afraid the Catholics Will All Vote For Boosh...

...if he mentions abortion or the Supreme Court.

If they do, we lose in a huge landslide.

[mopinko]

2. maybe now that people see

that the supremes are political animals. but it is hard to get this across to joe sixpack.
personally, i wonder if rehnquist and o'connor are ashamed of themselves. i would think that if they were such shrub lovers, they would have stepped down by now.

[PlanetBev]

3. I've e-mailed the Kerry campaign about this

It's one issue that he could really use to wake people up, get out single women voters and distinguish himself from Bush. He ought to be beating this one into the ground.

So far, nada. I'm sorry, I still think Kerry is letting Bush steal his socks.

[beyurslf]

4. My #1 reason (out of a couple 1000) for wanting Bush to lose is the SCOTUS

It scares the hell out of me that he would get to shape our lives for a generation with a packed court.

[Carla in Ca]

6. Onlooker, we all fear this

Two new conservative justices and Clarence Thomas as the Chief Justice...we are all screwed.

[CityDem]

7. Neither Candidate wants to touch the social issues

The social issues are not clear cut and both candidates give passing reference to these issues to rev up the base. Polls show that people are divided on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. If anything, Bush focuses on these issues in the south because they resonate with the rednecks. He used the issue of federal judges in stump speeches quite often in the south in 2002.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. We are one Supreme Court Justice away from overturning Roe v. Wade

Just one more ultra-conservative Justice on that Court to replace a liberal or moderate will result in the end of freedom of choice. Since the vast majority of Americans, including many Republicans are pro-choice, this should be THE talking point in the Kerry campaign. Actually, Edwards, because of his legal background and because he is perceived as someone more in tune with the domestic agenda of the Democratic Party should be driving this point home at every opportunity. This should also be directed at the Greens and Naderites. There IS a big difference between Bush and Kerry and the future of the Supreme Court is maybe the best example. If Kerry is smart at the debates, he will force Bush speak to this issue. Bush will either turn off his base by refusing to commit to a pro-life Judge or he will turn off the majority of Americans.

[DaveSZ]

9. No

Roe v Wade is upheld 6-3.

Right of privacy: 6-3.


But a few more Fundies, and significant liberties will be lost.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. I think you're partially incorrect

The present court's 6-3 majority was weakened in the 2000 case of Stenberg v. Carhart, when a bare 5-4 majority invalidated Nebraska's ban on "partial-birth" abortions. Justice Kennedy voted with the conservatives, adopting their position on the "undue burden" test. Only one more anti-Roe appointment would make Justice Kennedy's view of the undue burden standard the law, and overturn parts of Roe v. Wade at least. And two anti-Roe appointments that both replaced pro-Roe Justices would completely overrule the Roe decision itself. The situation is much more serious than you think.

[CityDem]

10. This is important - but....

But it didn't work for Gore (I know he won in 2000). The people who care about these issues on both sides - the die hard 40% - have already made up their minds. The other 20% would have a difficult time naming 2-3 of the current supreme court justices.