Swing-vote Sandy
The retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor has good sides and bad, just like her inconsistent judicial 'philosophy.' I don't intend to review her decisions and comment; it's been done.
The looming question, though, is what should President Bush do with this opportunity? Nominate a hard-line, original intent traditionalist and watch the war? Or nominate a more moderate conservative voice, as in David Souter...and watch the war?
And there's my point. Whoever President Bush nominates will be attacked as a fire-breathing Hitler. So why not pick a solid conservative who will reliably support individual rights, property rights, and hold the line against an increasingly collectivist left?
And, whether by intent or disgust (with the Kelo decision), Justice O'Connor's retirement comes at an opportune time. When even Molly Ivins rails against the Court's latest atrocity, our society is at a moment where citizens are paying attention to notions of individual freedom against the state, and I think most would support any proposed justice who could articulate the Founders' intent that individuals are to be protected from the whims of others.
This is "no time to go wobbly," W.
2 comments:
I just read Ivins' column (while enjoying a very-late-night Chuckburger at Good Time Charlie's). What struck me the most about her column was in the very beginning:
"...let me leap right into the fray...on the side of the property rights advocates, many of whom I normally consider nutballs."
Sheesh. Being FOR property rights, in her eyes, makes one a "nutball." Grrrrrr...
hmmm... property rights. It's okay for anyone to drive out in the country & get on any road they see - simply because it's there. I love it when folks go ballistic when they're on private property and are asked what they're doing there. We generally allow access to whoever asks us. But we constantly find people who haven't a clue of where they're at on our place. Somehow, I think that if we were driving around their place - or having a picnic in their backyard - we'd be locked up. And I hate to tell you this - but "growing up" in NYC - if someplace was marked "Private Property" we were taught to respect that and treat it as such.
So, sign me up as a fellow nutball,
Karen
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