Yesterday's Supreme Court decision upholding the Federal law that outlaws so called "partial birth abortions," highlights three things. First and foremost, the conservative court indicated they hold the lives of American women in low esteem. The procedure that is outlawed is generally done to save the life of a mother suffering from critical problems related to her pregnancy. It is rarely, if ever, used to terminate a pregnancy just for the sake of terminating a pregnancy.
And so, in their decision yesterday, five men - none of whom have a clue as to the subject matter on which they were applying Constitutional law - told the 2,000 or so women forced to have this procedure each year that their lives are less important than the wishes of social and religious conservatives who know nothing of what they talk about here.
If just one woman dies because her doctor was unable by law to perform the necessary procedure to save her life, then Justices Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy will have her blood on their hands.
The second thing the ruling highlights is the effect of judicial appointments on the long term fabric of America. Americans tend to forget that the jurists placed on the federal bench by a president are there for life. These judges will rule on matters of law for potentially decades after a president leaves office. Americans need to remember that on Election Day, 2008. Conservative courts will throw away the Constitution they've taken an oath to protect in order to keep the government in our bedroom, in our doctor's office, in our womb. So much for "limited government."
Whatever your thoughts on the "partial birth abortion" issue, this Court - in which not one medical professional sits - just issued a direct order to physicians nationwide. It was as if these five bafoons were acting as the American Medical Association. In reaction, doctors around the country have denounced this barbaric and short-sighted ruling.
And finally, for those who argue that, should the Court re-visit and overturn Roe v. Wade, the issue will simply go back to the states...well...take a look at this ruling. The law is Federal, therefore the ruling is Federal. States have no say so. Granted, there is no Federal law on the books attempting to overturn Roe; and with the Democrats in control of Congress, one is not likely to be passed for the President's signature. But, should control of Congress turn back to the Republicans, and should a Republican be sitting in the White House at the time, a bill could eventually pass, and the current Supreme Court will obviously rule in the bill's favor.
America's decline following six uninterrupted years of Fascist rule becomes more prominent with each passing day.
