Liberal Talk Radio

The Alito nomination has but one purpose, we can all agree: appeasing the base and thereby getting the “big mo” back in Bush’s direction. Bush likes to lead, he hates to drift or follow. I’m not convinced that a big cave-in to the base is actually “leading,” of course. But that’s how it will be interpreted. It will return us all to a familiar Washington rhythm: Bush nominates extremist > Democrats are split on how to oppose > Right-wing base labels them as unpatriotic > extremist is confirmed. A rhythm as soothing as the waves breaking on a beach.

As an aside, it is disappointing that we’re down to one woman on the Supreme Court. And not because of “quotas,” or some such nonsense. The fact is, a woman’s right to choose has become the single paramount issue of the court, at least in terms of public perception. Regardless of your politics, wouldn’t you feel better if there were a few more women making that decision?

P.S.: Roe is still more or less safe for a couple of reasons. One, Chief Justice Roberts said in his confirmation hearing that Roe is settled as a precedent. That leaves us with Scalia, Thomas, and now probably Alito looking to overturn, right? So the American Taliban is still two votes short. Second, as has been mentioned often, Roe is a great mobilizer for the GOP. They wouldn’t want to lose that.

P.P.S.:I guess I should be proud that there are now two Italian-Americans on the Supreme court. We’ve come a long way from Sacco & Vanzetti. It’s a shame, of course, that they have to both be extreme conservatives. But unfortunately that’s how minorities get ahead in America: by playing against type. It’s also how Republican Hollywood actors get elected to office with such surprising consistency, but that’s a discussion for another day!