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Originally posted by Shakka While I can certainly understand where you are coming from, it's worth putting in context. As I understand it,when he made that statement he was an attorney representing that side of the argument, so of course he's going to argue that position. With all due respect, we should hold him to his most recent, personal stance on the issue, which is that he accepts the decision as "settled law" and doesn't plan on challenging it, though crazier things have certainly happened. IMHO, R v. W is too controversial of an issue and in all likelihood will probably never be reversed for the sheer reason that it is such a divisive issue that is more often used as a "litmus test" to get opposing sides to fall in line. I'd like to think that we are more concerned with issues beyond abortion, like private property rights for example. I hate that people use R v. W that way. It strikes me almost more as a political tool.

I couldn't agree more, but I also cannot be dismissive of the fact that the extremist fundies will do anything to strike it down, and right now they have a pretty good amount of political power.

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What I'd think the left would be more concerned about is the fact that the guy is so young, and therefore, if confirmed, would likely be sitting on the SC for a very long time.

Well sure, that does raise a concern - but it is only a concern if this judge rules less often than not in mainstream moderate views, and is a much bigger partisan hack instead. Given this guy's background being fairly heavy in partisan politics rather than being an actual judge (2 yrs. experience), I do think that should raise a bit of concern, and rightly so.

Bush did everything he could do to both take the Rove issue off the table and find a conservative nominee with a fairly blank slate. My only problem right now with him is his partisan politics (he is a known GOP donor as well as given opinions favoring the GOP line on the issues cited above) versus his lack of experience as a judge. Much more will be learned about him in the coming weeks and months, so I'll reserve any further comment until then.

As for the diversion of the Rove issue, well, that didn't quite work out as planned for Bush/Rove. Page 1 Cover Story this morning (good ol' Pincus):

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Plame's Identity Marked As Secret Memo Central to Probe Of Leak Was Written By State Dept. Analyst By Walter Pincus and Jim VandeHei Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, July 21, 2005; Page A01 A classified State Department memorandum central to a federal leak investigation contained information about CIA officer Valerie Plame in a paragraph marked "(S)" for secret, a clear indication that any Bush administration official who read it should have been aware the information was classified, according to current and former government officials. Plame -- who is referred to by her married name, Valerie Wilson, in the memo -- is mentioned in the second paragraph of the three-page document, which was written on June 10, 2003, by an analyst in the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), according to a source who described the memo to The Washington Post. The paragraph identifying her as the wife of former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV was clearly marked to show that it contained classified material at the "secret" level, two sources said. The CIA classifies as "secret" the names of officers whose identities are covert, according to former senior agency officials. Anyone reading that paragraph should have been aware that it contained secret information, though that designation was not specifically attached to Plame's name and did not describe her status as covert, the sources said. It is a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a federal official to knowingly disclose the identity of a covert CIA official if the person knows the government is trying to keep it secret. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...517.html?sub=AR

So we have some more anonymous sources leaking material to the Press. We can surmise this was most certainly not Rove's lawyer leaking something this damaging. Wilson wouldn't know shit about this. That pretty much leaves it to either the State Department or the CIA people themselves. My bet's on the CIA leaking the info. I guess Goss doesn't have the lid shut down tight enough.....

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...