Let’s say, as a result of the new Supreme Court’s composition, there is a ‘single act of judicial bravery’ that destroys the right to choose. Let’s leave aside how utterly disastrous that would be for individuals and the nation (if possible) and ask a crass question:
What would the political landscape look like?
It has been said that Reagan and Bush I knew better than to stack the court to overturn Roe, since it was their party’s fundraising bread-and-butter. It was politically astute and has lead to much of the GOP’s current success. Without that wedge issue, what would they have left?
I’d like to hear what y’all think first and foremost, but I’ll kick it off with some thoughts on where they are on their current themes and what those issues might look like in a post-Roe environment (not that it touches on all of them directly):
- Right to Choose – The GOP loses one of their top fundraising issues. The Dems assume the old GOP role of the underdog crusaders and the fundraising boost (to be utterly crass).
- Deregulation – Environmentalists have won this debate by having lost it for so long that dear Mother Earth is so damaged, she is showing us all obvious signs of ill health. It’s a great fund raiser for Dems going forward. It was foolishly avoided by Kerry.
- Free Trade – Dems triagulated this in Clinton’s time, yet can now run on a Fair Trade theme. That transition is publicly supported, but would be near impossible for the GOP.
- Fiscal Responsibility – yeah. right.
- Honesty – See point 3.
- Gun Rights – Dems are currently triangulating this one. Between Kerry and Dean, there’s a Dem hunter every which way you look these days.
- Social Security – folks got that it was a big give away and cost way too much to get the same effect we could get by simply raising the annual IRA contribution limit..
These are what they have left?!!!?:
- Gay Rights/Marriage – Only a few people care enough about this to donate money, but still a voting draw for some strange reason. If Rove is outed, we might have a chance to turn this issue (he likes those military studs).
- Role of Religion in Government – This is about all they have left without a major swing in policy.
What am I missing? Oh yes..
- The War on Terror. I think this is the real problem the Dems will have going forward. How do we win? How do we end it? It is a conflict against an undefined enemy – it can continue as long as you care to label someone a terrorist. But how can you end it before you defeat the enemies you’ve already named? Is it about finding Osama? Not really. Can it be won in the minds of Americans without bringing him down personally? Not really.
- Homeland Security – Border and Port security prove that the GOP effort was corrupt in design, from the very top. The problem is that DHS is a rediculous boondoggle in it’s current form. It’s bleeding the budget dry and lining the pockets of every Tom Dick and Harry with phat no-bidders. The GOP is starving the beast while concentrating and centralizing it power.. How do you reform this without looking weak? How do you continue without destroying the Federal Gov’t as we know it?
Is it possible to talk post-Roe without getting irate? Hope so.
I’m still hoping/betting that Alito is a Sutter in disguise. If not, the GOP may have to get even dirtier with their nasty tricks, since their cash cow may be drying up real soon..
First of all, there’s no way Alito is anything like Souter. He has a long track record and little room for any surprises. That’s why the right wing is ecstatic.
Second, I think you’re overoptimistic to think that when the radical right gets the upper hand on reproductive rights that somehow they’re going to lose their enthusiasm and become apathetic. They will push push push, and as long as we push push push back, they will fundraise off of it.
And if hell froze over and we just became happy barefoot bimbos without our rights, then what do you think is next? Because they won’t stop there. They have a vision of America. They think the Constitution is all about God because it’s signed “in the year of our Lord 1789” and therefore all the secular structures it codifies are irrelevant.
Look at the cries for holy war now. They aren’t backing down. They are firing up.
Second, I think you’re overoptimistic to think that when the radical right gets the upper hand on reproductive rights that somehow they’re going to lose their enthusiasm and become apathetic.
Overly optimistic and profoundly uninformed. I read stuff like this and wonder just how many Democratic strategists are so ignorant and self referential. I think the majority of the employed ones, to be honest.
the fact of the matter is that the religious right’s goals start with reproductive rights and have no end in sight. These are profoundly radical and irrational people. Indeed, their hubris extends from their embrace of irrationality.
The thing that repulses me from diarists like this is that they appear to believe that Democrats (and themselves) will benefit by the codification of the subordination of women. They’re that out of touch and irrational in their reasoning processes.
I guess you missed the line, ‘let’s put aside ..’
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I would like to know ‘how much’ you agree with this statement (you’ve taken those polls):
The Democractic Party should fall on it sword if it knew that would forever preserve the Right to Choose as it was at it’s most ‘free’.
I know that’s a super hypothetical, but it points out that there are many priorities to juggle. I do agree that no one should be ‘happy’ that any priority issue is lost, but one of the keys to winning a game of chess is to think many steps ahead – even considering those where you have take major losses. But rest assured thinking ahead is just an academic effort, so you can back off the mind police comedy.
Oh, and the best part is that I agree with you that this is a critical issue to first and foremost prevent the erosion of the Right to Choose, keeping things from ever coming close to the hypothetical reality I wrote about. In fact, threatening the GOP with such ‘future possibles’ just might be essential to at least preserving what remains of the Right to Choose. And that is why I wrote the diary.
Thanks for stifling any useful comments by jumping on me early!
We’ll have to see on Alito. I have a hard time, sharing much of his background, believing that he as unredeemable an ideologue as he is being portrayed for the purposes of opposing his nomination (which is fine with me). At least somewhere in the background, he’s been exposed to good ideas. A lot of people change their stripes when they ascend above their handler’s control..
.. at least there is that small hope, no?