tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post9067518610832779595..comments2023-04-14T06:55:12.586-04:00Comments on Georgetown College Dems Blog: Brownback Backs OutGUCD_Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15079690058422947230noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-48725093879509346262007-10-24T23:10:00.000-04:002007-10-24T23:10:00.000-04:00Kipp, I have to somewhat disagree with you. Repub...Kipp, I have to somewhat disagree with you. Republicans have had the opportunity to nominate 12 out of the last 14 Supreme Court Justices, but many of their nominees who appeared pro-life have disappointed them on the bench and voted pro-choice, such as O'Connor, Kennedy, and Souter. Nevertheless, many believe that the Supreme Court now has 4 justices committed to overturning Roe v. Wade in Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito (although no one is 100% positive about how Roberts and Alito would vote). When you consider the fact that poor John Paul Stevens is 87 years old, a vacancy appears very likely to occur by the end of the next president's first term. Thus, if Stevens is replaced with a pro-life nominee, Roe v. Wade may very well be overturned. It would take one hell of an effort to get such a nominee through a Democratic-controlled Senate, though.<BR/><BR/>Even if Roe v. Wade were overturned, I think the Christian right would still mobilize on the issue of abortion. Basically, the tables would turn 180 degrees. Democrats would rail against the Republicans' assault on women's rights in state legislatures throughout the nation, and assert the need for more liberal justices. Republicans would be the ones talking about upholding precedent and the status quo. The religious right would still be enormously concerned about the prospect of Democratic presidents nominating liberal justices who could vote to protect abortion rights once again.parimalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634518062731087608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-36280294115132103952007-10-24T18:42:00.000-04:002007-10-24T18:42:00.000-04:00What the religious right seems to miss is that it ...What the religious right seems to miss is that it doesnt make a fucking difference who their nominee is, no Republican president is going to do anything about abortion. Pro-life republicans have been in the White House for 21 out of the last 27 years; they've nominated 12 out of the last 14 SC justices. Yet abortion remains legal. Of course, if they overturned Roe v Wade thered be less of a reason for the Christian Right to vote Republican in the first place...Kipp!https://www.blogger.com/profile/02801295963362454921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-51069741851593594882007-10-24T18:40:00.000-04:002007-10-24T18:40:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14415423793659145088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-59662812696535416602007-10-23T23:19:00.000-04:002007-10-23T23:19:00.000-04:00That's a very interesting point. People tend to t...That's a very interesting point. People tend to think of Giuliani as "electable" because of his moderate positions on social issues and his relative popularity nationwide. But with some parts of the religious right threatening to support a third party candidate, Giuliani could actually lose in the primaries because Republicans fear he won't be able to win in November. The religious right's influence on the Republican Party truly is unlimited.parimalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634518062731087608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-22573207770442829162007-10-23T22:32:00.000-04:002007-10-23T22:32:00.000-04:00This is, of course, assuming that the republican...This is, of course, assuming that the republican nomination goes to Giuliani. Worst case? Other republicans don't vote for Giuliani because they predict that exact scenario would happen- prompting the nomination of a more conservative candidate.Laura Umbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189893827873116402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-4624203715986658312007-10-23T21:42:00.000-04:002007-10-23T21:42:00.000-04:00I think a third party candidate backed by a religi...I think a third party candidate backed by a religious right would definitely split the GOP and hand the White House to the Democrats. Rasmussen Reports did a poll earlier this month that showed a potential 3-way matchup between Hillary, Giuliani, and a third-party pro-life candidate. Hillary had 46%, Giuliani had 30%, and the third-party candidate had 14%. In my opinion, even 5% or 6& for the third-party candidate would be enough to doom the Republican candidate.<BR/><BR/>As much as Republicans despise Hillary Clinton, I don't think even the prospect of her in the White House would get a lot of religious right voters behind Giuliani. I think many Christian conservatives are genuine about their pro-life moral convictions, and they would not vote for someone who supports a policy of what they believe is "murder". Furthermore, I suspect that many evangelicals would want to send a message to the Republican Party if Giuliani is the nominee: if you don't pick someone we find acceptable, you're going to lose. If Giuliani wins the presidency, it would drastically decrease the significance of the pro-life foundation of the Republican Party.<BR/><BR/>Here's what one of the most influential evangelical leaders, Dr. James Dobson, had to say on the matter:<BR/><BR/>"Speaking as a private citizen and not on behalf of any organization or party, I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision. If given a Hobson's – Dobson's? – choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else."parimalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634518062731087608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13465421.post-82257403068373441672007-10-23T20:14:00.000-04:002007-10-23T20:14:00.000-04:00I guess the question now is, how powerful a force ...I guess the question now is, how powerful a force will the religious right be in the '08 elections? <BR/><BR/>In 2000, Nader's 2.74% of the popular vote might not have been enough to swing the election entirely. But if religious leaders back a third party candidate, will that be enough to divide the GOP and assist in a Democratic victory? Or is this just a threat meant to scare the GOP into nominating a more conservative candidate?Laura Umbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189893827873116402noreply@blogger.com