The Neo-Con Game
by
Wally
1:21 PM
Like Tammy Faye Baker at a Maybelline convention has there ever been a more blatant attempt at turning a sow's ear into a silk purse than what Tom Delay and his cohorts have done with the Terri Schiavo fiasco? The tragic condition in which the former Mrs. Schiavo now exists is one that every human being can relate too in the fact that we would not want to be in a similar situation, either as a family member or the victim. Unfortunately for the parents, they are unable to accept the fact that what they see as their daughter is really just an empty shell. Michael Schiavo obviously loved his wife enough to come to the right decision and let the body go where the soul has already gone, but unfortunately he lives in a country that is currently being run by a small group of fundamentalist Christo/fascists who are hell bent on forcing their will upon those who do not believe as they do.
Why would a group that has for years campaigned on state's rights and less government intervention become embroiled in this issue unless there was an underlying goal that they wish to achieve? These people are not stupid when it comes to the game of politics, so to cast aside years of carefully crafted political doctrine is only done either to position themselves for a larger issue, to divert attention away from something that may be harmful to their position or both.
This is not a case of wanting to divert attention away from the shameful legislation being passed in congress or the second anniversary of the Iraq invasion, it is in fact an attempt to position for a fight over the judiciary. Not content with being in control of the White House and both houses of congress, these neo-con anti-constitutionalists want to pack the courts with like-minded judges who would receive lifetime appointments. By gaining an almost permanent control over the courts they would not need to win/steal elections in order to advance their agenda.
Already we have seen several examples of the type of judges they want to load the courts with and all of these nominees have neo-conservative views in a few key areas. They are all pro-fetus/anti-choice, pro-business/anti-environmentalist and pro-government/anti-civil liberties. Qualifications are not of great concern to these faux Republicans instead it is ideology that is important.
The nomination of William G. Meyers III is a prime example of ideology over qualification in the fact that Meyers has never been a judge, but was instead a paid lobbyist for the coal and cattle industries. As the attorney for the Interior Department, Meyers tried to give away federal land that contained Native American sacred sites to a mining company. As a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Meyers will be able to advance his anti-environmentalist extremism on most of the environmental laws for the western United States.
Another example of style over substance is the nomination of Thomas Griffith to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Griffith has the dubious distinction of practicing law in two states without a license. Griffith is openly hostile to issues of civil rights and affirmative action.
The nominee for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Terrence Boyle is the shining example of the lack of credibility in favor of ideology. As a district court judge, Boyle has an unusually high reversal record from the same court he was nominated for, because of rulings that were involving sexual discrimination, civil and disability rights.
The recess appointment of Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit court was a travesty for the American people. Pickering has a dismal record on civil rights and is a key proponent for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The nomination of Priscilla Owen to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is another attack on Roe v. Wade in the fact that she repeatedly tried to rewrite Texas law from the bench to deny a woman's right to choose.
After reaffirming that Roe v. Wade was "the worst abomination in the history of constitutional law" William H. Pryor Jr. received a recess appointment to the Eleventh Court of Appeals.
These are just a few examples of what we can expect from the ability of the neo-cons to pack the courts. No longer will we be able to turn to the courts in order to receive a fair and impartial assessment of a grievance. Instead we will we subjected to a rule of law that protects the few over the many. So don't be deceived into thinking that these anti-American lawmakers in congress give a damn about Terri Schiavo, they see her as just another tool to be used in the advancement of an agenda of class warfare in favor of the wealthy conservative elite.
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