Do you think they will actually overturn Roe v. Wade?

[ZombieNixon]

Or will they ever bring prayer back into schools? The way I look at it, with all the things the Repubs use as wedge issues (abortion, gay marriage, etc.), if any of the Reichwing goals ever come to fruition, then they lose that issue. If they overturn Roe v. Wade, they lose that issue. If they ban gay marriage, they lose that issue. If they make school prayer mandatory, they lose that issue. In addition, they are actually handing the Dems their own wedge issue to argue from the other side. If they outlaw abortion, it's no longer about when life begins, it's about a woman's use of her own body. If they outlaw gay marriage, it's no longer about two dudes kissing, it's about enshrining discrimination in the Constritution. In they force kids to pray in school, it's no longer about my God versus yours, it's about freedom of worship.

Let me be unequivocally clear. I do not wish to see any of these things happen just to allow the Democrats to win in future elections. I am firmly pro-choice and I am against the FMA.

What do you guys think? Will they throw the red meat to their fundamentalist right-wing base or are they too cagey and crafty and obsessed with winning election based on divisiveness?

[cally]

1. I think Roe v. Wade is history

A few states will allow abortions, but most won't. I think the Repubs owe too much to the evangelicals and will have to appoint Justices that overturn it. Abortion will continue to go up because education and birth control will continue to be limited in many states. Rich women will still have access to safe, legal abortion but the poor and middle class will not.

[americanwomanone]

3. Unfortunately it will go back into the alley. n/t

[OnionPatch]

2. It's history

I don't see how it won't be overturned.

[HootieMcBoob]

4. After Bush appoints a couple more supreme court justices

What I think will happen is that they'll decide that individual states have the right to make abortion illegal. The interesting thing will be seeing what states will do that. Very few states in the Northeast or "blue" states would do it in my opinion.

The worst case scenario of course would be them deciding that abortion is murder and therefore illegal throughout the country. If that happens it will take a generation before the court turns over.

[JPJones]

5. I doubt it - murder is not a federal crime n/t

[Cheswick2.0]

6. yes they will

[paulk]

7. No.

I think it's too good of a wedge issue for them. The most recent nationwide poll I've seen has only 28% of Republicans opposed to abortion under any circumstances. 29% think it should be generally available. That's almost a third of the party. To actually outlaw abortion would blow the Republican party in two.

What are Bush's priorities starting his second term? Privatizing social security and tax reform (whatever that means). It's been the usual Repuke bait and switch - run on social issues, legislate in favor of their corporate and wealthy friends.