Donny's Ramblings

I enjoyed last night’s debate.  I like both candidates.  I believe both men have our nation’s best interests at heart, but have different plans on how we get to where we need to be.

However, both on this board and in private email conversations I’ve been asked about Barack Obama’s qualifications.  I’ve posted about most of this in comments, but decided to make a separate blog entry for it.  So here goes… a few thoughts on Barack Obama’s resume:

• Some make fun of the whole “community organizer” thing, yet fail to mention that his days as a “community organizer” were in the late 80s. That’s not a bad place for a young 20-something year old man to start.
• Obama’s undergraduate degree comes from Columbia University and his graduate degree from Harvard Law School. Ivy league, baby!
• He taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years.
• He worked for a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development for 11 years.
• Even from his 20s, Obama’s goal was to work in Politics. He’s been preparing for this job most of his life.
• He was a state Senator for almost 8 years.
• He has been a US Senator for almost 4 years now, where he’s held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans’ Affairs.

As we all know, a President’s term is highly influenced by his advisers.  I think Ivy-League educated Professor Obama has the intelligence to put together a great team, and I am confident he will do a good job running this country.

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Another objection that has been raised by more than one reader goes something like this:  “Don’t be gullible! Sure, Obama talks well, but actions speak louder than words!  He’ll never do the things he’s saying he’ll do!”

If you’re of such opinions, yet voted for George W. Bush, I ask that you watch this video of our sitting President, consisting of his “words” that were spoken during the 2000 campaign vs. Al Gore (compare these “words” with his “actions” as President):

As John McCain has voted with this “Dubya” more than 90% of the time, why am I asked to take John at his word, but not to extend the same courtesy to Barack?

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Another subject frequently brought up when discussing Barack Obama is his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.  As I wrote in a recent comment in regards to Mr. Wright’s sermons:

I can’t say that Jeremiah Wright’s message is all the unique. How many services have you attended over the years where Pastors have warned that God will damn America for this sin or that sin? Yet when Jeremiah Wright passionately says, “God Damn America!” we think he’s unpatriotic or, even worse, a threat to our country? I’ve never thought such things about the Pastors *I* heard preach similar messages.

When Pastor Wright compares some of the atrocities our own country has committed while discussing the horrors we experienced on September 11th, I’m not pushed out of shape simply because he more passionately says some of the same things other Pastors have said numerous times.  And I’m certainly not going to project his opinions on Barack Obama.  I’ve had conversations with a man who has attended Pastor Wright’s church and cannot recall hearing “inflammatory” sermons.  I’m sure they were the exception, rather than the rule, but those exceptions sure come in handy when we’re trying to lambast a candidate for attending a “radical” church, don’t they?

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As for Bill Ayres… Ayres was an angry hippie college student that got caught up in the emotions of the Sixties and went way too far.   I would never excuse his actions, but I can’t help but notice that he’s now a Distinguished Professor at the University of Chicago and a respected member of society.  He never went to jail for his crimes (what do you think of that?).  By the way, Barack Obama was only 8 years old when all the nasty stuff went down, yet he should be held in contempt for being acquainted with a fellow University of Chicago Professor?  Give me a break!

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And where are Obama’s detractors when it comes to John McCain’s involvement with Charles Keating?  If you’re going to sling mud about Barack, why ignore McCain’s short comings?  Heck, today there are news stories questioning McCain’s link to the Iran-Contra ordeal.  What about his cheating on and ultimately leaving the wife who waited for him to come back home from Vietnam?  Why go silent on such, yet so vocally scream about his opponent?

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The point is that there is always mud to sling.  It’s hypocritical to justify slinging it at one candidate, yet not being willing to look at the other with the same level of “objectivity”, don’t you think?  I think it’s absurd to justify one candidate’s shortcomings yet trumpet accusations against the other.  If yer gonna sling it, cover both sides with an equal amount of dirt.

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Who do you think won the debate last night?  I’m surprisingly picking Obama.    If you missed it, here it is in full:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaBiVJtZc00

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ADDED 10/9/08:  Down in the comments area you’ll notice a perfect example of the paragraph above where I wrote about slinging dirt only at one side.  What’s happening here brings to my mind all past elections sitting in conservative churches:  the Democratic candidate is the devil, and the Republican candidate is our only hope as a country.  I want to hear a person being just as vicious with both sides, and then I’ll open my mind to what they have to say.  One – sided attack fests just make me put up a wall and stop listening.

After all the controversy that has been stirred up by the political posts I’ve made recently, I’d really like to give it a break.  The problem is that I have enough time on my hands to actually listen to the candidates speak, and Sarah Palin is really baffling to me.   I can’t help but write about her.

When she was first introduced I thought she was a good choice for McCain.  Her first speech was fiery.  She had a list of “accomplishments” and was said to have fought the “good ol’ boy network”.  But it turns out those accomplishments aren’t what they were portrayed to be.  She didn’t, for example, oppose the “Bridge to Nowhere” until after it was a dead issue.  She had, in fact, been in favor of it at the beginning.

After seeing her latest interviews I’m baffled that she’s even considered a candidate for Vice President.  Sure, she’s a “good person”.  Sure, she’s “one of us”.  And I’m positive she was great in the PTA.  But she doesn’t belong in this country’s second most powerful office.

Did you see her interview with Katie Couric?  She is in WAY OVER HER HEAD.  She tries to sound intelligent on issues, but instead makes herself look very foolish.

When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

“It’s very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where—where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to—to our state.”

Sarah publicly stated that being sandwiched between Russia and Canada gave her foreign policy experience.  The exact quote was, “Our next door neighbors are foreign countries”.  Puhleeze!  Tell me you’re joking, Sarah!  Unfortunately, she wasn’t joking.  If you don’t believe me, click here to watch for yourself (you’ll have to watch a 15 second commercial first).

I think John McCain needs to apologize to her for bringing her into this race.  The woman who would have been known as a decent Governor of the State of Alaska will now be forever remembered as the butt of “stupid politician” jokes.

Even conservatives are starting to publicly state she isn’t the right person for the job.  Read Kathleen Parker’s column:  Kathleen Parker:  The Palin Problem

Some quotes from this article:

Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is “out of her league” and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.

It was fun while it lasted,” Parker writes. “Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who is clearly out of her league.

“If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself,” Parker also writes. “If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.”

Parker’s comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin’s readiness to be vice president.

“Sarah Palin has many virtues,” Brooks wrote in a recent column. “If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she’d be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.”

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there.

Saturday Night Live, as you know, often pokes fun at candidates.  I get a laugh at such skits.  Have you seen the last skit poking fun at Sarah Palin?  At one point, instead of making up amusing dialogue, Sarah is quoted word for word because what she said was so absurd a writer wasn’t needed to make it funny.

A few more stories on the Palin interviews (PLEASE do yourself a favor and read them):

• Sarah Palin’s Latest Interview Is Making People Sad
• Palin is Ready?  Please.
• If Sarah Palin Being One Heartbeat Away ‘Doesn’t Scare the Hell Out of You, It Should’

How can anyone defend this decision?  Stubborn allegiance to the Republican Party, perhaps?  Please enlighten me.

Being self employed means that I sleep until my eyes open on their own. Rarely do I wake up to the sounds of an alarm. I’ve gotta tell you, it’s heavenly. I have a morning ritual of sorts: I grab my iPhone and check my email almost immediately after waking up. Once that has been accomplished, I browse the mobile versions of various news sites to see if any major news stories have arisen, then I’ll sometimes login to the mobile versions of MySpace or Facebook depending on whether or not I’ve received any new messages or friends requests.

This morning was no different.  In my inbox I received notice that a high school friend added me on Facebook, so I logged in to check out her profile and to see what she’s been up to. After reading her profile, I noticed an article posted by another Facebook “friend”: THIS ARTICLE, written by Frank Schaeffer, an Evangelist’s son who grew up in a strict fundamentalist household, just like I did.

But here’s the reason I changed my plans to walk the Sacramento River Trail this morning and to instead spend time writing this blog post: Frank and his family helped establish the Pro-Life Movement yet Frank, as he wrote in this article back in February, is both Pro-Life and Pro-Obama.  I just had to blog about his writings.

Many of the things he wrote in this article could just as easily have been written by me.  In fact, I’ve said some of the same things right here in this blog.  Here are a few lines I identified with:

As you know I was a lifelong Republican until I reregistered as an Independent in 2006, after I just couldn’t take the Rove brigade’s dirty tricks, lies and slime any longer.

Funny, cause I have been a Republican since I was old enough to vote, yet just a few weeks ago re-registered as an Independent because I’m disgusted by some of the things Republicans have been doing to this country, and the world,  and no longer want to belong to the party of the Good Ol’ Boys.

I know rather a lot about the politics of the “life issues.” And I know you know that is true because you are calling me a traitor for supporting Senator Obama because of my leadership in the early stages of the pro-life movement.

I received an email that let me know I was likely not truly a Christian if I could even consider voting for Barack Obama.  True story.

I know (as you pro-lifers do if you’re honest) that the Republicans have milked the abortion issue, as have the Evangelical and Roman Catholic leadership, for every dime it’s worth for fundraising, votes, power and empire-building, without changing much if anything. As I said, I also am fully aware that Senator Obama is pro-choice. I think his pro-choice views are out of character with his otherwise generous and enlightened world view.

That first line… AMEN, Brother Frank!  I’ve said nearly the same things here.  I think mine have always been worded more like this:  Republicans use the abortion issue to gain the Christian vote, and then forget about abortion until it’s time to run for re-election.

That said… First, a nod to reality: even if Roe were reversed (it won’t be no matter who is president) the abortion pill and the acceptance of at least some types of legal abortion by most Americans guarantees there will be access to abortion. Besides, on a state-by-state basis abortion would remain legal in most states no matter what the court does. And as we have seen the Republicans haven’t really changed anything in thirty years.

Again, haven’t we talked about these same things right here in this blog?  Roe-v-Wade will not be reversed, no matter who is President.  I’ve said that numerous times, but I think the point is best summed up by the comments of one of my readers, who wrote:

Anyone who votes Republican with the belief that GOP appointments to the SC will overturn Roe v. Wade should read about Stare Decisis. It is one of the principles that the Court views as a foundation for all decisions. Almost every Federal Judge (on the Supreme Court and Appellate Courts) clearly and unequivocally rejects the notion that the Supreme Court would EVER revisit a previous case and rule the opposite way. This would delegitimate all prior Court decisions and make any other opinion up for grabs if the justices change. The Court is supposed to be apolitical (the reason for lifetime appointments) and as such if it allowed decisions to be switched because of new appointments to the bench it would serve to politicize (to an even greater degree) the Court.

Frank states the following:

So what do we who find abortion abhorrent do if we want to deal in reality rather than fantasies and slogans of winner-take-all propaganda? The reality is that we need to foster a climate in which we can reduce the number of abortions and also keep the moral — rather than legal — debate alive.

We can’t do this by concentrating on politics, or silver bullets such as trying for that one magic court appointment. It’s the “holistic” approach that is really what’s important if our goal is to reduce the number of abortions rather than just “win” political games.

How many times have YOU heard someone talk about the “Supreme Court Justice” the next Conservative President will appoint?  You know, that magical Justice who will somehow tip the scales and remove Roe-v-wade from before our eyes?  Never mind the fact that Republican appointed Justices, as I’ve pointed out a few times, currently occupy 7 out of the 9 seats.  Never mind the fact that Republican appointed Justices made Roe v Wade a reality to begin with.  Yet, as Frank points out, the Republicans haven’t really changed things on the topic of abortion in 30 years.  And they won’t do so after this election, either!

I enjoyed this paragraph as well:

For all you sanctimonious Evangelicals out there, also note: when it comes to squeaky clean family values, Senator Obama — not Senator McCain — should be your role model. The Republican right wants us to draw back in horror from Obama because he is pro-choice, but this is the same group working to get a philanderer who abandoned his wife because she had a disfiguring accident, elected.

Have you read the stories about this?  I’ve read quite a few of them, from many different view points, but haven’t really said too much about it here on this blog.  Things are already stirred up amongst readers, because so many Christians still buy into the idea that real Christians must vote for the Republican Party.  Please do yourself a favor… find all the information you can about this topic.  Yes, John McCain is a war hero.  But he returned from that war to a wife who had been disfigured by an auto accident while he was gone, and he immediately began cheating on her, eventually leaving her for his current wife.

Frank Schaeffer sums up the reasons I plan to vote for Barack Obama with the first two sentences of this paragraph:

It isn’t just a matter of voting for Obama. Americans who want there to be a country left in which to argue our issues must vote against McCain. As his support for the Bush lies about Iraq shows McCain is hung up on his own version of post-Vietnam traumatic stress disorder. This is a man who would take our civilian culture down in flames and sacrifice it to his sense of death-or-glory military “honor.” How do you “win” a wrong war? McCain will make the world more dangerous. You think Bush was a cowboy? Just try McCain.

I’m NOT a Democrat.  I’m voting AGAINST McCain.  Barack Obama is simply the better of the two viable candidates we’ve been offered this election year.  What can we do to bring a third party into real contention?  Any ideas?  (or how about if all of us Christians write in a candidate, like Billy Graham for instance – tee hee).

The contrast could not have been more clear than on August 16 in the interview between pastor Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church and Obama and McCain. Obama gave real and thoughtful answers, often trying to explore a moral question deeply. McCain offered nothing more than canned applause lines and anecdotes from his tired simplistic stump speech.

McCain fed pre-programed red meat to the Evangelical faithful who were packing the auditorium, but not much more. He parroted all the “right” lines about abortion, the same empty phrases Bush, parrots, Bush’s father parroted and Reagan and Ford parroted.

“When does life begin?” asked Warren. “At conception!” shot back McCain. The Evangelical crowd goes wild! See?! That’s our guy!

And where do the tired canned pro-life “correct answers” get us? Nowhere.

I agree.  100%.

I will be voting for Senator Obama and am fighting for his election because I am pro-life.

Me too, Frank.  Meeeeee tooooooo.

Please, dear Constant Reader, take the time to read the entire article:

Frank!  As a Former Pro-Life Leader How Dare You Support Pro-Choice Obama?

^^^ Just Do It: Click The Link ^^^

And then be sure to read this one too:

Why I’m Pro-Life and Pro-Obama

^^^ Just Do It: Click The Link ^^^

Heck, just read any number of Frank Schaeffer’s articles:

A Listing Of Frank’s Other Blog Posts

^^^ Just Do It: Click The Link ^^^

I’m sure you remember former Navy Seal and Professional Wrestler Jesse Ventura, who was elected Governor of Minnesota and served in that capacity from January of 1999 to January of 2003.  He was the highest rated Governor in Minnesota history.

He was neither Republican nor Democrat, but was instead a member of the Reform Party (and eventually, simply “Independent”).  I just finished watching an interview with him, conducted last month, where he shares some of his thoughts on our Government.

In some places, I found myself saying, “That was a good point!”  In other places I thought, “Well, that seems a little paranoid.”  But overall, I think it is interesting enough to share with you.  There are two parts… some of the “juicy” stuff comes in part 2, so be sure to watch both.

My favorite quote:  “War is the complete failure of politics”

I have to admit, my second favorite “quote” would have to be his ending thoughts on George Bush at the conclusion of the second video, out on his boat dock.

PART ONE:

PART TWO:

In your opinion, does he make any good points, or is he over paranoid?

Charles Gibson has an exclusive interview with Sarah Palin that will be airing on 20/20 tonight. I watched part of it on Nightline ABC last night. He asks her some very tough, very important questions. I look forward to watching the full interview this evening.

Here on the West Coast it airs at 10pm on ABC.  After watching it, let me know what you think.

On a related issue, John McCain was on The View just moments ago, so I watched it and took notes. MAN! These women were very hard on him for awhile. But he handled himself very well, I must say. They asked him a direct question about Roe v. Wade and whether or not he’d work hard to overturn it. He replied that he would nominate Supreme Court Justices who would interpret the law correctly.  He went on to voice his opinion that he thinks it was a very bad decision, but that he feels there are times when abortion is to be allowed (such as rape, for instance).  But he also made it clear that the decision on whether to overturn the issue will be up to the Justices of the Supreme Court.

In other words: nothing is going to change on the issue, as 7 out of our 9 current Justices were appointed by Republican Presidents who were arguably more conservative than John McCain.  If they were going to overturn Roe v. Wade, I’d think they’d already have done so.

That aside, if he’s elected, I do believe he’ll work very hard to be the best President he possibly can be.  That statement is not to be interpreted as an indication that I’ll personally be voting for McCain, because at the moment I’m still leaning the other way.

I am, however, attempting to listen to all sides with as open a mind as possible.  I am open to changing my decision between now and November.  A few posts back I stated that I planned to change my registration from the Republican Party to simply being labeled “Independent”.  I did so.  I’ve been a Republican for 17 years, but to change that to Independent just seems like the right thing to do.

TALK RADIO

I’ve been listening to a LOT of talk radio lately, streaming it through the Internet.  I make a habit of listening to both Conservative and Liberal opinions.  It’s been a very eye opening experience.

I’m preparing to take my son camping today. After he gets out of class we’re heading for the hills for a few days of quality time, fishing and “roughing it”.

But if I have the time to do so while he’s still at school, I’m heading downtown to change my voter registration status. I’ve been a Republican since the day I turned 18 on December 23rd, 1991. I’ve voted the Republican Party line every single time the polls were open in Local, State and National races, with one exception: GWBs re-election campaign. But the time has come to change my affiliation.

I’m going to register Independent.

Why?

Because I am getting very sick of having my intelligence insulted.

This feeling first began, as I’ve pointed out before, when I realized that it was the Republicans who made abortion legal in this country, and yet they have the audacity to label Democrats Baby-Killers, using the abortion issue THEY BROUGHT TO US to win over the Christian vote. I am disappointed that I didn’t catch on to this sooner. I have no excuse for buying into the lie that the Republican Party is really Pro-Life.

George W. Bush’s last term… I can’t begin to put into words. If I began, I wouldn’t finish for a very long time.

And now the final straw has come: Sara Palin.

I love John McCain. He’s a hero for what he did for this country. But bluntly: he made a huge mistake when choosing his Vice Presidential Candidate. Yep, she’s fiery. And I really enjoyed listening to her speak this past Wednesday evening. She cracked me up with the zingers she threw out there. But the Center for Disease Control says the lifespan for the average American male is 77 years, which means at age 72, John McCain has an above-average chance of leaving this country in the hands of the candidate he chooses for Vice President, and here are a few things I do not appreciate when considering a VP that could become Commander in Chief of the most powerful country in the world:

About 20 months ago, Sara Palin was the part-time mayor of a town the size of Corning (for those of you outside the Northern California area, Corning has about 7,000 people). Based on this fact, I have much hope for my son’s mother. She, after all, was born and raised in a town of the same size. With all the people she knows, I bet she could get the votes needed to become part time mayor of her town, and then just a few years down the road, who knows? Maybe Vice President of the United States! Woo hoo! Go Wendy!

Sara Palin obtained her first passport just last year, when she wanted to visit Alaska’s troops in Iraq. Yes, in 2007. So the potential Commander in Chief, upon whom we must rely to interact on our behalf with all the other countries of the world, has ONLY been outside THIS country once? Just last year? HUH?

Sara Palin is now the Governor of a state who’s population is half the size of the population of Sacramento County. Since many of you don’t live in Northern California, pick a large city within driving distance of where you do live. I’d bet that city has a larger population than Sara Palin’s entire state. I’m not saying it’s not nifty that she’s a Governor, but I AM saying, quite clearly, that she is not ready to be the Leader of the Free World.

As for education, Sara Palin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications-Journalism from the University of Idaho.

And we’re not even going to get into the investigation she’s currently under to see if she abused her power when she allegedly had a man fired because he wouldn’t fire her sister’s husband (whom the sister is divorcing).

The world laughs at us now with Dubya as our President. How much more will that be the case if our Commander in Chief comes with the credentials just listed?

I know stubborn. Believe me. I’m a very stubborn person. I “GET” the reasons some people just won’t leave the good ol’ Republican party no matter what. I get how some people will pretend they’re happy as can be with McCain’s choice for Vice President, following the Party wherever it may lead.

I get it.

But come on! Deep inside you’ve GOT to be insulted by this choice just as much as I am! Aren’t the red flags going off like crazy in your head? Don’t you start to feel like the Republicans just think we’ll stupidly fall for ANYTHING?

Don’t answer that. I don’t want to hear ya lie.

(please read the first comment to this post)

No matter who wins, history will be made. If Barack Obama is elected we have our first African American President. If John McCain prevails we have our first female Vice President. Despite the differences in policy, when either of these two scenarios is made a reality our country wins. For some reason the thought of this really excites me.

As for Sarah Palin: who can’t help liking a person who practices what they preach? How often does that actually happen in politics? As I mentioned in a comment on my last post, my very good friend David Harter made me aware of this tidbit of information:

Palin’s strong pro-life views were highlighted earlier this year when she and her husband Todd were informed she was carrying a Down syndrome child but chose to carry through with the pregnancy.

“We’ve both been very vocal about being pro-life,” Palin told the Associated Press. “We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential.”

The day after the birth, the Palins said in a statement: “We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”

The child mentioned in that quote, by the way, was just born this past April. She has a newborn and is now running for Vice President? Can you say “wonder woman”?  Another of her children is in the Army, heading for Iraq.

Even though she’s caught up in the middle of an ethics investigation, I think Sarah Palin will bring over a lot of the Christian vote that otherwise wasn’t all that excited about John McCain. He made a pretty wise decision to ask her to run with him. Did she win me over? Oh man… dare I say it? No.  Guys, I still really like Obama. But there is plenty of time left for McCain and Palin to convince me to vote for them, and I fully intend to keep my mind open.

I will not be too disappointed if either candidate is elected. If I vote for one, and the other wins, I’ll still be proud to call the winner my President. What a great race, and what a great year!

I don’t care WHO you intend to vote for, you MUST watch Barack’s speech. Even if you’re dead set on voting for John McCain, at least hear what his opponent has to say.

This speech is fantastic. One of the best I’ve personally ever heard. Just watch it!

I edited this post because the full speech is now available in one file:

McCain has his work cut out for him…

GRAND. SLAM.

Donald Miller was asked to give the closing Benediction Monday night at the Democratic National Convention.  Here’s the prayer (around 1:44 into the video there is a 10 second silence for some reason):

Before the benediction was given, Don shared his thoughts with Christianity Today magazine.  I really enjoyed what he had to say:

Thoughts?

With the 35th anniversary of Roe-v-Wade coming January 22nd, I’m bringing it up again in relationship to the coming elections. It seems that so many decide which candidate they’ll vote for based on where that candidate stands on abortion.

Since only the Supreme Court can overturn Roe-Vs-Wade I figured I’d post an article as to the makeup of the Supreme Court, then vs now.

THEN:

Chief Justice:

Warren E. Burger – Appointed by Nixon (R)

Associate Justices:

William O. Douglas – Appointed by F.D. Roosevelt (D)
William J. Brennan, Jr. – Appointed by Eisenhower (R)
Potter Stewart – Appointed by Eisenhower (R)
Byron White – Appointed by Kennedy (D)
Thurgood Marshall – Appointed by L.B. Johnson (D)
Harry Blackmun – Appointed by Nixon (R)
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. – Appointed by Nixon (R)
William Rehnquist – Appointed by Nixon / Reagan (R)

When the Supreme Court ruled FOR abortion, 6 out of the 9 Justices who made that decision were appointed by Republicans.

NOW:

Of the 9 Justices currently serving:

1 was appointed by President Ford (R),
2 were appointed by President Reagan (R),
2 were appointed by President Clinton (D),
2 were appointed by George Bush Senior (R),
2 were appointed by George Bush Junior (R).

So with 7 out of 9 current Justices appointed by Republicans I ask you, has abortion gone away? Nope.

So, kids, will voting Republican in this coming election MAKE it go away? Highly unlikely (see the two examples above).

My point: vote for a candidate based on other issues besides their views on abortion. The candidate you elect can’t/won’t do much about that issue anyway.

———-

TO RECAP:

then:
VOTED FOR ABORTION IN 1973: 6 OUT OF 9 REPUBLICAN APPOINTED JUSTICES

now:
HAVEN’T DONE A DAMN THING TO OVER RULE IT: 7 OUT OF 9 REPUBLICAN APPOINTED JUSTICES

(For the record: I hate abortion, and I’ve been a registered Republican since I was old enough to register)