Monday, October 31, 2005
Politics of Divisiveness - The Smirk is Back
What now, Democrats ?
*****
Bush reenergizes the base. Battered by the Harriet Miers fiasco,the indictment against "Scooter" Libby, and dwindling support for his war, the president reacted quickly to deflect attention. As expected, his weekend at Camp David resulted in a decision about the nominee to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. He could not afford to take any chances and he did not. The report by Fred Barbash and Peter Baker in The Washington Post covers the announcement about Judge Samuel A. Alito,Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
The Democrats must oppose Judge Alito. Unlike Harriet Miers, Judge Alito comes with a paper trail--long, detailed and clear about where he stands. The president deliberately picked a candidate who would cause an uproar. Facing declining support, he badly needed an issue to rally his conservative base. He created one. Divisiveness pays. One can see the smirk.
"What does your duty demand? What does your honor demand? And what does your country demand? It is hard enough to answer the first two questions, but harder still when the nation's elected leaders are silent about the last."
--Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at U.S. Military Academy,West Point, Oct.20, 2005
--Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at U.S. Military Academy,West Point, Oct.20, 2005
