Originally Posted By Mr X It has come to my attention that some folks on LP don't understand this issue, and it's extremely important that the potentially catastrophic nature of a McCain/Palin presidency be fully understood. It's comments like these that have me concerned... ***I just don't see a MAJOR change in Abortion issues with a McCain/Palin victory.*** The Supreme Court is the issue here. McCain has already promised to nominate pro-lifers (a Palin in the Oval would be several magnitudes more extreme), and there will likely be at least a couple new justices in the next 4-8 years. Notice how many decisions these days come down to 5-4? Doesn't take much to tip that balance. A McCain victory will almost certainly see the end of Roe v Wade...a Palin assertion would pretty much assure it (we can continue to hope McCain is just paying lip-service to the extremists, not so with Palin..not a chance).
Originally Posted By Elderp 1) This topic needs to be moved 2) This is a issue the Obama camp is using because they are scared of McCain's recent push in the polls and are too lame to talk about any of the real issues at hand, because that would mean they would have to take a position. 3) Even as an issue in this election the American public isn't united enough either way to allow a change in the status quo.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Even as an issue in this election the American public isn't united enough either way to allow a change in the status quo.*** Irrelevant. Just as McCain can irresponsibly chose the likes of Palin as a running mate, the selection of justices is something done only by one person. Either McCain or (god forbid) Palin. And the Supreme Court doesn't have to concern itself with public opinion, now does it?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***too lame to talk about any of the real issues at hand*** you don't consider this a "real" issue? Noted.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox I am not afraid of the recent bump in the polls. That always happens after the conventions until the debates begin. Besides, given that poll taking has changed very little in the past several decades, these measurements are now pretty much worthless in the day and age of CALLER ID. Folks now choose to answer the phone when Nielsen or Gallup come a-callin'. This action would tend to skew the data towards the foamers. So right after the RNC convention, I would fully expect the polls to reflect the McCain-Palin foamers, just as the Obama-Biden foamers got a bump after the DNC convention. Wait until after the debates. Then take the polls with a large grain of salt.
Originally Posted By Elderp "you don't consider this a "real" issue? Noted." I guess I should of said it isn't a priority issue for me. It's interesting, but I think we need to be tackling some other things right now. "So right after the RNC convention, I would fully expect the polls to reflect the McCain-Palin foamers, just as the Obama-Biden foamers got a bump after the DNC convention." Actually, this is a bit surprising to me. I thought a few months ago Obama had this thing in the bag, the fact that McCain gained the lead (even if it is a post convention bump) in this election is really surprising to me.
Originally Posted By mmaus1962 I'd like to note, Mr. X, that freedom of choice is always in serious danger. While many folks focus on it at a national level, the true danger comes from laws against a woman's right to choose enacted at the state level. Stealth state legislation, one state at a time, is where procreative rights are being chipped away little by little. It pays not only to keep track of what's happening in one's home state, but also in a variety of "danger" states, mostly midwest and some southern states.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda The other thing not taken into account is when people like me answer political polls in the opposite to what I may or may not do. I think political polls do more harm then good. Some people vote a certain way just because "everyone else is voting that way". Other people choose not to vote because they think voting the way they believe is "a lost cause". I especially hate exit polls for this reason. In short: Discussion and research good... polls bad.
Originally Posted By barboy ///Roe v Wade is in grave danger/// If you mean specifically Wade, maybe--who knows? Perhaps somes holes could be punched in it or even reversed-- very hard to predict. And don't think for a second that presidents get to appoint a puppet because once national judges take a seat for the most part their true colors come out--- just ask 'Ike'; well he's dead but just trust me anyway that he found out the hard way. But if you are really talking about the availability of abortion in the US then you are gravely mistaken. It is here to stay unless the masses start changing attitudes dramatically, and that I just don't see in this lifetime.
Originally Posted By fkurucz What about the Senate? They have to approve the candidates, right? Is a Democrat controlled Senate just going to roll over and play dead? If anything, I think the real replacements are going to be chosen for their bias to big business.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^The whole Roe vs. Wade issue will just be a smokescreen to distract us from who they really want on the bench: judges that will take away our civil liberties and bend over backwards for big biz.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster While I think this is an important issue, I think it's something not really worth worrying about at the moment. Sure, McCain/Palin are virtually tied with Obama/Biden in the polls. But if you look at polls on a state by state basis Obama has a HUGE lead in electoral votes. McCain's post-convention "bump" came largely from voters in states he was going to take anyway.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Obama/Biden have a huge lead in PROJECTED electoral votes. I had to qualify that lest I catch hell for allegedly not understanding that electoral votes have not been cast yet.
