The biggest losers in the Supreme Court's abortion ruling

[DonViejo]

By Jennifer Rubin
Opinion writer
February 8 at 9:45 AM

-snip-

The decision was a triumph for abortion rights advocates in several respects. Ilyse Hogue, head of NARAL Pro-Choice America, tweeted:

Link to tweet

Hogue told me, “Susan Collins gaslighted millions of Americans claiming we were hysterical in believing that Justice Kavanaugh would vote to overturn precedent ... His decision in the Louisiana case proves us correct.” She added, “Senator Collins, you broke it, you bought it.” (In fact, the Republican senator from Maine voted for both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, creating a huge political problem for her should she run for reelection in 2020.)

NARAL put out an official statement, which read in part, “Today’s decision maintains a critical lifeline for women in Louisiana, who already face some of the bleakest outlooks for reproductive freedom. The Supreme Court rightfully refused to uphold a brazen and unconstitutional attempt to ignore identical cases that are intended to shutter abortion clinics in the state, making Roe v. Wade obsolete.”

The ruling is especially significant since abortion rights opponents swore up and down that eradicating Roe v. Wade wasn’t on the table. It certainly was, and their credibility has taken a hit.

Most important is what the decision tells us about the Supreme Court’s shifting alliances. Increasingly concerned about the Supreme Court’s credibility and the appearance of partisanship, Roberts joined up for the first time to protect abortion rights, something previously unimaginable. Should Roberts follow course on other issues, in essence stepping into the Justice Anthony Kennedy role as a persuadable justice, President Trump’s effort to refashion the court for a generation will be diminished.

As with the imminent defeat on the wall, Trump has less and less to offer the right wing with each passing day. Perhaps they will reconsider their reflexive defense of him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/08/biggest-losers-supreme-courts-abortion-ruling/

[wryter2000]

1. I know it's only a straw to cling to as we hang from the cliff

But I'm hoping Roberts will put a stop to the worst abuses this Court considers. He has ruled for the ACA a couple of times.

It's "his" Court, and maybe that will motivate him to do the right thing.

[Ferrets are Cool]

5. When you must count on Roberts to do the "right" thing...

it is indeed a bleak time in our history.

[Blue_true]

6. He is the only thing left for us. Not a comforting feeling.

I think that Roberts has kids that are young adults now, maybe they have put a bug in his ear. He certainly seem keen of late to not let the Court lurch to the right.

[Vinca]

2. It drives me nuts that a bunch of politicians and judges seem to feel it's perfectly fine to take a

medical decision away from a woman and her doctor. The latest hyperventilation is over abortions near term with no consideration at all given to the conditions that might not be diagnosed until late in a pregnancy. The same people who want every child born are unwilling to provide it with the care and finances that might be necessary if a woman bears a severely disabled child. They seem to only take the "word of God" over a doctor when he says the child is dead or the child will be dead at birth, relegating a pregnant woman to the heartbreaking role of human coffin until the birth date arrives. They seem to have a bizarre notion that abortion is no big deal for the woman and they must step in. Fuck them.

[Brawndo]

7. +1

[spanone]

3. K&R...

[Cha]

4. Kick for the downfall of susan collins in 2020.

[brush]

8. Roberts seems to be trying to save the legacy of his court.

[former9thward]

9. This was not a ruling on the merits.

This was a ruling on court procedure. The state won the case at the district court level. It now goes to appeals. The plaintiffs wanted the court ruling (and the law) put on hold until final resolution. The SC agreed to hold it. The law and the suit will continue to be argued in the appeals courts.