I had a hard time reading some of the Dem legislators saying its time to codify Roe. They've only had 50 years to do it, often with bigger majorities - and as Alito says in the draft - it's not in the Constitution - meaning it would probably require an amendment. Worse news, red states are closer to being able to call a Constitutional Convention to outlaw abortion nationally, than Dems are - by a lot. Maybe two to three and a half state legislatures is all it would take. Worse news, sending it back to the states means abortion politics will be played out in pretty much every US state now, and hit "border" states particularly hard as "pro-choice" states begin opening up clinics near borders and become targets for people from "pro-life" states. Abortion has always had a lot in common with the politics of slavery - a very personal issue for some, to the point that they are willing to do anything - kill doctors, etc., - to support their views. As someone who grew up post-Roe - it's always seemed like a sensible position. Women should not be forced by the government to carry their rapists child to term. They should have control over their own bodies.
Legally, maybe the original decision was based more on practicality than strict legal reasoning and those justices realized the law isn't some abstract thing, but impacts real people - and this court is couching their legal argument in those terms to hide their moral reasonings. In any event - this could be the 21st Century equivalent of Dred Scott.
Politically? I'm tired of Democrats doing their best Wiley Coyote impression. Amping up the outrage, every time the GOP outfoxes them. Ruth Ginsberg could have retired when the Dems controlled the Senate in Obama's first two years, but she held on hoping Hilary would win and appoint her successor, as Bill nominated her. White women voted for Trump - leading to three new conservatives on the court.
The American people will get the final call on this - maybe it does impact certain states more than others. The polling suggests most people don't favor extreme anti-abortion laws, and were ok with the first trimester, rape and incest exceptions. The other thing is that this has been a major source of fuel for the conservative movement and women's movement for decades - what now?
I wonder if Susan Collins is concerned?
