XPost: alt.fan.barbra.streisand, alt.fan.julia-roberts, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: alt.politics.democrats, alt.politics.greens, alt.politics.liberalism   
   XPost: alt.politics.republicans, alt.radio.talk   
   From: DIELIBERALSCUM@LIBSHATEAMERICA.COM1   
      
   Reports of Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist's ailing health have   
   spurred talk that he will announce his retirement from the high court in a   
   matter of days.   
      
      
   Last week, the White House and Supreme Court issued a statement indicating   
   that despite Rehnquist's thyroid cancer, he would administer President Bush   
   the oath of office in January.   
      
   In spite of that report, liberal groups expect Rehnquist to offer his   
   resignation imminently and have decided to gain an edge on the nomination   
   process by issuing press releases to give their spin on his departure and   
   possible replacements.   
      
   On Sunday, the left-wing National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)   
   issued a release that began: "With Washington speculation rampant of a   
   Supreme Court retirement announcement Monday, NARAL Pro-Choice America   
   President Nancy Keenan is ready to offer instant analysis and response. The   
   coming battle over new Supreme Court nominations will fall heavily on the   
   issue of a woman's right to choose, and Ms. Keenan can offer incisive, sharp   
   commentary on how that fight will emerge."   
      
      
   NARAL's release followed one issued Friday by the liberal National   
   Organization for Women (NOW), stating that "in response to recent rumors   
   about the resignation of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, the National   
   Organization for Women is firmly committed to opposing any nominee who is   
   anti-women and anti-abortion."   
      
   The group said it was particularly worried that President Bush "has stated   
   in the past that he favors such arch-conservative justices like Antonin   
   Scalia and Clarence Thomas whose radical ideologies make them disastrous for   
   the advancement of women."   
      
   The group threatened a significant fight if the Bush administration   
   nominates a conservative to take Rehnquist's spot.   
      
   Republicans are also gearing up for other possible nomination fights,   
   including additional openings on the court if Sanda Day O'Connor or Anthony   
   Kennedy steps down.   
      
   "Arguably, this is not the biggest fight you'll see, assuming there are   
   other openings, which maybe one shouldn't assume," C. Boyden Gray, the   
   former White House counsel, told the New York Times.   
      
   The paper said Gray has been conducting strategy sessions with Edwin Meese   
   III, the former attorney general, among others.   
      
   Gray suggested the Rehnquist replacement fight would be "a test case of the   
   determination of the two sides."   
      
      
   --   
   "I guess I am to the point that I am thinking that if all 150,000 Americans   
   over there die, then we deserve it for the horrible crimes we have committed   
   against the Iraqi people. "   
      
       -- Gary Dorman, Proud America-Hating liberal Democrat   
   garydorman8618@sbcglobal.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)