It is either that or act and do considerable harm to the political status of Republicans across the country.
Sadly, reality and politics do not always pay attention to constitutional roles, as much as we might like. Regardless of whether it would have been the governor's right to take such an action, liberals would have an opening to say that he went beyond his rights and duties, and the average man in the streets, who knows no better and believes everything is great unless someone is taking drastic action, will believe them.
And then we would be in a position where we could not get anything we want on our agenda done, because Democrats would be in control. Perception is everything.
I take your points seriously with all due respect. If the consequences of inaction here didn't carry such enormous implications of the destruction of the right framework of Constitutional government I would be less inclined to hope for great risks to be taken. This is pivotal. Whichever way it goes it will be very difficult to swing the pendulum back. The course to be decided is whether we stand on the ground that a human being has a right to be treated as a human being in all circumstances or is it conditional to popular opinion?
Come 2008, this whole thing will be largely forgotten. Count on it.