I'm anxious about the new Cabinet position, and about any regulations that come out of it. I can't see any direct impact on the abortion issue from this new regulatory body in the immediate future, but whoever thought that RICO would be combined with the impossible Medicare regulations and used against doctors and hospitals, or combined with the FACE laws and used against pro-life demonstrators? The very function of this bureau is to track, investigate, and watch anyone who could be considered a threat to safety. By the nature of that function, the activities will be somewhat secret from the general public.
Now, just think, someday there's a Democrat-appointed head of Homeland Defense. Say, Lawrence Tribe or Janet Reno or Al Gore or Hillary Clinton. (I see that some of you have)
We have a great President. I don't want to ever seem not to support him. But, that does not mean that I will not express concern about specific issues and actions. If Governor Ridge can somehow justify abortion while claiming to be a Catholic, then I'm very concerned about his character. As we saw with Janet Reno, and her FBI lists of pro-life, pro-second amendment, and religious "fanatics," Federal government power can be abused without any basis in law.
Here's a website that reviews the Homeland Defense/Homeland security history and the military's input.
I hate that I'm sounding even a little like a pessimist on this. But, I'm always surprised by how good law can become bad in practice.