Posted on 03/06/2009 9:15:49 AM PST by EternalVigilance
In a move that should give social conservatives great pause, Governor Sarah Palin has appointed a former board member of Planned Parenthood to the Alaska State Supreme Court.
Palin appointed Anchorage Superior Court Judge Morgan Christen to the state’s highest court on Wednesday. Along with Christen’s former board member status with Planned Parenthood.
There is no disputing Palin’s appointment of Christen will cause the Alaska Supreme to lean left and will ensure a more activist court when it comes to gay marriage, and abortion. The Christen appointment is key because she replaces justice Warren Mathews, one of the dissenting votes striking down the parental consent legislation.
The Governor, who early on won the support of Alaska liberals after she pushed through an enormous, unprecedented tax increase on the oil industry, seems to be back in their good graces with this appointment.
ADN liberal bloggers responded to Palin’s Supreme Court appointment writing,
“Ohmigawd!??The governor's been taken over by space aliens.??What an improvement!”
“Wow. Way to go Palin! I can't believe I just said that. But hey, credit where credit is due.”
“Glad to see a woman in the position to balance out the court. Good for Palin for keeping bible thumper beliefs out of the court system and honoring the separation of Church and State.”
“This is the one good action that Sarah Palin has taken over the past three years. And I have no problem admitting it. Great pick!!!! So even if the wing-nut parental consent bill passes, the state Supremes now have enough votes to overturn it as unconstitutional.”
Granted Palin would have had to put up a fight to block the appointment of the far left Christen to the court. Under Alaska law the judicial council made up mostly of liberal lawyers gets to filter out candidates who do not hold a leftist background. The governor must pick from the names forwarded.
But former governor Frank Murkowski during his term fought the process and at first refused to name any of the names submitted to him. The liberal media beat him up pretty bad over it and he eventually caved.
If Governor Palin would have taken on this fight, it probably would have ended up in court. If she had taken up the fight and asked for all the candidates’ names that applied to be forwarded, it would have brought to the public’s attention that trial lawyers control the third branch of government in Alaska. But with the governor refusing to spend any political capital on this issue, it is sure to disappear from Alaska’s political landscape.
The governor caving into trial lawyers also guarantees an activist court will continue to push its agenda on the people of Alaska. It will continue to stand between you and your child, continue to redefine marriage and block development.
Palin appointing Christen kills any move by the legislature to pass parental consent legislation. The new court with Christen on it will surely strike down any new laws. This is one of the reason Palin’s caving is confusing. Just recently held a news conference standing side by side with conservative lawmakers sponsoring new parental consent legislation.
Refusing to fight for parental consent laws is risky for Palin. It clearly will help her avoid controversy from the liberal media. But conservatives supporting her won't like the fact she appointed a former Planned Parenthood board member to Alaska’s highest court.
Many of the governor’s conservative supporters have ignored her high taxes and liberal anti free market policies. They support her simply because she says she is pro-life and is open about her faith. But the Christen appointment proves that while the governor lives the pro-life message in her personal life, she is not willing to spend political capital on the issue in her political life.
Palin has served her purpose.
She has shown the power of the conservative base because McCain was heading to a 15+ point pounding without the conservatives ralling around a conservative VP.
Take over the LOCAL GOP people.
control the local, control the party.
Here’s my point: ——————————> .
Here’s you: EternalVigilance
You missed it.
Somebody who has sworn the oath to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to our Posterity” has to find the courage to fight. Chief Executives especially. The judicial supremacist mindset among Republicans is literally killing us, and destroying the foundations of our free republic.
Perhaps they are like “The national hunters and Shooters assholeiation”, An anti-gun group with a very misleading name?
Kinda like the union moodbat bill called “Employee Free Choice Act”, better known as card check, which really removes “free choice” to vote on union membership without being pressured by union thugs!
No, I perfectly got your point. I just find it reprehensible to claim that not killing your child is somehow a point of pride or honor. Has this nation sunk so low?
civil disobedience - absolutely.
Political ignorance - probably, but I’m not a big fan on how politicians operate anyway.
I think if I were put in a position where I was forced to appoint a pro-deather, I would force them to go all the way to impeachment proceedings, and then that state can go on record as caring more about killing babies than retaining one of the only competent governors in the nation.
Pretty funny statement from someone who suggests that the only "pure" course of action would be for Palin to violate the letter of the state constitution and substitute her own judgment in its place.
Enabling behavior like that is what got us into this mess, not how we will get out of it.
Well, it’s Friday and we’ve all been drinking heavily.
It may say "what," but it doesn't say "when." She has no time constraint on her appointment constitutionally.
That also operates under the assumption that Sarah Palin and anyone else who advocates letting the states have a go at it (which, again, DOES NOT EXCLUDE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THIS MATTER) will, upon seeing the several states that go 'pro-choice' instead of 'pro-life' would just be content at leaving things at that.
No. It's disingenuous to compare Palin with Stephen Douglas in this manner, if only for that reason alone.
169 answers your post as well.
Dude, you and I don’t disagree, but you’re failing to understand that she cannot unilaterally act to install a judge of her preference. The law as to HOW they are chosen has to change. She’s not the dictator of Alaska.
HSe has effectively permanently lost my support. A nomination to any supreme court is usually for life and the most important opportunity to have the constitution interpreted correctly.
You’re not listening to these fake federalists closely enough. Paul, Thompson, McCain, Palin, et al, all say VERY CLEARLY that the states should have the power to allow the killing of innocent persons if they want to. Quit deceiving yourself.
Don’t bother. He is obviously dedicated to doing as much harm to her as possible. He knows the reality, he has a different agenda.
There are certain things that evangelicals and the pro-life community will believe: one of them is NOT that Sarah Palin is pro-choice.
Sarah Palin is the real deal.
No, but legislation made in accordance with the constitution can be made that sets a time limit -- according to the article linked at post #26, there was a definitive limit she was required to act within.
YOU said it is not a credential. I said that it is indeed, *one* of the credentials. And give me a call when Hillary has a baby that she knows in advance has Downs.
Sarah has set more of an example for young women than 100 extremists on that issue, thats just a fact. And the tone she set was carried on by her family. Her daughter knew in her heart that her mom wanted her to have her baby.
Women like Sarah bring young girls to the pro-life side, people of your ilk repel far too many young women and help us get guys like Obama elected.
Nobody said she’s the dictator of Alaska. Obviously, that title belongs to the judicial council, leaving the Governor, who constitutionally is required to make this choice, NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER. Bleh.
Unfortunately, it has, in case you haven't noticed. People have been so inundated with 'pro-choice' rhetoric that many can't move beyond the whole 'reproductive choice' talking point into the actual reality of what abortion is. And a Constitutional amendment to ban abortion, until people on a LOCAL LEVEL are properly educated as to WHAT that reality is, will - by and large - be opposed by such people as "oppressive."
This is what we have to deal with! And until that is rectified, a Constitutional amendment will go absolutely NOWHERE.
Overturning Roe v. Wade and letting the states decide will immediately lessen the number of abortions occurring. THIS DOES NOT EXCLUDE GOING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND EDUCATING PEOPLE AFTER THE FACT. THIS DOES NOT EXCLUDE CONTINUING THE FIGHT IN THE PRO-CHOICE STATES AND CONVERTING THEM TO PRO-LIFE.
That was my point.
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