[putupon]

A cynical person who distrusts DimRATs would suspect Marky chose this time so news of his support of pilfering the deads' pockets would be overshadowed by war news.

[jpthomas]

Propose to Governor Warner that pro-choice advocates have their own license plate that best describes their position: "Choose Death"

[cricket]

Hope the Repubs are able to reclaim the high ground on these issues.

Voters should know by now, elect a Democrat and your Rights and your income, will perish.

[KantianBurke]

Virginians wanted this guy. Don't forget that. Its their own fault.

[RightOnline]

If it's a government money grab or an anti-life statement, you can always count on a Democrat to support it.

[rhema]

If Minnesota could replace Jesse Ventura with Tim Pawlenty, let hope spring eternal for Virginia, too.

See the FR-posted, Minnesota-related 'Liberal complaints about tax code ignore who is really shouldering the burden'.

[Jason_b]

Warner said last night... "Indeed, I would veto a bill authorizing a 'Pro Choice' license plate, even though I support a woman's right to choose."

I'd bet that a person wanting a pro choice plate would have no trouble at all having one. Since when is a bill needed to authorize free speech anyway?

I have no excess money to spend to find out, but it would be interesting to see.

I find disturbing that any judge thinks MY plate should also advertise the opposing view if it has mine also. Why? Let the people who disagree with me express their views. It isn't my job to defend the views of others.

What if I support the Constitution with a plate that reads "CNST LVR" or some such? Will they object because Marx didn't get equal time? Sometimes I think my dog would make a better judge than some of those.

[Xthe17th]

This is exactly why Virginia needs to change their gubernatorial election law. If an elected gub can only serve ONE TERM (VA is the only state in the country like this), what incentive is there for him/her to do a good job? Once a one term ass like Marky gets in, they can deliberately sabeautage (a mispelled FRENCH WORD) the state!

Attention VA Repub assembly - DOUBLE THE Gub Term to hold the Marky's accountable!!

[RJCogburn]

I do not support political or ideological slogans on license plates, regardless of their expressed viewpoint

Sounds reasonable to me. It seems such a waste of time and energy to be fighting a battle over whether or not one can can such license plates. Just silly posturing.

[ShotgunWillie]

Here in the People's Republic of Maryland, we have a Republican governor who backs a 5% property tax increase, gasoline tax increases, and wants slot machines all over the place. He is no more Republican than Warner is.

And Warner's support of the death tax surprises you?

[w1andsodidwe]

And some freepers the othernight wanted to boycott California.

This is the danger of extreme liberalism. No tax is a bad tax. No abortion is a bad abortion. Should be the motto to the democRAT party.

[steve-b]

Warner said this would drain about $211 million from the budget

You can save twice that by simply killing off the stadium boondoggle. Let it go to DC, where they're used to blowing huge wads of money on useless public works.

[P.O.E.]

That's why they've invented bumper stickers.

Oh, and elections, too.

I know it's too early for electioneering, but control of state legislatures, as well as Congress, is important.

[freekitty]

Grr.....There doesn't need to be a study. Estate tax is simply wrong. Repeal it now.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The estate tax was established to keep money (and thus power) out of the hands of the middle class.

The rich have the resources to establish foundations and trusts that protect their wealth.

We work our entire lives, and ultimately what we've earned goes back to the government at our death.

End all death taxes.

[Brian Allen]

<< [Warner] characterized the tax ... as irresponsible and pointed out that .... fewer than 1,000 of the state's families .... beginning in 2005 .... [Would be robbed of] about $211 million .... over two years >>

This cravenly-corrupted criminal bastard, whose entire life is founded in the institutionalized proposition that it is OK to use Mob Rule and other stand-over tactics to confiscate and to squander the wealth of those who create it -- on those too stupid to know they are being lied to -- or too damned lazy and greedy to care - has spelled out his envy-motivated and hatred and rage-engined driving force:

Every one of "fewer than one thousand families," so let's, why not, say nine hundred and fifty will be robbed of Two Hundred and Twenty Two Thousand Dollars in just two years.

What a f*****g [Freaking?] obscenity!

Who would dare to say that liberalism is not a morbidly psychopathological psychosis?

Is not Evil!

[Maedhros]

This sucks.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Warner sounds like a big time jerk.

[Fractal Trader]

This is series!

Uprising By Shiites in Basra Underway; British Pouring Artillery into City

[Jhoffa_]

Warner explained that he vetoed the "Choose Life" tag amid concerns about political slogans on license plates and potential First Amendment issues.

Potential first amendment issues? Like what?

Is this an abridgment of their right to free speech or something? What is the "first amendment" issue here?

[Ligeia]

Update:

Jun 18, 2003

Abortion rights group challenges new Virginia law
JUSTIN BERGMAN
Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday challenging a new Virginia law that bans a rarely performed abortion procedure.

The law, to take effect on July 1, prohibits doctors from knowingly killing a fetus once its head has emerged from the birth canal or, in a feet-first birth, the fetus has emerged as far as its navel. It is similar to the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act that President Bush is expected to enact this summer.

The Center for Reproductive Rights claims in the suit that the Virginia law violates a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that protects such types of procedures in cases where the mother's health is in danger.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, also alleges that the "vaguely defined" ban could subject doctors to criminal prosecution for safely performing second trimester abortions, as well as common obstetrical procedures such as assisting women who are suffering miscarriages.

The abortion rights group is seeking an immediate injunction against the law. A hearing date has not been set.

Virginia Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore said he would "vigorously" defend the law.

"It is unfortunate that there are those attempting to impose their will over that of the great majority of Virginians and both houses of the General Assembly," he said in a statement. "The bill is constitutional and prohibits only the gruesome procedure of killing a child that is only inches away from taking its first breath."

But Suzanne Novak, the attorney handling the case for the center, said the law is written so broadly, it could be interpreted to include the most common type of legal second trimester abortion, known as "dilation and evacuation." This "imposes an undue burden on a woman's ability" to choose an abortion, which is unconstitutional, the suit alleges.

Novak said legislators tried to amend the bill during the General Assembly session to restrict it to procedures performed only in the third trimester, but the proposal was defeated.

"There is absolutely no wording in the law that has to do with late-term or post-viability or anything like that," she said. "The question is not whether this ban is unconstitutional but why the legislature passed an unconstitutional statute."

Backers of the law believe it was crafted carefully enough to sidestep legal challenges. Supporters even termed the legislation "partial birth infanticide" to stress the fact it is not a type of abortion protected by the 2000 Supreme Court ruling.

"The key that makes this law defensible is not the change to the name, but the physical description of the point of the birthing process when you can no longer kill a child," said staunch anti-abortion Del. Richard H. Black, R-Loudoun.

An exception for the mother's health also is not necessary, Black said. He called it "essentially a total loophole for anybody who wants to commit a late-term abortion."

Gov. Mark R. Warner attempted to amend the bill during the General Assembly's reconvened session in April to add the exception, without which he said would render the legislation unconstitutional. Lawmakers soundly defeated the amendment, then passed the bill with a veto-proof margin.

A similar Virginia law banning the procedure was challenged in 1998, but the law was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court decision. The General Assembly passed another bill outlawing the procedure in 2002 which was vetoed by Warner.

Some 30 states have enacted versions of "partial birth" bans, but abortion rights groups said they had been successful in court challenges in about 20 states.

Novak said the federal bill being considered by Congress also could be challenged if it fails to adequately protect the health of the mother.
___

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/vaapwire/MGBF6NUW3HD.html