Please...Not ANOTHER War...!

I just know you all are waiting with baited breath for me to weigh in about the Sandra Day O’Connor resignation…

The accepted liberal viewpoint is that we need to be completely up in arms, now that Mr. Bush is finally going to get his opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court Justice. Oh my God, it’s going to ruin the balance of power on the Court, throw us kicking and screaming into the sanctimonious hands of the religious right, reverse decisions on everything from Roe vs. Wade to capital punishment to affirmative action, and the country is going to go to hell in a handbasket.

Doesn’t that just make you tired? It does me. I’m at an age where I am learning that things are rarely as bad (or as good) as the hype would have one believe. What I see unfolding here is an interesting combination of media feeding frenzy, reactionary convulsions, and dire predictions of gloom and doom. All designed, basically, to jerk the chains of the American people.

Let’s try to look at this situation objectively (if there IS such a concept in 21st century American politics…) What is the best case scenario? That Mr. Bush will have an epiphany about the solemn duties and responsibilities of his office, and about the legacy he might leave our nation, and put forth an appropriately experienced nominee that even the Democrats could stomach, after a certain amount of requisite grumbling and belching? Okay…that is a little far-fetched. But, who knows? Since he seems to believe he has an inside track with the Almighty, maybe God will bid him to aim toward the high road and show some respect for the Court and the Constitution that mandated it, and name someone who might actually be fit for the job. It seems that, up ‘til now, his habit of choosing obviously unfit nominees for prominent promotions has been his way of showing contempt for certain institutions---for instance, the United Nations. We hope that he harbors no such disdain for the Supreme Court. As he cautions the Congress (read, "Democrats") to follow "a dignified process of confirmation… characterized by fair treatment, a fair hearing and a fair vote," can we hope that he has enough respect for the dignity and fairness of the process to put forth a nominee who is really worthy of serving on the highest court in the land? One that might unite rather than further divide the factions in our government (Oh, please, Mr. Uniter-Not-Divider?)

And what is the worst-case scenario? That our President will remain true to form and nominate a completely objectionable, unqualified and overtly controversial candidate for the position? What a surprise that would be! In that case, the surprise, the magnanimous gesture, the triumphant coup d’etat, would be for the opposition to handle whatever nominee Mr. Bush pitches, with grace, respect, and aplomb. Yes, Senate Democrats, go ahead and voice your objections to whatever candidate the President advances. You may even give him/her a sound rebuke or two. But do so forcefully, decisively, and quickly. Then bow to the majority and get on with seeing to the issues that really matter to the American people. The health care/insurance/prescription drug crisis. The hideous budget deficit. Environmental issues and global warming. How to fix the mess we have made in Iraq.

I don’t want to call the O’Connor retirement a tempest in a teacup. It is surely more like a possible Hurricane Andrew or Magnitude 5 tornado. But disasters are best handled with calm, well-mapped contingency plans. We have a pretty good idea of where the President might go with this nomination. The trick is not to react by going off on a tangent of panic and hype. Even though the media undoubtedly promise to be--in fact, already are--standing by with tanker trucks full of gasoline to pour onto the fire (After A Brief Shock, Advocates on All Sides Quickly Mobilize—New York Times, 7/02/05), would someone (please, God) bring a voice of maturity and reason to this potential quagmire/bonfire? Would that reasonable voice not serve the American people infinitely better than a war on yet another (futile) front?