SCOTUS WARS

Kudos to President George W. Bush for getting it right, or should that be 'Right', this time around with today's nomination of Samuel Alito for a SCOTUS seat to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. 

Alito is currently a sitting judge on the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court right here in Philadelphia. The 55-year old was appointed to that seat by the first President Bush, George H.W. back in 1990. 

Alito has been nicknamed "Scalia Lite" and "Scalito" due to a perceived similarity in judicial philosophy with conservative originalist Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom Alito once clerked. 

Those who know him say that his temperament is more like that of new SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts, and that his experience, intellect and charm will make it very difficult for the LibDems to defeat his nomination. 

Alito has more judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in 70 years, and if really an originalist as advertised, is exactly what the President's Republican conservative base has been looking for since previous nominee Harriet Miers removed her name from consideration. 

The nomination is absolutely certain to raise the ire, blood pressure and tempers of liberal democrats and their radical left-wing support organizations, and should trigger quite a battle in the process. 

But that philosophical battle is just what we on the right have been looking for all along. Let the SCOTUS WARS begin!

Philly's "9% Solution" is English Classes

Once again here in the ultra-liberal City of Philadelphia, the sky is falling. This time it’s the old multi-cultural bugaboo that is at the root of the problem.

Specifically, according to a front page article in the City & Region section of the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer, “it’s a matter of interpretation”.

The Inky states that alleged “failings” in the police department’s handling of language interpretation issues “could violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964”.
T
The Inquirer’s Gaiutra Bahadur forcefully takes the position in the article that Philadelphia police officers come up woefully short in their ability to effectively deal with the diversity in the city’s many immigrant cultures, more specifically the diversity of languages spoken by it’s citizens in the Hispanic and Asian communities.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Help! Mom!

While reading through the latest edition of the Washington Times Weekly Edition, I came across a small article on a new book by Katharine DeBrecht titled "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!". 

The avowed conservative mother of three wrote the book as an answer to "the liberal agenda that's being thrown at our kids from the left". 

The book tells the story of two young brothers who are trying to run a lemonade stand, while liberal politicians make things difficult on them by taxing their profits, restricting the amount of sugar they can use in their drinks, and by requiring that they also serve broccoli. 

The boys are also legally harassed for placing a picture of Jesus Christ on their stand. 

The boys overcome in a happy ending thanks to the "traditional family values like self-reliance, hard work, charity and family". 

The book has been a big seller thus far, and it's popularity is growing by the day. The writer now is planning the second in what may be a series of "Help! Mom!" books. The next tentatively titled "Help! Mom! Hollywood Is In My Hamper!" 

What a tremendous sense of humor this woman has, and what a great service she is providing. You can get the book through Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0976726904/104-6224142-3682338?v=glance

Good Old Mr. Wilson

The insiders of Washington, D.C. and most especially behind the hallowed walls of the White House are sitting on pins and needles today, as they await word from the offices of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald as to whether any indictments will come down in the "CIA Leak" case. 

Word is that indictments could possibly come for top Bush administration assistant Karl Rove, as well as to Scooter Libby, the top aid of VP Dick Cheney. There have even been some rumors as to Cheney himself being indicted. 

All the furor is over a former U.S. diplomat named Joseph Wilson, and his wife, former CIA operative Valerie Plame. Concern was that Plame's status as an undercover agent was compromised when she was outed, possibly by Rove and/or Libby, in retaliation for Wilson having provided public information that the root causes of the Iraqi war were questionable at best. 

This is the Dem spin. Many others feel that the entire investigation is little more than a witch hunt, retaliation for the impeachment of then President Bill Clinton for lying under oath in the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. 

The trouble for the current administration may actually come not from findings that an agent was outed, but actually that one or more of the players involved may have lied in the investigation process in an attempt to cover-up something potentially embarrassing. 

A great article on the background that I would advise as a must-read for those wanting to understand this issue is available at http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/217wnmrb.asp

Bush League Bush Administration

The administration of President George W. Bush has been disappointing to me and many others who got them elected. 

Major changes need to occur quickly and extensively. Otherwise, the bush league actions and inaction of the President, his team, and many elected Republicans threaten to make his Presidency one of the least respected in recent memory.

Now don’t take that commentary to mean that I am turning into some liberal Democrat on you folks. Far from it. 

LibDems such as John Kerry, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Fritz Schumer would certainly have many criticisms for the President and the Republicans. But their criticisms would certainly be nearly the opposite of mine. 

The Democrats would advocate that we should get out of Iraq as quickly as possible, reverse the tax cuts, and turn our attention to redistributing wealth from the wealthy and middle class to the poor.
Theirs is a recipe for failure. But sadly, so is the President’s.

President Bush was elected by his base to aggressively protect our nation, reduce taxes, reform the tax system, reinvent social security, and if given the opportunity appoint conservative, originalist jurists to the Supreme Court. Thus far, on almost all of those mandates, he and his administration have failed us.

Corruptadelphia

In the ongoing probe into corruption in Philadelphia government, a number of individuals working in the administration of current Mayor John Street have been snared in the web, with some prison terms already begun.

Bugs were found in the Mayor's office, the investigation was revealed, and now the details play out in public. Developments keep coming, layers keep getting peeled back, and more and more names come to the surface.

With the imminent indictment of Philadelphia City Councilman Rick Mariano, the investigation takes another step up. Mariano created some "high drama", pardon the pun, when he climbed to the top of the City Hall tower last week in what was reported as a distressed state of anguish after his attorney resigned.

The incident saw scores of police and fire units respond, and resulted in Mariano's being talked down by Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

How high will it climb, and who ultimately may be caught in the web of deceit and corruption in the governing of the City of Brotherly Love? Mayor John Street himself? Perhaps even powerful local party bosses like State Senator Vince Fumo, or Congressman Bob Brady?

Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure. It is long past time for a change from Dem control of Philly without any real challenge. Stay tuned at this item for further updates as they occur, and feel free to add your own items and commentary.

Commander-in-Chief, or Chef?

On his local talk radio show this evening, Dom Giordano (1210AM, 6pm show) reported the results of a New York Times poll that stated that 33% of all men would not consider voting for a woman for President, from either party. Not Hillary Clinton. Not Condaleeza Rice. Certainly not Geena Davis. No one who wears a bra, who has or once had a monthly period cycle, who was capable of bearing children. No one with long hair, who wears perfume, who may wear a skirt, etc. No woman. None. Nay, say never. No how, no way. Hmmm. I know we still have the element who thinks women are better off barefoot and pregnant, who see women more as the 'chef' than the 'chief', but it's still hard to believe that we remain such neanderthals. What would such men do if presented with the dilemma as put forth in a new book by Dick Morris that pits Condi vs. Hillary in a theoretical 2008 Presidential matchup? My guess is that we would be back to a good old-fashioned ideological battle, and the sexism would be tossed right out the window. But my concern as a conservative would be our strong base in the South. Could the good ol' boys really vote for a black woman for President of the United States? My guess would be that in the end, the answer would be "yes". I would just love to see them placed in that predicament, where they actually had to confront that part of themselves, and finally get over it. You go girls!

Islamofascism

Well, it's about damned time. 

In early October, President Bush finally came clean to the public as to who we are at war with in the War on Terror. 

What had been a generic battle against terrorists and those who make their activities possible wherever we find them was finally crystallized, and those whom we are battling were definitively named. 

President Bush named our actual enemies as the "Islamofascists", and later referred to them as "radical, militant Islam". 

This is something that pundits, researchers, and just plain straight-thinkers like Daniel Pipes have been doing for years. 

Kudos to the President for putting that face on the enemy, for it is vitally important to make the distinction. 

In World War II, it was the Adolf Hitler and the Nazis of Germany, and Hirohito and the Japanese Imperialists that we fought in order to preserve democracy. 

In the Cold War, it was Communism and Socialism, highlighted by the tensions with men like Nikita Kruschev and the Soviet Union. 

Now we can put a definitive face, that of Osama bin Laden and Islamofascism, on this current struggle. This will allow us to focus on enemies, enemy states, future directions, and better judge outcomes. 

Anyone espousing a radical Islamic message is our enemy, and that must include those within that belief system who choose to not stand up and fight themselves, if not physically then at least with public refutations. God bless America.

Wilma !

Over a decade ago, my dad moved down to Florida, to the small town of Spring Hill, which lies just north of Tampa. 

During that time he has been blasted by a number of hurricanes, most notably last summer when four different storms roared over Florida within a one month period. 

However, his town has not yet felt the brunt of any direct hits. They have been skirted past and brushed by, feeling some effects of wind and rain, taking some minor roof damage, but escaping any large-scale or lasting effects. 

Now here comes what likely will be the final tropical storm of what has been one of the most memorable in history, what with the destruction wrought on the Gulf region by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita respectively. 

Hurricane Wilma (I can't help it, I keep picturing old Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Fred Flintstone's red-headed wife, and Fred yelling "Wilma!") suddenly formed in the Caribbean, exploded quickly into the strongest Category 5 in recorded history, and is poised to slash across Florida over the coming weekend. 

As of right now, the entire state is in the potential path, though that will narrow over the coming 48 hours. I will be saying yet another prayer for those folks, especially my dad and his wife, but someone is gonna get hit by this thing. 

Oh, and just as a parting gift to the season from the tropical storm gods, the storm may ride up the east coast and come visit me next week. As Fred would say..."Wilma!"

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

Who in their right mind could have conceived of this as recently as 4-5 years ago? Yesterday, the trial of Saddam Hussein began in a courtroom in the heart of Baghdad. 

A judge presiding over a court to begin the first of what is expected to be a dozen cases brought against the former tyrannical Iraqi dictator. 

Specifically, this particular trial finds Saddam facing charges that he ordered the 1982 massacre of his own citizens in the Dujail region. 

If convicted, Hussein faces the death penalty, and it is conceivable that it could be carried out quickly thereafter. However, due to formal legal proceedings, the trial could be held in a largely halting, stop-and-start manner. 

Hussein was defiant on the first day. When the formal proceedings began and he was asked to state his name, this despicable excuse for a human being replied to the judge in a combative tone "Who are you?!", implying that the judge was no one, and had no right to be questioning him. 

Hopefully we, and more importantly the Iraqi people, won't have to be putting up with very much of his rhetoric during the trial. And here's to hoping that this judge has a little more going for him than our own fumbling American jurist from the O.J. Simpson trial, Lance Ito. 

"Death to America!", Saddam? 

How's the shoe feel on the other foot, pal?

It's Only A Joke

Conservative doesn't mean "stuffed shirt", and nobody gets through life and experiences very much joy without a great sense of humor. 

If you know of any Blogs that either meet the true Conservative standard or provide a great human service, feel free to share the link. If the site is good enough, I will be happy to feature it. 

And on further thought, not nearly enough good comedies today on TV. 

When I was growing up in the 1970's, it was most definitely the age of the great sitcoms: All in the Family, MASH, Happy Days, Cheers, Taxi, Soap, Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Jeffersons, etc. 

Seinfeld was so great in part because it stood out in it's time. There was so little in the way of good, quality, truly funny sitcoms during the 90's. 

Today, the animation of "Family Guy" and the old standard "The Simpsons" leads the way, along with a tremendous cable show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" from Seinfeld creator Larry David.

Wake Up the Echoes

On September 3rd, Mark May of "College Game Day", an alleged expert, predicted that the University of Notre Dame football team would be either 1-5 or 0-6 after their first half dozen games. 

Well, with the team at 4-1 and ranked in the top ten, this guy either needs a new profession, or a new crystal ball. 

The Fightin' Irish are back, going into today's much-anticipated tilt against the two-time defending national champion USC Trojans, who are currently ranked #1 in the nation and winners of 27 straight games. 

In this great rivalry, the Trojans are 4-0 when coming into the game ranked #1. However, the Irish lead the overall series 42-29-5, and the school has one of the most storied streak-ending histories in all of college sports. 

In 1957, it was the Irish who ended Oklahoma's 57-game winning streak, longest in college football history. 

In 1974, the Irish basketball squad stopped the most storied streak in all of college sports history, UCLA's 88-game winning streak. 

Bird Flu Pandemic Coming?

You will hear it called a bunch of different things, but the media, when it has bothered touching on it at all so far, will call it the Avian Flu (H5N1), or "Bird Flu" more likely. 

It is a strain of the flu virus that has taken out large numbers of birds overseas, and is scaring the pants off a number of experts. 

Though it has shown to jump from birds to humans, it has not done so in large numbers, but there is already speculation in the medical community that this may indeed happen soon. 

Up to 100 people may already have died in Asia, and speculation by reliable parties is that an outbreak could reach pandemic proportions, killing as many as 150 million worldwide if not attacked properly. 

The anti-viral treatment Tamiflu is shown to be effective against it, but is in seriously short supply, and the Swiss company holding the patent, pharmaceutical giant Roche, has not shown the ability or willingness thus far to pick up production levels. 

Can you hear them now: "Send us more M-O-N-E-Y." 

President Bush has even considered the idea that we may need to institute quarantines here in the U.S. should a breakout reach the levels possible. 

Stay tuned folks, and stay away from the birds. This makes Hitchcock's little squawkers look downright tame.

Louis Fraudakhan's Million Moron March

This weekend in Washington, D.C., Louis Farrakhan and his Nation of Islam are sponsoring the "Millions More March". 

It is billed as a sort of followup to the "Million Man March" from a decade ago. You remember, the one that changed all those folks and created a lasting, positive influence in the black community? 

Oh, wait, that didn't happen. Sorry. 

That anyone of any sanity level is listening to this guy and his goons is incredible. 

Farrakhan once said that back in 1985 he was taken in a vision to a mountaintop, where a UFO beamed him up. There he met with the Islamic prophet Elijah Mohammad and given messages to deliver to the people. 

Yikes. 

But that isn't insanity enough. In 1997 he said: "A decree of death has been passed on America. The judgement of God has been rendered and she must be destroyed...". 

In 2000 he told our own Philadelphia Inquirer: "White people are potential humans…they haven’t evolved yet." 

He has implied that the U.S. created World War II for monetary reasons, that we created the 9/11 attacks to start a war to control oil, and that we blew up the levees in New Orleans to erase their poor black population. 

Louis Farrakhan is a fraud, and anyone that follows him is a fool, plain and simple.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Are you water-logged yet? Basement or roof leaking? Maybe even flooded out?

I know we have little to complain about, really, when you consider what happened along the Gulf Coast last month. But damn, it has been raining here in Philly for over a week!

I can't even remember the last time that I saw the sunshine in real life with my own two eyes.

Now, for a guy who works the overnight shift and sleeps during the day a lot, that isn't always a bad thing. But it would be nice to get out from under these clouds, huh?

Glenn 'Hurricane' Schwartz, Amy Freeze, Bill Henley and the crew at EarthWatch say that the sun should make an appearance late Saturday, and then we may not see another raindrop for over a week. Well, I hope they get it right, because we all could use a little drying out right about now.

And the next time that I hear one of them mention the word "drought", I just may have to go down there and slap 'em upside the head! Rain, rain....go away already!

Big Night at the Big House

If there is such a thing as a big early-season game in the NHL, tonight's game at the Big House, the Wachovia Center down in South Philly, should be considered one. 

The Philadelphia Flyers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that should be interesting for a number of reasons. 

First, it is an appearance by one of the greatest hockey players of all-time, the Pens' Mario Lemieux. 

Then the Pens toss in the new sensation in the game, top draft pick rookie Sidney Crosby in his first Philly appearance. 

Finally, there is the return of two former Fly Boys who had extremely long and popular careers in the Orange & Black, John LeClair and Mark Recchi. 

Add a measure of early-season desperation to all that, as the two teams, expected to be contenders, have just a single victory among them in seven combined games. For one club, it could be a nice jump-start, while the loser remains a struggling enigma. 

Thus far, I have found the "new" NHL game a bit disjointed. Far too many penalties as players get used to the new rules that should prove to open the game up a bit. For me, the jury is still out. Should be a rollickin' good time in South Philly.

Midnight Madness for Big Five

The Palestra in West Philly has been home to some of the greatest college baseketball ever played. 

The traditional home to Philly's "Big Five" basketball schools: Penn, Villanova, St. Joe's, Temple and LaSalle, will be rockin' this winter as the rivalry celebrates it's 50th Anniversary. 

The annual "Big Five Classic" will take place in December as a doubleheader tips off at the venerable old building, with LaSalle taking on Drexel (considered by many the 6th member) followed by Penn taking on Temple. 

It all starts tonight with "Midnight Madness". 

The rules of the NCAA allow teams to begin practice at midnight tonight, and so many teams kickoff their seasons at that point with traditional opening celebrations. 

Villanova has national championship aspirations. Penn will once again be a contender for the Ivy League title and its accompanying automatic berth in the NAAA tournament. 

St. Joe's and Temple, led by veteran coach's Phil Martelli and John Chaney respectively, are always strong clubs. LaSalle has 9-straight losing seasons, but has reasonable hopes at finally reaching the .500 mark. 

The men's basketball teams of Philly's Big Five schools should prove to be tough on any opponent that they come up against, and should provide a nice amateur sporting alternative to the higher-priced pros this winter.

"Sick" Reaches a New Low

Just when I think that I have heard of the sickest thing that I am likely going to ever hear about, someone comes along and takes "sick" to a new low. 

On Wednesday, 38-yr old Peggy Jo Connor of the Pittsburgh area (mother of three: 16, 14, 11) bashed her 8-months pregnant neighbor and close friend, 30-yr old Valerie Oskin, over the head with a baseball bat. 

Connor then drove Oskin out to a secluded wooded area, where she sliced open Oskin's abdomen with a razor blade, tracing the 8-inch path of an old c-section scar, in attempt to take Oskin's baby. 

Connor had told her own live-in partner that she herself was pregnant, which she was not. A search of the trailer she was living in turned up numerous baby-related items. 

Now please, no trailer-trash jokes. This woman is simply sick at a level that you and I will hopefully never experience, either from ourselves or any of our own close friends or neighbors. 

Connor's act was interrupted when a 17-yr old boy on an ATV came tooling through the woods and stumbled upon the gruesome act, then notified his dad who came to the scene and in turn notified authorities. 

The baby was removed at an area hospital and is in stable condition, while Oskin was listed in critical condition at last word. Let's pray that both mother and baby fully recover, both physically and emotionally.

Gas Prices Up: Sky is Falling !

Gas prices are up...surprise! 

Despite what the liberal Dems across the U.S. would have you believe, it is not all some simplistic George W. Bush-led cash-grab by big oil. 

Supplies squeezed by the twin destructive actions of terrorists and hurricanes. Demand pushed by emerging economies such as the behemoth China. 

Our own stupidity in failing to simply ignore the environmental wackos by expanding our domestic resources with drilling at ANWR, among other efforts. All of these forces have ganged up on us at once. 

Now, Philly mayor John Street has said "We are facing a possible utility emergency...unlike anything anyone in this city has ever experienced!" as he pushes ever more lib-style plans to help the needy with their heating bills this winter. 

First, I'll be curious to see where he draws the line on who "needy" covers. 

Next, I'll be curious to see if more taxes or less services delivered come out of this. 

Yep, things will cost a bit more, and for libs like Street, that means, in the immortal words of Chicken Little, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

Dhue Do That Voodoo So Well

Some of the best, most informative television is put on each night on the Fox News network. Shepard Smith does an outstanding job presenting the news, and then the real fireworks begin. 

Bill O'Reilly comes first with his "The O'Reilly Factor". He is followed by the ultra-conservative, ultra-liberal duo of Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes on "Hannity & Colmes". Finally, Greta keeps us up to date on Natalie Holloway...it's all Aruba, all the time with Greta Van Susteren. 

One young woman that I personally hope never turns up missing is the real star of the night, however. 

During the brief "Fox News Breaks" which come on both during and between each show, the updates and highlights are presented by Fox News resident brains and beauty combo Laurie Dhue. This young woman may be the single most attractive newswoman that I have ever seen on television. 

Here's to the current official "babe" of this blog, Laurie Dhue - that she will keep on doing that voodoo that she do so well on FNC for many years to come!

In Joisey, Money Grows on Trees

These guys must be nuts. In the New Jersey gubernatorial race, Republican businessman Doug Forrester and Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Corzine have already spent over $46 million between them to get elected. 

Can you imagine how much good these guys could do for their perspective constituents by simply agreeing to spend no more money on the campaign, and instead diverting it to programs and benefits for those constituents? 

And now, with the race considered a dead heat, the two will likely be spending tens of millions more in the final month. 

I can tell you one thing for sure, the spending of these huge sums simply to secure power is something that I find personally offensive. 

I cannot wait until this race is over in a few weeks, and I no longer have to look at their tired faces and hear their vitriolic TV and radio ads. 

In Joisey, apparently, money is growing on trees!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

This website/blog. Fantasy baseball. Fleetwood Mac (pictured). 

Pizza. Citizen's Bank Park. The Godfather I & II. 

My 1994 Toyota Camry. The O'Reilly Factor. 

Cable TV series from HBO and Showtime, such as The Sopranos. 

Dinner and a movie with my wife, the Debber. 

The Eagles (both the Philadelphia pro football team and the singing group). 

Books on important topics by conservative authors. The Washington Times and Town Hall websites. 

Veal parmigiana with a side of pasta. A cherry gelati with vanilla ice cream from Rita's.

The sound of Harry Kalas broadcasting a Phillies game on a warm summer evening. The Big Five.

My pillow.

The columns and/or talk radio programs of Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. 

Seinfeld. My cellphone. St. Lucia. 70's rock and pop music. 

And of course, spending time with my wife Debbie, daughters Christine, Kelly and Melissa, and granddaughter Elysia. 

A slice of pizza from Sam's on the Wildwood NJ boardwalk. My golden retriever Petey. God and country. Jellybeans and salt water taffey. Coca-Cola. 

These are just a few of my favorite things. Pretty eclectic, huh?

"The Brothers & Sisters Are Running This City"

"Let me tell you: The brothers and sisters are running this city! Oh yes, running it! Don't let nobody fool you; we are in charge of the City of Brotherly Love. We are in charge!" 

These words were spoken by Philadelphia mayor John Street in 2002. 

Can you imagine a white mayor of Philly speaking in a public forum about how the "white folks are running this town"? 

Philly has become a racially polarized town, no matter what the PC folks at the local Chamber of Commerce try to sell you. 39% white, 38% black as it's twin racial majorities. 

In the current local politically ultra-liberal climate, take it from a lifelong resident and city employee, thus someone who can't leave without losing their job: Philadelphia - A nice place to visit, but you wouldn't wanta live here.

The Trouble With Harriet

President George W. Bush has nominated Harriet Miers, the official White House Counsel, to replace the retiring Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).

The nomination was made on Monday October 3rd, 2005, the same day that John Roberts officially took his seat as Bush’s first SCOTUS appointee, and also took the reigns as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, replacing the recently deceased William Rehnquist.

The fact that the President had the opportunity to appoint two new judges to the court at all during his term, let alone the rare opportunity to appoint two within a couple of months, should have been a cause for euphoric celebration on the Right, his and the Republican party’s base.

When Mr. Bush was elected, he promised his constituency that, if given an opportunity to make appointments to the court, his appointee(s) would be strict constructionists in the mold of current conservative SCOTUS stalwarts Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

In last year’s Presidential election, Bush defeated Democratic nominee John Kerry by receiving over 62 million votes, the highest vote total ever received by any American candidate for the office.

A large number of these voters, certainly the vast majority needed to secure Mr. Bush’s victory, knew when they cast their ballots that there was a strong likelihood of at least one, and likely multiple SCOTUS openings that would be filled by the man sitting in the Oval Office during the next term.

Mr. Bush’s pledge to appoint solid conservatives who could likely be counted on to help reverse the court’s decades-long liberal leanings was one of the principal reasons that he received many of those votes.

So now, flash forward to less than a year after the election. Justice O’Connor announces her retirement, and within a couple of months, aging Chief Justice Rehnquist passes away after a period of ill health.

Within a year, Mr. Bush has the opportunity to reward those 62 million voters with a pair of solid, proven conservative constructionists.