EDITED TO ADD: I am really enjoying the (polite) (rational) (respectful)discussion going on in the comments. You guys (regardless of political views) ROCK.

From my NARAL peeps this morning:


Dear Mali,

Let's not sugar-coat it: this is a bad day for our nation, and the American values of freedom and privacy.

With the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, President Bush and his anti-choice allies now have enough votes on the Court to dismantle a woman's right to choose. And there are more than a few upcoming court cases that the new anti-choice majority on the Supreme Court could use to undermine reproductive freedom and privacy.

After so many of you fought so hard and did so much to prevent this confirmation, I can't pretend this isn't a discouraging moment.

But despite how we feel now, this is not the end. It's a challenge to be sure. Yet, we must see this moment as an opportunity to reconnect with the reason we started fighting in the first place. We've learned some hard lessons this past year. But this challenge must inspire us toward victory in the future.

If you're like me, you believe in an America where people have the freedom to take responsibility for their own lives -- without government interference. That is the America I want to live in, and we'll need you to join us in fighting to take it back.

Here's how we can get started...

First, we must take a good hard look at the latest Supreme Court confirmation battle that ended today. Of course the big question is: why did we lose? One word sums it up: numbers. While a strong majority of Americans believe in a woman's right to choose, we don't have the majority in the Senate.

There is a silver lining, though. While we lost the confirmation battle, we have significantly added to the numbers of active pro-choice Americans who can help us win back the Senate.

As one of our most loyal activists, I'm asking you to be a part of our game plan for 2006. We're focusing our efforts to turn today's lessons into pro-choice victories by...

Electing pro-choice senators in 2006. To quote pro-choice Sen. Barack Obama: "There's one way to guarantee that the judges who are appointed to the Supreme Court are judges that reflect our values. And that's to win elections."

Preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the need for abortion with our nationwide Prevention First campaign.

As we put our priorities into action, one thing is certain: we can't succeed without you by our side. You are our partner in this struggle, and your dedication, creativity, and ideas are our most valuable resource. So, today I'm asking you to share your thoughts with your fellow pro-choice Americans.

Here are a few ways we're hoping you will give us your input as we begin this new day:

Ask me anything you want to know about our plan for 2006. Write me at CAN@prochoiceamerica.org with the subject line "Ask Nancy" and I'll be answering your questions throughout next week.

Join the discussion on our blog. Our resident blogger Jessica will be leading online discussions about what this confirmation means, how we can keep up hope, and what we're going to do next. Check it out now at www.bushvchoice.com.

Say it loud and proud: "I am Pro-Choice America." Check out our online photo gallery of Americans around the country who have joined our "We Are Pro-Choice America" slideshow -- then add your photo as well!

As you reflect on today's challenges and look forward to fight for the victories ahead, I want to thank you again for all the work you continue to do to protect a woman's right to choose.


My Best,

Nancy Keenan
President, NARAL Pro-Choice America


I am quite depressed today. It saddens me that our country's "most important" court is so partisan and is becoming more so. In my fantasy-world, if there were to be partisan folks on the supreme court, there would be a limit EITHER WAY. No more than 3 of ANY party. So don't be telling me I'd say something different if Alito was really liberal. I admit that I wouldn't be so terrified for my country's future as I am right now, but I think a good set up would be 3 conservative, 3 liberal and 3 moderate. But then, I also don't think the president should be the one picking the judges. Don't start me.

One thing I was thinking about the other day is that it's interesting that states and cities and such across the nation are enacting more and more "liberal" policies (such as Washington passing the law making it illegal to discriminate on sexual indentity) while big national government and the president are becoming more and more conservative.

Do I think that the US will re-ban abortion in my lifetime? I fear so. This would be a sad day indeed.

*sigh*

Some days it's hard to keep fighting - ya know? Some days I really WISH I was UberBornAgainRightWingChristian so that all these trends would make me happy. I'm so tired of being the small dissenting party.

I also wish I could at least UNDERSTAND why people think that way.


Even MORE mind-boggling: I wish I understood the midset of not caring about the environment. I just DON'T GET IT. How can people not care? How can the price of gas be more important to people than air quality? Why do people not care that more and more children have asthma each year? How can people deny global warming or claim that it's not a big deal?

EVEN MORE MIND-BOGGLING: How can people who do CLAIM to care about these things still vote for people like Bush?

I DON'T GET IT.

If someone walks up to me and says "I'm pro-life, for big corporation and don't care about destroying Alaska to drill for oil, so I voted for Bush" that makes sense to me and I can politely disagree. It's the folks who say "I DO care about the evironment but I still voted for Bush" that make no sense to me.

None of them can ever explain it either.
Has anyone else noticed this?

If anyone needs me, I'll be crying in the bathroom.