The Katie Couric interview you've been dreading waiting for.

Couric Why, in your view, is Roe v. Wade a bad decision?

Sarah Palin: I think it should be a states' issue not a federal government-mandated, mandating yes or no on such an important issue. I'm, in that sense, a federalist, where I believe that states should have more say in the laws of their lands and individual areas. Now, foundationally, also, though, it's no secret that I'm pro-life that I believe in a culture of life is very important for this country. Personally that's what I would like to see, um, further embraced by America.

Couric: Do you think there's an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution?

Palin: I do. Yeah, I do.

Couric: The cornerstone of Roe v. Wade.

Palin: I do. And I believe that individual states can best handle what the people within the different constituencies in the 50 states would like to see their will ushered in an issue like that.

Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?

Palin: Well, let's see. There's, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ...

Couric: Can you think of any?

Palin: Well, I could think of ... any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today.

Make it stop.

Update [2008-10-1 19:46:26 by Todd Beeton]:Here's the video. It starts with Joe Biden's interview and then continues with Palin's. The contrast is, to say the least, stark. The part where she's struggling to name another Supreme Court case is unwatchable, far exceeding in my mind, her Bush Doctrine moment. Moose in the headlights indeed.

Update [2008-10-1 20:5:44 by Todd Beeton]:The fine folks at the Courage Campaign, for whom I also work, are collecting suggestions for a banner to fly over Sarah Palin's L.A. event on Saturday. You can submit your own banner ideas HERE (must be 50 characters or fewer.)

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Today Hillary proposed her women's reproductive rights agenda, timed with the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade.  The agenda includes prevention measures, ensuring health insurers provide the same level of coverage for contraception as they do other perscriptions, ensuring women who survive assualt have access to emergency contreception, and greater access to reproductive health care services overseas.  The agenda includes two important commitments, which I will highlight below the fold.

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...is the perfect time to remind those pesky Democratic and Independent friends and family who are still under the  impression that John McCain is an acceptable option for president, of the stakes of this election.

What Miss Laura said:

As we reach the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade here are some important things to remember:

   * John Paul Stevens is 87 years old.

   * Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 74 years old.

   * Stephen Breyer is 69 years old.

   * David Souter is 68 years old.

By contrast,

   * John Roberts is 52 years old.

   * Samuel Alito is 57 years old.

And Miss Laura also reminds us what John McCain said:

"I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."
(Jim Davenport, Associated Press, 2.18.2007)

Of course, John McCain has never claimed to be pro-choice. Faux moderate, Susan Collins has yet she repeatedly votes against choice, having voted to confirm both Roberts and Alito, making her all the more insidious.

This video from PFAW reminds us just what a Bush enabler Susan Collins has been, on the question of choice in particular.

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    No they haven't yet, but it won't be long. This Court has shown with its recent decisions that it is not the Court it claimed to be. These same men who when testifying before the Senate, claimed to respect precedence and stated that the Court had become too activist, are now disrespecting precedence and being activist. This Court is merely waiting for the right case to hang their hats on to overturn Wade.

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Now that the law that South Dakota SB 1215 became is at risk (how much?) of being repealed by initiative in November, other jurisdictions with anti-abortion lege majorities are providing backup.

The next SCOTUS test case bill launches from Baton Rouge PDQ.

It's SB 33 and, after being approved by the House 85-17, only awaits a final Senate vote before winging its way to the governor's desk.

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