It's Scalito!

Just a few minutes ago, President Bush nominated Samuel A. Alito, Jr., a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (northeast) to the United States Supreme Court. Known as "SCAlito" or "Scalia Lite" to liberal legal commentators, Alito, like Scalia, is sharp, conservative and experienced.

A key moment in Alito's 15-years on the Third Circuit was his dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1991) where he supported a Pennsylvania law requiring women to notify their husbands before having an abortion.

Alito wrote: "[t]he Pennsylvania legislature could have rationally believed that some married women are initially inclined to obtain an abortion without their husbands' knowledge because of perceived problems such as economic constraints, future plans, or the husbands' previously expressed opposition that may be obviated by discussion prior to the abortion."

Chief Justice Rehnquist's dissent in the 5-4 Supreme Court case, whose majority overturned the law, agreed with Alito.

On this Hallowe'en, we have a treat...and a war on our hands. Liberals are already calling Alito a "wacko." Let the debate begin on the role of judges vs. our elected representatives. It is a debate we will win.---OPS