Bush stacks the Court

If Alito is confirmed to the Supreme Court, the court will almost certainly lean to the right.

Sandra Day O'Connor was a moderate swing vote on the court, and Bush wants to replace her with someone with a proven track record of conservative rulings on things like reproductive rights, privacy, descrimination, and sexual harrassment.

From USA Today:
-----
Bush's choice, Samuel Alito, is a 15-year veteran of the Philadelphia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, where he has participated in 3,500 cases and written about 300 opinions. He was named to that job by Bush's father.

Bush moved quickly to replace a failed nomination, that of White House counsel Harriet Miers, who withdrew as a Supreme Court pick on Thursday after she ran into harsh opposition from conservatives. Announcing his decision at the White House with Alito by his side, the president called Alito "one of the most accomplished and respected judges in America."

If confirmed by the Senate, the 55-year-old Alito would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a centrist and the swing vote in many closely decided cases.

Conservatives welcomed the choice. "President Bush has hit a home run," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.

Liberal interest groups and some Democrats voiced immediate concerns, particularly because the choice may prove pivotal in future decisions on issues from abortion to civil rights and civil liberties.

"I would have hoped the president would have filled Sandra Day O'Connor's seat with a person in line with her philosophy," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. "This is a needlessly provocative nomination," said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
-----
[Read more.]

If Alito gets his way, women will once again be chattel, beholden to the will and whims of men.

We're in for an interesting confirmation process. And heaven help us if the Senate confirms the nomination. A conservative Court could slowly unravel much of the social progress of the 20th century. Heaven help us.