Each game of chess means there’s one less
Variation left to be played
Each day got through means one or two
Less mistakes remain to be made…Chess (Anderson, Ulvaeus, Rice)
Today’s actions were just one early move in the bigger chess match that is abortion rights in America today. I’m not surprised at the latest burst of outrage around the blogs, but remember the big picture here, gang. South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds’ signing the bill was a forgone conclusion. It doesn’t start to get interesting until someone — presumably Planned Parenthood — files their challenge to the law and the courts get into gear.
This is chess — think a few moves ahead. Not only is this law on the fast track to SCOTUS, but in addition, it’s also nicely timed for the 2006 congressional election cycle. You can bet your bootie that congressional candidates all across the country are going to be asked to weigh in on their beliefs about women’s reproductive rights by way of their comments on this case.
So, vent your spleen all you like, but save some energy for the battles to come, becasue come they will. And if you can, consider tossing some $ to Planned Parenthood; they’re going to need it.
Time, by the way, has an interesting look at this issue. It’s worth a read, here’s a snippet:
In a country where two thirds of the public does not want to see Roe vs. Wade overturned, but nearly as many favor stricter limits on abortion, pragmatic abortion opponents have pushed for parental notification laws, waiting periods, restrictions on late-term abortions: The strategy was to chip away at Roe to try to shrink it, change its shape, and over time promote a