WE SHALL OVERCOME:

Changing Senate Looks Better to Abortion Foes (ROBIN TONER, 12/02/04, NY Times)

The change in the Senate is not just about the increase in the number of anti-abortion votes, which may amount to only a handful. In general, anti-abortion leaders think the political tide is gradually turning their way. They had already achieved a major legislative success in the last Congress, with the passage of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. They are euphoric over the results of last month's elections, including the defeat of Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the Democratic leader who became the symbol for conservatives of Democratic "obstructionism," particularly of judicial nominees.

Perhaps most important, the anti-abortion movement now faces the prospect of a possibly significant turnover on the Supreme Court with a strong ally in the White House and a Republican majority in the Senate that will grow to 55 votes from 51. [...]

"The country is moving pro-life," said Senator Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican who is a leading abortion opponent. "I just think you're seeing that reality now reflected in the politics."

Abortion opponents say there is particularly strong support for one of their newest legislative initiatives, the proposed Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, which would require women seeking abortions after 20 weeks to be told that Congress has determined that the fetus can feel pain and to be offered pain-relieving medication for it.

"It would be my hope that a number of women, once informed of the pain in the womb that the child will experience, will hopefully say, 'I just don't want to do this,' " said Mr. Brownback, a sponsor of the legislation. "But if they do choose to move forward, at least it's more humane for the child."

You don't see too many of the articles anymore about how there's nothing in a Bush presidency for conservatives....

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 2, 2004 12:00 AM