Has anyone seen these comments by Sandra Day O'Conner?

[NoSheep]

"Sandra Day O'Connor, a Republican-appointed judge who retired last month after 24 years on the supreme court, has said the US is in danger of edging towards dictatorship if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1729396,00.html

Disclaimer:
I know nothing about this source, so I hope it is acceptable to post this. Someone just sent me the link. What she has to say is so right on. Sorry if it has already been discussed.

[msongs]

1. good thing she quit the court so her views could become the reality...

she says this but then bails, thus making it more likely to happen. way to go sandra!

and yes there was a clip of her saying something like this on cbs radio news last night.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/democratsmugs.htm

[NoSheep]

2. Yes. I wish she'd made statements like this earlier.

[rodeodance]

3. read the Nina Totenberg interview at the NPR website. O'Conner did

good. There was a summary last week at the site.

[rodeodance]

4. O'Conner is critical of Repugs like DeLay who threatened the courts, Terri

Shrivo case was one instance she mentioned in the interview.

[rodeodance]

5. this was posted ealier on DU--plus website for Totenberg interview.

Nina Totenberg's report is at: http://tinyurl.com/lt5ls
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1729345,00.html


Dictatorship is the danger

A Reagan-appointed supreme court justice voices her fears over attacks on US democracy

Jonathan Raban
Monday March 13, 2006
The Guardian

Linking the words "America" and "dictatorship" is a daily staple of leftwing blogs, which thrive on the idea that Bush administration policies since 9/11 are taking the country ever closer to totalitarian rule. Liberal fears that democracy is endangered by Republicans in Congress are so widespread, so endemic to the jittery political climate in the US, that they hardly bear repeating. It'll surprise no one to learn that another voice was added to the chorus last Thursday, warning that recent attacks on the American judiciary were putting the democratic fabric in jeopardy and were the first steps down the treacherous path to dictatorship.

What is surprising - more than that, electrifying - is that the voice belonged to Sandra Day O'Connor, who retired a few weeks ago from the supreme court. O'Connor is a Republican and a Reagan nominee. Regarded as the "swing vote" on the court, she swung the presidential election to George Bush in 2000.

Equally surprising is that O'Connor's speech to an audience of lawyers at Georgetown University was attended by just one reporter, the diligent legal correspondent for National Public Radio, Nina Totenberg. No transcript or recording of the speech has been made available, so we have only Totenberg's notes to go on. But - assuming they are accurate - the notes are political dynamite.

O'Connor's voice was "dripping with sarcasm", according to Totenberg, as she "took aim at former House GOP leader Tom DeLay. She didn't name him, but she quoted his attacks on the courts at a meeting of the conservative Christian group Justice Sunday last year when DeLay took out after the courts for rulings on abortions, prayer and the Terri Schiavo case.

[PsN2Wind]

6. Dubya was made president by

a five to four vote in the SCOTUS. The deciding vote was just as much from her as Scalia.
If she was really concerned she would have held off retirement until the next president took office, much as she put off retirement because she didn't want Clinton to name her successor.
"As ye sow, so also shall you reap" Sandra, you are complicit in that of which you now warn us. Live a long retirement so you can see the results of what you've done.

[NoSheep]

8. Sometimes I wonder if any of these justices, politicians, etc

have any sense at all. Is it possible that she was DUMB and is just figuring it out? Couldn't she see the writing on the wall the way so many of us did...hell, since I was about 14 years old! My political opinions haven't changed at all and I'm 42 now. I've always believed in the same set of priorities which seem to only be addressed by Democrats if anyone at all. I've always known who the bad guys are. You can see it in their eyes. It's basic animal instinct. They're either all dumb as hell or lying. Or both. Okay. Both.

[zbdent]

7. She knew this shit would happen

well before 12/12/2000 . . .

[Tippy]

9. She sure did

Since she is part of the problem what is she going to do about it, is what I wonder...Do you think she is (trying to warn us)or (change how history will view her)SCOTUS should hang it's head in shame.

[Radio_Guy]

10. I wonder if she was somehow forced out

Blackmail, or something. Sure she knew the path this country is on under Bush. So for her willing to leave the court so he could put in place his guy makes it seem suspect to me. Did he make her an offer she can't refuse?

[juajen]

11. I believe she was forced out

I have never believed she went willingly. I also believe Renquist's demise was hastened; hence, O'Connor's excessive grief over the death of a colleague few expected would live much longer.