Several weeks back, Rudy Giuliani, appearing in Fox News, stated that he would appoint strick constructionist judges to the bench, much like Justices Scalia, Roberts, and Alito. This sentiment was in response to a question of whether Roe versus Wade should be overturned. Many conservatives, including me, thought that even if he’s pro-choice, if he appoints judges like the three mentioned, the matter becomes almost moot.
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Hold the phone on that one… Consider this story from the Feb 25th New York Post about a judge appointed by Rudy during his tenure:
A judge has ordered taxpayers to foot the bill – up to $20,000 – for a sex-change operation that will make a 21-year-old man into a woman. In a ruling to be released Thursday, Manhattan Family Court Judge Sheldon Rand said the city must provide the subsidized snip because the woman wannabe, identified as Mariah Lopez, had been in the care of the Administration for Children’s Services as a youngster.The judge said the agency has a duty to pay for all "necessary" medical care to the kids in its charge.
Rand ruled that Lopez suffers from a diagnosed gender-identity disorder and that surgery is the recognized treatment. "I don’t think it’s hit me yet. The consequences are so far reaching," a jubilant Lopez told The Post after learning of her victory in the legal battle, which started before Lopez was 18 and cared for by ACS. "This court has recognized that gender-identity disorder is a real condition and there is a real solution to it and people don’t have to suffer from it.".The city’s senior lawyer on the case, Julian Kalkstein, said, "We respectfully disagree with the judge’s decision and are going to be appealing the case.".Lopez said the surgery would cost between $15,000 and $20,000. The city has already paid for a laser hair-removal procedure around Lopez’s genital area.
It is no secret that many of society’s problems in this modern era of moral decline are aided and abetted by judges like Mr. Rand who are insulated for life from the consequences of their actions. Rudy’s people are saying that Giuliani had little say in the matter, having to choose from among three choices presented to him. That may be so, but there are some out there who believe Hizzoner could have done more at the time to work around the rules regarding judicial appointments.
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If Rudy (who is someone I really think would make a strong candidate) is going to tout the fact he will appoint the kinds of people to the bench that conservatives will like as the answer to concerns about his liberal stance on many matters, this might be problematic. It certainly won’t help with those who remain skeptical due to his very positions on the social issues that matter most to them. They will point to this judicial appointment as being more in line with his beliefs.
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The ’08 Prez plot thickens…