With Liberty and Justice for Some

As people all over the U.S. join together this weekend for a little independence Day celebrations, it makes me wonder what we are really clinging on to.

This week marks the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and conservatives and liberals alike are scrambling about in speculation and anticipation.

And I'm not afraid to say it......I'm just a wee bit worried.

First of all, I know O'Connor was not your typical conservative. Although many of her opinions had more conservative leanings, there were always just a few moderate opinions that gave me hope for a more balanced bench. She was a voice of reason and often fairness, sometimes facing harsh opposition.

For months everyone was assuming that Chief Justice Rehnquist would be retiring, and liberals every where were freaking out. Who would replace him? Think about it, have you seen the candidates for O'Connor's replacement?

Granted Rehnquist was also a conservative, but he was also a defender of the law, and the judicial system as we know it. His steadfast beliefs that the judiciary should be safeguarded and kept separate from the legislative branch, is something that seems to be lacking in today's political arena.

Do we honestly believe that someone like say, Attorney General Gonzales will be able to keep the ever present "Bush" voice out of his ear?? I mean the guy owes his whole political success, and career to the "W."

As potential candidates go, there have been about 8 people mentioned so far, and all seem to have more conservative leanings (to put it lightly). I just hope that the administration will choose someone who understands what upholding the laws means, and that treating every situation fairly without personal relationship influence, is vital to the future of "democracy", or whatever is left of it.