The Ballad of Kathleen Parker
By 
Republicans have long been working a double game on Roe, assuring their base that their judges will overrule Roe while also trying to persuade gullible pro-choice suburbanites and Savvy pundits that no such thing would ever happen. The peak of the form, however, I think was reached by Kathleen “Donald Trump winning will be just fine” Parker in 2018:
What new justice would want to be that man or woman, who forevermore would be credited with upending settled law and causing massive societal upheaval? As for other conservative justices, only Clarence Thomas would likely vote to overturn Roe v. Wade . Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the most important voices in this discussion, echoed the thoughts of close-to-the-court sources, who told me that neither Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. nor Neil M. Gorsuch would likely want to wade into that swamp and weigh in on a Roe v. Wade reversal.
A truly amazing graf, a true galaxy brain at work. (“Sam Alito would NEVER dream voting to overrule Roe and risking his reputation among the liberal establishment!) But it’s the citation to Susan Collins that makes it special. The hardened cynic leading the person who gives 50% of her annual income to the Federal Wallet Inspector.
Anyway! You may have heard that the draft opinion of the Court written by Reasonable, Moderate Sam Alito holding that Roe should be nuked from orbit just to be sure was leaked earlier this week. And Parker has some thoughts, although certainly no acknowledgement of how massively wrong she was. First, denial:
The usual combatants have reacted predictably, even though the document is, hello, only a “draft” by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and may or may not receive the predicted approval by five conservative justices. Pity Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who had this unprecedented leak on his watch and has ordered an investigation.
And, before the column even ends, acceptance:
I’ve watched both parties go over the cliff fighting or defending Roe and I’ve sometimes wondered: Would it really be so bad if abortion were decided by the states? What would the pros look like?
Hoo boy. — instead she pretended she was blind. Well, why stop now? If you aren’t personally affected, the only cost of lying to yourself is your dignity, and that ship sailed years ago.