Political links for a Tuesday.

[pauraque_bk]

idlerat warns of the dangers of privatizing Social Security, Bush's first order of business for the new term. We didn't hear enough about this during the campaign, possibly because it's neither an emotional hot-button nor necessarily simple to explain, but it's important.

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AP: Key GOP Senator warns Bush on judicial choices

NY Times: Abortion remark by GOP Senator puts heat on peers

Arlen Specter is a moderate Republican, in line to head up the Senate Judiciary Committee. He did a little saber-rattling after the election, warning Bush that he may meet with resistance if he attempts to appoint justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. Naturally, this is causing a stir. ani_bester has the scoop on what the American Family Association said to their mailing list about it. Now Specter's backpedaling, but he still may be blocked from becoming chairman.

Despite being pro-life, I think we'd be better off with Specter. The way to reduce the number of abortions (in my opinion) is not to ban them outright at this point, but to promote the use of condoms and the Pill. President Bush supports and funds abstinence-only sex education to the exclusion of other programs, but abstinence-only can't be shown to work. If Roe v. Wade is overturned with sex education in such a state, I see a future of more unwanted pregnancies, more abortions, and more unsafe abortions that threaten the mother's life as well.

And if you're pro-choice, I reckon it's a no-brainer. who_is_sylvia has information on how you can let the Republican leadership know you support Specter for the chairmanship (if, in fact, you do).

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AP: Hungary pulling out -- more could leave after [Iraqi] election

Hungary, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands have announced they're pulling out of Iraq. It isn't mentioned in this article, but unforgettable Poland is also scaling back its involvement.

With allies pulling out, the natural concern is whether a draft will become necessary (though Bush has often said he won't institute one). You can't become a Conscientious Objector when there isn't a draft, but you can compile a CO claim and have it ready in case you need it. I don't say this to be an alarmist -- it's simply that your claim is stronger the earlier it's compiled. (Two people on my flist have had friends of theirs in the National Guard be called up for duty in Iraq in the past week, and another is facing the possibility -- love and luck, all.)