It’s maneuvering, arm-twisting, and second-guessing time in Bork campaign. Washington conservatives are tending to blame White House for downplaying battle. “The White House was figuring out that this was a real fight in September. We figured out it was a real fight in July,” says Patrick McGuigan of Coalitions for America. “They came to the realization too late that this was going to be trench warfare,” says Daniel Casey, executive director of ACU… Christian Science Monitor has come up with list of federal judges—all conservatives—that Ronald Reagan might nominate if Bork goes down. Also being suggested: Sens. Orrin Hatch and Paul Laxalt (ex), both to the right of Bork… Majority Leader Robert Byrd’s suggestion that Judiciary Committee send nomination to floor directly, without a committee vote, has won approval of two powerful Democrats, Daniel Inouye and Alan Cranston. “I would not counsel a filibuster [a tactic being considered by opposition],” commented Inouye. “Most of the people of the United States, whether for or against Judge Bork, would want a clear up or down vote.” . . . Political entrail- readers believe Sen. Howell Heflin’s (D., Ala.) vote will sway other Southern senators with large black constituencies. Sen. Bob Graham (D., Fla.) agrees… Bill Bradley (D., N.J.) has come out against Bork on the civil-rights business, which, comments one analyst, could affect Sam Nunn’s vote. Why? They are both seen as Democratic presidential candidates in 1992, that’s why… Two other undecideds, Democrats Dennis De- Concini (Ariz.) and John Melcher (Mont.), could lose support of Right- to-Life groups back home if they oppose Bork. “We see the Bork vote as the top pro-life vote,” a pro-life activist told The Political Report.
The level of the anti-Bork rhetoric has, if possible, gone downhill since Teddy Kennedy’s initial blathering… Renata Adler in The New Republic. “The choice is inescapably between the nominee and the Constitution. If the nomination is confirmed [the Supreme Court] will resume around 1922 and the country will be unrecognizable for it.” . . . “An individual who believes in turning the clock back on civil rights”—Richard Gephardt… “Bork would be the most disastrous event in judicial history as I’ve known it as a defendant.”—Abbie Hoffman.




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