Michael Kinsley has some interesting thoughts about the lack of a true debate about abortion. As he states, people care passionately about this issue, but politicians all talk around the issue. As he implies, it was Roe v Wade that took the issue outside the area of political discussion. Kinsley also believes that the Democrats are the ones that would benefit if Roe were overturned since pro-choice Republicans would then vote Democratic.

Others have as big an impact on the lives of individuals and a far bigger cumulative effect on society. No other nation obsesses about abortion the way we do. But many Americans believe that legalized abortion is government-sanctioned murder, or something close to it. And many others (including me) believe that forcing a woman to go through an unwanted pregnancy and childbirth is the most extreme unjustified government intrusion on personal freedom short of sanctioning murder. For many in these groups, abortion is almost by definition an issue that overwhelms all others, or comes close, when they are deciding how (and whether) to vote. It is also, on both sides, a reliable issue for opening wallets.

Yet there is no abortion debate. Or at least the debate is unconnected to the reasons people on both sides feel so strongly about it. What passes for an abortion debate is a jewel of the political hack's art: a big issue that is exploited without being discussed.

Well, that is what happens when the Supreme Court tries to shut off a debate by a judicial decision. They had as much success at ending debate as Roger B. Taney had in 1857 at ending debate on slavery in the Dred Scott decision.