The nomination of an unambiguous opponent of women's reproductive rights to the Supreme Court will be a test of how willing the Democratic Party is to wage a principled and determined fight when those rights are under clear attack. The Democrats stood by and said little during the travails of Harriet Miers, a completely unqualified crony who nevertheless appeared soft on the hardcore values of the right wing. This was not a principled stand, because we should not allow any incompetent person to serve on the Court no matter what their views and politics. Bush may be seriously weakened politically by recent events, but this nomination shows that he is still ready for a fight. If the Democrats are not up to it, then they will disqualify themselves from any pretensions as a force for progressive politics in this country--and make a third party all the more necessary.