Conservatives have enthusiatically jumped into the fight over Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's soon-to-be-vacant seat. By rallying their base, they've already put President Bush on notice, making it clear that a moderate appointee (believe it or not, they've ID'ed Attorney General Alberto "The Geneva Convention?" Gonzales as a moderate because he may be soft on abortion) will forever ruin Bush's stature among true conservatives.

This self-righteous bloc of the Republican Party seems to be getting through to President Bush. In an interview with USA Today on Tuesday, July 5, Bush sounded defensive, calling Gonzales "a great friend," and saying he doesn't like it "when a friend gets attacked."

Jealous of the conservatives' power? You too can jump into the fray. If you feel strongly about defining social issues—say, abortion rights, affirmative action, the drug war, and the death penalty (O'Connor was a key vote on all these issues)—then you can do your part and lobby the Senate about your preferred nominee. Go to NARAL Pro-Choice America (www.naral.org), where they provide a succinct form letter to your senators and a "Supreme Court Action Kit." People for the American Way, the same folks who helped turn public sentiment against the Republicans' nuclear option during the last judicial dust up, also has a good introduction to the issues from a left perspective (www.savethecourt.org).

A caveat, though: There's a reason why justices often end up disappointing the party that nominated them. For one thing, a right-leaning judge might not be a completely reliable "conservative" from a political perspective. (For example, two of the Court's most conservative justices, William Rehnquist and Clarence Thomas, signed the dissent in support of medical marijuana, seeing it as a states' rights issue.)

It's worth risking the disappointment, though. The stakes have never been higher: Thanks to O'Connor's departure, President Bush will probably get to appoint not one, but two new justices. (The resignation of arch-conservative Rehnquist has long been expected, though he's sticking it out for at least another term.) Since O'Connor often provided the deciding vote (in a way that would have made Reagan cringe), the court—and your civil rights—are hanging in the balance. ■

annie@thestranger.com