GOP leaders have indicated that they intend to drop their proposed Constitutional Amendments banning “flag burning” and “gay marriage.” Instead, in a desperate attempt to dangle the ultimate “red meat” before their base, they plan to seek the abolition of the 13th Amendment, and actually bring back slavery.

As House Speaker Dennis Hastert said, “we’re not getting much of the black vote anyway, what have we got to lose?”

In order to give this plan a realistic chance to pass legal muster, the Republicans are pushing Roger B. Taney — author of the infamous Dred Scott decision that helped precipitate the Civil War — for the next opening on the Supreme Court.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist cited Taney’s top-flight credentials as a former Chief Justice, and his strong commitment to states’ rights. When confronted with the fact that Taney has been dead for almost 150 years, Frist replied: “What’s the difference, Clarence Thomas doesn’t ask any questions from the Bench either.”

“Besides,” Frist added, “how can you be so sure he’s really dead?”

Some GOP moderates are concerned, however, that reimposing slavery may send the wrong signal, especially in view of current U.S. efforts to liberalize the Arab world. Consequently, as an alternative, they’re willing to settle for a return to the “separate but equal” doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson.

When asked about her position on this potential “compromise” proposal, Senator Hillary Clinton stated that she was reserving judgment on the matter, particularly since she thought “separate but equal” worked out just fine in her own marriage.

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More on “brain-dead” GOP from Progressive Daily Beacon.

Skippy on W’s distinction as worst of the worst.

And Presidential Scholars weigh in on Dubya (OK, this is a Summer rerun, but worth another look).