There’s rage at this Roe v Wade mess – and those on the left who didn’t see it coming | Emma Brockes

From anti-Hillary Democrats to Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who clung on at Supreme Court, unlikely targets are being identified for blame

After the initial shock, the blame. On Monday, when news broke of the leaked US supreme court draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade, millions of horrified Americans sought emotional release. I am angry," said Elizabeth Warren, voice shaking, leading a pack of reporters straight over a flowerbed outside the supreme court. Her face ignited with rage as she reminded them that 69% of Americans are against overturning the abortion legislation. The Republicans have been working towards this day for decades," she said. In the background, a man shouted, You want to dismember children in the womb!"

For many of us, that man - the you-want-to-kill-babies guy - and his ilk were not the first target for righteous abuse. It's hard, in moments of duress, to get much satisfaction from reiterating an existing and long-held revulsion, particularly when its subject is beyond reasonable reach. When considering the rightwing architects of this moment, there was no what if" in attendance; all the what ifs belonged to the left. Political purists who in 2016 urged Democrats to avoid voting for Hillary Clinton (hi, Susan Sarandon) were the first in line, and social media echoed to the sound of, We told you this would happen."

Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist