Archive for the ‘Judiciary’ Category
In Search of Justice
Last Friday, President Obama made an unscheduled appearance during the daily White House press briefing to say that he had spoken with David Souter and announced to those assembled that the Supreme Court justice would retire this year. Reporters interrupted their presidential swoon to feign surprise. What a spontaneous moment! The president quickly whipped out a carefully crafted speech designed to fool us, again, and read it word for word. Read the rest of this entry »
What Obama’s Supreme Court would look like
Voters awake from their quadrennial slumber about this time every fourth year to prepare themselves for the business of electing a president. We cast all our cares and concerns on a man or woman we think can save us from our excesses, our personal responsibilities, our enemies here and abroad.
By the time the election rolls around, most know very little about the man or woman who gets their vote. We simply don’t care enough to reach beyond the rhetoric. We pick the one who looks, sounds or acts more like the Superman (or Superwoman) we would like him to become.
Is it any wonder our country is in such a mess?
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Let the Rumble Begin
President Bush set the stage for a fight when he nominated Samuel A. Alito to the Supreme Court. But let’s be clear about this one thing: This is a fight conservatives have been avoiding for years.
At stake is whether Supreme Court justices should interpret the Constitution or make law according to their own political whims.
The latter scenario should be scary to both liberals and conservatives. It is about giving up the rights carefully enumerated in the Constitution to five or more political ideologues, unaccountable to no one and reducing our elected representatives to mere set dressing.
It is not a big secret as to why the extreme left has been pushing us in that direction. It was the only way these folks could hope to push their unpopular ideas down our throats. Unfortunately, many on the right seem content to push us in the same direction. In short, we have lost our way. Read the rest of this entry »
My biggest problem with Hariett Miers
My biggest problem with Harriet Miers is the same as it was for John Roberts, the new chief justice of the Supreme Court. It is the same as it has been for President Bush. It is an issue from which pro-family leaders and leaders of the religious right – the groups that got out the votes that put Bush over the top in the last two presidential elections – have shied away. It is the advancement of gay rights.
Please, understand. I do not care what someone does behind closed doors with their sex life (as long as it does not include a minor). That is just too much information. I am concerned, however, when a behavior – any behavior – gives the person practicing that behavior access to my hard-earned tax dollars or special privileges under the law. Read the rest of this entry »
