The jury’s still out on if Sonia Sotomayor is the right judge for the job, in editorial page here ..
on 05/31/2009 at 09:58 AM
Interesting article.
Not being able to predict how a judge rules from past cases is indeed a worry. My own thoughts on this:
Nominations should be seen as merely nominations, not a fait accompli.
The confirmation process is what’s important. If it is working correctly (not a given if one party is in control of the executive branch and both bodies of the legislative branch,) then only judges that have shown to have critical and good judgement, and who respect the original meaning of the Constitution’s words (as known in common parlance at the time they were written) should be confirmed to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
This “Extension of policy” idea coming from the Executive branch of the government degrades and devalues the Supreme Court, regardless of which party it’s coming from.
I’m left with a question: If the Supreme Court exhibits a pattern of ruling on Constitutional cases in a way that is blatantly not in agreement with the Constitution (or the treaties signed and ratified that have Constitutional authority), what do The People have as a recourse before the final one of full blown Revolution?
Um, how about a whole lot of rope and a small grove of tall trees?
All kidding aside, we have just about no recourse. We The People can petition the Legislative Branch to move forward on an impeachment.
Don’t hold your breath. Kelo v. New London was about as wrong a decision as SCOTUS has ever made, and that didn’t make such a thing happen. Any number of decision lately have been pretty borderline, at best, IMO.
I feel strongly that we need a new Amendment. Term Limits for all. Congressweasels, Senators, Justices of the Supreme Court and the slightly lesser District Courts. Perhaps all government employment outside of the military should be limited to 12 years maximum, with some kind of rider that, once you’re retired, you can’t be a consultant for any organization or PAC for another decade. Maybe each job type needs it’s own set of numbers.
If our government won’t act with honor, then we need a law that makes them do so. Do the job with honesty and integrity, don’t be a party hack, then leave. Thanks for your service, DLTDHYOTWO.
"Some Assembly Required”, Drew?
I’ve wrestled with the idea of term limits on elected officials for a while, and I do see value in them when looking at the current political landscape. Amendment XXII provides the precedent, though the elected position affected is but one.
Federal term limits for elected representatives in the Federal Government would require a similar such amendment. A mere law would run afoul of Amendment I.
Since it would require a Constitutional Amendment, you now need the buy-in of 2/3 of the House and 2/3 of the Senate OR a Constitutional Congress consisting of 2/3 of the States[*] to agree upon an amendment, and then the Legislatures of 3/4 of all of the States need to ratify it.
How do you get that many political animals to vote to curtail their own access to power and money?
[*] Oh, and as a side-note: I would LOVE to see the U.S. Congress be scared out of their minds if two thirds (or more) of the States got together to form a Constitutional Congress for ANY reason.
A.G. Tiger - how about 2/3 of the States getting together for repealing the 16th Amendment - NY, CA, FL & IL are a given as to not being interested at all - but imagine the heart palpitations if the Klownposse in DC had an inkling that 32 states would think that is a good idea.
Yes Term Limits and get rid of Income Tax (and the IRS) - those two things would save American citizens billions of dollars and give back a lot of the power to We The People.
Wardmama: I think you just nailed THE idea that would be the natural extension to many of the State Sovereignty laws we see various States being passed. The States are worried and/or annoyed. Let them get a bit angry, and this might gain momentum.
What might derail it is the Federal Government, realizing it’s facing a complete knee-capping, going into full on Carrot/Stick mode trying to both cajole and threaten the States to NOT do such a thing. Here’s hoping the States wouldn’t fall for their bullshit, and that 38 States would be willing to ratify such amendments.
A.G.Tiger - yeah - during the Bush years - I’d have agreed with you - but Teleprompter Precedent made one huge mistake - he fixed it so that if you get Federal Monies you dance to his tune. And people and companies and yes even States aren’t liking that at all.
Gov Palin is still fighting that fight - as DC wants to remake all AK housing into green nightmare crappola - and the kind of people who actually want to live under 300 feet of snow and darkness most of the year - don’t want DC telling them they have to have solar panels and eco friendly housing parts and mini-hybrid cars.
It is going to be Middle America (which even though not middle AK qualifies for) you know - The FlyOver States that are going to bring an end to this crap.
When you get someone like Craig T. Nelson sitting on National TV (ok, Fox News but it’s close) saying I’m not going to pay my taxes because the schools are crap and I don’t support or believe in most of the programs. You have a citizenry that is no longer willing to accept the status quo.
Those on the other side - don’t believe in owning guns, a good portion are either illegal or not holding jobs (or both),and are more concerned with American Idol than American government - and when the s*** hits the fan (economic collapse, another 9/11, civil war) - they are going to be up the creek without a gun, skills or even a clue.
Sadly, I do not think we are going to have to wait for another election for any of the above to happen - Teleprompter Precedent, the Thug Administration, and the Klownposse in DC just could not control themselves and have attempted to turn the US into Cuba with the possible result of ending up being like Zimbabwe.
God Help America because it’s not going to be pretty or fun at all.
Wardmama: The only appropriate response to “If you want our money, you have to dance to our agenda” is not to dance.
You’re right, there’s another civil war coming.
05/31/2009 at 10:36 AM
05/31/2009 at 02:37 PM
