There was a time in my memory when our Supreme Court was held in high esteem and citizens could be generally assured that decisions made by the court were made on the basis of the cases' merits and in accordance with the Constitution. No more.
The Supreme Court under the Chief Justiceship of John Roberts has become a hotbed of political activity where it seems that cases are decided primarily based on what would advantage the court's favorite political party. From the outrageous ruling of the court on the disputed presidential election in 2000 right through the possibly even more laughable finding that corporations are people, too, this court has lost all claim to be considered an objective arbiter of constitutional issues. The majority's opinions are always informed by the latest talking points of the right-wing.
The latest evidence of their bias came on the day that the court decided to take up the case filed against the health care reform bill. On that very day, two of the most right-wing members of the court, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dined at a fund-raiser held by the legal firm that will be arguing the case before the court. Gee, I wonder how those two justices will vote when the time comes? Or will they do the honorable thing and recuse themselves? (No, I'm not serious.)
Of course, Thomas' vote was never in doubt as it had already been bought by the money paid to his wife as a lobbyist for the anti health care reform faction. In the past, this would have been a scandal and Thomas would have been shamed into recusing himself or possibly even resigning, but these people have no shame. It is a word that does not exist in their vocabulary.
There is no longer any guarantee that the Supreme Court will be bound by the Constitution in its decisions. Indeed, it seems that it is more likely to be bound by the laws propounded by Karl Rove and Grover Norquist. That's how far our democracy has fallen.
The Supreme Court under the Chief Justiceship of John Roberts has become a hotbed of political activity where it seems that cases are decided primarily based on what would advantage the court's favorite political party. From the outrageous ruling of the court on the disputed presidential election in 2000 right through the possibly even more laughable finding that corporations are people, too, this court has lost all claim to be considered an objective arbiter of constitutional issues. The majority's opinions are always informed by the latest talking points of the right-wing.
The latest evidence of their bias came on the day that the court decided to take up the case filed against the health care reform bill. On that very day, two of the most right-wing members of the court, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dined at a fund-raiser held by the legal firm that will be arguing the case before the court. Gee, I wonder how those two justices will vote when the time comes? Or will they do the honorable thing and recuse themselves? (No, I'm not serious.)
Of course, Thomas' vote was never in doubt as it had already been bought by the money paid to his wife as a lobbyist for the anti health care reform faction. In the past, this would have been a scandal and Thomas would have been shamed into recusing himself or possibly even resigning, but these people have no shame. It is a word that does not exist in their vocabulary.
There is no longer any guarantee that the Supreme Court will be bound by the Constitution in its decisions. Indeed, it seems that it is more likely to be bound by the laws propounded by Karl Rove and Grover Norquist. That's how far our democracy has fallen.
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