Plan B Forum

Absolutely, Guin. I was thinking exactly that thought earlier this morning.

This one too.

I predict nothing will happen to the right to have an abortion. Nothing in the Constitution prohibits it, and it is part of the culture now. Nothing will happen to any of the rights that American citizens presently enjoy.

What does that have to do with the Supreme Court? Congress could pass a law banning fossil fuels that would destroy the US economy, and if the president signed it into law, there would be nothing the SC could do about it. Such a law would not be unconstitutional.

"During Barrett's confirmation hearings, Harris, a former prosecutor and attorney general of California, grilled the justice about her stance on climate change.
"Do you believe that climate change is happening and is threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink?" Harris asked Barrett.
"I will not express a view on a matter of public policy, especially one that is politically controversial," the justice responded.
"Thank you Judge Barrett," Harris said. "You've made your point clear that you believe it's a debatable point."

The look you give when you're in love. Just bursting with it.

A very good piece in The Atlantic on the concept of originalism, and how it is (mis)used, especially by the right. I won't copy and paste the whole piece: just this last sentence which I think is very apt.

The Constitution should be the sturdy vessel of our ideals and aspirations, not a derelict sailing ship locked in the ice of a world far from our own.

To quote Longfellow who used the same metaphor:

Sail on, Oh Ship of State!
Sail on, Oh Union strong and great.
Humanity with all its fears
With all the hope of future years
Is hanging breathless on thy fate."

As a European (despite Brexit) I am usually quick to point out a lot of what the US does wrong. There's a lot too that it does right, at least in intent.

Seen elsewhere, but succinctly makes the point:

Amy Coney Barrett represents a minority view within the legal profession, was appointed by a president who lost the popular vote by 3 million, and was confirmed by senators who represent 47% of the population.

the grass is still wet....

acb is a constitutionally nominated and confirmed associate justice of the supreme court, and will be for life, if she so chooses.

hopefully she will retire before she becomes unable to fully perform her duties, unlike her predecessor.

edit: this is assuming she does not become chief justice, fingers crossed that john Roberts retires soon and Clarence Thomas takes over until he retires , then she becomes chief.

Clarence Thomas? Seriously?

Ask yourself why, in almost 30 years on the SCOTUS bench, why two conservative chief justices rarely assigned Thomas an opinion to write.

Scooter wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:57 pm

Ask yourself why, in almost 30 years on the SCOTUS bench, why two conservative chief justices rarely assigned Thomas an opinion to write.

Big RR wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:40 pm

Clarence Thomas? Seriously?

True to form, wesw has no earthly idea what he's talking about.

Wait a few minutes Sue and Scooter and we'll all be called racists by him.

wesw wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 27, 2020 4:25 pm

edit: this is assuming she does not become chief justice, fingers crossed that john Roberts retires soon and Clarence Thomas takes over until he retires , then she becomes chief.

Someone is pretty clueless about SCOTUS history and norms.

From Sen. Chuck Schumer's speech on the Senate floor last night:

I want to be very clear with my Republican colleagues. You may win this vote. And Amy Coney Barrett may become the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. But you will never, never get your credibility back. And the next time the American people give Democrats a majority in this chamber, you will have forfeited the right to tell us how to run that majority.