Roberts needs to figure out how to rein in the rest of the justices. That Alito can't conceive of compromises is a real problem. Minimally he needs to re-read any Federalist paper and history of the founding fathers where they are very clear on separation of church and state, and that the US is NOT founded on Christianity. Judeo-Christia…
Roberts needs to figure out how to rein in the rest of the justices. That Alito can't conceive of compromises is a real problem. Minimally he needs to re-read any Federalist paper and history of the founding fathers where they are very clear on separation of church and state, and that the US is NOT founded on Christianity. Judeo-Christian values may have informed the discussions, but "informed" is not the same as "dictate". Justice Thomas needs to decide whether he believes in public service or private gain. If he was not making the money he thought he should have been making, then he could have done like most other people and gotten another job. There is no way for him to spin the gifts he's been given. But minimally, he needs to pay taxes on them. All I can say for the liberal justices, make sure you are working above board.
I think so. They seem to have shown some awareness of the impact of their rulings and tempered their reach. I think Kavanaugh may be a possible swing voter at times as well.
Not sure how much "power" a Chief Justice has. I suspect there is horse trading in the Supreme Court. Roberts wants to gut the Voting Rights Act and doesn't care much about culture war things so there's a bit of a trade off. They all get what they want except for Sotomayor, Karen, and Jackson-Brown.
I think the justices suffer from "absolute power corrupts absolutely" syndrome. What consequences are there for fraud? For bias? For sleaze? Nothing. They can do anything and say anything and enjoy their lifetime seat dictating how the rest of us live. Nine humans with unlimited power and zero accountability.
Either Roberts hasn't tried hard enough to reign the other Justices in, or he simply can't, but in either case, it's yet one more point towards term limits on the Supreme Court.
There is a third possibility - Roberts has allowed the other Justices to carry his water while he comes out clean enough that the authors feel sorry for him and the rest of us make excuses for him shirking his administrative and constitutional duties.
I agree. They have sown the seed of their demise, to the detriment of the country. Most people can accept judgements they disagree with, if these judgements were made in good faith and with well-founded reasoning.
What really surprised me was how not-smart Alito and his lovely wife Martha -Ann seem. I would have expected some fancy talk, more like Roberts, but instead got something like the opinionated neighbor you hope isn't outside when you take the trash cans to the curb.
I don't presume these guys are smart. I am just disappointed in how much they are bringing their personal views into their rulings. I naively have an expectation that they work to limit that, since it can't be truly eliminated. But with more conservatives on the court, they seem to have released their trues selves and are not ruling per their stated judicial philosophy.
Amazing how legislating from bench, legal conservative theory has ben turned on it head. "What were once Vices are now habits" so to speak. *Doobie Brothers
They know this is their time, with a conservative majority, to release their religious beliefs on the nation & turn back all the progress that’s been made since the 1950’s
I can't help but think that some of their decisions will be overturned by a future court, either because stare decisis no longer is paramount or the finding will be found in error, like the Dred Scott decision.
Perhaps if he and his wife engaged in a less confrontational way with their neighbors, he might get a better understanding of other view points. And his neighbors might have gotten a better understanding of his. But then there are "fundamental differences", so why bother?
John Roberts would actually need to take action, other than saying the court is above it all. He doesn't want to actually take a side, because he knows that Thomas and Alito should not be hearing some cases and should be removed. But he also knows that he will forever lose his spot in Conservative circles if he did anything about it. He is hoping that everyone will believe what he is saying instead of the bribes we are seeing.
Roberts needs to figure out how to rein in the rest of the justices. That Alito can't conceive of compromises is a real problem. Minimally he needs to re-read any Federalist paper and history of the founding fathers where they are very clear on separation of church and state, and that the US is NOT founded on Christianity. Judeo-Christian values may have informed the discussions, but "informed" is not the same as "dictate". Justice Thomas needs to decide whether he believes in public service or private gain. If he was not making the money he thought he should have been making, then he could have done like most other people and gotten another job. There is no way for him to spin the gifts he's been given. But minimally, he needs to pay taxes on them. All I can say for the liberal justices, make sure you are working above board.
Are Roberts and Coney Barrett the next posible swing voters? (in some cases)
I think so. They seem to have shown some awareness of the impact of their rulings and tempered their reach. I think Kavanaugh may be a possible swing voter at times as well.
He seems to be the most moderate of the Trump appointees.Although it seems Coney Barrett could be a swing voter at times.
Not sure how much "power" a Chief Justice has. I suspect there is horse trading in the Supreme Court. Roberts wants to gut the Voting Rights Act and doesn't care much about culture war things so there's a bit of a trade off. They all get what they want except for Sotomayor, Karen, and Jackson-Brown.
If he's Chief, he has some power. One thing might be to not assign the majority opinion.
Not much but something. Problem is that Alito and Thomas have the bits in the mouths.
But I agree with your comment. Roberts has his interests and judgement calls.
I think the justices suffer from "absolute power corrupts absolutely" syndrome. What consequences are there for fraud? For bias? For sleaze? Nothing. They can do anything and say anything and enjoy their lifetime seat dictating how the rest of us live. Nine humans with unlimited power and zero accountability.
Either Roberts hasn't tried hard enough to reign the other Justices in, or he simply can't, but in either case, it's yet one more point towards term limits on the Supreme Court.
None
There is a third possibility - Roberts has allowed the other Justices to carry his water while he comes out clean enough that the authors feel sorry for him and the rest of us make excuses for him shirking his administrative and constitutional duties.
I agree. They have sown the seed of their demise, to the detriment of the country. Most people can accept judgements they disagree with, if these judgements were made in good faith and with well-founded reasoning.
The exception:Thomas and Alito
Yep. They are not hiding behind judicial modesty, if they ever did.
What really surprised me was how not-smart Alito and his lovely wife Martha -Ann seem. I would have expected some fancy talk, more like Roberts, but instead got something like the opinionated neighbor you hope isn't outside when you take the trash cans to the curb.
absolutely Trumpian
Alito thought he was talking to a campesino, a right-wing ally. He was suckered into thinking he was in a “safe space."
I don't presume these guys are smart. I am just disappointed in how much they are bringing their personal views into their rulings. I naively have an expectation that they work to limit that, since it can't be truly eliminated. But with more conservatives on the court, they seem to have released their trues selves and are not ruling per their stated judicial philosophy.
Amazing how legislating from bench, legal conservative theory has ben turned on it head. "What were once Vices are now habits" so to speak. *Doobie Brothers
Your activist judges, my impartial judges. Tomato, tomahto.
Potato,Potahto. Let s call the whole thing off.
They know this is their time, with a conservative majority, to release their religious beliefs on the nation & turn back all the progress that’s been made since the 1950’s
I can't help but think that some of their decisions will be overturned by a future court, either because stare decisis no longer is paramount or the finding will be found in error, like the Dred Scott decision.
Alito lacks self-awareness to the extent that he seems to think his views are THE way things really are, not just the way he sees them.
Or the way he’d like to see them
Perhaps if he and his wife engaged in a less confrontational way with their neighbors, he might get a better understanding of other view points. And his neighbors might have gotten a better understanding of his. But then there are "fundamental differences", so why bother?
Live in Washington long enough and you meet a lot of well-educated, well-connected idiots with Ivy League degrees.
It was particularly galling as a bartender trying to finish my public school degree.
My plumber friend sounds a whole lot smarter.
John Roberts would actually need to take action, other than saying the court is above it all. He doesn't want to actually take a side, because he knows that Thomas and Alito should not be hearing some cases and should be removed. But he also knows that he will forever lose his spot in Conservative circles if he did anything about it. He is hoping that everyone will believe what he is saying instead of the bribes we are seeing.