Elections Have Consequences, Part 111
posted at 8:16 am on April 14, 2009 by Kid from Brooklyn
Once John McCain clinched the 2008 Republican nomination for President, it became clear that I was going to be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. In the end, my decision came down to control of the courts. Barack Obama has shown himself to be a destroyer of capital, and is making Carter look Churchillian on foreign policy. In these regards, with apologies to Dennis Green, he is what we thought he was (and we let him off the hook). Obama’s embrace of radical judicial philosophies (such as “redistributive change”) are downright fearsome, all the more so when hidden behind sunny speeches and soaring rhetoric. Ultimately, my fear of an unfettered Obama reshaping the court system to his liking was far greater than my contempt for a squishy Maverick.
The first shoe dropped with the appointment of David Hamilton to the 7th Circuit, followed by (Dean of Yale Law) Harold Koh’s appointment to State, as chief legal counsel to Hillary Clinton. Now comes Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, advocating U.S. adoption of foreign precedent in the plainest language possible. Money quote:
“Why shouldn’t we look to the wisdom of a judge from abroad with at least as much ease as we would read a law review article written by a professor?”
Here, Justice Ginsburg, is your answer. It may sound familiar to you.
“I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God.”
What else can we expect from Supreme Court Justices who can’t even be trusted to properly interpret their own oath of office? Truth be told, liberal jurists need foreign precedent in order to justify future rulings on concepts now considered unconstitutional, such as “hate speech”. If we allow foreign precedent into an opinion, it will creep into a decision and form precedent. If you give a mouse a cookie, it’s going to ask you for a glass of milk. Given the ramifications of an Obama court, it would be dangerously naive to think otherwise. In light of these remarks, the appointments of Koh and Hamilton are ominous signs that are not to be ignored or taken lightly.
Indeed, elections have consequences. Please join me in praying for increased health and long life…for the entire bench.
Blowback
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you are right, Kid. however, look at it this way: Ol’ Ruth is indeed a far-out leftie. if she resigns, bambi will replace her with a far-out leftie. that will mean no net change to the court (i hope).
but it will be bambi’s ability to shape the appeals courts & district courts that is disturbing. bush couldn’t get all his appts. thru the senate, but bambi will be able to do so.
kelley in virginia on April 14, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Which is why the Supremes are the backstop…at least until conservatives take the Senate.
Kid from Brooklyn on April 14, 2009 at 8:39 AM
Why did you feel the need to vote for evil?
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” ~John Quincy Adams
In a point of irony, McCain voted to confirm both Breyer and Ginsburg, as well as fawned over O’Connor when she retired. McCain would have been worse, long-term, than Obama. McCain’s policy ideas closely resemble Obama’s, yet carry the letter “R” next to them. If only “conservatives” would vote for principle rather than expediency.
Send_Me on April 14, 2009 at 11:44 AM
It’s all well and good that judges and politicians take these oaths of office but here’s the rub- whenever they act in violation of said oaths, nothing ever happens. There are no consequences for them.
So it’s little wonder that they hold them in such low esteem.
The only way to try and return some sanity to proceedings is to fire judges and politicians whenever they break their oaths of office.
Jay Mac on April 14, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Again, both choices sucked last year. Given the choice between the squish and the radical, I saw no choice but to vote for the squish against the radical. Mind you, the (R) ticket featured the only executive, a consistent pro-lifer, tax cutter and reformer. I sleep very easy at night knowing that I voted my conscience.
Kid from Brooklyn on April 14, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Sure, McCain was fine, except… he sponsored McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy; he supports “Living Constitution” judges (voted to confirm Breyer and Ginsburg and has praised O’Connor); he’s “pro-life” yet supports embryonic stem cell research; he’s a global warming apologist; he receives an F- from the Gun Owners of America for 2nd Amendment issues for many reasons; he has very well-known populist views of economics; he was a member of the “Gang of 14″; he voted for the $700+ billion pork chop, which was unconstitutional, unwise, and unjust in so many ways; and he didn’t even vote on the Clean [non-]Energy Act of 2007.
If McCain had won, he would have: A) assured the passing of amnesty, which would have forever changed the face of America, B) enacted more socialistic policies as Bush had done (bailout? social welfare? nationalized banking? federalized credit?), C) enacted Global Warming reduction policies, D) given us more judges like Ginsburg and Breyer (whom he voted to confirm)… Need I continue? And here’s the best part: after these policies failed the country, he would have taken the blame for it (just as Bush has done), which would have ensured an Obama presidency in 2012, more lost Congressional seats in 2010 and 2012, hence resulting in even more damage. I’m thinking about the long term, not just this one election.
Send_Me on April 14, 2009 at 5:44 PM