So I guess Woodward is officially doing the full David Mamet/Judy Miller combo?
Speaking for myself, it’s hard for me to read the sort of stuff Justice Scalia says these days without seeing red. As he’s aged, he’s tossed aside any pretense or desire to hide the fact that he sees himself as what originalists and advocates of judicial restraint are supposed to be against: namely, an appointed super legislator, contemptuous of Congress and happy to impose his own beliefs by judicial fiat. Hearing him rail about “racial entitlement” sounds more like you’re listening to some sort of talk radio blowhard than a Supreme Court Justice.
But who is he (and his fellow conservatives on the Court) helping at this point? Read More
Curious what people think of this. Veterans groups and members of Congress are panning the new drone warfare medal because it will outrank the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, both of which are combat medals. It’s hard for me to see how this doesn’t make sense. Obviously some medals are awarded for things beside physical bravery. But it does seem kind of off that the medal awarded to someone wounded in combat would rank inferior to one awarded to someone who wasn’t in any physical danger.
TPM Reader JM looks at Justice Scalia’s increasing indifference to hiding his judicial activism …
Searching for consistency from Justice Scalia is a sucker’s chore, but his comments today are especially gobsmacking. This is someone whose entire mission in life is to torpedo the “living Constitution” and finish off the idea that legal meanings and judicial interpretations should change over time, adjusting to changing circumstances.
The big non-Tea Party potential Senate candidate for the open seat in Iowa just said he’s not running.
TPM Reader JS chimes in on Justice Scalia’s textualism …
Compare and contrast.
1. Justice Scalia today regarding the voting rights act: “This is not the kind of question you can leave to Congress.”
2. The United States Constitution, Amendment XV: “SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. SECTION 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” (My emphasis.)
Sahil Kapur has more on Justice Scalia’s questioning during today’s oral arguments on the Voting Rights Act — and on Justice Sotomayor’s indirect rejoinder to Scalia’s line of questioning.
Let’s not be too hasty escalating penalties for assault and domestic violence, says one New Hampshire lawmaker, because “a lot of people like being in abusive relationships.”
While the Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act this morning, across the street at the Capitol President Obama and the congressional leadership were unveiling a statue of Rosa Parks.