Scalia says courts taking on too much of a political role

[Judi Lynn]

Scalia says courts taking on too much of a political role

HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
Monday, September 20, 2004


(09-20) 18:05 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Justice Antonin Scalia on Monday bemoaned the Supreme Court's willingness to decide political questions such as the death penalty and abortion and predicted as a result a tough confirmation fight for the next nominee.

Scalia, who made no mention of possible retirements on the court, said judicial appointments are becoming increasingly bitter because justices are improperly deciding morally charged questions that are best left to elected legislatures.

"Each year, the confirmation of judicial appointments grows more intense. One shudders to think what sort of turmoil will greet the next appointment to the Supreme Court," Scalia told an audience of 60 at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center.

"The lesson is: One way or another, people will have their say on significant issues of social policy ... and judges will be made politically accountable," he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/09/20/national2055EDT0755.DTL

[RFKHumphreyObama]

1. He'd have more credibility

If he hadn't so blatantly politicized the post himself -holding love ins with Uncle Dick just before hearing his case and making spurious arguments on why to select *

[Voltaire99]

19. He will never have the least credibility

And especially not once he is made Chief Justice. With each least breath the partisan Scalia reveals, like a living X-ray machine, the political nature of our vaunted justice system.

As Dylan memorably sang,

"...Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game."

[Carla in Ca]

25. His 'politics' got us into this mess!

my sig tells you what I think

[MichiganVote]

2. Said the pot to the kettle

[UpInArms]

11. after his judicial political activism

appointed the resident to 1600 Penn Ave

:nuke:

[Cocoa]

34. what's more political than that?

and how can any news story on the politicizing the SC omit that bit of recent history?

[punpirate]

3. And this from someone who crafted...

... a blatant, partisan abuse of the 14th Amendment in order to ensure the victory of a corrupt, incompetent Republican hack in a general election for President?

I'll grant `em this--the right wing has chutzpah. And Scalia has more than most of `em.

[AlCzervik]

4. I'm sure Justice scalia has a lovely view about these

things from his glass duck blind.

[vetwife]

5. Oh yes, I agree..Been saying that since 2000 when he annoited our King

[yardwork]

6. This comment leaves me breathless!

And not in a good way! Tony, what in the world are you smoking?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. A bong with holy water?

[SharonAnn]

23. But he's saying the judges shouldn't interpret the Constitution,

he's saying that the legislatures should write whatever laws they want to write.

So, I guess he thinks we have no "unalienable rights".

I was confused at first because I wondered "How on earth could Scalia and I agree on that?" But I discovered that he really wants legislatures to be unfettered, with no protection for the people from the ocurts.

This is vintage Scalia. The fascist school he went to as a boy really molded his mind.

[Carolab]

28. You are right

The fascists want to turn all of these issues, like abortion rights, gay marriage, etc. over to the states, where the Republicans can grease the judge's palms more effectively, and decisions can be handed down by a majority opinion of ONE.

[UTUSN]

8. Well, DUH,--------Boy-------How Do I Get a Lifetime Job Like Yours? n/t

[MasonJar]

9. He certainly has a first hand view of this position.

[alittlelark]

10. OMG!!! HE actually SAID THAT!!!!!

Lizard-spawn is sooooo disturbing.

[Bluebear]

12. Ha ha ha ha ha ha

[Roland99]

13. Did he comment on the Florida Supreme Bush Court

and the decision to put Nader on the ballot?

[w4rma]

14. Like deciding the President of the United States? (nt)

[Isere]

15. The death of irony!

Have I lived too long? Must be, because I never thought I would hear such nonsense.

[sonias]

16. Go Cheney yourself Scalia!

You are the most partisan hack on the court you sleaze bag.

Sonia

[thinkingwoman]

17. the irony gods

are laughing pretty hard at this guy.

what a hoot he is!

[hyphenate]

18. You Know,

Thomas Jefferson hated the idea of letting SCOTUS be lifetime jobs. Boy, was HE right.

[gratuitous]

20. Sweet creamery butter

Did they recover his little pea brain after it rolled out his ear? That man just opens his mouth and big old turds of shit fall out, you know?

[Voltaire99]

21. "Political"? The game of US justice is played as follows...

Right wing justices deliver opinions to their corporate and religious constituencies under the banner of "values" and "tradition."

Right wing justices reverse decisions of which they disapprove by dismissing them as "political."

Justice isn't so much blind as it's a Thalidomide baby, eyes wrecked by a Lasik slip, ducts seeping oil...

[Rex]

22. He danced with glee when it came to who would be Pres in 2000

Hey Scalia...bitch plz! :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[Hekate]

24. Myohmyohmyohmy ...

> Justice Antonin Scalia...bemoaned the Supreme Court's willingness
> to decide political questions...

You mean, like choosing the president of the United States? Mercy, I wonder how that man can sleep at night due to the stench of hypocrisy.

Hekate

[kodi]

26. hey, fat tony......quack, quack

you quack.

the man is a disgrace to italian-americans everywhere.

[Coventina]

27. Hey Scalia! Kiss my

sn*tch!!!

Political courts my ass! You f*cking, self-styled king-maker!!

[aquart]

29. Man has no sense of irony, does he?

[Gore1FL]

30. And in Other news...

Bonnie and Clyde complain about the rise in car thefts and bank robberies.

[vetwife]

31. ROFL laughing..

[bif]

32. Yeah, like throwing the 2000 election?

No shit, Sherlock!

[Jacobin]

33. Beat me to it.

How much more political can you get than picking the president, in violation of the constitution?