Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
As your resident pessimist, I predicted that the Supreme Court would uphold the ObamaTax as Constitutional. Which means that I was psychologically much better prepared for what happened on Thursday than many of you.
But when I read that CBS story Troy linked to below, confirming Chief Justice John Roberts' defection, I was aghast. It's one thing to deal with a Supreme Court upholding an unconstitutional invasion of liberty. It's entirely another to realize that it happened over Justice Kennedy's strenuous objections. It's entirely another to read the messy disaster of a decision by Roberts. And when you realize that in the process of making that decision, Roberts managed to completely lose the respect of at least half (if not all) of the other justices in the court .... well, what is there to say?
The more I think about this decision, the more outraged I am. And it sounds like I'm not alone. Byron York writes:
I ran into a prominent conservative member of Congress Friday night just before the huge storms moved through Washington. He was, he said, far angrier on the day after the Supreme Court Obamacare decision than he had been the moment he learned Chief Justice John Roberts had joined the Court’s liberal bloc to uphold the individual mandate at the heart of Obamacare. He didn’t resort to histrionics or profanity, but he was spitting mad — and his anger was growing, not diminishing.
York offers several more examples, along with published critiques such as those by our own John Yoo, before noting that public opinion polls show increased unhappiness with the ruling among many folks on the right.
So what about you? What are your stages of anger? Are you more or less upset than you were initially. Why?
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Sep '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Definitely more upset. If Roberts's reasoning had to do with protecting the Court's image, he blew that, considering the recent polling. I'm blown away by the reports that he caved to what amounts to bullying.
Edited on July 2, 2012 at 5:15pmJun '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
My stages thus far: incredulity; anger; then mild depression.
Now I'm two parts determination to do my part to end this abomination and utter perplexity as to why Roberts did what he did.
Maybe he'll explain sometime, but I'm unable to develop a rationale that makes any sense: other than that he "literally, and not figuratively," believes what he wrote, in which case he should have flunked law school.
When's the next tea party event in my area. I'll be there.
Edited on July 2, 2012 at 5:18pmRe: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Mollie didn't you also put in a comment somewhere that you were worried about Roberts being the deciding vote and writing the opinion? I recall that, but I'm not perfectly sure.
Apr '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
"Wax on. Wax off is only maya, Grasshoppa. (Snatch the First Amendment from my hand)."
Nov '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I didn't get angry.
Apr '12
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Something went terribly wrong and we don't know why. The whole Roberts storyline is more disturbing the more you look at it.
Dec '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Like you, I'm angrier as time passes. I tried to give Roberts the benefit of the doubt. I can't fault the man for rendering opinions that are honest even if they are flawed. It's the dishonesty of the matter that is killing me. I would defend him for being sincerely wrong, but I cannot defend this.
What's worse is that the left does not care one bit about how they go their way.
Aug '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I admit that I was looking for the best possible spin on the day of the decision, but I'm with you, Mollie -- as time has passed, I find that no spin is comforting, and everything seems worse and worse . . .
Jan '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
More.
I keep going back to Dave Carter's piece, and the notion that this is no way to run a country.
I'm still having serious problems with two things. First, that while Roberts claimed that we needn't be worried about the taxing power being unlimited ... he gave nor cited any real limit on it. It was as if he took the limit for granted, hey, we all know what it is. But the whole dispute about the Commerce Clause was about what happens when you don't set a clear limit on the power of government - they'll just keep taking it until you stop them. And when you pat yourself on the back about limiting regulation, it seems obvious that you must also set a limit on taxation - and explain that limit clearly.
My second worry is that when you have four justices solidly against, and four justices solidly in favor, you have to accept the reality that this is no accident. It represents an ideological conflict, in both political and legal theory, that you can't pretend isn't there. Being momentarily clever solves nothing.
Dec '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
The one bright spot in this is that Reagan has been utterly confirmed: government (not even our vaunted Supreme Court) is not the solution to our problems. If we want to live in liberty we absolutely must reclaim our individual sovereignty.
Nov '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I am more disappointed, mostly because there isn't really a silver lining.
I'm not going through the five stages of grieving mostly because I never hit denial, anger or bargaining. But I am certainly more convinced that Mitt Romney's candidacy is more important than ever - and somewhat incredulous that we're now relying on Mitt Romney (!) to protect us from this law.
Sep '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
A Bush-appointed Chief Justice sided with leftist progressives (again!) over solid conservatives on one of the most important decisions in decades. You bet I'm angry!
The whole thing about the electorate being responsible for the legislators they elect, ignores the Constitution and the role of SCOTUS as a check. Is he a moron or what?
I'm despondent because Mitt Romney, who I think will win in November, is utterly incapable of saving us from this tyranny. It further tarnishes the Bush legacy and the Republican brand and any reservations I've held that the GOP is anything but a weak, statist bunch of moochers.
What I want to shout to the mainstream GOP types is: NOW DO YOU SEE WHAT THE TEA PARTY IS TALKING ABOUT?
Edited on July 2, 2012 at 5:48pmJun '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I'm more resigned than angry. There is no point wasting mental energy on things that I cannot control. I'm making contingency plans for what likely will be. At this point that's all any of us can do. "Put not your trust in princes," goes the proverb. Good advice, especially in these times.
May '12
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I wasn't angry about the fact that it was upheld, it was a longshot to be overturned. I am angry that CJ Roberts re-wrote the law as he saw fit to justify the end.
Feb '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
The King Prawn
The one bright spot in this is that Reagan has been utterly confirmed: government (not even our vaunted Supreme Court) is not the solution to our problems. If we want to live in liberty we absolutely mustreclaim our individual sovereignty. · 7 minutes ago
That is the point. When you have to rely on 9 lawyers in robes, you are lost. Utterly lost. Repealing Obamacare does not require a constitutional amendment -- nor should it. Nor should going against anything else these 9 lawyers have ruled. Ever.
I'm not angry. I never was and it's a pretty useless emotion. Decisions such as Obamacare should be decided by elections and not by 9 Delphic lawyers. Decisions like this should be a matter of persuading the people.
May '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
I have been going through the seven stages of "Good Grief!":
Sep '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Great question ... the breaking news about the court's take on The Commerce Clause gave me a real kick. And then the ceiling came down. I managed to crawl out from under that after reading Charles Krauthammer's take on it. Got out on the lawn, bloody but unbowed, and got hit by a bus with a sign on it that read "ROBERTS ROLLED OVER EVERYTHING" and now I'm in Intensive Care, condition Grave.
Apr '11
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
My emotional reaction? It went from Blind Impotent Rage, to Resigned Impotent Rage.
E tu, Roberts? E tu? Judas.
Dec '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
My recent readings have included Pat Buchanan and Mark Steyn. I'm over being angry. I suffer from a permanent semi-depression over the state of our country - the courts being a big part of that. I was not surprised that it was upheld, just like I'm never surprised that they leave Roe alone year after year. I fear for the future of our country, but it is irretrievably lost at this point.
Nov '10
Re: Is Your SCOTUS Anger Waxing Or Waning?
Thursday I wept. Friday I yelled (while thrashing the topic with my husband who is in full agreement with me.) Saturday I was numb. Sunday I read the opinion in full.
Today I have a knot in my stomach. I have little faith in the Republican Party but they are my only hope. And Mitt ain’t no Obi Wan. Could that change? Could he emerge as the hero in the nick of time?
Ah....at this point, I don’t have the luxury to dream of heroes and such. I think the knot in my stomach is the growing acceptance that I, personally, am going to have to work and pay and do more during this coming election cycle than ever before. I, personally, need to come through in the nick of time. Me - and millions and millions of others just like me - have been cast as the hero whether we like it or not.
I am enraged and determined. We can not fail.
Yes.
Edited on July 2, 2012 at 6:25pm