The insanity of the Roberts hearings

Jody Allen Gomez wrote:
How's THIS for a resume?

Well, it is a Washington Post article. He went to Harvard. That's nice. Most of his work has been as a lawyer, much of it for the government, of course. I think that all in all your "THIS for a resume" pretty much sums up the source of Jason Blalock's doubts. The french fries case was telling.

That said, the history of the Supreme Court demonstrates that events overtake ideologies.

What Jason Blalock said about John Roberts would be hard on John Marshall. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshall) The man never served as a judge and had only foreign office experience and a term in Congress.

Roger B. Taney ruled that Dredd Scott was property. However, he also stood up to Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus. (http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig4/vance4.html)
Taney defended one of the Aaron Burr accomplices, won an aquittal and then refused to accept payment because he had his doubts about his client. Taney was a complicated person in complicated times.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14442c.htm

Oliver Wendell Holmes was never a chief justice. William Howard Taft was.

Go to the "About" pages at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/ and decide for yourself how one judges a judge before they take the bench. I would like to know.

(Edited by Michael E. Marotta on 9/16, 5:56pm)

Post 21

Friday, September 16, 2005 - 8:12pm

James wrote: 1. In your best judgment, did Brad and Jen just grow apart, or was it really Angelina's fault?

I'll tell you the real answer, it's all a sham to get them on the cover of STAR, PEOPLE, US WEEKLY, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, and VANITY FAIR. I know this because I am constantly reshelving these damn magazines 50 times a day (because bookstore customers think we're there personal servants...you should see how beautiful Britney Spears looks with coffee rings on her face.) If I see Jennifer Aniston on one more giddamed cover..."Angelina tells Jenn: ' BACK OFF!". Oh, and now there is a Men's Vogue magazine. Ya know, the metrosexual things has gone too far when a Rufus Wainwright song comes to life. "Men reading fashion magazines" indeed! Oh what a world...

So if there is a lesson in all this, it's that the elite of Seattle are more concerned with Jen versus Angelina than the Supreme Court. Thank God for Vince Vaughn, he's been a rock...

(Edited by Joe Maurone
on 9/16, 8:13pm)

Post 22

Friday, September 16, 2005 - 9:14pm

Michael, Oliver Wendell Holmes was never a justice of any kind, however his son, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was.

It is a grave mistake to confound the two.

Post 23

Friday, September 16, 2005 - 9:19pm

Thank you, Rick - you beat me to that one...

Post 24

Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 8:55am

Jody:

"...do you think it would be ethical for a judge to pre-judge a case he has not heard ..."

Your points are well taken, Jody, but in fact, this IS what the Justices unfortunately do. The cases they decide are not simple or mechanical application of the law, and unfortunately, political leanings and beliefs have a profound effect on how these folks read the COnstitution.

I am also disgusted at the mealy-mouthed way politicians (and yes, Judges are politicians, don't ever doubt it) speak--not certainty, no actual statements of meaning. Inoffesive and safe talking heads that signify and stand for nothing.

Post 25

Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 8:56am