the supremes, unfortunately not the singing group

[barnswallow]

Did you listen to the Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings?
Wow. The republicans were outstandingly bad.
They say they are upset about the way Kavanaugh was treated! There was clearly more going on in that room.
Like:
And:


There were some good moments in the hearings for KJB.
Here's one from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), explaining the difference between the dark money groups behind t----'s nominations to the Supreme Court, as compared to KJB:

And an interview of Whitehouse by Joy Ann Reid afterwards:
The Reidout: Sen. Whitehouse: Three new Supreme Court justices being told what to do by donor front groups [23 March 2022]

Here's some words from Dan Rather about the proceedings:
Outrage. And Hope: The Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings [22 Mar]

Here's the beautiful photograph of Ketanji Brown Jackson with her daughter that's gotten a lot of attention.


There's a lot more that could be posted about this moment. Sen. Corey Booker [D-NY], for one.

 

[barnswallow]

Meanwhile, the dumpster fire of Jan 6 and Ginni Thomas and SC Justice Clarence Thomas heats up.

But, he/she wasn't only communicating with Mark Meadows.
New Emails Suggest Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Was Communicating with Ron DeSantis - For Some Strange Reason [2.4.22]

Dan Rather Has 2 Burning Questions For Clarence Thomas Amid Jan. 6 Revelations [HuffPost; 3.25.22]

 

[DiminutiveRocker]

Meanwhile, the dumpster fire of Jan 6 and Ginni Thomas and SC Justice Clarence Thomas heats up.

But, he/she wasn't only communicating with Mark Meadows.
New Emails Suggest Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Was Communicating with Ron DeSantis - For Some Strange Reason [2.4.22]

Dan Rather Has 2 Burning Questions For Clarence Thomas Amid Jan. 6 Revelations [HuffPost; 3.25.22]

Ginni is a total dunderhead. A SCOTUS judge's wife, for the love of God. Her shinannigans might send Clarence over the edge. Roberts is probably pissed - as it is, the SCOTUS only has a 50% approval rating - the public doesnt trust them. The integrity is all but shot. SMH

 

[DiminutiveRocker]

Congratulations to the first, and hopefully NOT the last, black woman Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

 

[barnswallow]

Savoury Ted Cruz, so tasty. Can't help himself for nastiness. So, he brought this case before... well, it ended up at the supreme court, a packed court, if you want to look at the campaign by the Federalist Society and leonard leo, ongoing these past 50 years, so it's said [The conservative club that came to dominate the supreme court]. Which trump obliged by promising to select all his nominees therefrom, bringing us kavanaugh, gorsuch, barrett. Not sure if alito, thomas, and roberts derive from the same. Yeah... kavanaugh wasn't on the list but he jumped to the top by virtue of knowing leo and proving himself the ultimate sell-out. anyway, the vote was 6-3, right down the political divide. More money in politics! Help the rich because free speech ain't free speech if you're rich and regulated from using your wealth to sway politicians.

Yeah. I'm running my mouth because this is a big deal but one that slides under the radar while quietly altering the foundations of our government. Yet, the topic isn't that easy to understand (for me, anyway), so it's extremely useful to read the article from Vox, linked to in the above tweet. If you've got the time and inclination, check it out.

Not a perfect analogy, but for a bit of fun:

Hate to spoil that great clip... Anyway: Some history: FEC v. Ted Cruz For Senate Is Just The Latest In A Wretched Line Of Cases; TPM 5.17.22

 

[barnswallow]

 

[barnswallow]

From Now On, We Should Call It the Trump Court [Brookings; 6.24.22]

trumpery indeed, or, as I’ll refer to it,

t——ery

 

[barnswallow]

 

[barnswallow]

This one concerns blurring the lines between church and state

The Supreme Court hands the religious right a big victory by lying about the facts of a case [Vox; 6.27.22]

One of the tough things about this moment is that we knew this Supreme Court would be terrible but we didn’t know how terrible and, just now, we’re finding out. It’s like they’ve clipped on a new high capacity gun clip and they’re headed for town.

 

[barnswallow]

I remember the first time I read this guy. It was like, “wait… what??? This can’t be true !!!”

He takes something that can’t be true but actually is, and then creates an absolutely ridiculous parody of the whole absurd situation.

Women declare themselves corporations to force the Supreme Court to grant them rights as people [The New Yorker; The Borowitz Report; 6.27.22]

 

[barnswallow]

Keep your eyes peeled…

SCOTUS just quietly slashed your Sixth Amendment rights [The Hill; 6.29.22]

 

[barnswallow]

Dang! For the last day of the SCOTUS session, I’m spinning around, following one outrageous decision after the next.

Let’s see… there’s the one about the EPA castrated from setting power plant emission levels: Score another point for human-induced climate change.

There’s the one about state supreme courts castrated from any decisions involving gerrymandering: a case derived from North Carolina. Score another point for enabling election subversion… on second reading… this is a case they will take up, next term.


It’s a veritable smorgasbord.
[p.s.gonna get back to this… I think… or please feel free to add your faves]

The below 'letter' describes some of the various new directions this radical new court is moving:
Letters from an American [7/1/22; H.C. Richardson, historian]

 

[barnswallow]

 

[barnswallow]

tbh, I don't know if it's possible to expand the court in the current term of congress. The votes may not be there, so I heard a knowledgeable person say just this morning. I think what was meant is that we'd have to eliminate the filibuster and that takes 51 votes in the Senate. We'd need SinManchin to get to 51, and they won't budge.

 

[barnswallow]

 

[barnswallow]

The immigration issue interests me. It’s definitely a push button political issue for the right to incite fear and invent an ‘other’ to despise and to claim that only the gop can protect America from, often with reference to (insert derisive noun a la ‘killers’. ‘rapists’, ‘job takers’). It’s one of their ‘go to’ election issues.

At the same time, the ‘system’ is broken, as is often said. Do you have any thoughts?

This topic could benefit from its own thread. I have no idea what a fix would look like. Maybe some version of what Robert Reich has to say. What do you think?


Yeah, I’m retweeting him a lot this morning. He’s a Berkeley professor of public policy… From Wikipedia: “Robert Bernard Reich (/raɪʃ/;[2] born June 24, 1946) is an American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator.[3] He worked in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and served as Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997 in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton.[4][5] He was also a member of President Barack Obama's economic transition advisory board.[6]“

 

[barnswallow]

 

[benni]

Dang! For the last day of the SCOTUS session, I’m spinning around, following one outrageous decision after the next.

Let’s see… there’s the one about the EPA castrated from setting power plant emission levels: Score another point for human-induced climate change.

There’s the one about state supreme courts castrated from any decisions involving gerrymandering: a case derived from North Carolina. Score another point for enabling election subversion… on second reading… this is a case they will take up, next term.


It’s a veritable smorgasbord.
[p.s.gonna get back to this… I think… or please feel free to add your faves]

The below 'letter' describes some of the various new directions this radical new court is moving:
Letters from an American [7/1/22; H.C. Richardson, historian]

The one they are taking up next term will allow state legislatures full control over their electors. If they do not like the outcome of the election in their state, they claim they have the Constitutional right to seat the electors of their choosing. This means: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1543079225254559744.html

 

[barnswallow]

The one they are taking up next term will allow state legislatures full control over their electors. If they do not like the outcome of the election in their state, they claim they have the Constitutional right to seat the electors of their choosing. This means: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1543079225254559744.html

Clear and chilly explanation. Thanks, benni!

 

[benni]

Clear and chilly explanation. Thanks, benni!

We have to make sure we come out and vote in the midterms and in 2024. If we don't, what happens to this country, is our own fault for letting it happen. For me, these next 2 elections are extremely vital to what happens in the near (and far) future of this country.