Tonight, the Senate confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States to take the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The vote was 52 to 48, with no Democrats voting to confirm Barrett. One Republican, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, voted against the confirmation, saying it is too close to an election to fill the seat. Collins is in a tight reelection race against Democrat Sara Gideon, and since Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not need Collins’s vote, she could vote no on procedural grounds and hope to push fewer voters to Gideon.
Re-balance the judiciary. Seventeen Supremes with a one-time-only-renewable ten year term. Reassign all federal justices except the Chief Justice after ten years. Expand appeals and circuits by a similar ratio. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Ban Citizens United contributions. Statehood for Puerto Rico and DC. Eliminate the Electoral College. We can do this.
I’m a 58 year old woman. Growing up in the seventies, embarking on my career in the eighties, I ran into life with the confidence that the previous generation of strong women had made my future path an exciting yellow brick road full of adventure and equality. Naïveté led to significant challenges with the old boy business society, but the underlying laws made over time were there for my well-being. They are the promise for our brilliant girls and young women of the future. I am heartbroken and angry that the system has the potential to regress.
The chance that the latest court iteration will agree to rollback the steps that the country has made to protect the environment in order to favor corporate interests? A total nightmare.
I’m also a health insurance professional. I’ve seen the beginnings of systemic improvements being made since the passage of the ACA. Is there room for improvement? Heck yeah, but the protections in place because of this legislation are literally life saving.
Ultimately, I believe that this use of the evangelical veil leads the way for total corporate control of the country.
I saw the GOP tweet in real time last night and was absolutely gobsmacked by the utterly childish pettiness and nastiness of it. If that is representative of the thinking of those people it’s no wonder we are in the mess we’re in.
In the darkest moments portrayed in the “Dark Side”, by Jane Mayer, it was Republicans with courage and devotion to law, like Comey and Jack Goldsmith that stopped the evil of torture and worse in the G. W. Bush administration. All types of citizens will rise up in the face of this attempted hijacking of the electoral process. One positive result of the Barrett fiasco is the spotlight on the intellectual illegitimacy of Originalism and Textualism.
Heather, You had previously mentioned that a probe into Kavanaugh’s financial issues may lead to his inability to remain on the Court? Could you please expand on that point? Thanks for your insight.😊
If a ballot is post-marked on or before election day but not received until a day or so after, how can that not be counted? Given the increased number of Americans voting by mail, should we not make an effort to aid in processing and counting these ballots especially considering the tampering with the USPS? What about people who are in line to vote in person. If the lines on election day are so long that not everyone in line can get into the building before the polls close, what happens? Should they be excluded?
Wow. STAY THE COURSE people!!! More than one commenter here assuming the election is already over. Damn. That’s exactly what THEY want you to feel! So they confirmed another justice - we knew that was coming ever since we lost RGB. Write your friends and family, remind them to VOTE! And just as importantly, write your elected officials! Demand change! Demand justice! Demand your rights! It is NOT over!!!
Republicans know they would never prevail in an honest, open, free election, so they do all they can to prevent such an occurrence. Therefore we must do all we can to bring about honest, open, free elections. The very beginning of that process is that EVERYONE VOTES!
It will take years to dismantle what the Republicans have erected, and years to re-build that which Trumpism has destroyed. We start that process by voting.
We must not let them take the nation back to the plantation and the company town.
You continue to do a wonderful job, Dr. Cox-Richardon. And an immense service to all who are informed, moved and further engaged by your writing and teaching efforts.
Deep appreciation and thanks to you! Whatever it takes to sustain your own balance, honor it... Your Voice is a unique and very valuable contribution to genuine and fair national dialogue. It ain't easy but .... let facts and fairness prevail over manipulation and power plays! Thank you.
Morning!!! So do we pout and cry over what seems to be an overwhelming avalanche of defeat? Or do we soldier on until the truth overcomes the darkness. Choose wisely.
A car drove by a line of people waiting to vote. The driver rolled down the window and asked how long they have been waiting. A voter replied "four years". People cheered. It's funny but so true. We just want this nightmare to end.
A glimpse of hope came yesterday with the announcement that the Chilean people had, by referendum, thrown off the feudal yoke of the Constitution that was written and imposed by Koch-funded and supported American Political Economist, James Buchanan, lately of George Mason University and the University of Virginia, for the murderous Pinochet dictatorial regime. The people will now write their own Constitution which will reflect their needs rather than strictly those of the propertied rich.
I’m so beyond sad that we’re stuck with Trump again for four more years. Now with civil servants jobs soon gone, and all the civil rights, worker’s rights, consumer’s rights, etc all but undone, I just don’t know how many of us can continue putting one foot in front of the other.
McConnell is the real evil behind trump. The fact that the Republicans are leaving town without a vote on Covid relief is evidence for any undecided voter to replace them. I don’t understand why just 3 could not stand on principle and do the right things- vote no, become temporary independent and provide the help the nation needs. This must be all about judges—their maniacal obsession.
Even though I'm hopeful, I am nevertheless profoundly worried. The SCOTUS has been further de-legitimized with Trump's/McConnell's politicization antics. This HAS to be concerning to Chief Justice Roberts. I had not favored packing the court, but I do now. But then, what does the SCOTUS become? Nothing but a glorified super-legislative body barely distinguishable from the rest of the legislative branch. That is most decidedly NOT what the framers of the Constitution intended. In the short term, they and all the hordes of extreme conservative judges appointed by Trump/McConnell can cause some major damage. Even if Democrats take over the Executive and legislative branches, they can be still be stymied in every attempt to undo Trump/McConnell damage. Like McConnell said, Democrats can change things legislatively, but if there are challenges to passed legislation by some crack-pot conservative judge that ends up going to the SCOTUS, well, we know what the outcome will be. In other words, Mitch & Co. have us over a barrel, folks, and there's nothing we can do about it, especially in the short term. Barrett's confirmation and all has me terribly upset and worried. I'm anxious about the future--hopeful AND worried. God help us.
Re-balance the judiciary. Seventeen Supremes with a one-time-only-renewable ten year term. Reassign all federal justices except the Chief Justice after ten years. Expand appeals and circuits by a similar ratio. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Ban Citizens United contributions. Statehood for Puerto Rico and DC. Eliminate the Electoral College. We can do this.
I’m a 58 year old woman. Growing up in the seventies, embarking on my career in the eighties, I ran into life with the confidence that the previous generation of strong women had made my future path an exciting yellow brick road full of adventure and equality. Naïveté led to significant challenges with the old boy business society, but the underlying laws made over time were there for my well-being. They are the promise for our brilliant girls and young women of the future. I am heartbroken and angry that the system has the potential to regress.
The chance that the latest court iteration will agree to rollback the steps that the country has made to protect the environment in order to favor corporate interests? A total nightmare.
I’m also a health insurance professional. I’ve seen the beginnings of systemic improvements being made since the passage of the ACA. Is there room for improvement? Heck yeah, but the protections in place because of this legislation are literally life saving.
Ultimately, I believe that this use of the evangelical veil leads the way for total corporate control of the country.
I saw the GOP tweet in real time last night and was absolutely gobsmacked by the utterly childish pettiness and nastiness of it. If that is representative of the thinking of those people it’s no wonder we are in the mess we’re in.
In the darkest moments portrayed in the “Dark Side”, by Jane Mayer, it was Republicans with courage and devotion to law, like Comey and Jack Goldsmith that stopped the evil of torture and worse in the G. W. Bush administration. All types of citizens will rise up in the face of this attempted hijacking of the electoral process. One positive result of the Barrett fiasco is the spotlight on the intellectual illegitimacy of Originalism and Textualism.
Heather, You had previously mentioned that a probe into Kavanaugh’s financial issues may lead to his inability to remain on the Court? Could you please expand on that point? Thanks for your insight.😊
If a ballot is post-marked on or before election day but not received until a day or so after, how can that not be counted? Given the increased number of Americans voting by mail, should we not make an effort to aid in processing and counting these ballots especially considering the tampering with the USPS? What about people who are in line to vote in person. If the lines on election day are so long that not everyone in line can get into the building before the polls close, what happens? Should they be excluded?
Wow. STAY THE COURSE people!!! More than one commenter here assuming the election is already over. Damn. That’s exactly what THEY want you to feel! So they confirmed another justice - we knew that was coming ever since we lost RGB. Write your friends and family, remind them to VOTE! And just as importantly, write your elected officials! Demand change! Demand justice! Demand your rights! It is NOT over!!!
Republicans know they would never prevail in an honest, open, free election, so they do all they can to prevent such an occurrence. Therefore we must do all we can to bring about honest, open, free elections. The very beginning of that process is that EVERYONE VOTES!
It will take years to dismantle what the Republicans have erected, and years to re-build that which Trumpism has destroyed. We start that process by voting.
We must not let them take the nation back to the plantation and the company town.
PS - the Twitter crack to Hillary on her birthday just proves the juvenile spitefulness of today's Republican Party.
You continue to do a wonderful job, Dr. Cox-Richardon. And an immense service to all who are informed, moved and further engaged by your writing and teaching efforts.
Deep appreciation and thanks to you! Whatever it takes to sustain your own balance, honor it... Your Voice is a unique and very valuable contribution to genuine and fair national dialogue. It ain't easy but .... let facts and fairness prevail over manipulation and power plays! Thank you.
Morning!!! So do we pout and cry over what seems to be an overwhelming avalanche of defeat? Or do we soldier on until the truth overcomes the darkness. Choose wisely.
A car drove by a line of people waiting to vote. The driver rolled down the window and asked how long they have been waiting. A voter replied "four years". People cheered. It's funny but so true. We just want this nightmare to end.
A glimpse of hope came yesterday with the announcement that the Chilean people had, by referendum, thrown off the feudal yoke of the Constitution that was written and imposed by Koch-funded and supported American Political Economist, James Buchanan, lately of George Mason University and the University of Virginia, for the murderous Pinochet dictatorial regime. The people will now write their own Constitution which will reflect their needs rather than strictly those of the propertied rich.
I’m so beyond sad that we’re stuck with Trump again for four more years. Now with civil servants jobs soon gone, and all the civil rights, worker’s rights, consumer’s rights, etc all but undone, I just don’t know how many of us can continue putting one foot in front of the other.
Trump broke America.
McConnell is the real evil behind trump. The fact that the Republicans are leaving town without a vote on Covid relief is evidence for any undecided voter to replace them. I don’t understand why just 3 could not stand on principle and do the right things- vote no, become temporary independent and provide the help the nation needs. This must be all about judges—their maniacal obsession.
Even though I'm hopeful, I am nevertheless profoundly worried. The SCOTUS has been further de-legitimized with Trump's/McConnell's politicization antics. This HAS to be concerning to Chief Justice Roberts. I had not favored packing the court, but I do now. But then, what does the SCOTUS become? Nothing but a glorified super-legislative body barely distinguishable from the rest of the legislative branch. That is most decidedly NOT what the framers of the Constitution intended. In the short term, they and all the hordes of extreme conservative judges appointed by Trump/McConnell can cause some major damage. Even if Democrats take over the Executive and legislative branches, they can be still be stymied in every attempt to undo Trump/McConnell damage. Like McConnell said, Democrats can change things legislatively, but if there are challenges to passed legislation by some crack-pot conservative judge that ends up going to the SCOTUS, well, we know what the outcome will be. In other words, Mitch & Co. have us over a barrel, folks, and there's nothing we can do about it, especially in the short term. Barrett's confirmation and all has me terribly upset and worried. I'm anxious about the future--hopeful AND worried. God help us.