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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
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The Supreme Court has generally been the most respected of the three branches, but that's pretty much down the toilet now because of the Trump administration.
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I don't think that the Supreme Court has, until recently, been seen by the general public as in position to do damage. That said, in conservative areas, who's going to stop, say, anti-LGBT discrimination if not them?
Edited by ShinyCottonCandy on Sep 26th 2020 at 5:56:15 AM
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I'm not getting into a debate over whether or not the SCOTUS is good or necessary, I was just speculating what I think could happen to them as a result of all this.
"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."
Would that it were so simple.
The SCOTUS has been more or less the most respected branch because the myth of "four liberals, four conservatives, one swing" gives it an air of respectability and impartiality neither of the other two branches can ever hope to match. It made even odious decisions like Citizens United and Hobby Lobby look the product of an institution devoted to merit and fair play, with conservatives edging out liberals on the strength of the argument.
With 6-3 in the conservatives' favor, striking down legislation and prior opinions in a manner that looks blatantly partisan and sets up the court for a legitimacy crisis.
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Its credibility is shot because they're forcing a massive conservative majority after denying Obama a pick for nearly a year and not just picking someone else when Kavanaugh was accused of rape. Now they're trying to force a confirmation less than a month from election day.
Roberts has tried to keep the court a veneer of respectability and impartiality, but that's hopeless now.
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I learned of the Supreme Court primarily through the Trail of Tears (where they tried to do something and couldn't because of a strong evil President) and the Dred Scott Decision (which made clear that Southerners could/would pack the courts to support slavery).
So I've always known its not actually impartial or necessarily all powerful.
Indeed, it wasn't until gay marriage that I actually started to respect it at all.
No respect could survive Trump's To Kill a Mockingbird-esque in reverse miscarriage of justice acquittal.
Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 3:26:11 AM
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I mean at least the members of the Court are not bound by party loyalty and can actually go against the person who voted them in without consequences.
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Would that it were so simple.
That's actually a known phenomenon with Republican appointed Justices: Earl Warren, Harry Blackmun, David Souter — all conservatives at start, ended their careers as liberals.
Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Sep 26th 2020 at 6:37:08 AM
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Almost a million people have voted by mail already. This is notable because only 10K had by now in 2016.
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Just to clarify, these votes are only recorded as having been sent, right? That is, as opposed to 'sent and received'.
Edited by PresidentStalkeyes on Sep 26th 2020 at 11:41:35 AM
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Presumably received, unless these states are psychic and can tell when you've posted something but it hasn't been received.
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One has to wonder what the GOP's policy goals will become if the Affordable Care Act is struck down and Roe v Wade and same-sex marriage rights are overturned. Once that happens, I suppose from that point on they'll have to run on other things, but they'll be left to answer for the results. Whatever practical difference it will make is a matter of opinion and guesswork, however.
Edited by Lennik on Sep 26th 2020 at 6:44:37 AM
Yes.
Now I'm fully expecting some places where they're being held to catch fire.
I imagine they'll move on to more overtly racist rhetoric and corruption. But by then we'll all be dead from global warming so it won't be too long of a problem.
Edited by CharlesPhipps on Sep 26th 2020 at 3:45:01 AM
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Can the SCOTUS just up and overturn those the disicions wily-nily like that?
I don't want to imply things aren't serious, they are, but it isn't just a matter of the new Justice getting appointed and the next day they undo all those things, is it?
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x2 Theoretically, yes they can so long as they can find some excuse to do so. In practicality, not without causing serious problems. Usually, when Justices overturn previous rulings, those rulings had been on the books for at least 50-ish years and people have seen if they've been successful or not (for instance, Brown v. Board overturned Plessy v. Ferguson which had stood for 50-ish years).
Edited by DingoWalley1 on Sep 26th 2020 at 7:02:39 AM
Isn't that exclusive to the President and other administrative figures?
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The 538 model has Biden's chances of winning up to 76.7%, and they estimate he takes in a whopping 352 Electoral Votes! That's far too big of a gap for the GOP to realistically overcome through their standard tactics.
While we can't get complacent, all the trends are against Trump right now. And as 538 has constantly pointed out, the longer it goes without shifts, the more likely Trump is to lose. He needs time to sway the election towards him.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Because I know someone is gonna bring that up: at this time last year, what were Hilary's chances of winning?
On September 27, Hillary Clinton's chances of winning were 54.8%.
Edit:
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/
This period was one of her lowest points in 2016 according to their model.
Edited by nova92 on Sep 26th 2020 at 4:13:56 AM
70%-ish, I think.
Welp. What do I know.
Edited by Parable on Sep 26th 2020 at 4:15:11 AM
He only has little over a month left. I don't think there's too much he can do at this point.
My problem isn't really what he can do, but what might happen.
Apologies if this has already been addressed, but is there any data on the popular opinion towards the Supreme Court? It's already been established that a majority of Americans want to abolish the Electoral College, so maybe if the SCOTUS isn't that respected either, there could be calls to ignore them once they start making unpopular decisions later down the line.
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