Thursday, January 12, 2006

It looks like Alito

Once again, we have the circus of a Supreme Court judge’s nomination thrust upon us. The proceedings are truly a spectacle, in the dictionary sense, but also illustrate what DuBord called “The Spectacle,” a fragmented view of reality.

What I find amazing, is how this important choice for the highest court in are supposed free society, a decision that will send out ripples for decades to come, is being orchestrated primarily by a small group of white men, whose ranks are made up mostly of members from the privileged socio-economic class. No women, no minorities, no native peoples and no one who could remotely be considered from the working class. This small, exclusive club, is being given the right to determine the fate of millions of Americans. Amazingly, most of our citizens are acutely unaware of the farce that is being beamed into their homes.

Samuel Alito, like his predecessor, John Roberts, is a relatively young man. He is 52 years old and appears to be in good health and reasonably vigorous. Common sense tells us, based on expected male life spans and prior justices, that Alito could very well serve for the next three decades.

From a quick perusal of various analyses and a rundown of his prior decisions and writings, Alito’s ideology is squarely rooted in the conservative camp. This, in and of itself isn’t necessarily bad. What is problematic in the least, however, is how his views could very well alter in a dramatic fashion, the judicial landscape in the following areas: alter of the following:

Reproductive Rights-In one dissent, Judge Alito would have upheld a Pennsylvania law (Planned Parenthood v. Casey) requiring a wife to notify her husband before having an abortion. The Supreme Court rejected his reasoning, finding that the law imposed an undue burden on the wife.

Free Speech-While Judge Alito clearly supports free speech access for big business, as well as government agents, yet he clearly does not support the claims of prisoners seeking access to newspapers and photographs of their families.

Privacy-Not finding any problems with a 10-year-old being strip-searched, Judge Alito dissented in a case that ruled it unconstitutional.

Workers’ Rights- Judge Alito has consistently sought to limit the scope and reach of statutes protecting workers’ rights and to raise the bar that employee plaintiffs must overcome to bring legal claims. While many of these cases involved technical procedural issues, Judge Alito’s opinions are consistent in outcome. The employee or union would have prevailed in only five of the 35 employment and labor opinions he wrote.

Environmental Law-In case after case, Judge Alito has deferred to regulatory agency decisions, and appears reluctant, or even unable, to pre-empt state environmental laws unless directed by federal statute.
[Compiled from reports by the ACLU and People for the American Way]

It seems fairly clear to me that in viewing his record, Judge Alito will dramatically move the high court, rightward.

Kate Michelman, the former president of NARAL, from 1985 to 2004, speaking on C-Span, yesterday, brought up privacy issues and abortion. While Alito apparently isn’t outspoken about overturning Roe, since 1985, he has clearly supported a strategy on Roe that would keep it in place, but eviscerate it and in essence, make it ineffective, by stripping out all provisions that allow women control over their own bodies.

As Michelman said, “Judge Alito wants to turn back the clock on poor women, women of color and rural women, in denying them access to abortion.”

I’m very concerned that a nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court will put him squarely in place to tote the water for his ideological home boys, the all-white, conservative caucus of women-haters. He’ll clearly be in a favorable position to once again, reduce women to being prisoners of their own biology, without a choice in any reproductive matters.

Additionally, those of us who aren’t members of America’s privileged class will find it harder to assert our rights that the Constitution supposedly guarantees us. We will be looking at an America that is less free, less democratic and a country that is ruled entirely by the highest bidders.

11 comments:

Crazy Jane said...

great post. thanks.

Anonymous said...

God has declared war on liberalism. Ps. 146:9 says "...the way of the wicked he turned upside down." What does this mean? God turns the tables on his enemies. Haman thought things were going his way only to see him leading his worst enemy around saying the king delights in Mordecai and later Haman is hanged on the gallows he intended for Mordecai.

The liberals have tried to destroy Bush only to see themselves and their plans brought to ruin. God is using the foolish, weak, despised things to destroy the elite's wisdom. A holy, righteous, good, wise God who is light and life rules this universe by his Almighty power. "Professing themselves to wise they became fools". President Bush and Tom Delay are hated. Why? because they are seen as born-again Christians. Just as king Saul tried to get rid David so the Dems have tried to get rid of Bush but have failed.

Absolutes are hated by the left but truth is absolute. There is a right and there is wrong. There is a good and there is also evil. Man fights against God and loses everytime. Why? because nations are considered less than nothing and as a drop of a bucket. Isa. 40:15, 17. Job 12:23, says "He (God) increases the nations, and destroys them: He enlarges the nations, and straitens them again.

What left should do is fear God. King Nebuchadnezzar found this out the hard way when God turned him into an animal for a period of time. He stated when his senses returned that "...all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, What do you?" Dan 4:35 So did Saddam Hussein who patterned his rule after Nebuchadnezzar, but forgot to read the book of Daniel.

This hearing for Judge Sam Alito has been devasting for the democrats in showing the true condition of their hearts. I feel bad that Mrs. Alito had hear all of it but I believe it has been a real eye opener to Americans what the DNC and liberalism really is. I hope many democrats will leave that party, realizing it no longer represents their ideals.

Wisdom Weasel said...

Wow Reverend Robinson, you have really come down in the world since you made that Sharon comment. Having a hard time getting airtime?

Jim said...

Conserv371,

You are a fucking idiot! (I apologize if that offends anyone other than this moronic freeper!)

Why you feel the need to post your narrow-minded, anti-intellectual wall-paper here, is beyond me.

I shouldn't even bother to dignify your comments by giving you the satisfaction of a reply--I probably should have just deleted your trollbait, but I'm leaving it so others can see how your conservative peabrain works.

To cloak your party's illegal war and corrupt agenda in religious garb is the ultimate insult to many Americans who don't hold to a jingoistic, flag-draped interpretation of God and religion.

You may think you are doing a great service to the Republican agenda by posting your drivel all over cyberspace, but let me clue you in--President Bush, Dick Cheney, Tom Delay and all the other members of your American Taliban could care less about nobodies like you.

Keep that in mind when the jackboots come to your house to kick in your door!

Anonymous said...

conserv371,
Didn't you learn any grammar or spelling during your bible studies?

Weasel,
It is Robertson, not Robinson. Please don't mistake the name of one of my true conduits.

God

Joe said...

I like fiction. I'll have to read this Bible. Sounds like there are some good stories in it.

conserv's post is brilliant. Look at how it starts out:

God has declared war on liberalism. Ps. 146:9 says "...the way of the wicked he turned upside down." What does this mean? God turns the tables on his enemies.

Now, I don't have a bible, so I can't refer to Psalms, but does Ps. 146:9 actually label the enemy as "liberal"? Or is this literally a liberal interpretation of the text used to support one's own beliefs? Couldn't we just as easily proclaim Bush and Cheny the enemies of a Christian god? Bush thinks things are going his way, because he claims that god is on his side, but it turns out that he's wrong and eventually god smites him? (Bush could use a good smiting, IMO!)

I also like this one:

What left should do is fear God. King Nebuchadnezzar found this out the hard way when God turned him into an animal for a period of time.

"God loves you. And if you don't fear him, he will punish you by turning you into an animal (or maybe worse - pillar of salt, anyone?) for a period of time."

conserv, if you were to go to a counselor (which isn't a bad idea for most people, really), and related the above story about your partner, the counselor would tell you, "that's not love. That's god exerting power and control over you. God is a bully."

Why the hell would we worship a bully?

I could go on, but I've done enough to remind myself about how stupid Christianity can be.

Jim said...

Thanks to all who have or care to weigh-in on this post and our conservative "friend's" unique take on God and American politics.

I have regained a bit of my composure and am less bombastic than at the time of my first comment--I'm sorry about the F-bomb. I just find this one-size-fits-all mentality, whether it is about religion, politics, or even the Boston Red Sox galling.

As for what is being said about Alito; I stand by what I wrote and how I've characterised him--his judicial record speaks for itself--he is no friend of the those of us who work hard, want to live our lives with some quality (and be left alone), and don't care to see corporate America pave over every square inch of our countries vast natural beauty (this might be most of those who read this blog, btw).

His nomination will definitely shift the court to the right, or better, towards an interpretation of it in favor of the privileged minority and corporate interests, rather than the majority of Americans.

Wisdom Weasel said...

My apologies, when it comes to actively thinking about Robertson, cf Deborah Lipstadt on Holocaust denier Davaid Irving.

Elitist, moi?

Anonymous said...

You liberals love to trash God and his word, but the Bible is clear about what will happen to you. Gal. 6:7 says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

You are all so smug, making fun of those of us who believe God and trust in his wisdom. I don't need to reply to the insults because I know my God reigns and he'll do the accounting. Some of you even go so far as to having to swear to get your points across. If your as smart as you are always telling people here why do you have to use vulgarity to get your points acrossed?

God rewards those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Wisdom Weasel said...

Liberals like Martin Luther King just hated your god, right?

Joe said...

I know my God reigns and he'll do the accounting.

As an accountant, I guess I can hope that god goes into semi-retirement before I die, and maybe he'll be looking for some help in this department.

If your as smart as you are always telling people here why do you have to use vulgarity to get your points acrossed?

You wrote it this way on purpose, didn't you? Just to lead us into temptation.

OK, I'll stop now.