Conservatives, “It’s About the Justices Stupid”

The economy is always a pressing issue for any President, but the nomination and appointment of federal judges, especially Supreme Court Justices lives decades beyond any Presidency. –Jay

The conservative movement has made enormous gains over the past three decades in restoring constitutional government. The Roberts Supreme Court shows every sign of building on these gains.

Yet the gulf between Democratic and Republican approaches to constitutional law and the role of the federal courts is greater than at any time since the New Deal. With a Democratic Senate, Democratic presidents would be able to confirm adherents of the theory of the “Living Constitution” — in essence empowering judges to update the Constitution to advance their own conception of a better world. This would threaten the jurisprudential gains of the past three decades, and provide new impetus to judicial activism of a kind not seen since the 1960s.

We believe that the nomination of John McCain is the best option to preserve the ongoing restoration of constitutional government. He is by far the most electable Republican candidate remaining in the race, and based on his record is as likely to appoint judges committed to constitutionalism as Mitt Romney, a candidate for whom we also have great respect.

We make no apology for suggesting that electability must be a prime consideration. The expected value of any presidential candidate for the future of the American judiciary must be discounted by the probability that the candidate will not prevail in the election. For other kinds of issues, it may be argued that it is better to lose with the perfect candidate than to win with an imperfect one. The party lives to fight another day and can reverse the bad policies of an intervening presidency.

The judiciary is different. On Jan. 20, 2009, six of the nine Supreme Court justices will be over 70. Most of them could be replaced by the next president, particularly if he or she is re-elected. Given the prospect of accelerating gains in modern medical technology, some of the new justices may serve for half a century. Even if a more perfect candidate were somehow elected in 2012, he would not be able to undo the damage, especially to the Supreme Court.

Rush Limbaugh: The Irrelevant Conservative

As a young conservative years ago while listening to Rush Limbaugh one day,  it dawned on me that Rush Limbaugh with all his potential influence and self-claimed solid  “conservative viewpoints” has never put forth any ideas of his own to be tested and tried in the public arena.  In fact, I came to the realization that his whole career is aimed at hyping people up, tearing other people down that he personally dislikes, and generally making sure that the ratings for his radio network and program don’t slip.  He’s the leader of the anti-Clinton bandwagon.  I get that.  But if this guy really knows anything (as he seems to have all the answers or at least easily spots every bad one), why doesn’t he run for office?  Why doesn’t he stick his neck out there in the political arena and put it all on the line like a real candidate?

A: Rush doesn’t have any answers.  He is simply a loud critic.   

Interestingly enough, Rush’s Missouri lineage is steeped with close relatives who are or were attorneys and public servants.  One relative is a current Missouri Supreme Court justice, and another one is a Federal District Court judge in the Western District of Missouri.  So, what about Rush?  After two semesters and one summer of college, he dropped out. 

So now we have this seemingly popular “conservative” radio talk show host, telling everyone who will listen what it means to be truly conservative. 

But how does he know?  Well, he obviously doesn’t. 

Rush Limbaugh is absolutley irrelevant.  And the proof is when he throws his support behind someone like Fred Thompson claiming that Thompson is the only true conservative and basically that he is what the Republican Party needs.  Give me a break.  The OVERWHELMING majority of conservatives in the primaries and caucuses thus far clearly did not want someone like Thompson.  And even more embarrassing for Rush was the fact that he was dancing on the political grave of Hillary Clinton the night she came in third place in the Iowa Caucuses claiming that it “was a devastating and humiliating loss for Hillary Clinton” and mused that she may be done.  Who is Rush kidding?  There is so much more to being a thoughtful, independent conservative than Rush’s ideologically-driven version of hating the Clintons, or hating Democrats in general and all their ideas,  hating illegal immigrants, and dismissing any other conservatives with whom he might disagree. 

And being a self-described Reagan Conservative, Rush continually bashes McCain for his proposed immigration reform (which is not amnesty) all the while ignoring the fact that Reagan actually gave illegal immigrants real, no penalties, amnesty!!!   Republicans generally pride themselves in promoting various issues and conservative viewpoints that are grounded in realism, but Rush is obviously grounded in something else.     

The Elephant in the Room

7 min. GOP debate clip 

I missed the Republican debate last night. (I also missed the earlier Democratic debate.) I don’t have cable or Direct TV right now. But I still have regular TV. And I’m upset that these debates aren’t recognized for the important opportunity that they are for both well-known and lesser-known candidates to unveil their ideas, vision, hopes and dreams to the American people. We claim to be this wonderful democracy, but we never talk about how broken the American democratic process really is. 

I bet that most regular folks tuned in to see the latest Grey’s Anatomy. (I didn’t have much of a choice.) Why aren’t these important debates broadcast across the major networks!? These presidential candidates’ ideas need to be and should be judged by the largest audience possible! It’s no wonder why we get the leaders that we get when American democracy is turned into a big waiting game to see who raises the most campaign money before we finally decide to figure out what they actually think and just hope for the best in the end.