Sirotablog
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
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July 12, 2007 4:27 PM
As Predicted, A Hostile Takeover of the Supreme Court
Back when George Bush was nominating people like John Roberts and Sam Alito to the Supreme Court, I wrote a series of posts (here's one) wondering why Democrats and progressives weren't focusing more on what these two right-wing nominees would do to basic economic policy. Now, with them on the court, we get an idea why I was so worried about this. Here's an excerpt from Businessweek:
"Out of 15 cases in which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed friend-of-the-court briefs, presenting the views of its corporate members, the chamber won 13—the chamber's highest winning percentage in its 30-year history. Indeed, the court's 2006-07 term, drawing to a close this month, has been a banner year for business, with important victories in areas ranging from antitrust and banking to shareholder suits and punitive damages."
And, oh by the way, if you think its just the conservative justices, think again:
"The court's newest justices, Roberts and Samuel J. Alito Jr., have the business community's stamp of approval. But, while some of the court's business rulings this term were decided on 5-to-4 votes—notably a decision sharply confining the time in which workers must file pay discrimination claims—those kinds of narrow splits were not typical on business matters. In fact, 12 rulings in business cases were unanimous, and most others were decided by substantial majorities, underscoring that the shift in the court has more to do with the cases being selected than the leanings of particular justices. One of the court's most liberal members, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, authored the court's 8-1 opinion in Tellabs v. Makor, which raised the hurdle for plaintiffs to move forward with securities fraud lawsuits."
Read the whole article - it shows the true scope of the hostile takeover of the Supreme Court.
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About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
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Discussion
Reid should have been shitcanned for not fighting the nominations of Alito and Roberts. Anyone who paid attention, knew that both were disasters to labor and citizen rights issues.
Reid didn't do squat.
Hell even during the senate hearings most Democratic senators were just there to pontificate and listen to themselves. Instead of grilling these corporate hit-men they ruminated about their lives and what sort of bowl movement they just had.
I never heard such pathetic droning in my life and the Democrats had the nerve to call it a hearing.
Overall, I got the distinct impression that the nomination process was rigged by the senate leadership so as to insure the nomination of both men.
That said, I think its high time to put term limits on SCOTUS and federal judgeships, no more lifetime seats. Say limit it to one 10 year term and then you get your walking papers.
Why? because the court has become a joke and tool for special interests instead of the people. Both parties have so politicized it and federal judgeships selection that political orientation is the chief criteria for being appointed.
Basically the Justice Department and SCOTUS become a tool of whatever political party that takes power and the law be damned - its only for the little people.
Just sayin'
But isn't it more than just the Supreme Court? I think I read somewhere that he had also packed the federal appealate judge ranks with neo-cons. And then there's the ongoing prosecutor firing/hiring scandal. What has Bush not corrupted?
"What has Bush not corrupted?" - whatever
And what further corruption can occur in the next 18 months?
That's why the Democratic Congress' first action should have been to impeach Cheney, and then to impeach his goofy sock puppet George.
And Sirota's article explains why it has been so frustrating to watch the "pop" political culture toss social issue red herrings back and forth at each other for over a decade, while their "leaders" sold them out on the problems that really matter.
Face it, the existence or lack thereof of gay marriage, guns, or abortions will not lead to the collapse of our Constitution. But a failure to police methods of financing campaigns will. So will the resulting failure to support and maintain economic and taxation policies which promote a healthy, expanding middle class.
But it's hard to get a bunch of arrogant college grads pissed off about that.
Until their jobs start getting outsourced...
And Sirota's article explains why it has been so frustrating to watch the "pop" political culture toss social issue red herrings back and forth at each other for over a decade, while their "leaders" sold them out on the problems that really matter.
Those red herrings were the primary platform of both parties for the last 20 or so years. Both parties were in cahoots IMO. The Democrats ran on social wedge issues as much as the GOP did. Both did it in order to avoid confronting the economic destruction of our country by the corporations and monied elite.
It was easier for the Democrats to push gay marriage than to deal with the WallStreet gangsters. Hell, until the '06 elections the Democrats rarely mentioned the economy or the plight of the working and middle-class. Even then it was only among those 1st timers who ran for congress.
But it's hard to get a bunch of arrogant college grads pissed off about that.
Of course it is because these issues are not sexy or cool like bashing Bush or the anti-evolutionists(who seem to terrify them given the rabid responses by the left).
Until their jobs start getting outsourced...
That will be a good thing for them, maybe then the snot jobs will learn what its like for those of us who watched our fields/trades get gutted and sent overseas while we have to retrain for some bullshit service job.
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