(Danville, California)
There is an old saying that "nothing happens in a vacuum!" In other words, when something happens, it has a ripple effect. The law of inertia, so to speak. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The courts have that kind of impact on politics.
Take two recent examples: This week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the Second Amendment to the Constitution individuals have the right to bear arms; and last month the California Supreme Court ruled that gay marriages could go forth. Some form of the latter issue will eventually appear before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well. So how does this play out politically? Well, it certainly raises the issue of whom each candidate might appoint to the high court. At 88, Justice John Paul Stevens is most likely to retire next; and Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg may not be far behind. The new President will likely have one appointment in the first term and, if reelected, two in the second term.
The question for voters then is "Who do you want ruling on the Supreme Court?" The last 11 high court decisions were 5 to 4. Moderate-to-conservative Anthony Kennedy is the usual swing vote, taking the role once held by Sandra Day O'Connor. John McCain has already pledged to appoint conservative justices in the mold of Scalia and Samuel Alito. Barrack Obama has yet to be very specific on this; but as the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, he is more likely to select a pro-choice, liberal-leaning justice in the mold of Ginsburg or Stephen Breyer.
Expect this to become a central issue in the campaign, given the recent landmark decisions!
Check back all week at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
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