...I always thought it was some of Diana Ross's best work. And one of the best groups outta Motown, ever!
But it's the other kind of "Supremes" getting all the headlines these days. I haven't mentioned it -- you are on th' Intarwebz, after all, with Google an' such -- but I have not been too impressed with the fuss. Either she's got the chops to do the job or not; she's one vote of nine, the guy she may replace wasn't especially a friend to my rights (or yours either) and thus it's pretty much a wash.
She's not the first "Latin" (a term kinda like lumping everyone in or from the U.S., Canada and St. Pierre and Miquelon into one big bag an' callin' em, what, "Frankish") to get close to the high court; Benjamin Cardozo would be that fellow, and he made it, too. In 2005, there was a lot of chatter that President Bush had Hispanic ('nuther too-broad buzzword) candidates on the short list for the Court.
I sure wish someone would point out the part of the Constitution that calls for ethnic representation on the Supreme Court. Is there some minimum percentage and if so, I'm one unofficial Cherokee wonderin': how come Native Americans never had a Justice all their very own? My family's dim claim to tribal membership lapsed long ago but folks in a better position that way have raised the question, too.
It's all just darn silly. Either a Justice is a competent legal mind or not; they all go a bit rogue once it dawns on 'em that they're the last appeal and well-nigh impossible to fire, at which point we start getting a pretty darn good look at what they really think and even a glimpse at how they support it.
Time will tell. Is she kinda scary for a gunnie like me? You betcha! But that's based on her legal opinions, not her ancestry and culture. You know, actual qualifications, like we're supposed to be looking at when deciding if someone can do a job, instead of their race, accent, religion or culture.
You know, o' beautiful one, that the Constitution only has one requirement to be a Supreme Court or Appellate Justice, and being a lawyer is not it.
ReplyDeleteArticle III.
Section 1.
The Judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Office during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
So, if you behave, you have a shot! So to speak. How was the gun show?
My mothers nation does not allow "half breeds" so I'm just a mutt. But the half Choctaw I married could become a member if she wanted to.
ReplyDeleteWe Indians really need one of our own on SCOTUS to "start dealin' out some justice" on the palefaces, as the O Man says about Sonia. The O Man would not agree but palefaces should include the descendants of the Buffalo Soldiers, of course.
I keep hearing rumors that Sonia has been a very bad girl - I suppose we will just have to "wayt a wile" and see. There's supposed to be fireworks to equal the Wagon Box affair Monday.
Stranger
I've never been able to understand why there isn't something like a GRE test on Constitutional Knowledge for all potential Supreme Court nominees, on which they must score 100% or be forever disqualified.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should come up with that test.
Question 1: From what original source do the rights of the people inhere?
If you answer "From the Constitution" or "From the government", you fail.
1. Actually Justice Cardozo doesn't qualify. In the current U. S. racial classification scheme, "Hispanic" generally means "Latino", with a tag-along of "other Spanish culture".
ReplyDeleteBUT, J. Cardozo's forbears never got to South America, they came to the U. S. via Britain.
And "White" or "Caucasian" means having origin in Europe.
Not that it makes a difference, having driven a friend to a Taco Bell one night would have been enough to make TheOne's first nominee the "First Hispanic".
2. Since Appellate Federal Judges get to decide what the Constitution says, who would grade it? It's like giving me a test on what dishes I like to eat or what music is my favourite. My answers are correct, since they are ex cathedra.