Supreme Discord

The Mad king

(by R.P.Edwards)

What do you do

When the king is mad

His decisions, vile

His demeanor, bad

His tenure, forever
His rulings, steel
What do you do
To stop, repeal?
The people must rise
And force their hand
Remind the god
His name is man
Remove the scepter
Remove the throne
Remove the palace
Reveal the stone

I almost cringe when I hear the more "conservative" candidates in this political season remind us that the next president will appoint not only one Supreme Court Justice, but possibly many. And, these deciders will then determine the molding and message of the near-sacred document, the U.S. Constitution.

So, why my dismay? Because, dear reader, I find the notion offensive and appalling that WE the People are subject to the whims of these mere mortals even when they render heretical decisions (as they have recently, and in the past) and that our only remedy and recourse is to cross our fingers and hope the NEW demigod we appoint is benevolent in nature.

It's absurd! It's offensive! It grinds and grates against our Republican bones! And the solution (long overdue) is found in Article Five of the Constitution. In particular, the Convention of States; the method whereby the States themselves (after the appropriate number of legislators respond and coalesce) propose Amendments. One of these, no doubt, would put restrictions on the Supreme Court. 

To drive this point home: Recently, in neighboring Missouri, a filibuster by Senate Democrats was procedurally ended and Senate Joint Resolution No. 39, which puts before the voters a provision that will offer people of Religious conscience some protection from Government oppression, was passed. Why was such a provision created? Because the "answers to no one" Supreme Court decreed and demanded that the definition of marriage be expanded. AND, since they make law now; EVERY Christian institution (which cares to be devout) is at risk. 

  Although this subject is far from funny; following is a song on the subject of Judicial overreach.

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RIP Justice Scalia and US Constitution?

The Court

(by R.P.Edwards)

I wade through blood

All the day

Because what seven

Men did say

And decades later

It's still that way

So I wade through blood

All the day

I hate going down to that place, and it didn't help that it was cold; bitter cold. But, because seven men went far beyond their mandate and condemned pre-born humans to death AND, because the nation has not found the will or wherewithal to stop them; I go down there and add my middle-aged, bearded, laid-off presence to the mix.

Justice Scalia died yesterday (yes, the day I went down to the abortion clinic). I have nothing but admiration for the man, and nothing but sincere sympathy and gratitude towards the family that shared him with us for so long. For, you see, THIS particular jurist got it right; the Supreme Court isn't supposed to make it up as it goes along. The Supreme Court ISN'T supposed to write law. AND, since the only way to stop them (impeachment) is a laughable proposition, they wield away and WE ALL will and DO pay.

And, O yes, the accolades and respectful purrings are pouring in from the lips of allies and adversaries alike (I'm talking Americans here; as in ideological leanings). But, it goes without saying that the Chief Executive, who put his hand on TWO Bibles at the swearing in ceremony, will (unless a Paulian conversion takes place) do his best to put on the bench another word bender.

 And so, Rest in Peace, Justice Antonin Scalia and, perhaps forever, RIP US Constitution.

Pretty Please

(by R.P.Edwards)

"Pretty

Pretty

Pretty please!

Do your job

This once!"

So says we

To the six plus three

From beneath our cap

"The Dunce"

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The Verdict

Judging Judges

(by RPEdwards)

Wayward Judges

What to do

Amendment?

Heavens NO!

Have People's Reps

Take simple steps

And have the judge

de-robed

In the news: Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg thinks the new Egyptian government should "not" use the U.S. Constitution as their model when drafting a foundational document of their own. Alas.

Now, I don't think such comments by the honorable jurist warrant "resignation," but it does remind me of Supreme Court decisions past that would have the founders, at the very least, scratching their wigs.  Abortion, Gay marriage, prayerless schools, eminent domain gone a muck, to name a few.  Yes, when high judges get it wrong...it's hard to fix. That's why, rather than the tedious Amendment route, impeachment needs to be seriously considered. Better yet...let's keep presidents in the White House that don't want to rewrite...what was written.

For your amusement; The American Kings...  

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The Supreme Solution

A song about the supreme court.  And you thought we didn't have royalty in this country. 

Pilot Error
(by R.P.Edwards)

The ground is unforgiving
For flight plans…gone awry
And with the pilot error
A crash
And people…die

It was a monstrous airship; a multiengined stratoliner that carried a multitude, higher, higher, faster, faster through an often turbulent and storm-tossed sky interspersed, from time to time, with huge granite peaks piercing the white canopy, promising, with the slightest error in judgment, a quick and violent and certain…end.  But, with a reliable and tested flight plan, and a competent crew, the many on board felt fairly secure that their destination would be reached.  That is, until the nine navigators began quibbling over the course.  For, you see, four were adamant that the written instructions were to be taken “as is,” and four thought there was wiggle room in the reading of the coordinates (indeed, their predecessors established the precedence of throwing babies out the rear exit to lighten the load, and “their” predecessors thought Americans with dark skin could also be likewise treated)  And the final navigator, the decider, he waffled back and forth betwixt the two.  Finally, after the horrified passengers saw the wingtips barely brush the branches on a speeding past peak, they banded together and decreed (for these many actually “owned” the aircraft) that “wayward” navigators could be overruled, and if need be…fired.

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Although it seems I’m on a Rick Perry run, I’m actually still in a wait and see mode.  However, the recent publication of his “to do” list caught my eye.  Abolish the income tax; balance the budget; make abortion illegal; defend traditional marriage, and a couple of provisions to rein in activist judges.  Concerning the “Kings,” these would have term limits and, if a heinous or outlandish ruling came down (such as Roe v Wade) the congress, with a two thirds majority, could “overrule” the judges without going the amendment route.  I like that; and it’s about time. But I have to wonder; how did we even get to this spot where we nonchalantly accept the fact that some judges can rewrite the Constitution without consequence?  Of course there should be provisions short of impeachment to correct a wayward judiciary!  I only hope it happens before the “navigators” turn us into the ever-nearing cliffs.

Rick Perry’s “to do” list:  Gov Perry's list

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Sotomayor and the Jurists Supreme

Jurist Supreme
(by R.P.Edwards)

Unprecedented power
Unprecedented gall
Molding in their image
Subverting one…and all
Twisting sacred contracts
Rewording sacred text
A sowing to the whirlwind
A heritage…to vex

I was watching (for just a few moments) the hearing to determine the worthiness of Justice Sotomayor to assume a place on the Supreme Court. Considering the makeup of the Senate, her approval is a forgone conclusion. Nevertheless, a gentle reminder is needful as to just how powerful these black-robed individuals are.

Consider: In 1857 the Taney court handed down the infamous Dred Scott ruling; a decision that basically said that those of African descent never were, and never could be citizens; a statement unsupported by the Constitution, or history. This “we say so” edict brought the nation to the very brink of Civil War…and beyond. Consider: After Americans bled and died and expended themselves to the full on behalf of the suffering millions in World War II, it was shortly thereafter that the Supreme Court began removing God from public schools. Somehow these sovereigns determined that, even though the Bible and scripture were an integral part of education at the time of the Constitution’s birth (indeed, prayer and Bible reading were a needful support during the recently concluded global conflict); for some reason these jurists forwarded a secular ideal that has slowly pushed God out of our history and heritage. Question: Do you really think that this was the intent of the founders, to remove God and Judeo-Christian morality from the classroom? And then there’s the decision that human life is (as their nineteenth century mentors might say) chattel, property, “things” to be disposed of at will. As a consequence, fifty million children have been murdered in the womb. And then there’s the decision that private property may be stripped from an individual, not for right-of-way, but because the new tenants may be more profitable (dollars). And, then there’s the blurring of the ancient lines of relationships. And, while we’re at it, do you really think that the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment (the catchall excuse used to force federal mandates on the states); do you really think that these writers intended this liberty preserving amendment be used to enforce the whims of the nine kings? As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The Constitution...is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please."

The conclusion: Once again, it is “works” not words, “deeds” not creeds, “actions” not flowery, lofty rhetoric that matters and, when we elect those who willingly place manipulators in positions of power…we have no one to blame…but ourselves.