I Miss Fafblog Comments, Spot!
You make some excellent points.
i vote for "pork pox" but that's less politically correct than the rest of them. i hear it's now officially H1N1 2009. that's eight syllables. the virus could mutate twice in the time it takes to pronounce it.
i also vote for mistah charley, ph.d. for best recent comment. (see above.)
Stop-me-if-you've-heard-this:
They always said that would be a black president when pigs could fly. Then they swore in a black president and, whaddya know - swine flu.
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Talking about "when pigs fly", I see that someone has suggested that the Supreme Court vacancy should be filled by the Honorable Al Gore.
That would be something.
Statements by a couple of his colleagues about Mr. Justice Souter's announced retirement are quoted in a post at Brad DeLong's blog, along with an extract from a passage in a book about the court's activities in 2000.
Nino Scalia on David Souter:
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia: David and I have served on this bench together for almost 20 years — sitting next to each other at argument for all of that time. I will miss his always intelligent contribution to our work, but most of all I will miss his companionship. The only consolation is that I am sure he will be happy back in his cold and beloved New Hampshire.
Clarence Thomas on David Souter:
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas: I have been privileged to serve on the Court with Justice Souter for almost two decades. It is an honor to have been one of his colleagues at the Court. Though deeply saddened by the departure of a friend and colleague, I am comforted by the knowledge that the bonds of friendship that have been formed during our toils here shall happily remain firm. Virginia and I wish him much happiness and contentment.
David Souter on Nino Scalia and Clarence Thomas, from The Nine:
[David Souter's] whole life was being a judge. He came from a tradition where the independence of the judiciary was the foundation of the rule of law. And Souter believed Bush v. Gore mocked that tradition. His colleagues’ actions were so transparently, so crudely partisan that Souter thought he might not be able to serve with them anymore. Souter seriously considered resigning. For many months, it was not at all clear whether he would remain as a justice. That the Court met in a city he loathed made the decision even harder. At the urging of a handful of close friends, he decided to stay on, but his attitude toward the Court was never the same. There were times when David Souter thought of Bush v. Gore and wept.
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/ 20...retirement.html
his attitude toward the Court was never the same. There were times when David Souter thought of Bush v. Gore and wept.
In other words he saw it the same way most of us did?
So why didn't he speak up - loudly. Do the speaking circuit, write a book, start a blog, do something besides waiting a decade or so to quietly resign?
Is the Cheney-Bush Mob really that dangerous?
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My sense is that he personally locates himself in and believes deeply in the tradition of jurisprudence, and so 1) seeing it subverted was very painful, and yet 2) he still couldn't imagine doing anything except working his best within that system.
Excellent juxtaposition of quotations, Dr. M. Charley.
No credit is due to me - it is the work of Prof. DeLong, who is my very distant cousin [we are both descended from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins].
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