SCOTUS: Money Not Root of Political Evil

The Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission includes this howler:

...independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. That speakers may have influence over or access to elected officials does not mean that those officials are corrupt. And the appearance of influence or access will not cause the electorate to lose faith in this democracy [U.S. Supreme Court, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 2010.01.21, Syllabus, pp. 5–6].

Dang. Maybe Rep. Herseth Sandlin was right when she said supposing a connection between campaign contributions and undue influence is "ridiculous." Not that I take much heart from our Democratic Congresswoman sounding like a small group of conservatives.

But that last line, about the electorate losing faith... how do my Tea Party friends feel about that?

The conservative justices do make their case (read the full opinion), but I'm still shaking off the effects of a failed laugh test.

Clarence Thomas: Empathetic and Funny!

Conservatives like Sibby have made great hay out of President Obama's statement that empathy is "an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes."

Brian Beutler at Talking Points Memo DC reminds us that President George H. W. Bush (a conservative I still like) said of his Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, "I have followed this man's career for some time, and he has excelled in everything that he has attempted. He is a delightful and warm, intelligent person who has great empathy and a wonderful sense of humor."

More squishy cover for fascist dictatorship, right, Sibby?

Obama Supreme Court Pick Coming for Your Nunchuks

Everybody will be kung-fu fighting over this one: Judge Sonia Sotomayor wants to take away your nunchuks. As a justice on the Second Circuit federal court of appeals, President Obama's choice to fill Justice Souter's seat ruled with the majority this year in Maloney v. Cuomo that the Second Amendment doesn't stop states from banning nunchuks. Expect the NRA to go postal over this one... and to make themselves sound as silly as the rest of the sputtering conservative movement.

Of course, Judge Sotomayor is o.k. with baseball bats. In 1995, the robed South Bronx native saved baseball by ending the last Major League Baseball strike.

Seriously, for those of you interested in learning more about Judge Sotomayor's track record, SCOTUSBlog offers a great summary of the judge's appellate opinions in civil cases.