[Sasparilla]

This was a calculated move on Kennedy’s part. He, like every other rational person, has seen the Democrat party slide over the abyss.
Their behavior since the President was elected, and especially during the acting out in the last few months, was all it took to get him to push his retirement ahead a couple of years. It also gives DJT time to select his successor before the midterms.
I thank him for the move.

[relictele]

I try to use the panic button only for emergencies but I admit that like most people I feared for the nation under a Hillary Clinton presidency and another 2-3 Sotomayor/Ginsburg types on the Supreme Court.

Trump’s win, the recent Court decisions and the ability to fill several vacancies is gratifying but in the back of my mind I fear that ‘our side’ (the definition of which shifts constantly) are a little too keen to have the government, especially one man ie the president, involved with and commenting on every subject every day of the year. The media hate him but the media still want an Emperor because they want to be courtiers.

Similarly, the Court has eagerly expanded its power and twisted its purpose and role out of all recognition. They may have their moments of sanity but every case is a lottery.

In both instances we still have the problem of the legislature willingly ceding its power. Members of Congress making public utterances so do on TV or in the Capitol Rotunda. The Senate and House chambers are invariably empty except for the member who has the floor and the various clerks. Congress members are happy to let other people - Trump and the Court - take the slings and arrows so they can tell their constituents ‘Don’t blame me.’

It’s clear that our system of government was predicated on a Parliamentary system and it’s clear that the Framers intended the legislature to be ‘first among equals’ since it relies on a wider distribution of power and frequent turnover in membership.

If we are to be a nation of laws, not men, then we should not be lulled into the statist trap of investing too much power in men even if their names are Trump, Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch.

[Biggirl]

Plus Justice Kennedy hired more clerks knowing he was going to retire in a few months early this year.

[Steely Tom]

This was a calculated move on Kennedy’s part. He, like every other rational person, has seen the Democrat party slide over the abyss.

Ginsberg assumed Hillary would pick her replacement.

[gogeo]

I’m no great fan of Kennedy, but it was a classy move.