Some folks can't afford to go to the Ivy League. Or have other reasons for staying closer to home. Are you happy with most of the judges on SCOTUS who have Ivy-League credentials?
I guess some people just don't understand the joy of combat.
I guess some folks want activist judges - just as long as the activism suits their agenda.
Duking it out, intellectually, can be as calm as you like.
Thomas doesn't have to duke it out. He has the words of the Consitution on his side. He calmly writes his decisions around such. No combat necessary.
"I guess some folks want activist judges - just as long as the activism suits their agenda."
Hmmm, let's see: reversing the harmful effects of leftist judicial activism is the moral equivalent of leftist judicual activism. That about right?
"Thomas doesn't have to duke it out."
Sure he does. He has to look at the superficially persuasive arguments of very skilled polemicists and see the fnords. Then he has to correctly apply constitutional principles in dismantling them. The word "combat" is entirely appropriate.
Since I have never seen the justices arm wrestle why do we need a combatant? They listen, read, listen, and issue an opinion. Once on the court they do not have to "fight".
I find it highly insulting that people think an Ivy League education is better than any other college. My state degree is just as good as any degree from New England. You get what you put into it. I am ashamned to say when I hear some has a degree from an Ivy school I immediately think elitist, blowhard until I am proven wrong. So far it is about 50/50.
I don't care if someone went to Across the Track Community College as long as they can utitlze that education. Remember John Kerry, Bill Clinton and others have Ivy League ( I count Oxford as a hoidy-toidy college ) educations and I don't respect their intellect, do any of you?