Sotomayor, Kagan shift Supreme Court debates to the left

Los Angeles Times ^ | 12/25/10 | David G. Savage

[Nachum]

Washington —For most of the last two decades, Supreme Court conservatives led by Justice Antonin Scalia dominated the debates during oral arguments. They greeted advocates for liberal causes with sharp and sometimes caustic questions, putting them on the defensive from the opening minute.But the tenor of the debate has changed in recent months, now that President Obama's two appointees to the court, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, have joined the fray and reenergized the liberal wing.Gone are the mismatches where the Scalia wing overshadowed reserved and soft-spoken liberals like now-retired

[piytar]

Frankly, that’s why I wasn’t too upset by their appointments. They replaced libs, but they are inferior intellectually to the libs they replaced. That means the one swing vote, Kennedy, is being influenced by Scalia, Alito, Roberts, and Thomas one our side (monster intellects all) vs Kagan, Sotomayor, and (so dull I can’t recall) on the other.

We win that contest more often than not!

[LostInBayport]

Most of the decisions are made [and possibly persuaded] during private meetings [usually one-on-one] between justices.

There was an interesting special a while back (after the allegedly wise Latina was confirmed) that went behind the scenes at SCOTUS. I believe the justices sit around a table and discuss each case after oral argument, and then depart to write opinions. They pass preliminary opinions to each other and sometimes they change their minds in that process.

I would love to be a fly in the wall in that general meeting. I suspect that as a routine Roberts, Alito, Thomas & Scalia are to Kagan and Sotomayor what Brit Hume is to Juan Williams on Fox News Sunday. In other words, they rip the libs arguments to shreds with ease, leaving them sitting there in fuming silence. The libs vote their feeeeelings and commie viewpoints anyway.

[Soul Seeker]

Yes, but the NYT’s is taking enjoyment in the new Justices preening before the cameras more then the ones they replaced. They’ve gone after Scalia many times for his nature but in truth if he’d been a liberal forthrightly and intelligently arguing for the cause he’d have been their favorite Justice. That these two hog camera time makes them happy even if they are nitwits.

I do have a fondness for them though. Neither of them have the ability or it seems desire to strike up a friendship with Kennedy. Neither of them are respectable Justices that are there for merit. As a result Kennedy is more open to persuasion from the conservative members of the court. If Obama were wise he’d have selected Justices Kennedy would respect and like to spend hours away from the court with.

[KoRn]

Good! Hopefully with their big mouths, they will fully reveal who they are and what they stand for, all the while repulsing Justice Kennedy.

During oral augments, he will be sitting there thinking - “Damn, these bitches are crazy”, and will tune them out.

[coloradan]

What? Do you mean to imply that there’s some other way to vote, other than one’s feeeelings?

[Graybeard58]

Sure would like to seek Elena and Sonya's true IQ scores.

Well. there you have it, they don't have a full brain between them. Liberals can and do make a lot of noise but that's about it.

[Graybeard58]

The smack down that zero delivered to the conservative justices at the state of the union address is not going to help zero when Obama care comes before them.

I believe there will be 5 firm votes against Obama care.

[Lmo56]

I believe the justices sit around a table and discuss each case after oral argument, and then depart to write opinions. They pass preliminary opinions to each other and sometimes they change their minds in that process.

Thats just the beginning of the process - after the preliminaries are passed around, they know where they initially stand. Thats when the persuading [politicking] begins. Based on what they saw in each "opinion", one coalition or the other will target whom they believe can be persuaded to change their mind ...

[Mariner]

"Scalia wing overshadowed reserved and soft-spoken liberals "

This is not a Vegas show. This is the USSC for criminy sakes.

The balance of the vote has not shifted...but there's a couple of libs on the court that I hope will hang on for just two more years. But, I don't think they will.

I'm thinking Obama will get three. Damnit.

[tflabo]

The wise latina and mama Cass redux-—part of the leftist legacy of the Zero. The old GIGO principle in undeniable full effect.

[Mariner]

"but the tone has and it’s more combative"

I support televising every USSC deliberation. Every one. They could not vote or deliberate in private...and they would be sworn not to discuss the cases amongst themselves nor via any 1 on 1 communication...without the cameras rolling.

[tflabo]

David Souter was a mild and conflict-averse New England Yankee.

Ahh yes the Sununu stealth WEASEL Souter grasped firmly to the tassles of aunt Ruthies black robe while on the SC.

[Recovering_Democrat]

EVERYONE had better pray for the health of Tony Kennedy. and the right side of SCOTUS.

One more left-tard on the Court, replacing Roberts, Thomas, Scalia, Alito or Kennedy...and the nation is doomed judicially.

[Recovering_Democrat]

I believe there will be 5 firm votes against Obama care.

As long as Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy stay alive.

[LostInBayport]

What? Do you mean to imply that there’s some other way to vote, other than one’s feeeelings?

There used to be. But that was before liberals, whose brilliance needs no case law, statutory language or Constitution! They take a deep breath of their own smugness, look at the parties, and decide who they like better. That's the winner! Whee! Cue the unicorns defecating Skittles!

(no more egg nog for me)

[Lmo56]

I'm thinking Obama will get three. Damnit.

Three don't change the composition of the Court - its the fourth [Kennedy] that I'm worried about.

He's [Kennedy] bad enuf as it is - but it would be worse if Obama got the 4th pick ...

[newfrpr04]

The Rats in the Senate are currently thinking about eliminating the filibuster so that they can fill as many federal courts with liberals in the two years Obastard has left.

What's the bet that the commies succeed.

[Gene Eric]

One major difference between the Left and the Right is the Left’s determination to win. The Right likes to pretend it’s trying while selling out the constituency every chance it gets.

The GOP’s faux concern with these two Justices prior to their respective confirmations was simply deceitful and pathetic.

The GOP is full of pretenders.

[newfrpr04]

One major difference between the Left and the Right is the Left’s determination to win.

Yea, they know how to win the game. Sorry to say but my side slinks down to obscurity & will/are eaten to death by the determined. We were given a republic but we couldn't keep it. Turn out the lights the party is over.

[MHGinTN]

Smoke and mirrors. Roberts was put in place for specific strategies. The SCOTUS is not conservative, though it is posed as such, falsely. The court is assiting int he demise of the We The People Republic. Roberts is no conservative, he is an elitist helping to protect barry the bastard’s backside.