185 Page 186 187
Cite as: 540 U. S. ____ (2003) 19
Opinion of SCALIA, J.
The system indeed. The first instinct of power is the retention of power, and, under a Constitution that re- quires periodic elections, that is best achieved by the suppression of election-time speech. We have witnessed merely the second scene of Act I of what promises to be a lengthy tragedy. In scene 3 the Court, having abandoned most of the First Amendment weaponry that Buckley left intact, will be even less equipped to resist the incumbents writing of the rules of political debate.
The federal elec- tion campaign laws, which are already (as todays opinions show) so voluminous, so detailed, so complex, that no ordinary citizen dare run for office, or even contribute a significant sum, without hiring an expert advisor in the field, can be expected to grow more voluminous, more detailed, and more complex in the years to comeand always, always, with the objective of reducing the exces- sive amount of speech. 186
I'm curious though, does the slow boil in the frog pot ever bother you?
Not me. I didn't vote for or help elect, by way of third party, the person(Clinton) who appointed two, and most recently appointed, out of the five of the consenting justices(Ginsberg and Breyer).
And I know you didn't either, JW, so I am not accusing you.
Not yet. This isn't over till the fat lady sings. I'd like to know more before I cut my wrist like many of you folks.
If anyone thinks this will get repealed or cut back they are utterly insane. This is more than anything, an incumbent insurance policy. Stifling dissent and challengers to those already inside the machine. BLOAT!