OUR GREAT NATION is in a state of mourning over the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia who died earlier today in his sleep on a ranch near Marfa, Texas at the age of 79. Justice Scalia who was known as the intellectual cornerstone of the Supreme Court’s conservative wing, and whose elegant and sometimes acidic opinions inspired a movement of legal thinkers while igniting the ire of his Liberal critics.
Justice Scalia was an outspoken opponent of abortion, affirmative action, and what he termed the “so-called homosexual agenda.” His flamboyant style and eagerness to engage in debates with his detractors energized and invigorated conservative law students, legal professors, and intellectuals who felt overwhelmingly outnumbered by liberals on their chosen professions.
His closet friend on the bench was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg whose Liberal views were in stark contrast to Justice Scalia’s Conservative viewpoints made them natural combatants. However, the two shared a deep respect for each other’s intellect. Scalia and his wife along with Ginsburg and her husband celebrated New Year’s Eve together many times. Justice Ginsburg proclaimed that no one made her laugh as much as Justice Scalia did while confessing that there were times she wanted to strangle him over their vast ideological differences.
Our heats hang heavy over the loss of this gifted Jurist. In a statement issued by Chief Justice John Roberts said he and the other justices were saddened to hear of Justice Scalia’s passing while adding “he was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the court and to the country he so loyally served.”
The President of The United States has the right to appoint somebody he deems qualified to replace the late Justice Scalia but the appointee must be confirmed by the House and the Senate. As we are in a Presidential election year Republicans are right fully digging in their heels that the new President should be the one who determines who the final nominee will be. The stage has been set for political gridlock in Washington for the remainder for the remainder of the year to prevent President Obama from inflicting even more damage to our constitution and the citizens of our great country.
Tonight in Greenville, South Carolina the first Republican debate since the New Hampshire primary took place. “Conservative” TV host Glenn Beck categorized tonight’s debate as a hate feast. There is very little I agree with Mr. Beck on but I too am concerned that these debates have deteriorated into anything but a discussion as to where each candidate stands on the issues. It bears remembering that one of these individuals will be the nominee of their party for the presidency.
The debate tonight should have included more frank discussions about the nature of the justice that would be appointed if they were elected. Instead name calling, temper tantrums and general mud-slinging dominated the evening. All races are hotly contested with the race for the Presidency due to the crying need this country now has for somebody to undo the damage our current president has inflicted on this country.
The President of the United States as we all know is the leader of the free world and one of the most powerful of men (only Russian President Vladimir Putin comes close to rivaling the President in terms of world stature and power) and should by all accounts be a leader who is worthy of this office as evidenced by the way he conducts himself during these debates. To date none of the candidates have shown any evidence that they can carry themselves in a statesman like manner as is required. Ronald Regan epitomized that demeanor.
There will be more debates leading up to each state’s primary. We as the American voting public have to make those running for the highest office in this country that more in the way of actual focusing on the issues as opposed to the name calling, false accusations, etc. that are dominating these debates. Despite different candidates have been designated as the “winner” of each debate to date they have all lost having displayed no credible signs of leadership ability.
On the day when we lose somebody of the stature of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia we would hope our President along with those seeking his office give honor to his memory by arguing issues passionately but with a focus on outlining their visions as opposed to pointing fingers at their opponents leveling accusation after accusation of half-truths or just mean-spirited words that only hurt the candidate(s) who utter them or engage in this very un-Presidential manner.
