Fewer See Balance in Court's Decisions

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Washington Post

About half of the public thinks the Supreme Court is generally balanced in its decisions, but a growing number of Americans say the court has become "too conservative" in the two years since President Bush began nominating justices, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Nearly a third of the public -- 31 percent -- thinks the court is too far to the right, a noticeable jump since the question was last asked in July 2005. That's when Bush nominated John G. Roberts Jr. to the court and, in the six-month period that followed, the Senate approved Roberts as chief justice and confirmed Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

The two have proved to be reliably conservative justices, and the increasingly polarized court this year moved to uphold restraints on abortion, restrict student speech rights and limit the ability of school districts to use race in student assignments, among other issues.

The public seems to have noticed the shift. The percentage who said the court is "too conservative" grew from 19 percent to 31 percent in the past two years, while those who said it is "generally balanced in its decisions" declined from 55 percent to 47 percent.

"I think it shows that we're at a tipping point in time," said Ralph G. Neas, president of the liberal People for the American Way. "And it's why a major priority for us over the next 16 months will be to emphasize the importance of the Supreme Court and why it should be an important factor in voting for president."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072800645.html?hpid=topnews

[napi21]

1. I want the court decision to be completely unknown until they are

revealed! I hete the idea that we all are saying all decisions depend on Kennedy! What happened to solid interpretation of the LAW????

This is total BS! I don't want a RW OR a LW justice! I want justices who will fairly interpret the constitution and the laws enacted by our Congress.

Is THAT too much to ask???????

[zehnkatzen]

2. We tried to tell you all...

...we tried and we tried and we tried.

You didn't listen.

You laughed at us. You treated the parlor psychodrama that the neocon's Supreme confirmation hearings became like it was real. You mocked the Democrats who tried to do the right thing (no, you sit down, Biden).

Now look...those fellows who pretended to be moderate? They're going to be on the Court for the rest of their lives.

Well, who's crying now?

You are. Right along with us.

[provis99]

3. moronic public

When, since about 1980, has the court been moderate? I must have missed something, because I thought we went from a far-right Rehnquist court, to a morbidly far-right court under Roberts. Or is the media saying Rehnquist and his ilk were moderates?:puke:

[Bitwit1234]

4. I don't think the majority of Americans know what the heck

is going on. And when they do they don't understand it.

[shanti]

6. most don't know

and they don't give a flying rat's ass either! :grr:

[mile18blister]

5. When Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed by Raygun

she was a conservative. When she retired, she was a moderate swing-vote. That's how far right the court had swung before Roberts and Alito.

[David__77]

7. A Democratic president better appoint 40-year olds.

The opportunity cannot be squandered when presented. Stevens will be going, and probably Ginsberg too.

[zehnkatzen]

9. Hell, why not thirty-year-olds?

I mean, if it's good enough for their side, it's good enough for our side, right? :sarcasm:

[AndyTiedye]

8. Even RHENQUIST Was "Moderate" Compared to Alito and Roberts!

There were people at the 2006 ACLU conference rooting for Rhenquist to stay alive as long as possible,
because he was almost reasonable compared to the people Bush**ler was bringing in!