For those that scoff at the importance of the judiciary, I have a question.

[BzaDem]

Just who exactly do you think will be deciding whether or not to uphold progressive laws that are passed in (say) 10 years? Or 25 years?

[gateley]

1. They scoff at their own peril - and have no understanding

of the power it wields.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. If we are going to decide to uphold progressive laws,

First we must pass those progressive laws.
If we are going to pass progressive laws.
First we must elect a progressive Congress and President to write progressive laws.
If we are going to elect a progressive Congress and President to write progressive laws.
First we must have progressives run for those offices.
And at this point you might as well give that fucking mouse a cookie
Because neither the President nor the vast majority in the Congress are Progressive.

[BzaDem]

5. But if people decide that to get progressives, they need to ensure a Republican is first elected to

WH in 2012, what's the point? It doesn't help very much to pass progressive laws (even in a generation) if they are just struck down by a justice appointed in 2013.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Republicans took defeat and decided that they weren't Conservative enough...

It seemed counterintuitive, but it worked. They got more Conservative, more crazy, and returned to power. They have managed force Democrats to run an administration as if they were conservatives, passing a conservative health care bill, extend disastrous tax cuts to the wealthy, using torture, imprisoning people without the right to appeal to the law, allowing people who violate our laws under the protection of public office go free..

It makes no sense to cut off my foot and say I do this because cutting of my leg will hurt so much.

If we want a liberal or progressive nation, we have to take a stand and say we will go no farther to the right. We can't do that by electing a President whose solutions are Conservative solutions. obama must move left, and take a stand or change his party to Republican.

If you don't care who has power as long as the person calls himself a Democrat, what difference does it make what the policies are.

[ChandlerJr]

3. Federal Judges? Just a WAG.

A Federal judge has struck down an Obama administration policy related to drilling permits on public lands: Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, Obama appointee.

Federal appellate court strikes down Obama's individual healthcare mandate: Judge Frank Hull, Clinton appointee.

[BzaDem]

4. Perhaps you should read up on the legislative history. Frank Hull was the only judge that could get

past Orin Hatch's judiciary committee when Republicans controlled the Senate. If anything, it is a signal to those who scoff to think very carefully before voting for a non-Democratic President or Senator.