Arkansas Blog

Well, leave it to me to inject a morbid note. I'm far less concerned about the prospect of an even more heavily Catholic Supreme Court than that the conservative block -- Roberts, et al -- is relatively young. Roberts is in his 50s and I believe Alito is the oldest, in his early 70s. Seems about all we have to place OUR faith in is genetics. Sigh.

Alito is actually 59, born in 1950.
Roberts, the Chief Justice, is the youngest of the lot at 55.

Somehow, old White Guys expect any new minority to be more perfect than any of them have been, for the minority Justice to be the epitome of blind justice, fair in all things, moderate in speech, and defer to old White Guys.

we could really use an atheist or two on there.

Today's NYT takes it beyond religious issues and into Identity issues:

"The Supreme Court seems to promote this sort of discussion more than any other forum in public life, perhaps because it has so few seats and they come open so rarely. Of the 110 people who have served on the court, only four were not white males. Every president over the last generation has at least flirted with the temptation to name a "first" - or at least a second or third.

clicky

Sorry, eLwood. Seems I got my Italians mixed up. Is it Scalia who is in his 70s? In any case, not a particularly advanced age as Supreme Court justices go. (Indeed, as I approach that number, not an advanced age at all.) I think Thomas is in his 60s.
Sigh. For decades to come most likely.

Ages of Justices can be seen at blue clicky.
Scroll down about 1/3 of page.

Stevens is the oldest at 89. He wants to be the longest serving Justice, meaning he must last
until 2011. If that's the case then BHO get another slot to fill.

As a recovering Baptist I fear Baptists on the court more than Catholics. But I assume if I had been raised Catholic, I might have a different opinion. I can't see that we've had any Catholic opinions handed down, but I am the opposite of a scholar in that area. Too much of one thing usually turns out badly (except for rare steak & sex of course).

In the UK no Catholic can be sovereign.

"Note to Newt: How "New Racism" Isn't Like "Old Racism"

Old white guys can be a funny bunch, can't they? The same anti-same-sex marriage, anti-affirmative action cadre can flower into the biggest supporters of "equality" the minute they get a whiff of minority empowerment.

..."Sotomayor is quoted as saying: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

"Reasonable.

"But here's the deal, Newt, your "new racism" isn't like "old racism" 'cause "old racism" tended to involve things like shackles, and whips and the Middle Passage. Attack dogs, Billy clubs and water hoses. Burning crosses and lynch mobs. Confederate flags, liquor and screams of "Kill the (fill in pejorative here)!" "Old racism" was red lining and segregating and "whites only" drinking fountains, schools and country clubs. It was The Dred Scott Decision, Executive Order 9066, and the Trail of Tears. "Old racism" was a blind eye and "all deliberate speed" that wasn't deliberate or particularly speedy and nonsense about the sanctity of marriage which was crap when it was applied to "race laws" and is crap when applied to "one man/one woman."

"New Racism?" That's apparently a Latina openly talking about how "more often than not" she would like to avoid the "conclusions" that allowed "old racism" to thrive. That's a long way from getting your ass beat for trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge so maybe your kids might one day enjoy the right to vote.

More of John Ridely on blue cliky