[tanknetter]

If I had my druthers, I'll take a divided government with a Dem president and a conservative Congress to blunt him or a true constitutionalist to blunt a 'moderate' or liberal Congress, but a divided and antagonistic government which produces a lot of gridlock in any form will do.

Which kinda brings us back to my main point: I assume that you'd think a Conservative/Constitutionalist Judiciary (and more specifically, a Supreme Court) is crucial (and, indeed the history of the SCOTUS from Earl Warren forward seems to bear this out). How can this be achieved under either of the scenarios you propose?

[Badray]

Yes, of course, a constitutionally compliant SCOTUS is important and it would still be possible, although more difficult in either secenario, but less so with the conservative POTUS. A good Congress can keep the worst liberals off the court, or again, act to blunt a bad court. They do have the constitutional authority to restrict the Supremes.

From history, good judges are hard to find and even harder to keep that way. Even the good presidents have flubbed in making their decisions so it's a crap shoot at best except with the most solid of conservatives (like me). Give me a strong conservative congress to make me happy. Strong, principled, steel spined, uncompromising men and women of good character who understand and appreciate liberty and their role in protecting it.

Okay. So I'm a dreamer. Or a revolutionary. But I'm in good company.