Campaign fatigue

Fayetteville Observer ^ | 5/10/08 | Gene Smith

[Dawnsblood]

Here’s an interesting thing that John McCain wrote about judges: “In the shorthand of constitutional discourse, these abuses by the courts fall under the heading of ‘judicial activism.’ But real activism in our country is democratic. Real activists seek to make their case democratically — to win hearts, minds and majorities to their cause. Such people throughout our history have often shown great idealism and done great good. By contrast, activist lawyers and activist judges follow a different method. They want to be spared the inconvenience of campaigns, elections, legislative votes and all of that. They don’t seek to win debates on the merits of their argument; they seek to shut down debates by order of the court.”

So here we have a man, ready to assume the presidency and begin appointing judges, who thinks the founders got sloppy — forgot to make judges properly responsive to the electorate. We also learn that McCain defines a proper judicial ruling as a popular one, and calls outcomes with which he disagrees “abuse” of process.

It’s strange. I did not dislike this man at all until I read those words.

[Dawnsblood]

My guess is that liberals hate the fact that we must change law generally in the state legislatures not the court, but he doesn't want to convince the people to agree with his views so he wants "Daddy courts" to make us do "the right thing".

[Luke21]

Those Observer papers in NC are big time commie rags. I still remember the screaming and wailing the Raleigh paper did when Jesse Helms beat Jim Hunt in 1984.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Well, he draws a contrast on the judge issue. Obama said the other day that he admires justices such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Breyer. I hope McCain doesn’t appoint somebody like Souter or Stevens who become more liberal as time goes by.

[piytar]

McCain’s statement is 100% correct. The libdolt reporter’s comments are incredibly stupid and ignorant - just what I expect out of a lib. Just one point: The founding fathers did not give the courts the power they havr. The courts (in particular the Supreme Court) gave it to themselves in Marbury v Madison.