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'Very Troubling': Chief Justice on Obama's Court Criticism to Joint Session of Congress
The Los Angeles Times ^ | Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | Andrew Malcolm

Posted on 03/09/2010 6:36:44 PM PST by kristinn

Some firm and unequivocal pushback today by Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to President Obama's court criticism in January.

It is not at all unusual in American history for the executive branch of the federal government (the White House, under the control of either party) to disagree with the judicial branch (Supreme Court).

What is considerably more unusual is for the chief executive of the executive branch (Barack Obama) to look down on the members of said Supreme Court in public at a joint session of Congress and to their faces denounce their independent actions.

And then to receive a resounding ovation from fellow Democrats standing to applaud and cheer Obama as the surrounded justices sat mute, motionless and unable to respond.

That, of course, is what Obama did in his first State of the Union address Jan. 27, objecting to a court decision allowing corporations to donate political funds like individuals as a matter of free speech.

SNIP

Speaking in response to a law student's question, Roberts said anyone could criticize the court and, indeed, our governmental system of separation of powers encourages such opinionated diversity. Then, the chief justice added:

"I have no problems with that. On the other hand, there is the issue of the setting, the circumstances and the decorum.

"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering while the court — according to the requirements of protocol — has to sit there expressionless, I think is very troubling."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhofascism; bhoscotus; bhosotu; bhotyranny; donttreadonme; johnroberts; obama; robertscourt; scotus; sotu
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To: Parley Baer

>Sotomayer may be the only one that shows up for the next STOU address.

I’d find it amusing if Obama did something to upset her and put her at-odds with him.


61 posted on 03/09/2010 8:37:11 PM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: goodnesswins

“Obama’s on TV/Radio...I turn it OFF...”

YES!!

I do exactly the same thing. Obama is a liar - no one can or should belive anything he says.


62 posted on 03/09/2010 8:39:07 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO Foreign Nationals as our President!!)
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To: kristinn

Zero lies and Gibbs swears to it. But unfortunately for them, Americans are not that stupid, we see through them both, and pelosi and reid too.


63 posted on 03/09/2010 8:46:02 PM PST by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: STARWISE

Zero wouldn’t know decorum if it bit him in the butt.


64 posted on 03/09/2010 8:48:51 PM PST by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: Envisioning

“...The English word “thug” comes from the Hindi word “thag”, meaning “conman”. It is one of many Indian words borrowed into English during the British colonial period. The English connotation of ‘thug’ is synonymous with terms like hoodlum and hooligan, indicating a person (who may or may not be anti-social) who harasses others, usually for hire..” From Wikipedia

I’m not really sure why you feel that “thug” is not an appropriate term for Sub Zero.


65 posted on 03/09/2010 8:50:47 PM PST by Postman
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To: onyx; Danae; SE Mom; penelopesire; seekthetruth; television is just wrong; jcsjcm; BP2; ...

Mark this event .. it is truly momentous.

I don’t believe this has ever happened in our
lifetime, and likely never in the last century or even
if ever .. that we’re witnessing such a blatant attack
on the very essence of our Constitution and the separation
of the co-equal branches of government being launched,
and with such despicable and purposeful humiliation.

Now this public attack has been publicly rebuked by
Chief Justice Roberts, and God bless him.

That he’s choosing rightly and publicly to respond
tells me what an overt breach of the integrity our
form of government it is, and we and the politicians
all knew it when it happened, even as the Dems resorted
to their basest selves, clapping to emphasize the
blasphemy.

I think the gauntlet has virtually be thrown down.
Obama’s throwing all caution to the wind .. it’s so
extremely disturbing.

I know God is still on His throne .. and I fervently
pray His mercy to save this country from evil.

I’d love to know what Mark Levin and other legitimate
Constitutional law experts think about this and the
ramifications thereto.

If he’s spoken on this, I’d appreciate knowing his
observations.

Keep praying and praying.


66 posted on 03/09/2010 8:56:21 PM PST by STARWISE (They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter)
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To: tarheelswamprat

Thank you. I like that too!


67 posted on 03/09/2010 9:06:34 PM PST by onyx (BE A MONTHLY DONOR - I AM)
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To: STARWISE

Dearest you, my STARWISE.
Your words say it all.


68 posted on 03/09/2010 9:07:19 PM PST by onyx (BE A MONTHLY DONOR - I AM)
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To: kristinn

“”the President has long been committed to reducing the undue influence of special interests and their lobbyists over government. T”

what a lying sack of dog crap.


69 posted on 03/09/2010 9:08:42 PM PST by Annie5622 (Democrats DO have a plan! They apparently plan to stay stupid.)
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To: kristinn
"What is troubling is that this decision opened the floodgates for corporations and special interests to pour money into elections – drowning out the voices of average Americans."

"The voices of average Americans" apparently only count on campaign finance (an issue almost no one cares about) but not on health care.

70 posted on 03/09/2010 9:10:53 PM PST by denydenydeny ("I'm sure this goes against everything you've been taught, but right and wrong do exist"-Dr House)
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To: onyx; penelopesire; seekthetruth; television is just wrong; jcsjcm; BP2; Pablo Mac; ...

When you step back and really soberly think about
that event, it hits you right between the eyes.

I found Mark Levin’s show dealing with this. He
believes it was the substance of what he said, not
that he said it:

http://rope.zmle.fimc.net/player/player.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpodloc.andomedia.com%2FdloadTrack.mp3%3Fprm%3D2069xhttp%3A%2F%2Fpodfuse-dl.andomedia.com%2F800185%2Fpodfuse-origin.andomedia.com%2Fcitadel_origin%2Fpods%2Fmarklevin%2FLevin01282010.mp3

God bless you, Mark!


71 posted on 03/09/2010 9:19:12 PM PST by STARWISE (They (LIBS-STILL) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war- Richard Miniter)
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To: kristinn

Troubling that the Constitution was UPHELD? Sounds about right for the Marxist-in-Charge and his White House Flunkies...


72 posted on 03/09/2010 9:20:51 PM PST by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: loveliberty2

Seems I recall that it was basically Jimmy Carter who opened the flood gates of former presidents bad-mouthing sitting presidents and other branches of government.


73 posted on 03/09/2010 9:22:10 PM PST by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: holdonnow; STARWISE

Right.

God bless you, Mark!


74 posted on 03/09/2010 9:24:20 PM PST by onyx (BE A MONTHLY DONOR - I AM)
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To: All

Just heard a news teaser on KFI 640 in LA that Chief Justice John Roberts may not be at the next SOTU....


75 posted on 03/09/2010 9:27:53 PM PST by rottndog (WOOF!!!)
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To: All

Oh....they were just reporting on Robert’s statement to the law student....they seemed to be hinting that the justices would not attend SOTU in the future.


76 posted on 03/09/2010 9:32:28 PM PST by rottndog (WOOF!!!)
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To: STARWISE

In Obama’s last famous round at the Congress he was calling everyone a liar and then he was called a liar.

Seems to me he likes to use venue as a barrier to argument and others should feel comfortable violating rules of decorum when a bully strikes and strike back.

Just because Barry lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he does not enjoy immunity for defense by examination of his errant facts and ways.


77 posted on 03/09/2010 9:52:24 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: jazusamo

Stretching? You’re beating around the bush.

Just say “evil fiend”.


78 posted on 03/09/2010 10:04:22 PM PST by little jeremiah (Asato Ma Sad Gamaya Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya)
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To: kristinn
"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering" [as the Justices were being denounced]...

He (or they) should have stood up and walked out. Wouldn't THAT have been dramatic?!

79 posted on 03/09/2010 10:07:07 PM PST by my_pointy_head_is_sharp (The Wright Bros never imagined that in the future we would all be stripping naked in order to fly.)
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To: kristinn
Justices are not required to attend the annual joint sessions but have traditionally done so as a sign of mutual respect for the president and legislative branch. In January, six justices attended, including Roberts. But it sounds now like that judicial thinking might be changing.

I think they were pretty shocked. They should have gotten up and walked out. All of them, including both those who were in the majority of the decision, and those who where not, including the Resident's own appointment.

80 posted on 03/09/2010 10:07:26 PM PST by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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