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‘Empathy‘ Versus Law (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^ | May 5, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 05/04/2009 7:40:33 PM PDT by jazusamo

Justice David Souter's retirement from the Supreme Court presents President Barack Obama with his first opportunity to appoint someone to the High Court. People who are speculating about whether the next nominee will be a woman, a Hispanic or whatever, are missing the point.

That we are discussing the next Supreme Court justice in terms of group "representation" is a sign of how far we have already strayed from the purpose of law and the weighty responsibility of appointing someone to sit for life on the highest court in the land.

That President Obama has made "empathy" with certain groups one of his criteria for choosing a Supreme Court nominee is a dangerous sign of how much further the Supreme Court may be pushed away from the rule of law and toward even more arbitrary judicial edicts to advance the agenda of the left and set it in legal concrete, immune from the democratic process.

Every weekday NewsAndOpinion.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". HUNDREDS of columnists and cartoonists regularly appear. Sign up for the daily update. It's free. Just click here.

Would you want to go into court to appear before a judge with "empathy" for groups A, B and C, if you were a member of groups X, Y or Z? Nothing could be further from the rule of law. That would be bad news, even in a traffic court, much less in a court that has the last word on your rights under the Constitution of the United States.

Appoint enough Supreme Court justices with "empathy" for particular groups and you would have, for all practical purposes, repealed the 14th Amendment, which guarantees "equal protection of the laws" for all Americans.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: ruleoflaw; scotus; sowell; thomassowell; tsbo; usconstitution
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1 posted on 05/04/2009 7:40:36 PM PDT by jazusamo
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To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; bboop; ...
*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 05/04/2009 7:43:49 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
People who are speculating about whether the next nominee will be a woman, a Hispanic or whatever,

Sigh... that 'whatever' communicates a lot. How far we've devolved.... Right on again for Thomas Sowell.

3 posted on 05/04/2009 7:44:18 PM PDT by Kent C
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To: jazusamo

We gotta get the orchestration of this sea-to-sea Kumbaya performance ju-u-u-u-st right, now, brutha.


4 posted on 05/04/2009 7:45:04 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Beat a better path, and the world will build a mousetrap at your door.)
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To: jazusamo

They will deny no opportunity to create an oligarchy. America is dead and it will be impossible to rebuild her until at least 2013. If Obama seizes full power, we will have to wait at least 40 years. If his daughters succeed him, we will need to wait at least 100 years at which point no one will remember what freedom justice looked like.


5 posted on 05/04/2009 7:50:35 PM PDT by Soothesayer (The United States of America Rest in Peace November 4 2008)
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To: jazusamo

“Empathy”: an Obama/Dem code word for ‘Inequal Justice’.

Just like “Social Justice” are their code words for ‘Creeping Socialist Tyranny’....by Mob Rule...Chicago Mob Rule.


6 posted on 05/04/2009 7:51:59 PM PDT by DGHoodini (God's gonna getcha!)
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To: jazusamo

I love the way Professor Sowell hits the nail on the head. His thoughts are better than almost anyone in print.


7 posted on 05/04/2009 7:54:53 PM PDT by Old Mountain man (Blessed be the Peacemaker.)
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To: jazusamo
We are all screwed when feelings have more legal weight than laws. What do you suppose will happen when the government “feels” like confiscating everything I have with an Obama court?
8 posted on 05/04/2009 7:54:58 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: DGHoodini
Obama is a Narcissist.

Narcissists LACK Empathy, it is the most prominent trait in NPD.

Obama knows this.

He used the word, partly, to cover up or compensate for the fact that he HAS NO EMPATHY!

He does have a lust for power and attention, and pretending to “care” does give him what he needs.

9 posted on 05/04/2009 7:57:15 PM PDT by Kansas58
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz. Dr. Sowell is right on as usual.


10 posted on 05/04/2009 7:59:12 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: Natural Law

Yep, Zer0 “feels” our Constitution should be brought up to date, he’s already said so.


11 posted on 05/04/2009 8:00:16 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

“Justice David Souter’s retirement from the Supreme Court presents President Barack Obama with his first opportunity to appoint someone to the High Court.”

Actually, Justice David Souter’s retirement from the Supreme Court presents President Barack Obama with his first opportunity to give it to America in the neck not just for the next four years, but for a very long time to come. He must be thrilled.


12 posted on 05/04/2009 8:03:30 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (here)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: Kansas58
You're correct, last week this is how Dr. Sowell referred to Obama.

It is bad enough that we have a glib and sophomoric narcissist in the White House.

14 posted on 05/04/2009 8:05:53 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
Sowell is a genius! He again, has hit the nail on the head. His capacity for common sense and reason is much lacking in this day and age.

Sowell ‘12? (doubt he would take the pay cut!)

Love this man of great character.

15 posted on 05/04/2009 8:10:58 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: Kansas58

I thought that lack of empathy is a trait of a sociopath. I know, I’m splitting hairs....


16 posted on 05/04/2009 8:25:19 PM PDT by joejm65
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To: joejm65

Check DSM IV
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual:

Narcissistic DSM IV Criteria

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

(1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

(2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

(3) believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

(4) requires excessive admiration

(5) has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

(6) is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

(7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

(9) shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

http://www.mental-health-today.com/narcissistic/dsm.htm


17 posted on 05/04/2009 8:32:39 PM PDT by Kansas58
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To: jazusamo

God help us save our Republic from those who wish to change her.


18 posted on 05/04/2009 8:47:10 PM PDT by divine_moment_of_facts
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To: Soothesayer
we will need to wait at least 100 years at which point no one will remember what freedom justice looked like.

Half the Country already has little interest in freedom or justice.

19 posted on 05/04/2009 8:51:01 PM PDT by Prokopton
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To: SonOfPyrodex

Justice Thomas Sowell has a nice ring to it.


20 posted on 05/04/2009 9:06:49 PM PDT by divine_moment_of_facts
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