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The Chief Justice's Gambit (Not as bad as we think??)
Rea Clear Politics ^ | June 27,2012 | Sean Trende

Posted on 06/28/2012 2:37:54 PM PDT by Hojczyk

But I think if you scratch the surface here, Roberts embarked upon a gambit much like Marshall did 200 years ago. For the results-oriented -- which is to say, most observers on both sides who have been ranting about the Constitution for the past few months -- this is a clear win for the Obama administration, at least in the short term. By removing most legal impediments to the implementation of the law, the odds that the president’s signature legislation will eventually be implemented have risen.

1. The law still has a good chance of not being implemented.

2. Doctrinally, The Federalist Society got everything it wanted.

But judicial conservatives who are not just concerned about the outcome got more than they could have reasonably hoped for. Doctrinally speaking, this case will likely be remembered as a watershed decision for conservatives.

Five justices just signaled to lower courts that, but for the unique taxation power argument, they were prepared to rule that a major act of Congress that plainly touched upon economic activity exceeded Congress’ commerce powers. Right now, liberals are seemingly too busy celebrating their win, and conservatives bemoaning their loss, to realize the significance of this.

3. The chief justice has built up some political capital.

Roberts has basically done what John Marshall did: Insulate the court from criticism of bald partisan bias and infidelity to, as he once put it, calling balls and strikes. He’s earning plaudits from the left. Though the right is grumbling, I suspect they won’t be doing so for long

4. This matters in the long run -- a lot.

All told, it is easier for the conservative wing of the court to make some significant rulings in some other policy areas.

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


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obamacaretax
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To: Twink
I have degrees in History (American and World) and studied law until I found out the type of people you have to deal with... and I am not talking about clients. I need no lecture from you on any subject and as this unfolds... you will see the error of your ways. The most respected and brilliant Conservative legal thinkers of our time despise this ruling (Thomas, Alito and Scalia)... even Kennedy was set to vote against this entire bill... until that crap bag roberts saved it with his twisted reasoning and progressive ideology. Levin despises this ruling and in the end... America will also. Then we have your opinion. Just watch the destruction that this communist action will reap upon our Republic. You will see the truth because the truth will come after all of us... and that includes you too.

LLS

101 posted on 06/29/2012 4:08:17 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Don't Tread On Me)
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To: Hojczyk

IMHO....the Supremes aren’t yet done adjudicating ObamaCare yet.

So it’s a tax. So when does the government actually get access to your bank account directly to collect their tax? That’s gonna be adjudicated yet.


102 posted on 06/29/2012 4:15:10 AM PDT by mo (If you understand, no explanation is needed. If you don't understand, no explanation is possible.)
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To: joe fonebone

You are in denial. Its ok - we are all in a state of shock today.

Roberts just gave the govt the power to tax inactivity.

Not good.


103 posted on 06/29/2012 5:02:37 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: CharacterCounts

Exactly. He can make 1,000 good rulings, but this one cements his place in history right along a Obama, W, and the rest of the big govt statists

FUGWB
FUJR
FUBO


104 posted on 06/29/2012 5:13:35 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: joe fonebone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7aZEEksK_w&feature=player_embedded

watch and learn. you are dead wrong.


105 posted on 06/29/2012 5:16:59 AM PDT by GlockThe Vote (The Obama Adminstration: 2nd wave of attacks on America after 9/11)
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To: Hojczyk; WOSG

ABO goes without saying, ultimately. (There’s a *lot* that can happen between now & November, but even then, there’s Hillary)

How sad that even a few people would sell their freedom so cheap. (Actually, it’s not cheap. This will cost so many people not only the health care they *could* obtain, but cut hard into every other aspect of their lives as well. There were OFAs who said this outright, in 2009)

Praying for 2010 on steroids...


106 posted on 06/29/2012 8:21:48 AM PDT by KGeorge
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To: CharacterCounts
You are wrong. Prior to this decision, a tax was for the purpose of raising revenue.

Well, that's not quite true, is it?

107 posted on 06/29/2012 10:25:40 AM PDT by glock rocks (optimist / pessimist? I'm an awesomist - There's a dragon in that glass!)
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To: WOSG
Um, no, they are off the court; neither ruled today.

You're the one that mentioned judges appointed by the Bushes and Reagan and they were appointed by a Bush and Reagan.

If you think Republican President giving us a conservative justice 50% of the time is good enough, you're a fool.

People like YOU are the reason Republicans keep winning elections and the country keeps moving to the left.

Stupid doesn't being to describe that mentality. And, now, you want us to believe the most liberal Republican nominee since Richard Nixon is gong to advance conservatism.

108 posted on 06/29/2012 10:35:32 AM PDT by Kazan (Mitt Romney: The greater of two evils)
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To: Hojczyk

No, this ruling is worse than people believe. It hands unlimited power to the Federal Govenment.


109 posted on 06/29/2012 10:43:21 AM PDT by yuleeyahoo (Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty. - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: Twink
I’ve had to tamp down on my emotional response, since I disagree with the decision.
I'm of the same mind. I'm wanting to understand the decision better, and the implications thereof, before I speak out. People's initial reaction, like the happy dance retort of "it's Constitutional, bitches" and the morose reply of "Roberts is a Benedict Arnold and is dead to me now", might well turn to groans of dismay and garner well earned praise over time.

A comment was made in an article that Roberts is playing chess while everyone else is playing poker. This close in to the decision being given I'm beginning to wonder if he's playing 3-D chess even amongst those playing chess.

Time and a better, closer reading of the decision should help everyone form a better conclusion. Initial reactions are usually just that...an initial response and reactionary response.

I pray that I'm right and this turns out to be a good ruling and beneficial to our cherished Republic instead of the millstone that drags it to its eventual, untimely death.

110 posted on 06/29/2012 10:50:31 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: yuleeyahoo

So, how do you plan to preserve your personal liberty?


111 posted on 06/29/2012 11:01:07 AM PDT by Resettozero
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To: Twink
Methinks, surely, we've been given strong meat upon which to chew.
112 posted on 06/29/2012 11:03:39 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Resettozero

I don’t believe it will be possible.


113 posted on 06/29/2012 12:19:04 PM PDT by yuleeyahoo (Liberty is not collective, it is personal. All liberty is individual liberty. - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: yuleeyahoo

Okay then. Well...thanks.


114 posted on 06/29/2012 12:24:29 PM PDT by Resettozero
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To: ConservativeDude

Robert’s is like a James Bond Super-villain. He’s got him dead, but then decides to kill him with a giant laser beam while suspended over a shark tank.

They could have killed it and gotten the very same result. I hope the author is right, but usually this “chess” playing is too smart by half.


115 posted on 06/29/2012 1:33:50 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: Hojczyk

Who F’ing cares about the “reputation” of the stupid SC????

Do your jobs justices and UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION!

What’s so hard about that?


116 posted on 06/29/2012 1:37:21 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Democrats are dangerous and evil. Republicans are just useless and useful idiots.)
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To: 1010RD
Robert’s is like a James Bond Super-villain. He’s got him dead, but then decides to kill him with a giant laser beam while suspended over a shark tank. They could have killed it and gotten the very same result. I hope the author is right, but usually this “chess” playing is too smart by half.

Dr. Evil: Scott, I want you to meet daddy's nemesis, Austin Powers
Scott Evil: What? Are you feeding him? Why don't you just kill him?
Dr. Evil: I have an even better idea. I'm going to place him in an easily escapable situation involving an overly elaborate and exotic death.
Dr. Evil: All right guard, begin the unnecessarily slow-moving dipping mechanism.
[guard starts dipping mechanism]
Dr. Evil: Close the tank!
Scott Evil: Wait, aren't you even going to watch them? They could get away!
Dr. Evil: No no no, I'm going to leave them alone and not actually witness them dying, I'm just gonna assume it all went to plan. What?
Scott Evil: I have a gun, in my room, you give me five seconds, I'll get it, I'll come back down here, BOOM, I'll blow their brains out!
Dr. Evil: Scott, you just don't get it, do ya? You don't.

117 posted on 06/29/2012 1:37:43 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: joe fonebone
It took away their so called right to use the commerce clause any damn way they please..

The decision did nothing of the sort. That was Roberts opinion only. Read his majority opinion (reads like a dissent). When mentioning the commerce clause he was only writing for HIMSELF and not the majority.

118 posted on 06/29/2012 1:40:29 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Democrats are dangerous and evil. Republicans are just useless and useful idiots.)
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To: bigdaddy45

So? By voting with the libs and only writing HIS opinion, not the majority, on the commerce clause it’s just a side note.

The 5-4 ruling doesn’t stop the misuse of the commerce clause.


119 posted on 06/29/2012 1:42:53 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Democrats are dangerous and evil. Republicans are just useless and useful idiots.)
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To: rwfromkansas
Virtually every single legal scholar agrees that all courts from the bottom up would have upheld the law if Congress had explicitly called it a tax.

Virtually every legal scholar, except that is, for the actual conservatives on the Court who thoroughly destroyed the claim that the mandate was a tax. Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy and Alito all held that the mandate was NOT a tax. They cited four precedent cases in which the court rejected claims that a penalty could be imposed under the taxation authority of Congress. And they said -- in no uncertain terms: "This Court HAS NEVER BEFORE RULED THAT A PENALTY COULD BE REGARDED AS A TAX."

Now please stop apologizing for the Majority. You're "analysis" is as embarrassing as their opinion.

120 posted on 06/29/2012 2:24:02 PM PDT by FredZarguna (When you find yourself arguing against Scalia and Thomas, you AREN'T a conservative.)
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