On Friday night, the iconic Supreme Court Justice ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87. I'm sure many of you, like myself, were grief-stricken upon hearing the news. RBG led an amazing life and worked to keep democracy in check as best as she could in her position.
Not even two hours after her passing, Senator Mitch McConnell announced his intent to fill her Supreme Court vacancy before the election occurs this November. This being unheard of in our history as a nation, it also goes against RBG's dying wish to not have her seat filled until a new president was in office. You can think what you want about this, but I think this is a shitty move, especially considering he tactlessly announced this on the night of her death. It's classless, but McConnell's concern isn't etiquette.
Trump already has his nominee's for RBG's replacement lined up. Personally, I see this going a couple ways. The first being Trump replaces RBG and the newly appointed justice will likely want to call laws they disagree with into question. Roe v Wade, ACA, and other have been discussed in the Twitterverse as being in jeopardy. The other potential option I see happening is somehow they block the position from being filled before the election, which will encourage larger voter turnouts to try and control the seat.
Regardless of how this all shakes out, I am genuinely afraid. It is terrifying to feel as though basic rights were dependent upon the life of an 87 year old cancer patient, but somehow this is kind of where we are?? Not for everyone of course. But for women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities...this is a time of heavy concern, as the coming events could restrict rights and be detrimental.
(Sorry for a gloom and doom post. I just really needed to process my feelings on this one.)
Abbie,
ReplyDeleteI was also terrified when I heard the news of RBG's passing. She was absolutely iconic, and her death has truly stricken the nation. As anyone who does not fit into Trump's ideal individual, which would be rich, white men, I feel there is so much at stake with who is going to be appointed. I even saw that Ted Cruz might be considered, which is a huge *cringe*.
I've thought a lot about how social media has played a role in RBG's death. The nation has been able to collectively mourn her, allowing for us to express our grief together and have some sort of community. It has also allowed for Mitch McConnell to be revealed as the incredible hypocrite that he is. There's a lovely picture floating around social media with a quote from him stating that Obama was not allowed to replace Scalia with months left in his presidency.
It also brings up the huge issues there are in the American political structure. How is it fair for individuals to serve terms for life? Especially when they are not voted for by the people? We have a president who did not win the popular vote acting as the voice of the people, when he is clearly not. This situation reveals the holes in "modern" democracy that are honestly pretty scary. I'll be interested, and cripplingly anxious, to see how this one plays out.
Abbie,
ReplyDeleteLindsey Graham has had a few interesting words on this as well...funny how things change from moment to convenient moment. I have been particularly interested in this "own words" framing, especially as it pertains to this course and polysemic understanding (though intent and manipulation might make this murky). I cannot be at peace with how this is going so far or how it will turn out, but I can definitely pay attention the framing and rhetoric used here. It also might be the thing that drives me crazy or keeps me sane. To be determined, I guess.
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI'm an advisor for my high school's We the People team - which is a civic education-government class competition club thing. Anyway, we debate a lot about terms limits vs lifetime appointment/people's vote vs. presidential appointment with Congressional approval for the Supreme Court. I think a lot of the structure works in theory. However, the lifetime appointment was intended to allow Supreme Court Justices the freedom to make judgments based on their experience and interpretation of the constitution rather than the opinions of constituents or the political environment surrounding a particular case. However, it seems GETTING the presidential appointment relies more on how far left or far right one is and far less on their judicial interpretations, which undermines the purpose of a lifetime appointment.