All it takes is one vote. We are not forever stuck with a Supreme Court that has ruled some of the worst decisions by 5-4 votes.
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Article in The Michigan Chronicle, six-time #1 African-American Newspaper, The Atlanta Daily World & syndicated in Real Times Media Group
By Robert Weiner and Autumn Kelly
ALL it takes is one vote. We are not forever stuck with a Supreme Court that has ruled some of the worst decisions by 5-4 votes. One nomination, one vote, could make the dissent the majority. Here's the kicker: The change in the court may be in a direction few have predicted. It's not just the liberals who are old or potentially sick, but the conservatives. Illness and voluntary retirement happen unexpectedly. Who would have thought that moderate Sandra Day O'Connor would retire in 2006?
Few know that Bush-appointed conservative Chief Justice John Roberts has had two reported seizures since 1993, even though the health issue was in the New York Times and other media when he was first appointed. His second seizure was in 2007. Many doctors classify two or more unexplained seizures as epilepsy.
The Supreme Court Justices have more control than you think; they even play a hand in choosing their successor by deciding when to retire, and by doing so, selecting what President will choose their replacement.
It's true that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 82 (confirmed under Bill Clinton, 1993), is the oldest, and liberals have been pressing her to make room for an Obama appointment but she continues onward, with spunk. However, most of the others, including conservatives, are not far behind:
Antonin Scalia, 79 (Ronald Reagan, 1986)
Anthony M. Kennedy, 78 (Ronald Reagan in 1988)
Stephen Breyer, 76 (Bill Clinton, 1994)
Clarence Thomas, 66 (George H. W. Bush, 1991)
Samuel Alito, 65 (George W. Bush, 2006)
John Roberts, 60 (George W. Bush, 2005)
Sonia Sotomayor, 60 (Barack Obama, 2009)
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