NationStates Jolt Archive

The Supreme Court of the United States dropped 15 approval points from 72 in January to 57 in July. They still are quite ahead of Bush and Congress: about 28 and 43 respectively. So it seems that the Supreme Court does have a good bit going for them. They are appointed, not elected and therefore have to be well-qualified. They also do not have to worry about reelection.

Myself, I think they are doing pretty good and would go with approve. Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Alito do not seem to me as conservative as Bush probably intended. The Court has probably remained about the same moderate view it had before those two were appointed.

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070802/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_poll)

WASHINGTON - Views of the Supreme Court dropped sharply in a six-month period that included decisions that upheld abortion restrictions, struck down school integration plans and chided inaction on global warming, according to a poll Thursday.

Fifty-seven percent view the court favorably, the poll by the Pew Research Center found. The number was the lowest for the court in the survey in two years and down from 72 percent in January.

The decline was largest among Democrats and independents, 17 points and 16 points respectively. Republicans' views of the court dropped by eight points since January, although seven in 10 Republicans view it favorably.

The court, though, still comes out far better than Congress or President Bush, who is viewed favorably by 29 percent of those surveyed.

Even with the decline, more people (37 percent) said they approve of recent court decisions than disapprove (27 percent). Republicans were almost twice as likely to approve of the rulings.

Forty-one percent said Bush's appointments of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito have not changed the court's ideology, while 36 percent say it has become more conservative.

Roberts obliquely addressed polls that assess the court's performance when he spoke in November about how lifetime appointments insulate judges from politics.

"Not a single person voted for me. If you don't like what I do, it's kind of too bad," he said. "I'm not there to make judgments based on my personal policy positions."

The survey was taken from July 25-29 and involved telephone interviews with 1,503 adults. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Of course they're doing worse. By sheer proportion and by decisions like "taxpayers don't have any right to bitch about what their taxes are being spent on" or whatever that motherfucker Scalia said about it.

hmmm, the judiciary in the US seems far too political, I mean the whole President picking them, Congress confirming them, having 'liberal' and 'conservative' judges just seems too political for a supposedly impartial and separated body.

hmmm, the judiciary in the US seems far too political, I mean the whole President picking them, Congress confirming them, having 'liberal' and 'conservative' judges just seems too political for a supposedly impartial and separated body.

I'll chalk this one up to your lack of understanding of how the US federal courts function, and the existing dispute over how the Constitution is supposed to be read.

It's an inherently political issue.

The Supreme Court has misfired a few times recently, I'd say - but on average, I'd give them a favorable rating. :)

Don't worry. People will stop thinking about the corrupt government or the supreme court (and the plummeting housing market, skyrocketing oil prices and so on) once Amerika picks another target to bomb.

hmmm, the judiciary in the US seems far too political, I mean the whole President picking them, Congress confirming them, having 'liberal' and 'conservative' judges just seems too political for a supposedly impartial and separated body.

The thing is, the judges aren't supposed to be "liberal" or "conservative", they are supposed to be either in favor of "originalism" or "judicial activism." Course, the republicans like originalists, and the democrats dont, so it all works out near the same.

The thing is, the judges aren't supposed to be "liberal" or "conservative", they are supposed to be either in favor of "originalism" or "judicial activism." Course, the republicans like originalists, and the democrats dont, so it all works out near the same.

Eh. Only Scalia claims to be an Originalist, and even he is *very* inconsistent in applying that philosophy to his decisions. The other "conservative" judges don't even bother with it, and I don't blame them. :p

Morons on the left, idiots on the right. The judiciary is too politicized. End of story.

The people are probably upset because the courts ordered hearings for those dirty sub-humans in Guantanamo bay.

I mean, they're suspected of being terrorists! Can we really take the risk of treating them like human beings!
Morons on the left, idiots on the right. The judiciary is too politicized. End of story.
Does SCOTUS really have that much to do with economics?

Morons on the left, idiots on the right.

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Morons on the left, idiots on the right. The judiciary is too politicized. End of story.

Exactly. We need another two justices appointed before Jan. '09. That'd straighten things out a bit. :)

Does SCOTUS really have that much to do with economics?

It has in the past. And it could so again. Not to mention it is the final court for all the federally stuff. Patents, copyright, trademark, SEC, IRS, interstate commerce &c.

REVOLUTION!!!! START THE REVOLUTION!!!

Or not.

They still are quite ahead of Bush and Congress: about 28 and 43 respectively.
CONGRESS – Job Rating in recent national polls...
Gallup 7/12-15/07
27(approve) 66(disaprove) 7(unsure) -39(Approve
minus Disapprove)
http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

But you are right in saying that the highest court in the land still has a higher approval rating than either the President or Congress.

It has in the past. And it could so again. Not to mention it is the final court for all the federally stuff. Patents, copyright, trademark, SEC, IRS, interstate commerce &c.
Interesting. Not really. While some of the judges may be a tad socially liberal, I'm sure they all share the same quality that's most important to have in American politics, unwavering faith in right wing economics.
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.
The only "middle" is apathy. Really, there are some issues, that if you are knowledgeable on and don't have a strong opinion about, you lack humanity,

The only "middle" is apathy. Really, there are some issues, that if you are knowledgeable on and don't have a strong opinion about, you lack humanity,

I should care about your internal politics?

Interesting. Not really. While some of the judges may be a tad socially liberal, I'm sure they all share the same quality that's most important to have in American politics, unwavering faith in right wing economics.


That assumes that they know what they are doing when they decide these cases. And even assuming they are all rabid free marketeers, there are still differing ideas about how to implement it. (Even economists don't seem to agree).

That assumes that they know what they are doing when they decide these cases. And even assuming they are all rabid free marketeers, there are still differing ideas about how to implement it. (Even economists don't seem to agree).
Remember that right wing doesn't have to mean the free market. I know our (over)exposure to our libertarian friends on this forum may make it seem like that at times, but most actual right wing politicians believe in things like tariffs, business subsidies and maintaining the status quo. I wouldn't expect anything revolutionary to come out of the SCOTUS concerning economics.
I should care about your internal politics?
What?

What?
Maybe they mean this ...
We got the message
I heard it on the airwaves
The politicians
Are now dj's
The broadcast was spreading
Station to station
Like an infection
Across the nation
Though you know you can't stop it
When they start to play
You're gonna get out the way

The politics of dancing
The politics of ooh feeling good
The politics of moving, aha
If this message's understood

The politics of dancing
The politics of ooh feeling good
The politics of moving, aha
If this message's understood

We're under pressure
Yes we're counting on you
Like what you say
Is what you do
It's in the papers
It's on your tv news
Oh, the application
Is just a point of view
Well you know you can't stop it
When they start to play
You're gonna get out the way

The politics of dancing
The politics of ooh feeling good
The politics of moving, aha
If this message's understood

Shorter Bolded Roberts: "Suck it, boys! Life appointment!"

Shorter Bolded Roberts: "Suck it, boys! Life appointment!"

Roberts was dancing The Funky Chicken again, wasn't he?

Shorter Bolded Roberts: "Suck it, boys! Life appointment!"

Can't beat it. :p Although it seems he really needs to watch his step, else his term becomes a short one. :p

Can't beat it. :p Although it seems he really needs to watch his step, else his term becomes a short one. :p

He has another "seizure", perhaps he'll be stuck counting his steps instead.

hmmm, the judiciary in the US seems far too political, I mean the whole President picking them, Congress confirming them, having 'liberal' and 'conservative' judges just seems too political for a supposedly impartial and separated body.

And how would you make it less political? Draw lots from among the entire country?

The people are probably upset because the courts ordered hearings for those dirty sub-humans in Guantanamo bay.

How dare you refer to the US Military with such disrespect!

http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

But you are right in saying that the highest court in the land still has a higher approval rating than either the President or Congress.

Well I went by another poll that put Congress at 14 and Bush at 29.

I disapprove of the court, especially regarding the abortion decision.

The people are probably upset because the courts ordered hearings for those dirty sub-humans in Guantanamo bay.

Except Republicans are much more supportive of the court than Democrats.

Except Republicans are much more supportive of the court than Democrats.

Ahhhh, so?

Democrats are only slightly less likely to hate brown people than Republicans, and they tend to be more informed.
It makes perfect sense.