Dick Cheney's duck-hunting buddy, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, today further debased himself as a right-wing hack.
Speaking before law students in the O.C., Scalia twists and tortures the English language to declare, definitively, that up IS down.
Watch how Fat Tony weasels the use of the word "moralist" here:
ORANGE, California (AP) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia blasted what he called "judge moralists" and the infusion of politics into judicial appointments Monday after joining law students in a re-enactment of a 100-year-old landmark case.
Speaking before a packed auditorium at Chapman University, Scalia said he was saddened to see the Supreme Court deciding moral issues not addressed in the Constitution, such as abortion, gay rights and the death penalty. He said such questions should be settled by Congress or state legislatures beholden to the people.
"I am questioning the propriety -- indeed, the sanity -- of having a value-laden decision such as this made for the entire society ... by unelected judges," he said.
Scalia also railed against the principle of the "living Constitution," saying it has led the Senate to try to appoint so-called politically "moderate" judges instead of focusing on professional credentials and ability.
"Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" he said, to laughter and applause.
Scalia didn't make any direct references to the looming confirmation battle for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, but he did allude to it. "Each year the conflict over judicial appointments has grown more intense," he said. "One is tempted to shield his eyes from the upcoming spectacle."
Oh, IS one?
I have an excellent idea, Tony. If you want judges to be seen as impartial solons of wisdom, how about sitting down to a nice hearty meal of SHUT THE FUCK UP.
See how Scalia is playing cute with the use of the word "moralists," when what he truly means is "anyone who doesn't agree with MY morality." Because make no mistake, when Scalia wants to serve up some of his own pre-Enlightenment, Opus Dei-approved morals, he'll put our poor Constitution through the goddamned ringer to get a decision where he wants it to be.
Maybe the more important point is that Scalia, while shedding crocodile tears over the upcoming confirmation hearing for Roberts -- which he deems a "spectacle" in advance as a way of preemptively blaming Democrats for not rubber-stamping Bush's Boy Toy -- jumps right smack into the political fray, robes a-flutterin'. As he decries the supposed circus-like atmosophere, he puts himself in the center ring, spinning like any rightwing talk-radio slob.
What a fucking disgrace this man is.