Yes, it is a radical suggestion. But, these are radical times, so suggesting it is not so radical. But, nonetheless radical enough for the times, if you see my meaning.
The House should begin impeachment proceedings against all Nine Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.
If you are still with me, follow below. Watch where you step though, I didn't have a lot of time to straighten up, and the cleaning lady didn't show up this week.
Think of the boldness of it. The Congress responds, forcefully, to the Supreme Court daring to oppose it's (the Congress') will. I am talking, of course, of Citizens United. The Congress passed McCain-Feingold, where do them old folks sitting around in their monochromatic robes get off striking it down.
(As an aside, speaking of monochromatic- why is it that all the men in the audience during the State of the Union wear dark suits, while all the women have to wear red. Is it some sort of modern day scarlet letter? Have all these women- gasp - strayed? The mind wanders)
Okay, sorry about that, told you I had no time to clean up the place. Normally wouldn't leave that thought out there for others to see.
So, where was I? Ah yes, Congressional revenge. You strike down our laws, you sleep with the fishes.
(Do fish actually sleep? If you are sleeping while surrounded by fish who are awake, can you really be said to be sleeping with the fishes? Oh, and plural of fish is fish. Same as reindeer. Another quick fact- dolphins are not fish. Neither are seals. Or reindeer)
And the political advantage is just too great- sure, we'd lose some good, progressive voices from the court. But, who would be picking their replacements- PRESIDENT OBAMA. That's right, he could pick all nine.
Ah, you say, but the Senate has to confirm, so the Republicans will have to go along with this. Hee, hee, that's the best part of all- THE REPUBLICANS DON'T BELIEVE IN FILIBUSTERING JUDGES. They'll just have to suck it up.
Oh, but what if they then don't go along with impeachment, knowing that President Obama is going to pick the replacements. The answer is simple- we just don't tell them this until after the removal votes, when it will be too late.
Of course, you can't just go an impeach SCOTUS justices willy-nilly.
(Had a stray thought related to willy-nilly, but managed to kick it under the couch before anyone could see it).
Anyway, we are going to need some reasons to remove all nine. Here's what I've got:
Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Stevens- did you know that they didn't even show up for the SOTU last night. Word is, they thought it was going to conflict with a new episode of American Idol, so they stayed home.
(Justice Scalia has been asked not to watch American Idol, BTW, in case an appeal of the final vote ever makes it's way to the Supreme Court. He watches anyway, and says he won't recuse himself.)
How dare they!! What a slap to the face of the President, and the Congress. Could have at least sent a card, or a telegram, or a cardboard cut out of themselves. IMPEACH THEM!!!
Justice Kennedy, who authored the recent decision. Did you know he isn't really a Kennedy?
(Did you know that dolphins aren't fish? Oh, yeah...)
IMPEACH HIM. False advertising. Only Kennedy's are allowed to be Kennedy's.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg. People who use three names in their daily lives are suspect from the get go. IMPEACH.
Justice Breyer. Ben and Jerry's is far superior. IMPEACH.
Justice Sotomayor. She's just a probie, we don't need a reason. IMPEACH.
Chief Justice Roberts- he's responsible for all of the above. IMPEACH.
Finally, that leaves Justice Alito. Surely, there must be a reason to impeach him as well. Maybe someone else could diary on that?
UPDATE: From the AP- The Supreme Court has now chosen to overturn 100 years of precedent and ruled that dolphins are, indeed fish. Some analysts say this ruling was expected, given the Court's finding several years back in Pluto vs the rest of the stuck up planets who want it out of the club. Justice Stevens wrote a short, scathing dissent in which he penned "I am not even sure why I come to work in the morning anymore. We're just making shit up these days".
AN EVEN NEWER, BETTER UPDATE: Okay, my last student has handed in his exam, I am really tired, long friggin day, which I use as my excuse for some of the lame attempts at humor in this diary. (The successful attempts, however, I take full credit for). I will no longer be responding to comments below, sorry to snark and run, but I would like to see my wife during her waking hours (no fish involved in the sleeping). Please, feel free to continue to wander about and poke around, make lots of comments, I want to have more comments in my diary than in the damn Roger Ebert diary that is right below mine on the front page. Get it done!!!
FINAL UPDATE: Made it home alive. Wife already asleep. Oh, well.