Religious makeup of the Supreme Court

[cnorman18]

I heard this on the radio a couple of days ago; if Sonia Sotomayor is confirmed to the Supreme Court, six of the nine Justices will be Roman Catholics.

I don't see this as a problem - I couldn't tell you who the five Catholics are on the Court now - but it does seem odd that no one has even mentioned it (for the record, the guy on the radio didn't see it as a problem either; like me, he was just puzzled that it hasn't been a news story).

Any comments?

[East of Eden]

The one failure to match the demographics of the American people on the part of Government officials that I find most troubling - though not in the case of the judicial branch - is that they are virtually all attorneys. The Founders seem to have conceived of the Congress, at least, as a body consisting of citizen representatives, not of professional politicians who would spend their entire lives in public service.

Agreed. We need term limits badly. You can't tell me out of 300 million people there are only the same 535 people qualified to serve in Congress.

[cnorman18]

The one failure to match the demographics of the American people on the part of Government officials that I find most troubling - though not in the case of the judicial branch - is that they are virtually all attorneys. The Founders seem to have conceived of the Congress, at least, as a body consisting of citizen representatives, not of professional politicians who would spend their entire lives in public service.

Agreed. We need term limits badly. You can't tell me out of 300 million people there are only the same 535 people qualified to serve in Congress.

I'm sincerely glad to see that there is something upon which we agree.

[East of Eden]

The one failure to match the demographics of the American people on the part of Government officials that I find most troubling - though not in the case of the judicial branch - is that they are virtually all attorneys. The Founders seem to have conceived of the Congress, at least, as a body consisting of citizen representatives, not of professional politicians who would spend their entire lives in public service.

Agreed. We need term limits badly. You can't tell me out of 300 million people there are only the same 535 people qualified to serve in Congress.

I'm sincerely glad to see that there is something upon which we agree.

Other than religion, there's probably a lot.

[cnorman18]

The one failure to match the demographics of the American people on the part of Government officials that I find most troubling - though not in the case of the judicial branch - is that they are virtually all attorneys. The Founders seem to have conceived of the Congress, at least, as a body consisting of citizen representatives, not of professional politicians who would spend their entire lives in public service.

Agreed. We need term limits badly. You can't tell me out of 300 million people there are only the same 535 people qualified to serve in Congress.

I'm sincerely glad to see that there is something upon which we agree.

Other than religion, there's probably a lot.

I don't doubt it. On some hot-button issues, I lean middle or left - I'm pro-choice (with reservations), anti-school prayer, and am not opposed to gay marriage - but I am a true independent, and on many other issues I am on the right or even the far right. I am pro-military, anti-bailouts, and on the Second Amendment I'm John Effing Wayne. To me the common element is a commitment to individual liberty and a severe limitation on what is and is not the Government's business. .

I also believe in the right of others to disagree, and not to have my own beliefs forced upon them just as their beliefs ought not be forced upon anyone else.

[East of Eden]

I am pro-military, anti-bailouts, and on the Second Amendment I'm John Effing Wayne.

Yes, the 2A guarantees all the others. I was at the NRA convention in Phoenix last month.

To me the common element is a commitment to individual liberty and a severe limitation on what is and is not the Government's business. .

I also believe in the right of others to disagree, and not to have my own beliefs forced upon them just as their beliefs ought not be forced upon anyone else.

I disagree with your school prayer stance, but I see where you're coming from based on the above.

[cnorman18]

I am pro-military, anti-bailouts, and on the Second Amendment I'm John Effing Wayne.

Yes, the 2A guarantees all the others. I was at the NRA convention in Phoenix last month.

To me the common element is a commitment to individual liberty and a severe limitation on what is and is not the Government's business. .

I also believe in the right of others to disagree, and not to have my own beliefs forced upon them just as their beliefs ought not be forced upon anyone else.

I disagree with your school prayer stance, but I see where you're coming from based on the above.

Perhaps we can leave it there, then. People of good will can disagree on many things.

[McCulloch]

Moderator Notice

[...] and on the Second Amendment I'm John Effing Wayne.

I think we have in the past taken members to task for "euphemistic profanity" and I suppose the "John Effing Wayne" has to fit in to that category. Maybe "John guns blazing"

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[cnorman18]

Moderator Notice

[...] and on the Second Amendment I'm John Effing Wayne.

I think we have in the past taken members to task for "euphemistic profanity" and I suppose the "John Effing Wayne" has to fit in to that category. Maybe "John guns blazing"

I apologize. I know better, and I should have expressed myself without the veiled obscenity.