Bush (Supreme Court) Nominees Have Made Panel 'Too Conservative' for Many, Poll Indicates

[marmar]

from the Washington Post:


Fewer See Balance in Court's Decisions
Bush Nominees Have Made Panel 'Too Conservative' for Many, Poll Indicates

By Robert Barnes and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, July 29, 2007; Page A03

About half of the public thinks the Supreme Court is generally balanced in its decisions, but a growing number of Americans say the court has become "too conservative" in the two years since President Bush began nominating justices, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Nearly a third of the public -- 31 percent -- thinks the court is too far to the right, a noticeable jump since the question was last asked in July 2005. That's when Bush nominated John G. Roberts Jr. to the court and, in the six-month period that followed, the Senate approved Roberts as chief justice and confirmed Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

The two have proved to be reliably conservative justices, and the increasingly polarized court this year moved to uphold restraints on abortion, restrict student speech rights and limit the ability of school districts to use race in student assignments, among other issues.

The public seems to have noticed the shift. The percentage who said the court is "too conservative" grew from 19 percent to 31 percent in the past two years, while those who said it is "generally balanced in its decisions" declined from 55 percent to 47 percent.

"I think it shows that we're at a tipping point in time," said Ralph G. Neas, president of the liberal People for the American Way. "And it's why a major priority for us over the next 16 months will be to emphasize the importance of the Supreme Court and why it should be an important factor in voting for president." .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072800645.html?hpid=topnews

[ryanmuegge]

1. You voted for this, fuckers.

Not you people here...but half of the public. All of this happened in the second term.

[BearSquirrel2]

2. It's a good election issue ...

This is a good election issue. As the court turns out more turd decisions next summer, this should be a great way to hammer the Republican nominee.

[PurityOfEssence]

3. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

These primitives are just getting started.