The supreme court

Wow, you did!  And, on the winter solstice reading I saw men meeting in chambers in D.C. in long black robes in June and July.  Wow!  I haven't had any of my predictions come true before, except my freak out before the last stock nosedive.  

I noticed Frannie's hit back when it was announced he would retire.  She saw it before he announced it.  I didn't see Gracesingers.  Will check it out and post it.  Thanks for posting it here you two. 

It wasn’t actually announced he would retire... it was one congressman hoping for it. But I think it’s imminent. McConnell is giving off happy vibes. This is what he wants. An assured conservative court for decades.

He hasn't announced his retirement, at least not yet. The scuttlebutt in legal circles is that he was planning to retire after this term, but has reconsidered and does not want his replacement appointed by Trump. I don't know how true this is, or if it's wishful thinking. If he does retires, he will be replaced by someone even more right wing than he is. This is my biggest fear, more than Russia or Trump or gerrymandering or crazy Fox new or another economic meltdown. I just don't see the country recovering from 3-4 more decades of an extreme right wing court that will, sooner if now later, be completely out of step with the public. It's a recipe for civil unrest.

It’s been announced. 

When will WE start winning????

Our resolve will grow with every setback. The heart warriors are being culled from those who embrace the dark. As Dylan Thomas wrote (my favorite poem) “Do not go gentle into that dark night. Rage rage against the dying of the light.” The light will shine. I believe we will win.

wow people are in despair over this. it is hard to convince them that we will come out of this.

Today's news is not the ideal outcome most, if not all of us would have liked to see but I feel the retirement of Justice Kennedy in the long run will not change the course that we are currently destined for. Jeanne and others have mentioned in various visions/readings that our country as we know it, will not exist in the future in its current form due to its inability to care for its citizens. When the court becomes more conservative, a greater emphasize will be placed at the state and local level. If anything, the retirement of Justice Kennedy and the inevitable announcement of an extreme right judge will further empower women, in particular women of color.

I took last night’s primary as a sign of the future we are destined for. We saw an openly gay man win the democratic nomination for governor in Colorado. We saw a liberal democrat win the democratic nomination for governor in Maryland and more importantly we saw a 28 year-old democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez handily defeated one of the most powerful democrats in congress. Today no doubt was a step in the wrong direction but the seeds of change are slowly spreading and it will be strong and brave women like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who will challenge the “establishment” and allow for us to transition to the next phase.

We will persevere. GOOD WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER EVIL. 

The current court, with a 5-4 majority that included Kennedy (who, though conservative, is not a right wing nut), is throwing out decades of precedent, and using free speech as a weapon. I hate to be a fatalist, but I don't see how the country can recover from another right wing appointment. No progressive legislation will withstand the scrutiny of the newer court. Rights that have been part of everyday life will disappear, and monied-interests made stronger.

Today is as dark a day as election day 2016. I'm bereft, for the country, fellow citizens, for the progressive movement, and for myself. 

Ben, Frannie, Brandy, Thank you for lifting us all up. I am also hopeful.  Lynn and MizMargo, holding you with love right now.

Over time the courts will change back to light, the political powers will change back to light, and the country will also change back to light.   All life is cyclical and we are in a cycle of change right now. It will take time but it is happening. Seeds of compassion and caring are sprouting.  Just look at the outpouring of love and charity that came from the most atrocious event in my own lifetime - the child separation policy. Of course no one wanted that to happen, but notice the shift in consciousness among millions that it caused all over the world.  

The truth of life is that we are all connected. That will never change.  The truth of life is that unless we see a thing through the eye of love, we aren't really seeing it. (John O'Donahue). If you can find a way to see these times with faith, and at the same time, spring into activism, then you are in sync with the truth of life.  Activism can mean giving money, time, care, protesting,  marching, even just sending compassion.  

We went through a very dark time in the 1930's, a time that sparked stories of mass human tragedy like the Grapes of Wrath 1939).  Anne Frank's diary and Viktor Frankl's Man Search for Meaning sprung from the worst depravity.  Then things changed for the better, (though not for everyone, by any means -- There was more work to do).  Today the dark forces are having their day, but their dark deeds are sparking a fierce and great compassion for the downtrodden. 

The swing vote will be Roberts, a moderate but right of Kennedy. Some things will happen, but I believe blue states will do what the Supreme Court won’t do. I think it will take 30 years before the Supreme Court will flip, but it will likely earlier in late 2020’s. Zoron, what can we expect? 

Zoron says:

Will do a deep scan on this. But I see a court that is tied, divided, and at odds with itself.It will have weakened power to intervene, and other methods to stop the fascists will have to be used. Eventually, one of the Houses will lose its GOP/crazy/ fascist control. Some clever law making with a barrageof bills will gum up the system, and help to fend off the bad guys. Think gridlock on steroids.

Roberts isn't a moderate. Even Kennedy isn't a moderate, he's just what passes as a moderate these days. Remember at Roberts' confirmation hearing he said a good justice "calls balls and strikes," and respects precedent. He was lying. He's an ideologue and he and the other right wing judges aren't even conservatives, they're really kind of radical. Conservatives respect and protect precedent, they don't just throw out decades of it for sport -- are all Heritage Foundation babies who have a political plan to remake the country into something that does to actually reflect the constitution or any kind of public sentiment.

I hate to be so grim folks (and thanks Jeanne for your kind words). I know things turn on a dime and what looks bleak now can end up looking quite different.  I think I've said before on this site that I practice immigration law.  Every day (sometimes every hour) is a horror show. To dedicate my life to the practice law and see it abused in a way that will harm us all just makes me sad, and tired, and hopeless. I'm also a union member and yesterday was also particularly hard, since the Janus case was just a nonsense decision, based on nothing but what Elena Kagan said is the majority changing long held laws just because "they wanted to."

But this is what we're dealing with right now and deal with it we must. Happy Thursday all. We fight on.