As most everyone who reads blogs will know by now, we have Sen. Cornyn from (where else?) Texas stating
"I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection, but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. ... And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence."
There has been a lot of discussion of this contemptible threat, and similar remarks by the likes of Mr. DeLay and various supposed religious leaders; none, however, has dwelt on their historical context.
That history can be traced back, I think, at least to Nixon's attempt to place the right-wing Southerners Carswell and Haynesworth on the Supreme Court- an effort finally culminating in the selection of the right wing fanatic and racist Rehnquist, against the will of the by then exhausted Senate Democrats.
Since that time, the Republicans, have perfected a two pronged strategy. When a Republican is in the white house, they attempt to appoint the most right wing, big business favoring (need I add the word "corrupt?") judges possible. When a Democrat is in the White House they do everything possible to block his appointments. We know that the Republican attempts to block Clinton's appointments vastly exceeded anything that has gone on with Bush, even though Clinton's appointments were generally qualified centrists while Bush has consistently appointed hard right ideologues, ex corporate shills and other unsuitable characters.
This is clearly an attempt to destroy the judiciary as an independent branch of government, and convert it into a tool to further the ideological and economic interests of the financial backers and hard core supporters of the Republicans. It should hardly need mentioning that this is an abuse of the presidency fully justifying impeachment. This is not going to happen under the present circumstances, but the current actions of the right wing must be seen in this historical context. Their remarks are not casual comments, but an attempt by the undemocratic cabal that currently controls our country to further undermine the ability of the judiciary to serve as any kind of check on their pursuit of absolute power.
Footnote: This guy Cornyn was formerly a justice on the Texas Supreme Court? Well, I guess that shows how much respect for of the role of the judiciary it takes to be a judge in Texas.
