Every conservative that knows the horrendous pile of feces that is the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform law has prayed for this day since Justice O’Connor left the bench:
The Supreme Court will revisit their ruling on the First Amendment section of the CFR law!
Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy voted against the CFR law the first time it came up, so it could conceivably be struck down this time depending on how the new Justices Roberts and Alito cast their vote.
Obviously, this will be a victory for free speech in America if that were to happen and a huge blow to Presidential hopeful McCain. And the news probably couldn’t come at a worse time for him: the SCOTUS will hear the case in April and most likely return their decision in late 2007 – as McCain is trying to convince GOP primary voters of his conservative credentials. Nothing to burnish that image than a very real reminder of the debacle of CFR.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
I can’t imagine Roberts and Alito finding CFR constitutional (mostly because it isn’t). Actually having a hope for positive SCOTUS rulings is a refreshing change.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
On top of this being revisited so will be the issue of immigration by the new Congress where McCain can again demonstate what a mess he can make of things. I know Im in the minority, but I really don’t give McCain much of a chance in the primary once GOP voters are reminded of his two most notable bills which share the names Kennedy and Feingold on them. This is why conservatives trust Rudy more, even though he is more liberal on the issues he can be trusted not to sell us down the river for more favorable media coverage.
And David, you are absolutely correct. I would bet the farm on Alito finding CFR unconstitutional and think Roberts will most likely also swing that way. It would sure be nice to get one more soid conservative on the court and actually look forward to SCOTUS rulings on a consistent basis.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
This is part of why McCain makes me nervous on judges. Despite his long pro-life history, we know his heart isn’t in the abortion issue the way it is CFR. Who’s to say that a president McCain wouldn’t go “maverick” on us and pick a moderate justice who shares his philosophy on 1st Amendment rights (or lack thereof)?
January 29th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
When I think of McCain nominating a Justice, whether it is fair or not, the first thing that comes to mind is Souter, Act 2. McCain would love the adoration from a “moderate,” “concensus” candidate (media code for kind of conservative now, probably sides with the left a few years down the road) I certainly don’t envision him pushing through a Justice in the mold of Scalia/Thomas/Alito.
“McCain says he approves of all the current Supreme Court justices who were nominated by Republican presidents. They include David Souter, who probably would be no obstacle to McCain’s plans for rationing political speech by restricting contributions to candidates and issue advocacy by private groups.” – George Will
January 29th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
The last thing we need is a moderate panderer like McCain or a lib in conservative clothing like Rudy. Go Huckabee!
January 29th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Peter,
Can you cite instances in which Huckabee has proved himself more fiscally conservative than Rudy?
January 30th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Gee what about the first real tax cut in Arkansas history? What about signing over 90 different tax deductions and being the lowest paid governor in the country?
January 30th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Peter,
90 tax deductions? Can you be more specific? On a trivial and purely technical note, Romney took an annual salary of either $0.01 or nothing, I can’t remember which.