The tarnished U.S. Supreme Court

We expect Congress to divide along party lines, although we like it when at least some members try to put the national interest above partisan politics, especially in foreign policy.  Today that is very rare.

We expect the President to be a little less partisan, and we hope he speaks on behalf of the nation.  It’s the kind of thing Bush did after 9-11; or Obama did after mass shootings.  He was considered to be President of all the people, a unifying force in a crisis.  With Trump those days are past.  He does his best to provoke fear and divide us.

The Supreme Court was the one branch that people thought did not vote along party lines.  Earl Warren, for example, was a Republican.  Presidents usually appointed justices from their own party, but not always.  

Now the Court is just as partisan as the rest of the government.  On rare occasions Justice Kennedy cast an unexpected vote, and Justice Roberts actually voted to uphold most of the Affordable Care Act, but you can predict with accuracy how the Court will decide.  The five Republican judges will vote as a bloc, as will the four Democratic judges.  Trump, in fact, tweeted that the Republicans “must ALWAYS hold the Supreme Court.”

It is just another of the branches of government now in disrepute.  Approximately half of Americans believe the Court is driven by partisanship.  I have no idea what the other half is thinking.