Here's my take on Kagan: she is a Jewish female Obama. Why wouldn't he pick her?
So do I think she's a good pick? No, not particularly. She won't be trying to win over an alienated world, she won't be the first Jewish woman ever appointed to the Supreme Court, and she doesn't follow a total incompetent. She has none of Obama's pluses and many of his negatives.I wish he would have picked a Protestant (the literal majority of Americans who won't be 'represented' at all on the Court now), or a Buddhist Asian-American (who have never been represented), or or a filthy rich liberal, like FDR, who would feel free to take on the bankers, etc. How about a Native-American? How about a Muslim? (Did you know there are more Muslims in America than Jews--2% vs. 1%?) Why not a Mormon, for God' sake? There are as many Mormons in America (after all, here is an American-born religion, by Joseph Smith around 1830 in Upstate New York) as Jews (1.3% in 2001). How about three Mormons on the bench?
Why do we have to have another privileged, 'well-educated', non-practicing and secular Jewish pragmatist with few strong convictions but just great at getting along with people? It's so boring.
This will make six Catholics and three Jews on the Supreme Court. Though those groups make up only, what, about 25% of America, they're 100% of the Supreme Court? That is not a good idea. The majority of Americans who are Protestants--evangelical or mainline--(52%) will not be represented at all. Our way of life, our culture, our distinctive views on the relationship between politics and religion and culture will not be represented on the Supreme Court at all.
If you just picked Justices by sheer percentages, you'd have at least 4 Protestant justices, 2 Catholic justices, 1 Mormon justice, 1 secular/atheist Justice, and one Asian justice. (Maybe the Jewish justice could share the secular/atheist slot, since most Jews in politics are secular atheists, with the exception of Joe Lieberman.) But we don't do these things by religion, because we believe in the separation of church and state in America, at least ever since Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had their way with the Bill of Rights, thank God.
What a revolution. Not too long ago, Catholics and Jews were not even allowed on the Supreme Court in America, that's how discriminated against they were. Now they completely and totally dominate the Court. Oh, how sweet and inscrutable are the ways of the Lord! I think we now know what God thinks of Protestants.
But this much is for sure, Catholics and Jews are certainly very good at going to Harvard/Yale and becoming lawyers. How many people do you know that have gone to Harvard/Yale and become lawyers? That's who's deciding our laws. Comforting.
Believe me, I have nothing at all against Catholics and Jews. Some of my favorite people are Catholics and Jews, and I mean that. They are devout, thoughtful people that I love to hang around with. They throw GREAT parties and weddings and funerals. I love their thinkers and theologians. Really, the only thing I don't like is worshipping with them. Protestant worship is SO much better. Except of course in pagentry, in which the Catholics excel par excellence.
But this much is true, I wish I'd have gone to Harvard or Yale and become a lawyer (or Wall Street banker). It's the ticket to EVERYTHING. And the only price you have to pay is going to Mass and Bar Mitzvahs once in a while. Piece a' cake....these people have no idea what it's like growing up as a fundamentalist Protestant. No idea at all.
Why do we have to have another privileged, 'well-educated', non-practicing and secular Jewish pragmatist with few strong convictions but just great at getting along with people? It's so boring.
This will make six Catholics and three Jews on the Supreme Court. Though those groups make up only, what, about 25% of America, they're 100% of the Supreme Court? That is not a good idea. The majority of Americans who are Protestants--evangelical or mainline--(52%) will not be represented at all. Our way of life, our culture, our distinctive views on the relationship between politics and religion and culture will not be represented on the Supreme Court at all.
If you just picked Justices by sheer percentages, you'd have at least 4 Protestant justices, 2 Catholic justices, 1 Mormon justice, 1 secular/atheist Justice, and one Asian justice. (Maybe the Jewish justice could share the secular/atheist slot, since most Jews in politics are secular atheists, with the exception of Joe Lieberman.) But we don't do these things by religion, because we believe in the separation of church and state in America, at least ever since Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had their way with the Bill of Rights, thank God.
What a revolution. Not too long ago, Catholics and Jews were not even allowed on the Supreme Court in America, that's how discriminated against they were. Now they completely and totally dominate the Court. Oh, how sweet and inscrutable are the ways of the Lord! I think we now know what God thinks of Protestants.
But this much is for sure, Catholics and Jews are certainly very good at going to Harvard/Yale and becoming lawyers. How many people do you know that have gone to Harvard/Yale and become lawyers? That's who's deciding our laws. Comforting.
Believe me, I have nothing at all against Catholics and Jews. Some of my favorite people are Catholics and Jews, and I mean that. They are devout, thoughtful people that I love to hang around with. They throw GREAT parties and weddings and funerals. I love their thinkers and theologians. Really, the only thing I don't like is worshipping with them. Protestant worship is SO much better. Except of course in pagentry, in which the Catholics excel par excellence.
But this much is true, I wish I'd have gone to Harvard or Yale and become a lawyer (or Wall Street banker). It's the ticket to EVERYTHING. And the only price you have to pay is going to Mass and Bar Mitzvahs once in a while. Piece a' cake....these people have no idea what it's like growing up as a fundamentalist Protestant. No idea at all.
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