The SCOTUS Blues

Funny (I mean funny "strange" and not the "ha ha" kind)

How fast Mitch McConnell can completely change his mind

About how elections matter when you choose a judge...

I can understand why Democrats may hold a grudge.

Donald Trump will get to pick his second nominee

For a seat on SCOTUS. They're a lifetime appointee;

Meaning that for 30 years or more the court will lean

To the right as it's deciding what our laws should mean.

I guess I cannot be shocked by this hypocrisy;

Just one more of many wounds to our democracy.

Maybe it's the weather for, although I should be mad,

I can barely muster up the energy for sad.

Best Wishes on Your Upcoming Nuptials

Same sex couples celebrated; they're allowed to wed

After the decision that what people do in bed

Doesn't make a marriage - shouldn't matter to the State.

Love is love.  It's not their business who we choose as mate.

There are some "religious" people who would disagree,

Fearful that a marriage which is legal civilly 

Means that churches will be forced to bless a wedding vow...

(Why would same sex couples want their blessings anyhow?)

Church and State are separated; thus, a church is free

To continue on a path of righteous bigotry

But, discrimination's not the purview of  the Feds

So let me congratulate the country's newlyweds.

Hurrah for SCOTUS-Care

By a vote of 6 to 3, the ruling of The Court

On the role of subsidies in states that don't support

Health care for their citizens has found the law's intent

Was providing coverage...  That it's what Congress meant.

The Chief Justice read the findings, noting that the law

Had some unclear language but deciding that the flaw

Didn't justify destroying the whole ACA,

Which would happen if they took the subsidies away.

From the bench, Scalia read a blistering dissent,

Said that states which opted not to have the money sent

Were within their rights and that the ruling wasn't fair,

That we should rename the law and call it SCOTUS-Care.

Maybe that's a good idea...  If we just change the name,

Keeping the protections and provisions all the same,

Making sure that patients don't get told to take a hike,

They can call the health care system anything they like.

Dr. Seussilitis Does The SCOTUS Blog (Again)

Yesterday the Justices heard arguments about

Language putting subsidies for health care in some doubt

For states that don't have a health care system of their own,

Because local politicians say they won't condone

Health care that's affordable. (They think it's Socialist.)

Thus they've launched another last ditch effort to resist

Implementing ACA by gutting subsidies;

Which leaves millions who can't pay their high insurance fees.

We won't know 'til June which way the Court is gonna rule...

If they'll strip away Obamacare's most vital tool.

I sure wish Republicans spent even half the time

Fixing health care as they've spent on making it a crime.

Wedding Bells Are Ringing

(Image/Courtesy of roygbiv.jezebel.com)

Here in the United States our highest court just said

Same sex couples in 11 states could go ahead;

Send the invitations, pick the cake, and rent the hall.

The Supreme Court Justices decided that they'd stall.

Seven cases pending they've elected not to hear;

Justices have put the issue off another year.

Groups in opposition to an equal marriage right

Say that they're preparing for a lengthy, legal fight.

Meanwhile, there are 30 states where what you do in bed

Doesn't make a difference in who you choose to wed.

So, for those who - when bouquets were tossed - forgot to duck,

May I wish the newly wedded couples lots of luck.

Dr. Seussilitis Does The SCOTUS Blog - Affirmative Action Editon

The Supreme Court of the United States voted to uphold Michigan's ban on Affirmative Action. (Cartoon/Courtesy of instruction.blackhawk.edu)

SCOTUS ruled, at 6 to 2, that voters get to choose

If there's a protection that minorities should lose.

Michigan decided that Admissions at a school

Cannot factor race when they're selecting from their pool.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed;

Said the program's one that some minorities still need.

On this issue, I am still unsure how I should feel:

Knowing that the evidence for racism is real,

Wanting to be helpful (it's the Irish Catholic guilt)

Being proud of the protections that the 60s built.

Is that condescending to a person 'cause they're black;

Just assuming I've got some advantages they lack?

That's where I'm uncomfortable. I don't know which side's right,

And I'll never, really know the answer, 'cause I'm white.

All I know is most of color think the program works

And, in their experience, the voters can be jerks.

Aren't we all about protecting the minority?

Not as if they're asking for a lot, it seems to me...

Just consideration of a little more than grades

'til the scar our history has inflicted on them fades. 

The Seussilitis SCOTUS Blog

The buffer zone in question. (Photo/PBS.org)

Massachusetts finds itself Defendants in the Court;

Operation Rescue sued (they had outside support.)

Want to end a buffer zone; they claim it stifles speech.

Doesn't give their members 7 seconds more to preach.

Here in Massachusetts, where 2 clinics were attacked,

Women felt unsafe and so our Legislature backed

Efforts aimed at balancing our First Amendment rights

With a patient's - who's not feeling up for any fights.

Lawsuit has a public face...  A granny with a cross.

Waits outside abortion clinics; gets her point across.

Claims she's counseled 80 women who have changed their minds...

No infringement there (or, so I hope that SCOTUS finds.)

Dr. Seussilitis Does The SCOTUS Blog - DOMA Edition

Photo/© Pete Marovich/ZUMA Press/Corbis.

 

The Supreme Court's overturned Defense of Marriage Act.

Feds will have to honor a gay couple's wedding pact

When the 2 are married in a state where it's okay.

Prop 8 failed because they ruled opponents had no say.

Won on technicalities and - though a win's a win

It won't help in states where same-sex marriage is a sin.

Question is; what happens if that same-sex couple moves

To a state whose Legislature strongly disapproves?

Will the U.S. recognize that couple's marriage if

They are in a state where opposition to them's stiff?

There are still too many states where love's against the law.

If States' Rights protect discrimination that's a flaw.

Issue will be back before the Court, I guarantee.

But, this is a major step if you're L.G.B.T.

Come to Massachusetts - you're all welcome here with us.

Marriages are legal 'cause this state is fabulous.

...And just wait until you see the Berkshires!

Prop 8 and DOMA and SCOTUS. Oh My!

(Photo/Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)

Proposition 8 and DOMA; in our highest Court.

Won't know until June which sides the Justices support.

Trying to predict it from the questions that they ask,

Trying to detect opinions they attempt to mask,

Keeps the pundits happy 'cause they get to talk about it.

Does it offer any clues on how they'll rule? I doubt it.

The Supremes  could keep it narrow; leave it to the States.

Let the voters get to choose how people pick their mates.

Could decide Prop 8's a case they shouldn't even hear;

That Defense of Marriage (which conservatives hold dear)

Doesn't meet the standards, thus avoiding sweeping change.

But, like Justice Kagan, I agree it's pretty strange;

How can you say marriages are just for making kids?

Or that same sex marriage means your marriage hits the skids?

Love is love and people are just people and no law

Should presume to dictate that you be a ma and pa.

SCOTUS and The ACA - Hurrah!... Maybe.

To the surprise of many, Chief Justice Roberts was the deciding vote in favor.

 

Mandate's constitutional. The A.C.A.* will stand.

There is great rejoicing throughout - at least half - the land.

(Here in Massachusetts we've got health care anyway...

Very much like what the Court approved of yesterday.)

Could have knocked me over with a single feather stroke

When the news that Roberts sided with the liberals broke.

Wouldn't call it Commerce; said he viewed it as a tax.

Still, now's not the time to let the Democrats relax.

GOP is fired up and ready for a war.

President Obama has more battles yet in store.

Romney's raising money; coming in hand over fist.

Meanwhile Super PACs were told to not cease and desist.

Wonder if the President now wishes that the Court

Hadn't gone ahead and given Health Care its support?

With donations lagging far behind the GOP

He'd have raised more money if he'd lost it 6 to 3.

* A.C.A. - Affordable Care Act

Mother Nature is a Witch

Florida got too much rain.  Out West there's not enough.

Seen the pictures on TV? Apocalyptic stuff.

Residents of Florida might need to build an ark.

So much smoke in Colorado, daytime skies are dark.

We have had our share of floods...  My sisters got hit twice.

Watching as the waters slowly rise; it isn't nice.

But, I can't imagine how it feels to watch as flames

Devastate whole neighborhoods. There're no insurance claims

That could ever cover such a terrifying sight.

Country's heart is breaking for the people in this plight.

Puts the whole Supreme Court thing, and Congress in their place.

They're just small potatoes when disaster's face to face.

Student loans, the Health Care Act, the Highway Spending Bill...

Issues we can work out should our Congress find the will.

Mother Nature doesn't care which side you might be on.

When she says "You're out of here" my friends, then you are gone.

SCOTUS? Meet DOMA.

(Photo credit: Eric Risberg/AP)

 

Unanimous decision; the Defense Of Marriage Act

Isn't Constitutional...  It breaks the law, in fact.

Massachusetts led the way; we sued - which I support.

Now the case is headed for the U.S. Supreme Court.

I don't understand what they're defending anyway;

Why the government lets churches tell them what to say.

No one would compel a church to change their rigid stance,

But our Constitution makes it clear, with just a glance,

We're about protecting rights; at least we say we are.

As a Massachusetts native, promise you - so far -

Sky's not falling; there's no rape and pillage in the streets.

We don't care what married couples do beneath their sheets.

If our fellow citizens can't get equality

Something must be very wrong in Washington D.C.

Justice may be blind, my friends, but she is not some clown.

DOMA?  Meet the SCOTUS... SCOTUS? Strike the DOMA down.