Robert Bork Dead at 84

[Brown]

Judge Robert Bork has died. He was famous for being nominated as a justice of the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan in 1987, but the Senate rejected the nomination. He was also famous for carrying out Richard Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre" during the Watergate scandal. Two other officials resigned rather than carry out Nixon's order, but Bork (Solicitor General at the time) was a good little soldier; he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Robert Bork was Nixon's Cox-sacker.

During his hearings on confirmation to the Supreme Court, Bork made a number of foolish statements, including acting in a demeaning fashion toward senators that were trying to help him out. Although some say Bork got ambushed for his views (a phenomenon some call "Borking"), in reality he pretty much "Borked" himself.

During this time in his life, Bork sported a scrawny beard on his chin. This prompted Jay Leno to comment that it didn't seem that Bork really belonged on the Supreme Court, since he couldn't even decide whether or not to grow a beard.

Bork lost in the biggest negative vote for a Supreme Court nominee, ever. After getting the huge thumbs down from the Senate, Bork appeared as a legal commentator and demonstrated that the Senate made a damned good decision in telling him to get lost. Bork evidenced a result-oriented and ideology-driven approach that would have made him a bad justice who would have dispensed bad justice.

One of Bork's most recent jobs was to serve as adviser to Mitt Romney on judicial matters.

 

[BenBurch]

Some people leave a mark on the world during their span. He did. And not a good one.

 

[fitzgibbon]

Is the Muppets' Swedish Chef an homage?

Fitz

 

[BenBurch]

Is the Muppets' Swedish Chef an homage?

Fitz

Nope. I think the Swedish Chef was long before his name was well-known.

 

[Tricky]

Bork lost in the biggest negative vote for a Supreme Court nominee, ever.

Only because Harriet Miers never came up for a vote.

 

[BenBurch]

Only because Harriet Miers never came up for a vote.

Truth.

 

[hgc]

Bork provides a goldmine of wacky quotes. In case you ever needed a reminder of why he was unfit to serve on the Supreme Court:

I don't think the Constitution is studied almost anywhere, including law schools. In law schools, what they study is what the court said about the Constitution. They study the opinions. They don't study the Constitution itself.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/robert_bork.html

 

[Unabogie]

The world just took a giant leap leftward, if you average out the wingnutty-ness world wide.

If they had Scoville units for whacktards, he'd have scored 16,000,000.

 

[Upchurch]

Although some say Bork got ambushed for his views (a phenomenon some call "Borking"), in reality he pretty much "Borked" himself.

I use this term almost daily in my professional life when referring to code that has been broken by a recent change.

 

[Cain]

It's too early for grave-dancing. I need to stretch.

 

[Swagomatic]

I think his greatest contribution to society was being the model for the judge on The Simpsons.

 

[hgc]

I think his greatest contribution to society was being the model for the judge on The Simpsons.

If only that were so (his greatest contribution). Unfortunately, he seems to be the model for Justice Scalia, a contribution great not so much in goodness, but in level of impact.

 

[mikedenk]

Judge Robert Bork has died. He was famous for being nominated as a justice of the Supreme Court by Ronald Reagan in 1987, but the Senate rejected the nomination. He was also famous for carrying out Richard Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre" during the Watergate scandal. Two other officials resigned rather than carry out Nixon's order, but Bork (Solicitor General at the time) was a good little soldier; he fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Robert Bork was Nixon's Cox-sacker.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Get it??? Here's another one: penis! HAHAHAHA!!!

During his hearings on confirmation to the Supreme Court, Bork made a number of foolish statements, including acting in a demeaning fashion toward senators that were trying to help him out. Although some say Bork got ambushed for his views (a phenomenon some call "Borking"), in reality he pretty much "Borked" himself.

God forbid a nominee speak plainly and honestly and avoid groveling before the Senate. It set the precedent for the mind-numbing non-answers we see in the modern hearing. Bork was viciously and falsely attacked by Democrats like Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden, who enthusiastically distorted Bork's record. The Dems also took out TV ads negatively portraying the nominee.

Remember that the next time you hear Democrats wailing about the mere potential of opposition to a SCOTUS nominee.

During this time in his life, Bork sported a scrawny beard on his chin. This prompted Jay Leno to comment that it didn't seem that Bork really belonged on the Supreme Court, since he couldn't even decide whether or not to grow a beard.

Bork lost in the biggest negative vote for a Supreme Court nominee, ever. After getting the huge thumbs down from the Senate, Bork appeared as a legal commentator and demonstrated that the Senate made a damned good decision in telling him to get lost. Bork evidenced a result-oriented and ideology-driven approach that would have made him a bad justice who would have dispensed bad justice.

Mmm hmmm. As opposed to the current justices, who are all ideologically neutral of course.

It all worked out in the end I suppose. Kennedy has been pretty decent, notably in upholding the 1st and 2nd amendments (Citizens United; D.C. vs. Heller) and a valiant attempt at stopping the Obamacare abomination. Had Bork been nominated, Obama would currently be preparing to swing the court to the left.

I read yesterday that Kennedy is determined to outlast Obama due to Obama's obnoxious attack on the Citizens United decision (authored by Kennedy) during the State of the Union address.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

God forbid a nominee speak plainly and honestly and avoid groveling before the Senate.

As long as he only grovels to his president, right? The president that brought huge disgrace on the office no less.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

<snip>Bork evidenced a result-oriented and ideology-driven approach that would have made him a bad justice who would have dispensed bad justice.

Mmm hmmm. As opposed to the current justices, who are all ideologically neutral of course.

Um. . that's not at all what he said. Pointing out that Bork would have made a bad justice is not a claim that all the other justices were/are good ones.

Personally, I think Clarence Thomas is among the worst justices ever.

But this is a thread about Bork.

So I suggest you read up on the tu quoque fallacy.

 

[Tony]

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Get it??? Here's another one: penis! HAHAHAHA!!!




God forbid a nominee speak plainly and honestly and avoid groveling before the Senate. It set the precedent for the mind-numbing non-answers we see in the modern hearing. Bork was viciously and falsely attacked by Democrats like Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden, who enthusiastically distorted Bork's record. The Dems also took out TV ads negatively portraying the nominee.

Remember that the next time you hear Democrats wailing about the mere potential of opposition to a SCOTUS nominee.





Mmm hmmm. As opposed to the current justices, who are all ideologically neutral of course.

It all worked out in the end I suppose. Kennedy has been pretty decent, notably in upholding the 1st and 2nd amendments (Citizens United; D.C. vs. Heller) and a valiant attempt at stopping the Obamacare abomination. Had Bork been nominated, Obama would currently be preparing to swing the court to the left.

I read yesterday that Kennedy is determined to outlast Obama due to Obama's obnoxious attack on the Citizens United decision (authored by Kennedy) during the State of the Union address.

The man was another freedom-hating conservative. I don't rejoice in his death, but it is a good thing that he never made it to the supreme court.

 

[mikedenk]

Um. . that's not at all what he said. Pointing out that Bork would have made a bad justice is not a claim that all the other justices were/are good ones.

Personally, I think Clarence Thomas is among the worst justices ever.

But this is a thread about Bork.

So I suggest you read up on the tu quoque fallacy.

It's not about being "bad" or "good".

I contend that all the SCOTUS justices, to some extent, produce ideology-driven results. It's human nature.

 

[TimCallahan]

Originally Posted by mikedenk

. . . (snip) . . . God forbid a nominee speak plainly and honestly and avoid groveling before the Senate. It set the precedent for the mind-numbing non-answers we see in the modern hearing. Bork was viciously and falsely attacked by Democrats like Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden, who enthusiastically distorted Bork's record. The Dems also took out TV ads negatively portraying the nominee. . . . (snip) . . .

Here are some of Bork's plain-spoken, honest opinions (taken from an NPR site):

He opposed the Supreme Court's one man, one vote decision on legislative apportionment.

He wrote an article opposing the 1964 civil rights law that required hotels, restaurants and other businesses to serve people of all races.

He opposed a 1965 Supreme Court decision that struck down a state law banning contraceptives for married couples. There is no right to privacy in the Constitution, Bork said.
And he opposed Supreme Court decisions on gender equality, too.

I also seem to recall that he believed the cCongress had no authority to make laws limiting monopolies.

Concerning the area I hilited, it never fails to amaze me that conservatives, who say they want to get government off our backs, constantly assert there's no right to privacy. Perhaps they should read the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution (emphasis added):

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That the federal government is forbidden to unreasonably search - which would also include bugging devices - one's home, person or effects constitutes a right to privacy. I should also point out that state and local governments, companies and private individuals do not have the right to transgress Constitutional rights. What's forbidden to the federal government is also forbidden to them.

I read yesterday that Kennedy is determined to outlast Obama due to Obama's obnoxious attack on the Citizens United decision (authored by Kennedy) during the State of the Union address.

The only thing obnoxious is the Citizens United opinion itself.

 

[Unabogie]

It's too early for grave-dancing. I need to stretch.

Actually, if you hold off for bit, we can do some sort of Macarena in honor of the man.

Grave-line-dancing, if you will.

 

[fishbob]

It's not about being "bad" or "good".

I contend that all the SCOTUS justices, to some extent, produce ideology-driven results. It's human nature.

Actually, it is about being bad or good.
And the ones who do this the least are the best justices.