Last night I had the opportunity to attend a reception for Senator-elect Ted Cruz, about whom Kent and I blogged. Ted had all his usual energy and enthusiasm. He has not forgotten the values that brought him to public service, and will be an outstanding Senator and fighter for issues that matter to C&C and its readers. He is an exceptionally bright and accomplished person I have had the pleasure of knowing for more than 20 years.
I also had the opportunity to talk to Ted's new colleague, senior Texas Senator John Cornyn. He tells me that there is a good chance Ted will wind up serving with him on the Judiciary Committee, which would an extra helping of good news. This is especially true since Patrick Leahy will be returning as Chairman.
Ted is charismatic as well as learned, and connects with people. I predict he'll have a future in national politics, a future that, fortunately for the country, begins with his Senate swearing-in today.
A little pessimism herein:
Cruz has a Heraclean task in joining Sen. Leahy in battle.
In "On The Supreme Court’s Review Of The Affordable Care Act", (5/14/12)
Sen. Leahy dismmisively decries the "partisan nature of these challenges"
by opponents to the ACA and accusingly warns justices to avoid "acting
out based on their personal views":
::"Chief Justice Roberts did participate in the Court’s recent 5-4 decision in Citizens United …in which it made a broad constitutional ruling that reversed nearly 100 years of progress in the country… as Justices, they are supposed to put those petty personal views and feelings aside. They are supposed to begin their inquiry by respecting the will of the people…[during arguments of the challenge to the Affordable Care Act] it seemed that the Justices were second guessing the policy judgments… Acting out based on their personal views in this matter would be the height of conservative judicial activism." …
Leahy admits no credibility to those who disagree and actually
reproaches and scolds the court for "years" of "conservative activism":
" I trust that he will be a Chief Justice for all of us…The conservative activism of recent years has not been good for the Court. Given the ideological challenge to the Affordable Care Act…This case should not become an instance in which a conservative, activist majority on the Supreme Court intervenes by way of another 5-4 decision driven by ideology to rewrite the law. …Republican opponents lost in Congress...Now they want conservative activists on the Supreme Court to intervene…"
I wish Cruz well. When Pres. Obama can describe his administration as "transparent", and Sen. Judiciary Chairman Leahy can upbraid
conservative SCOTUS justices for "activism", so help us all.
~Adamakis