Supreme Court decision naming

[tahnan]

OK, so there's this meme going around:

As evidenced by Katie Couric, Sarah Palin is unable to name any Supreme Court Case other than Roe v. Wade.

The Rules: Post info about ONE Supreme Court decision, modern or historical your lj. (Any decision, as long as it’s not Roe v. Wade.)
Let's be clear on this. I hate Sarah Palin, as a politician and very

Comments

[tablesaw]

One of the things that struck me when I first heard that excerpt was how clumsily she communicated. They have been a whole lot of people dodging "name a specific case" questions for a while now, because it can open up a lot of leverage into Supreme Court appointees and political views. But the way Palin communicated it "I can't think of any" instead of "I'd rather not say" was very clumsy, and she already seemed flustered from earlier in the interview.

For my own, the list that I could have named off the top of my head is Dred Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson, Kelo v. New London, and Bush v. Gore. I could name more now, because I've been reminded about various ones I'd forgotten in all the memeage.

[tahnan]

OK seriously enough with the Dred Scott, folks. See above; above; and above.

But-yes. Again, I think the meme is being somewhat unfair to Palin. But there was also zero doubt in my mind that her answer was evasive and clumsy. She said something, and when pressed, repeated the same talking point, i.e. "things should be addressed at the state level", without any indication that she knew of any relevant decisions that should have been decided by the states.

[selinker]

Oh, I forgot about Kelo v. New London! That's a freakin' monstrosity.

[tahnan]

Kelo v. New London is a decision I find just stunning. A decision that says "public good" takes priority over private ownership, and that a business's needs take priority over an individual's rights. How did anyone, on either side of the aisle, think that was a good idea?

[selinker]

I live in a state where it's impossible for it to have an effect, because Washington doesn't eminent-domain hardly near anything. So when it happened, I remember thinking "Is that even possible?" Somebody smart explained to me that eminent domain is actually pretty wide open across most of America, and Kelo just sort of affirmed something that no local politician wanted to say much about, because the local governments often feel a need to exercise it. But not after that train wreck made it through the Court. Then everybody came to Jesus that eminent domain for monetary benefit was a bad thing. So in the long run, it might have done more good than if they'd killed it.

Might.

[tablesaw]

Blissfully ignoring the implications of a reporter's question is a skill that all politicians should have. An answer of Dred Scott would have put Palin on a better ground to dodge a clarification of the question. It also would have tied in with the conservative line that equates Dred Scott with Roe.

[tavella]

That's exactly it. Sure, it's kind of a bullshitty answer, but you can tie it up in a big rhetorical bow about freedom! and equality! and you've given your antiabortion base a happy buzz, not pissed anyone else off, and y'know, not looked like a complete *moron*.