Republicans flip-flop on ‘judicial activism’
Dana Milbank: Republicans flip-flop on ‘judicial activism’ - The Washington Post
There was a time not too long ago when Republicans decried “activist judges.” Now they’re lamenting that judges are not being activist enough.
“Unfortunately, the courts have been reluctant to exercise their constitutionally conferred power,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) proclaimed at a hearing Wednesday. He called on the courts “to check the president’s overreach,” and he complained that “the federal courts have read their own powers much more narrowly” than they should.
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Tom Toles draws Republicans: A collection of cartoons about the GOP.
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This new found love of activist judges is the latest manifestation of what has been called
Obama Derangement Syndrome: The president’s opponents are so determined to thwart him that they will reverse long-held views if they believe that doing so will weaken his stature.
Republicans have, for example, long deplored the filing of “frivolous lawsuits.” But at Wednesday’s hearings, they were contemplating legislation that would authorize either chamber of Congress to file lawsuits against President Obama — even though legal experts, including one of the Republican committee members’ own witnesses, have said the efforts would fail.
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If Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world, Republicans would blame him for overpopulation. If Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace, they'd blame him for destroying the defense industry. In fact, if Barack Obama has a BLT for lunch, they will try to ban bacon. -Alan Grayson