Voters are Not Saints, Judicial Council Is Not A Devil

For the first time, I’ve been reading their blog, I’m going to respectfully disagree with Trish and Halli on the issue of judicial appointments. There’s an objection to the idea of the judicial council choosing the replacement for Justice Schroeder:

When a Supreme Court justice steps down mid-term he or she is replaced by an appointee, who at the end of the term must face election. Because the appointment operation kicks in only when a mid-term retirement takes place, Justice Schroeder’s actions are seen as a comment on the entire process. He obviously agrees with the Idaho Judicial Council that Supreme Court justices should be appointed, but never elected…

Members of the Council obviously believe their judgment and intellect is superior to that of uneducated, easily swayed voters – average Idahoans who may come before the Idaho Supreme Court seeking justice. If you doubt my assertions, do a little research on the members of the Council for yourself.

Those who understand that checks and balances on each branch are vital to good government believe that Supreme Court justices should be chosen by citizens on election day. The Judicial Council and its sympathizers have found a way around that inconvenience. Fortunately, even the mid-term appointees must face voters when their term expires. Without regular confirmation at the ballot box, the Supreme Court is completely unaccountable to the citizens of the state.

I’m going to concur with the Judicial Council. Our federal constitution has checks and balances, and the result of that system of checks and balances is that Supreme Court Justices are appointed.

Having come from Montana, I’ve witnessed the election of Judges who run quite deceitful campaigns. Justice Kotter in Montana sat at a Lincoln Day Dinner (she was then just a plain lawyer) with me, schmoozing high profile Republians. She was elected and became one of the biggest liberals on the court.

Judicial Candidates who follow the American Bar Association ethics rules for judicial campaigns find themselves hamstrung in trying to describe the differences between themselves and their opponent without committing an ethical infraction.

Judicial elections invariably focus on issues like character, temperment, and reputation not how judges will rule. If there is one thing to change, it’s the fact that the Judicial Council is made up of 3 lawyers appointed by the Bar Association, when we’d be best served by having all 6 appointed by the Governor.

Knows When to Fold ‘Em

Robert Vasquez ended his 5 month campaign for US Senate. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. This leaves Republicans with no announced Senate candidates at this time, so what happens will depend on Larry Craig. If Craig runs, he’ll win re-election easily. He might face a challenger from the right on some of his immigration votes, but it won’t be successful and he’ll crush Larry LaRocco by a 28 point margin in the Fall which will power Republican wins down the ticket.

Of course, should he retire, someone else will have to beat LaRocco. Who will be the GOP nominee? I can eliminate two people as far as I know. Vasquez isn’t running, and I’ll also rule myself out of consideration. It’d be too much time from my wife and besides I’m inelligible for the Senate until 2010. :)

Wednesday Night Podcast

Tonight on the Truth and Hope Report:

-The Environmentalist War on Freedom
-Anti-Free Speech Campaign Finance Reform Before the Supreme Court
-The Need for Public Domain Debates
-Gay Marriage Arguments Being Used to Defensd Incest
-Exposing the New Majority

-Lessons Liberals Learn in College
-Congress Does Something Right
-And Much More

Click here to download. Click here to add my podcast to your I-tunes.

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Related:

Club for Growth:

This is Worse Than Cheryl Crow’s Advice

Don Surber:

On Wisconsin

Michelle Malkin:

Free the presidential debates!

Right Mind:

He Saw This One Coming

Keeping the Majority Accountable:

Freshmen Democrats turn to embattled lobbyist for cash

Hypocrisy Watch

Agape Press:

Michigan student suspended for wearing ‘I’m straight’ sticker

College Republicans Rejected at University of Rhode Island

Reuters:

Gay Marriage Evil, Abortion Terrorism

How to Prepare for Alien Space Invasion

House Passes Taxpayer Protection Bill

James Dobson Says Prefers Families to Politics

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Virtuous Republic, The Random Yak, Maggie’s Notebook, Big Dog’s Weblog, basil’s blog, The Pet Haven Blog, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, The Bullwinkle Blog, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Conservative Thoughts, The Magical Rose Garden, third world county, Faultline USA, stikNstein… has no mercy, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, , Blue Star Chronicles, Renaissance Blogger, Planck’s Constant, The Yankee Sailor, and OTB Sports, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

From the Church of Darwin

Evolution News and Views has a great piece lampooning Darwinism.

Podcast #242: The Highway Man Gets Away

A slap on the wrist for Willie Nelson highlights a double standard in drug enforcement.

Click here to download. Click here to add my podcast to your I-tunes.

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Related:

Washington:

No Jail for Willie Nelson on Drug Charge

Willie Nelson, Drug War