VOSS Posted June 10 Posted June 10 Quote Justice Samuel Alito spoke candidly about the ideological battle between the left and the right — discussing the difficulty of living "peacefully" with ideological opponents in the face of "fundamental" differences that "can't be compromised." He endorsed what his interlocutor described as a necessary fight to "return our country to a place of godliness." And Alito offered a blunt assessment of how America's polarization will ultimately be resolved: "One side or the other is going to win." Alito made these remarks in conversation at the Supreme Court Historical Society's annual dinner on June 3, a function that is known to right-wing activists as an opportunity to buttonhole Supreme Court justices. His comments were recorded by Lauren Windsor, a liberal documentary filmmaker. Windsor attended the dinner as a dues-paying member of the society under her real name, along with a colleague. She asked questions of the justice as though she were a religious conservative. The justice's unguarded comments highlight the degree to which Alito makes little effort to present himself as a neutral umpire calling judicial balls and strikes, but rather as a partisan member of a hard-right judicial faction that's empowered to make life-altering decisions for every American. The recording, which was provided exclusively to Rolling Stone, captures Windsor approaching Alito at the event and reminding him that they spoke at the same function the year before, when she asked him a question about political polarization. In the intervening year, she tells the justice, her views on the matter had changed. "I don't know that we can negotiate with the left in the way that needs to happen for the polarization to end," Windsor says. "I think that it's a matter of, like, winning." "I think you're probably right," Alito replies. "On one side or the other — one side or the other is going to win. I don't know. I mean, there can be a way of working — a way of living together peacefully, but it's difficult, you know, because there are differences on fundamental things that really can't be compromised. They really can't be compromised. So it's not like you are going to split the difference." Windsor goes on to tell Alito: "People in this country who believe in God have got to keep fighting for that — to return our country to a place of godliness." "I agree with you. I agree with you," replies Alito, who authored the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision, which reversed five decades of settled law and ended a constitutional right to abortion. Similar questions Windsor asked of Chief Justice John Roberts at the same event elicited a far different response. In an audio recording of that exchange, Roberts takes issue with Windsor's assertion that the nation is unusually polarized, historically, citing the high tensions of the Vietnam War era, for example. He also insists that the Supreme Court's current role is not exceptional. "The idea that the court is in the middle of a lot of tumultuous stuff going on is nothing new," Roberts says. Pressed on whether the court has an obligation to put the country on a more "moral path," Roberts turns the tables on his questioner: "Would you want me to be in charge of putting the nation on a more moral path?" He argues instead: "That's for people we elect. That's not for lawyers." Presented with the claim that America is a "Christian nation" and that the Supreme Court should be "guiding us in that path," Roberts again disagrees, citing the perspectives of "Jewish and Muslim friends," before asserting: "It's not our job to do that. It's our job to decide the cases the best we can." Source
woohoo Posted June 10 Posted June 10 Pack it up gays, it's over for us come 2025. If I marry Canadian does that make me a citizen?
Princess Aurora Posted June 10 Posted June 10 American History has always been about compromises. What is he on?
Communion Posted June 10 Posted June 10 (edited) But will Dems remove him from the court? Will Biden call for expanding or changing the court via rotating judges? Continually we are shown how evil the right is yet there is no coherent organizational force in the US opposing Republicans meaningfully. These psychos are upping the ante and yet Dems aren't getting equally radical in return. If the right is at the point of wanting to jail their opponents, the only way you can stop them is by matching their grab for power and being willing to do the same - and worse - to them. Arrest MAGA politicians. Put them on no fly lists. Make being a fascist a pariah again. The only way you can stop the far right is with the far left. Period. Edited June 10 by Communion 5 1 1
PoisonPill Posted June 10 Posted June 10 Ehh, this really isn't the gotcha that I was expecting/hoping. It sounds like he's cornered by a random party guest who's doing 90% of the talking and he's sort of just nodding along. I'm sure he says much, much worse in private spaces where he's truly comfortable. 1
Reginald Posted June 10 Posted June 10 These people have waited 50, 60, 70 YEARS to roll back our rights. Vote like the rest of your life depends on it, because it does. 1
nostalgic Posted June 10 Posted June 10 Justice Roberts Alito & Thomas need to pack it up or be removed from the bench ASAP.
arctic-turner Posted June 10 Posted June 10 1 hour ago, Communion said: But will Dems remove him from the court? Will Biden call for expanding or changing the court via rotating judges? Continually we are shown how evil the right is yet there is no coherent organizational force in the US opposing Republicans meaningfully. These psychos are upping the ante and yet Dems aren't getting equally radical in return. If the right is at the point of wanting to jail their opponents, the only way you can stop them is by matching their grab for power and being willing to do the same - and worse - to them. Arrest MAGA politicians. Put them on no fly lists. Make being a fascist a pariah again. The only way you can stop the far right is with the far left. Period. Not Miss Ghost Box following you here, you have a fan 1 1
GraceRandolph Posted June 10 Posted June 10 1 hour ago, Princess Aurora said: American History has always been about compromises. What is he on? You could say that… https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise 1
Princess Aurora Posted June 10 Posted June 10 47 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said: You could say that… https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise Literally
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