As Chris pointed out in his first post about “The Nine” by Jeffrey Toobin, the battle over the Supreme Court has been framed by a for the last three decades by an ideological debate between those who believe the framer’s intentions in drafting the Constitution should be strictly interpreted and those who believe the Constitution Read More
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Archive for 2009
A postscript on ‘The Nine’
Monica, I was also surprised to learn that the Supreme Court does not always function as we think it would or should. For example, I was very surprised to read that at no time after hearing the attorneys’ arguments do the justices meet all together in conference to discuss the legal issues. I would have Read More
Office politics among the nine
One of the most surprising discoveries for readers of Toobin’s book is that Supreme Court justices are subject to the vagaries of office politics and annoyances. Apparently, former Chief Justice Warren Burger was disorganized and, frankly, not always so good at being a chief justice. Discussions meandered aimlessly and ended inconclusively. Justices sometimes thought that Read More
Book shopping: A few good purchases
I checked out the newly opened Barnes and Noble on 86th and Lexington in New York this past weekend, gift card in hand. The store is so huge, I hardly knew what to look at first. I picked through the fiction, quirky non-fiction bestsellers and cooking section on the first level, giving the second basement Read More
Memories of the late Frank McCourt, seven months after our interview
When I interviewed Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt back on Jan. 20, in anticipation of his talk at Purchase (N.Y.) College the following week, he sounded positively vibrant. His incisive remarks on the American education system, memoir writing and the inauguration of President Barack Obama bespoke a man who was still very much passionate about Read More
Hearings and judicial activism
I think Chris’ summary of the main issue presented in this book is very insightful. The Supreme Court has become the battlefield for the ideological battles being fought between factions — the Democrats and Republicans, the liberals and the conservatives, those who want religion in public places and those who think religion has no place there, Read More
Confirmations and WWSD*
Buried within the ideological debate that Toobin sets up, as Chris points out, in the first 100 pages or so of “The Nine,” are little tidbits that hint at the way confirmation hearings have changed. I imagine it was frustrating for anyone of any political stripe to pay too much attention to the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Read More
Sad book news
Frank McCourt, the author of “Angela’s Ashes,” has died at the age of 78.
