Feeling the heat
The headlines for the extreme court are not good. “Republicans have turned the Supreme Court into an illegitimate institution.” “Supreme contempt for the Constitution.” “Supreme Court failing in its own Constitutional test.” That is merely a few of the headlines condemning the lowest court in the land. They’re feeling the heat, none more so than John Roberts.
John Roberts has a mind that would make any hero turn away in disgust. And he is on the defensive. The day after the court’s latest awful decisions, Roberts spoke out and did what only he could do best — complain. Roberts says that the criticism he and other Justices receive is usually not “informed” criticism. Thank you very much, Mr. Roberts, for telling anyone who disagrees with you that they’re stupid.
Roberts also spoke glowingly about how well the court gets along, noting that they always try to understand each other’s points of view. Right. I’m not buying Roberts’s attempt to turn the court into the Brady Bunch. The bottom line is the court has descended into chaos in their relationships with each other, too—more on that in another article.
But Roberts, who is so deeply concerned about appearances, may have just screwed up. If you want to see incompetence in motion, try reading an opinion or two from Mr. Roberts. He twists himself into a pretzel, trying so very hard, with all his might, to please his master and commander, Donald Trump.
Often, these written opinions are filled with contradictions, and some are entirely nonsensical. It’s like reading the rambling scrawls of a high school student unacquainted with the rule of law. Roberts had the opportunity to take the court into the sunlight of greatness, to make it sizzle with competence. As the Chief Justice, that is his job.
Instead, he abdicated his responsibility. And it is obvious why. Please take a moment to look at the Chief Justice the next time you see him. First look at his eyes. His eyes look weary. His eyes make him look like a bird seeking shelter from the cold. He looks tired. He rarely smiles. The price he had to pay for signing off as Donald’s fan club president has begun to do its damage
In Roberts’ eyes, one can see a shadow of the escape hatch he longs for. Who is Mr. Roberts running from — himself? He has begun to look haunted, a tremulous shadow of his former self. When someone is haunted — especially by their secrets and foolish acts — it shows in their demeanor. John Roberts walks like he carries a significant burden on his back, and so he does. He is the face of this court. He was supposed to be its guiding light.
But in as much as Roberts has screwed up and the American people see it, HE ALSO sees it. It must have hit him like a ton of bricks when he realized. He must have been a bit shaken when at some point he found out that he is weak, a man of few leadership skills, and a man not of the people, but rather of Donald Trump. No wonder he looks and sounds like he does.
