In reality, President Obama does not have a "progressive base." He has a Wall Street base. Progressive Democrats must come to terms with the fact that their putative standard-bearer is the enemy.
I believe it is more likely that heavily financed candidates will leave the bench sooner to take on some high-paying job in the private sector. Corporate influence will buy off seemingly ineffectual people to replace them with, apparently, better models. My two cents
The sudden increase in earthquakes in North Texas in the area of the proposed Keystone pipeline to the Gulf are strongly supported by science that tells us that the injection of waste water into deep wells is affecting existing faults. Earthquakes will continue and if the Keystone pipeline is built thru North Texas it will be a time bomb waiting to explode into a disaster to the environment and people. Tell Canada to build their refineries with the billions that the pipeline company is proposing to spend on the pipeline. Keep it out of the USA. Is not the primary mission of our government to protect the people?
There is no doubt in my mind that the proposal for an age limit for members of the WI Supreme Court is political and age discrimination. The current state authoritarian administration is damaging our state democracy, such as its educational systems from preschool through university. With controlling laws and limited funds deterioration is inevitable. Wisconsin is definitely behind Minnesota, which has a far better governor and working government. We used to be proud of Wisconsin rankings, but they have deteriorated. Considerations for all Wisconsin citizens is no longer a priority, just verbage. Corporations used to support improvements. Now they write some of the laws that benefit themelves. What a shame. If this was a nightmare, we could wake up.
Mary, you're rght this does target Shirley but... while she has, as you say penned some biting dissents, her actual influence on final decisons in the big cases like Act 10 and Voter ID has been miinimal since the conservative majority has been in charge. I am not sure the age limit in the long run will have a big impact in the future and it is of course possible the final bill will include a grandmothering clause that exempts Shirley. I think the other high court reforms that are being contemplated are more significant . It's almost guaranteed that the constitutional amendment that requires the court to elect it's own chief for a two year term will be on the ballot along with Anne Walsh Bradley and her opponent James Daley. And it's possible a bill the State Bar is drafting to limit justices to one 16 year term will be considered this year. That one is aimed at limiting the impact of money in judical races by insuring that justices aren't looking ahead to their reelection when they rule on cases. The Bar designers of the proposal say it will help justices remain justices instead of having to be politicians to stay on the bench.
I think the age limit in the future will affect conservative and liberal judges equally. I don't think conservatives are any less likely to live to 90 and beyond than liberals are. And there are plenty of young lawyers and judges on both sides of the ideological divide who can run for a 16 year tern and have an impact on shaping the laws of the state.
My two cents
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