Supreme Court effectively kills Voting Rights Act

Another bad, political decision by the conservative justices on the Supreme Court:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/25/politics/scotus-vot … ?hpt=hp_c3

Technically, they didn't kill the Voting Rights Act, but in reality, they did. So it was a wishy-washy decision on top of being bad. They in effect ruled the current law unenforceable until Congress redefines the formula used to determine what areas the act covers.

Well .... what chance do you think there is that this will EVER be done? Unless Democrats take over Congress again, the chance is ZERO. First, it's hard to get anything through the current Congress, even the most basic bills. Second, the GOP has absolutely no reason to comply with the Supreme Court on this one. Doing nothing is a win for the GOP, so why would they?

The GOP (white male) argument is that race should no longer be considered in political maps, as racial inequity is a thing of the past. Putting the ridiculousness of that argument aside (both parties draw lines based on race and it's not even a secret), the demise of the Voting Rights Act creates political turmoil in the states it covers.

For example, here in Texas, the Legislature is in the process of passing new maps based on a federal court order. Well, now that the VRA no longer applies, it's quite likely that the Republican majority will ignore the court order and redraw the maps to target Democrats they especially want to be rid of, such as state Sen. Wendy Davis. (Davis is currently in the news for conducting a one-woman filibuster against restrictive abortion laws.)

So how do this ruling and the admissions ruling portend for the upcoming gay cases?

Well, since both of these cases were kind of cop-out rulings, I think any hope of a sweeping ruling in the gay rights cases, a long shot to begin with, is out the window. A narrow ruling (tossing on a technicality) would be a win in the Prop. 8 case, as that would let marriages resume in CA. I'm not sure how they'll rule on DOMA, but I think the outcome of that case is now very much up in the air.
By BearinFW | 06/25/2013 04:24 PM | 3 comments
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  • Amongst some of our countries greatest we may have another Benedict Arnold?
    MachineToole 06/25/2013 07:42 PM
  • Well if there's any consolation on this they did at least leave the door open to reinstatement if Democrats ever have the political will and might to do it. But the GOP reaction to this ruling has been swift and ruthless. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has already announced that the state will ignore federal court orders and begin enforcing the state's voter ID law. The consequences of this ruling are going to be devastating throughout the South. But this court often plays hardcore politics. I'm now very worried about the DOMA ruling. But well find out Wednesday or Thursday.
    BearinFW 06/25/2013 06:27 PM
  • This decision is another tremendous blow against freedom; certainly against fairness and "one-man-one-vote." The war on the middle and working class is in high gear now! The class war begun over 30 years ago by the wealthy class will have us all in servitude within a generation. Unions are being killed as workers are being shoved into third-world status. The oligarchs are taking over with unprescedented speed now. The GOP war chests are full of tons of money to put more of their lackeys in office to do their bidding. The earlier ruling that corporations are people was perhaps the most obvious outcome of their agenda in recent years.

    I agree that the chances for good results on DOMA and Prop 8 are now far less likely. Corporations will likely boost CEO pay and bonuses as they simultaneously deny financial equality (benefits, etc.) for homosexuals. GOP politicians will deny gays the right to marry as they simultaneously rake in millions and billions for campaigns to keep themselves in office. The war on women, blacks, Hispanics, the poor and gays will intensify, especially at state levels.

    Unless the middle class gets it's head out of the sand and begins voting for its own interests, we are headed for something mirroring Tzarist Russia.

    This cartoon is a few months old. NOW it should read, "You can come down any time now. Justice Roberts and his right-wing cronies have made America safe for guys like you!"
    rjzip 06/25/2013 05:41 PM