Antonin Scalia Accepts Michele Bachmann’s Invitation To Speak To House’s Tea Party Caucus

by Alex Alvarez | 5:09 pm, January 5th, 2011

» 22 comments

Justice Antonin Scalia, a man who knows his pizza, is now courting controversy by accepting Representative Michele Bachmann‘s invitation to speak to the House’s Tea Party Caucus about the constitution, specifically on the topic of “Separation of Powers.”

Addressing concerns that, by accepting, Scalia is essentially suggesting that “an alliance between the conservative members of the court and the conservative members of Congress,” as one law professor phrased it to The Los Angeles Times, Bachmann’s people pointed out that the event, while organized by the Tea Party Caucus, is nonpartisan and open to Democrats and Republicans alike.

The decision has prompted some to suggest that, perhaps, such an event would be less likely to draw criticism were it not organized by one particular group or party.

Says the LAT: “The Supreme Court and Congress operate as independent branches of government, but since President Obama’s election two years ago, the two seemingly have grown more entangled.”

Former Scalia clerk M. Edward Whelan, now president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, defended the Justice’s decision by saying that, as he sees, “schedule permitting, Scalia would be happy to speak on the same topic to any similar group of members of Congress who invited him.”

Antonin Scalia, Congress, Michele Bachman, Supreme Court, Tea Party

Seeing 2012 From My Window

Man, the left sure is scared of people being educated on the Constitution. As was stated, they are invited to go to the event, but we all know none of them are gonna show up. Perhpas Ezra Klein should attend, he might learn something.
Socialist

hmm are the 3 powers in gov supposed to join like that??

No matter what the subject is Judicial branch is the Judicial branch and Legislative branch is the legislative branch. They are never supposed to work together, and thats a sign of corruption..

Imagine what if that was a justice John Paul Stevens joining the Democratic congress and talking in one of their rallies supporting gun control? Yes i know he supports gun control laws, but that doesn’t mean he should go out and rally for it, because its not his job..

And talking about the constitution, its up to the Supreme court to decide whether a law is constitutional or not. Its not their job to teach the House of Representatives on the constitution.. They have Ron Paul for that…
Socialist

and to promote the legitimacy(sarcasm) of the Tea Party caucus’s vision, look at who didn’t join.. Ron Paul, the guy who created the Tea Party in the first place.

More proof that GOP is just another party filled with aristocrats who only bother to come in front of people only during election time..

Don’t be surprised if they do less than your expectations ,conservatives..
The_Reasonable_Lib

I stand corrected, this guy does too:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/09/joe-wilson/joe-wilson-south-carolina-said-obama-lied-he-didnt/
The_Reasonable_Lib

First one didn’t post, basically said Bachmann is the only one with an all lie rating at politifact.
The_Reasonable_Lib

Not all cultures are equal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP4hYkfwuTY&feature=fvst
Just4thefax

Fact: The ninth circuit is in denial of the constitution so this is a great start to rebound the importance of the documents that make up the constitution and its true meanings!
Just4thefax

Socialist said:
legitimacy(sarcasm) of the Tea Party caucus’s vision

Fact: If you don’t join the Tea Party it’s because your against America and it’s foundings history! You are the enemy within!
Just4thefax

Fact: Thanks to the left nut, D-bagger that doesn’t understand this video that makes allot of points against the lunetic left! bachmann is right on the mark so Ill put it up too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP4hYkfwuTY&feature=fvst
Why coddle the asses!
Just4thefax

Fact: Thanks to the left nut, D-bagger that doesn’t understand this video that makes allot of points against the lunatic left! Bachmann is right on the mark so I’ll put it up too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP4hYkfwuTY&feature=fvst
Why coddle the asses!

take two!
Ninja

Socialist said:
hmm are the 3 powers in gov supposed to join like that?? No matter what the subject is Judicial branch is the Judicial branch and Legislative branch is the legislative branch. They are never supposed to work together, and thats a sign of corruption.. Imagine what if that was a justice John Paul Stevens joining the Democratic congress and talking in one of their rallies supporting gun control? Yes i know he supports gun control laws, but that doesn’t mean he should go out and rally for it, because its not his job.. And talking about the constitution, its up to the Supreme court to decide whether a law is constitutional or not. Its not their job to teach the House of Representatives on the constitution.. They have Ron Paul for that…

So by your way of thinking the executive branch should never work with the legislative branch either? Your line of reasoning is quite odd.
Socialist

Ninja said:
So by your way of thinking the executive branch should never work with the legislative branch either? Your line of reasoning is quite odd.

well sometimes maybe, but not always.. All the Executive branch does is enforce laws, but the president is the only person who has the power to influence the pieces of legislature. It may agree with the legislative branch but it doesn’t have to always have to act in sync with the Legistlative branch. Take a look at recent years for example when one party controlled Congress and White house.. How long do those periods last?

Anyways.. All you need to know is that the executive branch doesn’t have to work with the legislative branch, with everything because the gov was setup that way. The Executive branch(which also include police and army and the departments) enforces the laws according to the constitution. So the president has the power to veto the law if he/she thinks the law can be enforced.

Of course these days due to party politics.. everything has been changed a lot. President is now thought of as the ruler of the country, the legislative branch is just a huge politcal game played by politicians, and the Gov somehow has the power to do unconstitutional things and get away with it(yes even under republican administrations).

Take a look at federal reserve, or how our DHS still wiretaps our phones
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

You know, in this time of increased partisanship everywhere, it’d be really cool to see SC Justices start to step out and just call spades spades, since they’re not “accountable” (I prefer the word susceptible) to election every other year.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

Actually as I weigh the implications of my prior statement, I probably take it back.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

That said, from everything I have ever read about Scalia, he really would accept this invitation for any comparable group of Congress, Progressive Caucus included.
Judge Mental

Socialist said:
hmm are the 3 powers in gov supposed to join like that??

Supreme Court Justices speak to groups all the time. They even give media interviews. Why in the world should they be prohibited from speaking to Congress?
Socialist

Judge Mental said:
Supreme Court Justices speak to groups all the time. They even give media interviews. Why in the world should they be prohibited from speaking to Congress?

why should they even do so?

i know they do these things but the point is keeping them pretty far away might be better..

Stuff in Politics can’t be judged by what it looks like on the surface.. its whats underneath that tells the story..
Judge Mental

Socialist said:
why should they even do so?

i know they do these things but the point is keeping them pretty far away might be better..

Stuff in Politics can’t be judged by what it looks like on the surface.. its whats underneath that tells the story..

So you want to muzzle them all? Okay. What about writing books? Is that allowed? How about talking to individual members of Congress privately? Perhaps it would be better if they just avoided social situations altogether, huh?

I doubt that Justice Kagan avoids talking to her pals in the Obama administration.
Socialist

Judge Mental said:
So you want to muzzle them all? Okay. What about writing books? Is that allowed? How about talking to individual members of Congress privately? Perhaps it would be better if they just avoided social situations altogether, huh?

I doubt that Justice Kagan avoids talking to her pals in the Obama administration.

well its not about total censorship, but just think about it- they are pretty much government officials at that point. Yes they work in a separate branch, but that branch is still a part of Government as a whole.

To put things in perspective lets say this – How would you feel if An American soldier talks smack about the army or attempts to tarnish its image? Will the army just let him go? NO! Will they discipline or fire him? Discipline yes, Firing, maybe. So yea, when you are a part of government, I expect government officials to act more mature in public situations as well as private situations. We pay them. Therefore we should expect them do their job right and spend their time focusing on their job rather than going around and making speeches and stuff. Books are fine.. and so are some interviews.
Greg

“Independence of the judiciary” is a key principal of constitutionalism alongside “rule of law”, “popular sovereignty”, “separation of powers”, “federalism” and “individual rights”.
Nachi

And what a wondrous example he is! A victory for ignorance & goose-stepping everywhere.
timcajun

Just4thefax says

Fact: If you don’t join the Tea Party it’s because your against America and it’s foundings history! You are the enemy within!

Scared grandma lately? Let the low IQ name calling begin, hurry!