The Single Biggest Issue in November

-- It's the Courts stupid!

Back in 2000, I refused to vote for either George W. Bush or Al Gore. I had my reasons for having a fundamental dislike for Gore, so I sat that election out.

A guy I worked with at the time who was far wiser than me pointed out that people pay far too much attention to the candidates for President, and not on what their real, lasting legacy is. That is … their judicial appointments. It’s what happens when you have the power to appoint people to such an important position. People who can serve in those positions for the rest of their lives.

For instance, in 3 1/2 years, Joe Biden has appointed (and the Senate has confirmed) 200 federal judges. These are people who will be impacting the lives of Americans for years and decades to come. Those impacts are far more significant and long-lasting than almost anything else a President can do.

This is particularly true of the Supreme Court, where justices typically remain until they die or step aside for serious health reasons as they age. Clarence Thomas has been on the court for 32 years, for instance. William Rehnquist served for 33 years. The longest was William Douglas — 36 years. 16 Supreme Court justices served on the Court for at least 30 years. Another 28 for at least 20 years. Every one of those justices had a lasting impact on America. For better or for worse.

I’ve remembered my co-worker’s words of wisdom ever since and believe this year is a year where his words should be at the top of mind for everybody who is liberal or moderate, who wants a government that does things for all people and not just for the wealthy and the corporations. Who wants laws that protect individual freedoms for all and not just the freedoms of the Christian Right. Who wants a Supreme Court that respects the jurisprudence and precedents that have developed over decades and doesn’t want to blow everything up because they have an archaic and out-of-date view of the Constitution.

Here’s the deal. Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas are in their mid-70’s. It is very possible that, should Trump win in November, one or both of them will step down to allow Trump to nominate his successor. If that were to happen, Trump would likely appoint far-right justices who are much younger and who could serve on the Court, enshrining the conservative majority on the Court, for decades to come. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett are young enough to have 20-30 years left in them.

Add to the calculation that John Roberts and Sonia Sotomayor are both 69, and it’s possible that there could be additional vacancies in the next few years if anything were to happen to one of them.

Every vacancy that comes up in the next four years has the chance to further cement the conservative majority or to begin the return to a more moderate or liberal majority. It’s rather simple, if you like the direction the Supreme Court has gone in the last couple of years, vote Trump. But if you don’t and you would prefer to see a Supreme Court that cares more about our individual rights and freedoms and the interests of the common man or woman over the interests of the wealthy and corporate powers, vote Biden. Put aside everything else you think you don’t like about Biden and vote for him for this single reason. Because if you don’t while preferring the policies and principles of liberals and Democrats, and Trump wins, you will be sorely disappointed in what comes in the years and decades ahead.