Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is back in the spotlight, this time twitching his pinstriped sleeves to unveil a grand plan for reforming the Supreme Court, just when it seems he might be packing his bags for a much-needed vacation. Despite facing a declining approval rating, the president thinks it’s high time to ‘restore trust and accountability’ in America’s government, or at least his version of it. Apparently, making grand speeches and writing op-eds is now considered an effective form of political action, especially when standing in front of a vintage ‘60s library.
The core of Biden’s ambitious plan revolves around three eye-catching proposals. First up is a shiny new constitutional amendment titled “No One Is Above the Law.” This is clearly aimed at former President Donald Trump and his alleged immunity fiasco. Second, Biden proposes term limits for Supreme Court justices, probably because Democrats are starting to get a little antsy with three of Trump’s nominees still kicking around in their prime. Lastly, a “binding” code of conduct would ensure high court justices display some semblance of impartiality, something Biden and his friends definitely missed during their last few court rulings.
BREAKING NOW: Joe Biden introduces radical plan to ALTER the Supreme Court.. pic.twitter.com/am0wShaFaq
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) July 29, 2024
As Biden launches this Courthouse Campaign Express, he will do so amid a smattering of whispers about a ‘crisis of confidence’ in democratic institutions. Naturally, this crisis can largely be traced back to the Supreme Court overturning long-standing cases that Democrats had pinned their hopes on, like Roe v. Wade. Legislative heavyweights like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren have painted the Supreme Court as a boogeyman compromising democracy at every turn. They’ve even made impeachment moves against Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, which feels more like a diverting game of political hot potato than serious governance.
The irony is rich here: Democrats are wagging their fingers at the court for showing bias, all while trying to push a narrative that plays directly into the hands of their political strategy. With a solid six-three conservative majority, any moves to limit the powers of justices who don’t share Biden’s views seem more like a desperate publicity stunt than a genuine attempt to promote fairness. Both Thomas and Alito have maintained their impartiality and continue to hear cases involving Trump, something the left seems to find intolerable.
For all the bluster, Biden’s proposal stands on shaky ground. Even some Republicans—like Mitt Romney—are raising their eyebrows at the idea of Congress sticking its nose into the affairs of the judiciary. Let’s not forget the mountain he’d have to climb just to get a constitutional amendment off the ground, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers and support from states. This ambitious endeavor might just turn out to be more campaign fodder than a legislative reality. With the GOP leading the House and a slim Democratic majority in the Senate lacking the votes for sweeping reforms, Biden’s grandstanding looks more like a theatrical performance than a pathway to actual change. The countdown to 2024 just got a bit more amusing, as Democrats scramble to reshape the court while also running from the fallout of their own governance failures.
