Justice Anthony Scalia Is Dead

Conservative firebrand Justice Anthony 'Nino' Scalia died today while hunting in Big Bend, Texas apparently of natural causes.  He was found dead in his quarters at age 79.  He will be remembered and perhaps vilified for his participation in two of the most controversial and disastrous opinions in Supreme Court history:  Bush v. Gore (2000) and Citizens United v. FEC (2010).  The first installed George W. Bush in the Office of President despite a popular vote in favor of Democrat Al Gore while the second allowed unlimited campaign financing from anonymous sources, thus insuring the predominance of the Money Power in our nation's politics.  Arguably these two decisions have done more to undermine democracy in the United States than Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) which upheld the fugitive slave law as constitutional.  The Current Occupant has declared his intention to nominate a successor.  However, Senate conservatives will block any approval of his nominee until the election in eleven months. The Court, facing some of the nation'smost contentious social issues on its docket will be evenly split until a successor can be approved.