Joe Biden strikes back
Just two weeks ago, Republicans were riding high and feeling pretty confident – coming off the convention they were sure would send them sailing to victory in just a few short months. It’s hardly a wonder they’re so bristled now at the thought of being called weird and being widely ridiculed. Even back then, however, there were some rumblings beneath the surface.
Some of the most recent SCOTUS rulings did not go well in their favor – with the Dobbs ruling blowing up in their faces beyond the scope of what they had hoped – (conservatives always wanted an abortion ban in theory, but banishing IVF has been a red line for many of their own supporters) and the ruling on Donald Trump’s immunity is another problem because it means Democratic presidents have the same protection from pointless right-wing investigations.
With Kamala Harris charismatically sweeping up the enthusiasm of both longtime Democrats and a number of independents and moderates, President Biden has decided to take up the issue of reforming SCOTUS, at a time when he’s no longer up for re-election. The president’s plan would hold the court’s sitting justices to adhere to a code of conduct – meaning gifts like Clarence Thomas’ paid vacations from right-wing donors would need to be disclosed.
It would also require the court to accept term limits and allow a president to rebalance the court. This won’t be passed while President Biden is still in the Oval Office, but it’s a clear signal to the GOP to take a stance on the issue – one in which either supporting or denouncing it will inevitably cost them support. However, if we successfully elect Kamala Harris on Nov 5 with a Democratic trifecta, we can get this long overdue legislation to happen – perhaps making it her signature accomplishment within her first 100 days as president. We had big stakes going into the election when 2024 first hit – now they’re even bigger than they were last week. p
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making