April 2, 2014: The day democracy died.

[Jackpine Radical]

But then, it had been totally debilitated, in a vegetative state and on life support for some time now.

Pulling the plug at last was the only merciful thing to do.

[ananda]

1. Well, a completely dead democracy..

.. is certainly good news for the 1%.

[malthaussen]

2. Yeah, the agenda is complete.

Although I'm sure the rich would rather use gerrymandering and hacked voting machines and not have to spend their money.

-- Mal

[KittyWampus]

3. it's not dead, it's just sleeping.

[FSogol]

6. It's pining for the fjords.

[Moostache]

32. It's NOT pining, its passed on!

Now despite the morbid news of this ruling, THAT made me laugh!

[aggiesal]

29. Call this what it really is-Fascism ...

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”
― Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini is the father of fascism, so he should know.

[CJCRANE]

4. This the "tsunami" Reince Priebus was talking about: a tsunami of cash.

A huge cash infusion is the only thing that could keep the GOP going.

Every time they falter, the SC gives them a new lease of life.

[riverwalker]

5. money is now speech

If money is now speech, and the poor have no money, then the poor are bring denied equal first amendment rights. Couldn't this be appealed on that basis?

[They_Live]

27. + 1

I had the same thought.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. The Supremes' timing is terrible.

They were a day late with their April Fools joke on the American People.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. I guess they wanted to wait a day...

...so that people couldn't confuse it for a sick April Fool's Joke.

[justhanginon]

9. Knew this was coming. Unfortunately

it just makes the saying "the best democracy money can buy" a truism. Maybe it is time to either get rid of the "supreme" court or at the least rename it more in keeping with the Roberts whorehouse it has become.
I wonder if our country can ever come back from the corporate owned state it has become or are we just too far into the money can buy any election to recover.
When I see casino owners auditioning presidential hopefuls groveling for his money I kinda think it's all over.

[CJCRANE]

10. NB: The limit per candidate remains but you can give to as many candidates

and PACs as you want now.

The aggregate limit was previously $123,000.

(Seen on another thread).

[Jackpine Radical]

16. A meaningless limit, easily defeated.

I've capped out on my asshole Republican Senate candidate, so I'll max out on your asshole Republican candidate and you can max out on mine in return.

[jwirr]

11. The USA has now become the laughing stock of the world. Yesterday we are chasitsed by the UN for

our terrible civil rights record. Today we sell out democracy while we try to tell the world that we are going to help them gain democracy. Beware world we are not what we claim to be. We are just another commodity to be bought and sold.

[City Lights]

12. IMO, it's been dead since December 12, 2000. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Actually, the mortal wound

occurred in Dallad in Nov 63- it just took a while for people to notice the stinking corpse.

[Prophet 451]

13. It waqs nice while it lasted

But let's be honest, the US has been teetering on the edge of corporatism for a long time.

[cali]

14. "No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting."

from the Monty Python dead parrot joke.

[Scootaloo]

26. Pining for the fjords?

[bigwillq]

15. SCOTUS!!!!!!!!!11111

How many times have we heard "SCOTUS" from folks telling us why we need to vote for D's? How's that working out?

[cali]

17. uh, take a look a Skinner's post.

[treestar]

22. Um, did you miss the Republican Presidents?

That's why it has right wingers on it.

[barbtries]

25. what's funny?

the Court was loaded previously. clearly it's more important than ever to elect a democratic president.

[dbackjon]

30. You really are clueless, aren't you.

[rhett o rick]

20. Our founders did not have it in mind that the SCOTUS to have such power.

They can overturn laws that are made by the other two branches which are responsible directly to the public. If Congress and or the President do something against the wish of the people, they can be removed the next voting cycle and the action reversed. Not so with the almighty SCOTUS. Their decisions are extremely hard to overcome. The Constitution does not give them the right to interpret the Constitution and essentially mold laws.

[LuvNewcastle]

21. It's been dead for quite some time.

When the intelligence agencies and the MIC started running our government behind the scenes, that's when democracy died. Maybe you could nail it down at November 22, 1963, I'm not sure. Anyway, that date is very important when you're talking about the death of democracy. Except for local and some state races, it really doesn't matter who we vote for anymore. They're under the thumb of somebody/ something else.

[mulsh]

23. It's not too late to fight back. We must fight back as hard as we can.

The bottom line is getting folks out to vote. No amount of money can buy off truly engaged people. Just look at voter turn out for the last election in areas where Republicans have ended early voting, enacted modern poll and literacy tests,etc. People showed up and stayed until they could vote. The moronic chattering class on our airwaves seemed surprised by that. We, every one of who is engaged need to do all we can to encourage and enable people to get out and vote.

They can buy candidates and lots of air time but engaged people are another matter. I refuse to give up. I've been working invoter drives since before I could vote and I plan to do so until I die. Surely there are local organizations where ever you live that need help. Check out your local Democratic Party, the League of Women's Voters, NAACA just to give a few of the better known examples.

Don't give up.

[Coventina]

24. IMHO, it was actually December 12, 2000

When SCOTUS ruled for Bush in Bush V. Gore.

But, YMMV.

[Jackpine Radical]

31. Tat's only when it entered a persistent coma.

It hasn't functioned since then, admittedly.

[deutsey]

33. Yeah, it may have been in a vegetative state and barely on life support after that

Until now. I think it's spirit is finally gone.

[Enthusiast]

34. Yes.

They actually ruled, "Stop counting the votes. It would be unfair for G. W. Bush to lose."

[Gothmog]

28. If the Democrats lose control of Senate in 2014

President Obama will have a very difficult time confirming any decent SCOTUS justice in the last two years of his term

[Corruption Inc]

35. Just move on and look forward, no need to hold the ideals of democracy in some high regard

Corporations are people, it says so in the law so it must be true, LOL!