Old Sayings Retirement Home No. 9


The Supremes

I know, I know, Richard Pryor’s quote didn’t last 24 hours. It is because I was visited in my sleep by the ghost of English teachers past. Of all the grammatical blunders I’ve made in my life, the one of which I am least guilty of committing is a double negative. You know, like in the Pink Floyd song “Another Brick in the Wall:”

“We don’t need no education … “

Perhaps not but if you had the English teachers I had you certainly wouldn’t use the words “don’t” and “no” in the same sentence. Pryor’s line is spoken in character and thus is funny. But somehow I just have this aversion to using the DN. Damn English teachers!

I chose the new quote because a)It kind of fits my philosophy of writing, and b)the buzz is making the rounds this morning that President Bush could name his choice for Supreme Court justice to replace Sandra Day O’Connor. Justice, get it? Oh well. It will be interesting to see who Bush chooses. A lot of speculation is going on that he will name a woman and that woman may be Edith Brown Clement of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The Fifth handles federal appeals cases for several states including Texas and Louisiana. Clement is known to be a strict constructionist but might be palatable to Democrats because of her stated willingness to recognize the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade.

But the right wing should fear not. There is still a lot of time left in the Bush administration for another justice to retire or die and for the president to appoint a raving-ass nut job. Also, picking a Supreme Court justice has proven to be a little like forecasting hurricanes. They may appear predictable but appearances can be deceiving. A number of justices who were picked by a president of one party may often vote, God forbid, their interpretation of the law rather than the party line.

We never know what that wacky U.S. Senate will do either. So it could be some pretty good political theater. Or else, some wretched political crap. It all does depend on your point of view, Lou.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *