The only reason the presidential election mattered: Supreme Court.

[ChalkyDog]

Whoever won this, gets to place two new supreme court justices. If it was Romney - balance would have stayed the same. Now, there is a serious shift.

Congrats, to people who value individual liberties.

[antifoil]

this is the only issue i consider when voting for president.

[ChalkyDog]

this is the only issue i consider when voting for president.

Generally, me too.

However, I voted for Gary Johnson this year, as I felt strongly that Obama had this in the bag and the 3rd party needs votes.

Supreme court is much more long lasting than anything else decided today.

[Plus573]

Whoever won this, gets to place two new supreme court justices. If it was Romney - balance would have stayed the same. Now, there is a serious shift.

Congrats, to people who value individual liberties.

Chalky, wise as usual.

[GUMMO77]

Right on, Chalky.

Dems will more than likely take a huge advantage in the Supreme Court, but the Republicans still own the lower courts.

[ChalkyDog]

Right on, Chalky.

Dems will more than likely take a huge advantage in the Supreme Court, but the Republicans still own the lower courts.

This is true.

Only a few State bastions for progressive thinking individuals remain. Cities however, remain strong.

The real fear, is some abomination of regulation on individual rights become the precedent law of the land.

[NYSportsGuy210]

Barack needed to come out to this......

[d2bets]

Whoever won this, gets to place two new supreme court justices. If it was Romney - balance would have stayed the same. Now, there is a serious shift.

Congrats, to people who value individual liberties.

Actually it is just the opposite. The next justice to retire is almost certainly going to be Ginsburg. She's as liberal as they come so it can't move further left from her. If Romney had won he would have replaced Ginsburg and that would be a serious shift.

Now if Thomas, Scalia, Alito or Roberts leave then we have a shift. Alito and Roberts are new, so very unlikely. Thomas isn't going. Scalia won't go. Unless one of them die, they're not leaving. Kennedy? Maybe. That's possible. And that would matter.

[NYSportsGuy210]

Marijuana will be legalized in the entire USA under this new Supreme Court....watch

[Inspirited]

roberts failed conservative america. literally re-interpreted the law to mean something it wasn't to save the liberal healthcare bill. still wondering if he has an implant chip in his brain.

[Grits n' Gravy]

Marijuana will be legalized in the entire USA under this new Supreme Court....watch

It should but until a deal can be cut with Mexican cartels to ease up on meth/blow busts to offset the brick weed money it isn't going to happen.

[ChalkyDog]

Actually it is just the opposite. The next justice to retire is almost certainly going to be Ginsburg. She's as liberal as they come so it can't move further left from her. If Romney had won he would have replaced Ginsburg and that would be a serious shift.

Now if Thomas, Scalia, Alito or Roberts leave then we have a shift. Alito and Roberts are new, so very unlikely. Thomas isn't going. Scalia won't go. Unless one of them die, they're not leaving. Kennedy? Maybe. That's possible. And that would matter.

In the broader scope, it would have remained the same. The court is painfully conservative - to the point of having a full conservative majority at present.

Gingsberg needs to retire, and should have done so before this election. However, Obama will get another one. Effectively shaping 4 seats that will impact this country for decades.

I am 100% fine with having a conservative congress, and don't really care if a conservative is the President, as long as he isn't a goddamn fukking moron (a presidential candidate since bush doesn't fit that). What I cannot stand, and what literally keeps me up some nights is the thought of a conservative court. The court has the biggest and longest lasting impact on individual liberties, and the way Americans view them. I think having a strong conservative stance on individual liberties has the potential of a death sentence to the perceived and real freedoms of Americans.

[NYSportsGuy210]

It should but until a deal can be cut with Mexican cartels to ease up on meth/blow busts to offset the brick weed money it isn't going to happen.

Fcuk that.....the U.S. military will tear them a new one. First Al Queda next the Mexican drug cartels.

[ChalkyDog]

Fcuk that.....the U.S. military will tear them a new one. First Al Queda next the Mexican drug cartels.

Grits knows what he is talking about. The cartels are a very real person at the proverbial table. They must be dealt with in order for marijuana to be legalized.

This has nothing to do with guns, and everything to do with money. Billions and billions of dollars are on the line here. Both for the drug runners and enforcers. Unless you can reallocate those resources in a meaningful way, this doesn't happen.

[neverstoppers23]

said the same thing. def. 1 supreme court justice is going to retire, maybe 2. this is going to change the dynamics of the supreme court for decades to come.

[TheGuesser]

Generally, me too.

However, I voted for Gary Johnson this year, as I felt strongly that Obama had this in the bag and the 3rd party needs votes.

Supreme court is much more long lasting than anything else decided today.

You could have voted for Obama on a 3rd party ticket, assuming your state had that option. That's what I did. Best of both worlds.

[hockey216]

Sotomayor said individuals don't have the right to personally own guns.

She denies the 2nd amendment to the constitution.

How in the world is that protecting individual liberties?

[MeatWad]

Extremely important and often underrated, the supreme court decided the 2000 election voting 5-4 for Bush exactly along party lines. The impact of their decisions has such a resounding, authoratative impact. They determine the meaning of the constitution and how it applies not only in lower courts, but more broadly in our functioning as a society.

Definitely some of the most powerful people in our country and almost scarey how loyal they stay to the party/president who appointed them. I think they are underpublicized because their decisions and cases are often soo complex and detailed that they don't make for exciting or easily understood 1 minute news clips. (except for Thomas who rides Scalia's nuts)

[MeatWad]

Good to know that goober who wrote the Kenneth Starr investigation reports won't be appointed anytime soon. What an idiot and think he was #1 on the republicans appointment list.

[SBR_John]

I have a feeling Obama may pick a middle of the road moderate for legacy purposes and avoid a battle and possible nomination defeat however unlikely. I'd rather have a liberal justice than a conservative but a true moderate is what the court really needs.

[d2bets]

I have a feeling Obama may pick a middle of the road moderate for legacy purposes and avoid a battle and possible nomination defeat however unlikely. I'd rather have a liberal justice than a conservative but a true moderate is what the court really needs.

Hard to know who's moderate or liberal? Is Sotomayor moderate? I'd say so. If he's replacing Ginsburg I'd guess the replacement would be more on the liberal side, and should be, so as to not let that tip the balance the other way. If he replaces Kennedy, then it's a more moderate pick. He picked two women and neither black. Maybe he needs a black guy with a pulse to balance Thomas.

[ChalkyDog]

Gingsberg will retire. Breyer should retire. Both those seats will remian strong liberal justices.

If Breyer does retire, and either Kennedy or Scalia literally get too old to be on the court - Obama would have single-handedly shaped the court. Kennedy and Scalia are both into their 70's.