Staff Reports
President Joe Biden, in a flurry of frustration reminiscent of a toddler who just lost his favorite toy, aimed at House Speaker Mike Johnson after the latter declared Biden’s efforts to shake up the Supreme Court were “dead on arrival.” This proclamation, which seems more like a life observation than political commentary, sent Biden into a defensive stance during his recent visit to Austin, Texas.
In what could only be described as a response befitting a dramatic soap opera, Biden snapped back at reporters, indirectly calling Johnson “dead on arrival” himself. Such irony might have spared the Biden administration from further embarrassment had it not been so transparently evident that he was, in fact, the one out of touch. One can only assume that events like this are why Johnson isn’t losing any sleep over the president’s so-called reform plans.
President Biden was just asked on the tarmac about Speaker Johnson calling his Supreme Court reform “dead on arrival.” “That’s what he is,” Biden said. Asked for clarification, a reporter shouted, “That he is?” Biden responded: “He is. Dead on arrival.” pic.twitter.com/kEOV2y21Yi
— Matt Viser (@mviser) July 29, 2024
Biden’s attempts to impose term limits on Supreme Court justices were rolled out in the wake of unfavorable rulings that stung like a bee on a summer day. The president, perhaps in his quest to circumvent what he sees as an unsympathetic judiciary, suggested that justices serve 18-year terms instead of for life. Yet, it appears this new strategy has all the traction of a car stuck in the sand. Johnson, labeled by some as a cautious voice of sanity, dismissed the proposal as a “dangerous gambit,” echoing the sentiments of many who perceive Biden’s course as nothing short of a power grab.
Meanwhile, Biden didn’t stop at merely proposing term limits; he also called for ethics oversight for the justices, effectively laying down a move to micromanage the Court’s every decision. This drew the ire of many who see such measures as unnecessary and politically motivated. The president wrapped up his tirade with a spirited endorsement of this overhaul from Vice President Kamala Harris, who is still eyeing her own presidential aspirations from the sidelines.
In what can only be described as a deft use of social media, Johnson shared footage from a Trump debate where the former president noted he sometimes doesn’t grasp what Biden is saying, a remark that likely resonated with many Americans. This added an ironic spin to Biden’s fervent push for reforms as public confidence in the current administration continues to tumble like bad ratings for a failing TV show.
The crux of the matter? Biden’s call for a “more malleable” Supreme Court brings forth echoes of his past, where he once dismissed such ideas as “bonehead.” The alarming trend of trying to shift the judiciary toward a partisan playground raises serious alarms about safeguarding the system that has served the American people for centuries. With voices from within the conservative community—like former Attorney General William Barr—pleading for the preservation of judicial independence, it becomes evident that the current administration’s antics aim not only to dismantle long-standing legal principles but to do so while hoping nobody’s watching.
The battle lines are clear, and it’s a good bet that any attempt to wrestle control of the Court will meet fierce resistance, not only from House leadership but from a populace keen on preserving their freedoms. Biden may want to rethink who he calls “dead on arrival”; his own agenda appears to be creaking under the pressure of its own ambitions.
