CNN and New Yorker legal expert Jeffrey Toobin is shocked, shocked that the five conservative Supreme Court justices were hostile today to Barack Obama‘s health care plan.
“This was a train wreck for the Obama administration. This law looks like it’s going to be struck down. I’m telling you, all of the predictions including mine that the justices would not have a problem with this law were wrong… If I had to bet today I would bet that this court is going to strike down the individual mandate.”
Toobin is a heavyweight among legal journalists, and his surprise was echoed in reports from other stunned journalists.
Gee, who ever could have predicted the hostility of the right-wing judges? Ahem:
“Can we please stop pretending that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of the Affordable Care Act will be a nail-biter?It won’t be. The court’s conservative majority has already made up its mind. It will declare individual mandates unconstitutional and thus blow up health care reform.”
Yes, that was Who2’s crack legal analyst on March 20th. That same crack legal analyst is now flapping his arms and crowing like a rooster. A rooster who is about to be without sensible public health care, sure, but still.
Honestly, where have all these “expert” analysts been for the last 20 years? Where were they in 2000? They’re surprised that these five highly-politicized conservative justices are eager to serve the GOP and break the power of the federal government?
Memo to analysts: That’s what these guys were hired to do. It doesn’t much matter to them how they do it. As noted last week:
“5-4, this Supreme Court will kill health care reform. And get a fat laugh out of doing it.”
Welcome to reality, legal scholars! For a $25,000 fee, I will speak at your next convention.