Lyle Denniston has a very helpful piece at ScotusBlog that explains how the Voting Rights Act works and how the Department of Justice is attempting to enforce it in the aftermath of the Shelby County v. Holder ruling. I’m somewhat relieved to learn that the Justice Department still has tools that it can use to prevent racial discrimination in our elections, and that it can use them preemptively. At least, that’s the case right now. They will be challenged on their new strategy, too, and we know how sympathetic the conservative majority on the Supreme Court is.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
8 Comments
Recent Posts
- Day 14: Louisiana Senator Approvingly Compares Trump to Stalin
- Day 13: Elon Musk Flexes His Muscles
- Day 12: While Elon Musk Takes Over, We Podcast With Driftglass and Blue Gal
- Day 11: Harm of Fascist Regime’s Foreign Aid Freeze Comes Into View
- Day 10: The Fascist Regime Blames a Plane Crash on Nonwhite People
Yeah, at least Holder and the DOJ are trying!
But let’s wait until Scalia and his pals channel the inner "3/5ths of a voter" clause in the ORIGINAL US Constitution, and see what happens!
Conservative POV:
We elected a "Blah" President, so THAT THERE THEM’S proof that there’s NOT ANY racism left in America!
Of course, that means turning a blind-eye to Zimmerman’s murder of a young black teenager like Martin – and the SCOTUS’s own decision on the VRA’s, not only passé, but reaffirming that "fact."
I am both disgusted, and scared.
But not to the point where I won’t resist!!
I WILL!!!
AND OTHERS NEED TO, AS WELL!!!!!
Good for Eric Holder.
In 100 years, people looking at the history of voting rights during this era will come across the Supreme Court case Shelby vs. Holder, and the side of the angels, the side that was fighting to protect voting rights against the coordinated, cynical assault they’re facing today, will be summed up by the name ‘Holder.’
That’s an honorable and fitting legacy for the man.
Nice.
A crucial development. New Jim Crow NC and its repulsive Repub regime should be next on the DOJ’s Sue ‘Em list.
The more DOJ can get into the evidence of the (plainly) racial motivation of the New Confederacy in its vote suppression and redistricting moves, the better. Elected Wingnuts of the New Confederacy need to know they’ll be testifying in federal court on their actual and purported motives. These anti-democratic repressive actions must be explained to judges. Have a good time, Repub conserva-turds. Maybe Big Daddy Roberts and Godfather Scalia can save you, maybe not.
Post racial America indeed.
Yep, the bill with amendments is going back to the House for final vote right now.
I’m a little surprised that any of you are surprised to find out that the civil rights associations and the DOJ wouldn’t just trudge off into the cattle cars and are instead, as they have for many, many decades now, suing and countersuing the state governments regardless of an unfavorable supreme court ruling.
It’s almost as though this is what always happens, and that defeatism is stupid and pointless. Liberalism and social justice never quits. That’s why conservatism has always had to work so damn hard to obstruct it.
It’s good to see there is a cause the DOJ would get behind. Because they certainly don’t care about putting banksters, and other corporate criminals, in jail.
And African American college students are the front guard again.
http://projects.newsobserver.com/node/28087
http://crooksandliars.com/tom-sullivan/citizens-sit-nc-house-speakers-office