When right wingers talk about "activist judges"...

[Killarney]

what the hell are they talking about?

Are they talking about the Mass Supreme Court decision?

[smartass]

1. Any judge with a dissenting opinion that doesn't ape the neocon

logic is an advocate and liberal socialist French commie. Judges like Moore and Scallia are the enlightened and spirtually superior beings.

[bif]

2. Any decision they don't like

Involves an "Activist Judge." It's going to replace the word "liberal" as the new Republican insult.

[markus]

3. But what about the Honorable Mr. Moore in Alabama?

Activist judges are like pornography and terrorists. You know what it is when you see it, but I might not see it where you see it.

Basically, the "activist judge" mantra is an attempt to agitate for the removal of the courts from enforcing the constitution over statutory law. Anyone who says "activist judge" who has sworn an oath to uphold the constitution (say, Tom Delay) is in effect in violation of his oath, because he is opposing a fundamental tenent of constitutional law.

[bingandfrank]

4. activist judges

What frightens the right is best exemplified by what frightens the left. If the MA supremes dictate the creation of gay marriage, due to the full faith and credit clause, righties fear its national spread. The reason the dems are blocking rups judicial appointments is, for instance, what if a repuke judge used the same clause to enforce conceled carry permits issued in OK in NYC?

That is the best arguement for why the congress should assert their constitional athority and not leave it to unelected lifetime dictators.

[Yupster]

5. In my view

an activist judge is one who makes a law. This can be done by left or right.