The Supremes Weigh In On Global Warming

Well, this is good news. The Supreme Court declares that the Federal Government must deal with (i.e. regulate) greenhouse gases. But before we get all giddy, let me make two points:

1. The Bush Administration has been rebuked before by the Supreme Court, to no apparent effect (see Bay, Guantanamo). Just because the Supremes say the Administration has to do something, doesn't mean the Administration will do something. Obviously this is a great way to start things for the next Administration, but we still have to wait 18 months for that.

2. The decision was a narrow 5-4 victory, with the dissenters complaining about the standing of the plaintiffs. The validity of their complaint aside, this is yet another example (Hamdan v. Rumsfeld also comes to mind) of how crucial it is to get Supreme Court appointments right, and to fight them tooth and nail when they're wrong. We are still paying the price for allowing idiot Clarence Thomas on the bench, and Sam Alito looks scary to me. I can only hope that John Roberts moderates himself over time, and becomes another Suitor or O'Connor.