They Rule

They write. They bicker. They decide.

And, not unlike the journalists who report on those decisions, our Supreme Court Justices are stuck for life.

Of the ten thousand cases they get each term, the appointed judges usually hear fewer than one hundred. But remember, they've got forever.

I recall memorizing the names of all nine Justices for my constitutional law course in college. Could never remember whether Ruth Bader Ginsburg's name had an s or a z.

I do remember the old guy was the liberal and the black guy was the conservative.

When it comes to laying down the law, the most powerful nine individuals are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. George W. Bush got two picks during his eight years: the conservative Sam Alito and the extreme conservative Chief John Roberts. The former president's father, Bush One, had tried to do the same 19 years ago but wound up appointing a lefty -- David Souter.

Souter's out the door next month. That leaves his seat open for President Obama's first Supreme Court choice, 100 days into his first term. Word is he'll go female on this one. And if you thought you'd had your fill of G.O.P. bitching and moaning, prepare for the 'F' word to rear its head ad nauseam once again: filibuster.

Five minutes of those inevitable Senate confirmation hearings will no doubt provoke a nationwide bout of nosebleeds and migraines, not to mention months of wasteful and spiteful bullying, followed by a rushed October court appointment. The latter will only spur further republican axe grinding and Obama bashing, as the media gear up for that predictable Christmas-during-a-recession coverage.

The high court currently hosts four liberals and four conservatives, with Justice Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote. Things seem fairly even judging by the numbers. But Obama will face a bitter battle with right-wingers who will stop at nothing to block judges who might, God forbid, turn us all into a nation of Socialists. You know, because Obama is such a Commie and all.

My advice to the republicans: read a book. You sound incredibly ignorant when you call our president a Socialist one day and a Fascist the next. In fact, you're not allowed to call him anything yet. He hasn't started any global fights. And he sure as hell hasn't taken a vacation since he took office. Worst case scenario, women still get to exercise the freedom the court afforded them in 1973. You know, that word you all love to chant: freedom.

The other night a speaker at a Tampa networking event reminded us journalists in attendance that we share something in common with our Supreme Court Justices: we can do what we do for a living well into our old age.

Quick trivia question: of Justice John Paul Stevens and journalist Mike Wallace, who is older?

Answer: Mike Wallace, who turned 91 this month, came into the world two years before the court's oldest justice.

Journalists and Justices usually find themselves stuck for eternity in what they do. Both careers carry a virtual lifetime appointment.

We can walk away from the job at any time. Only few of us ever do.

-P.F.