Advocating For Right Wing Judical Activism: When Zeal Leads To Ignorance

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Supreme Court
Posted on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:32:46 AM EST
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The Constitutional Accountability Center has an amusing catch of the National Review/Hoover Institution "scholar" Thomas Sowell betraying his ignorance in his zeal to argue for right wing judicial activism:

[T]he biggest whopper in Sowell’s piece is this paragraph:

Although the case of the Connecticut firefighters [Ricci] is the latest and best-known of Judge Sotomayor’s reversals by the Supreme Court, an even more revealing case was Didden v. Village of Port Chester, where the Supreme Court openly rebuked the unanimous three-judge panel that included Judge Sotomayor for “an evident denial of the most elementary forms of procedural due process.”

Too bad Sowell didn’t read our post about the Didden case here or otherwise do his homework before he put his poison pen to work, or he’d have known that the Supreme Court never heard the Didden case at all, let alone “rebuked” the Second Circuit panel that Judge Sotomayor was on.

Of course, fact checking has never been a forte of National Review "scholars."

Speaking for me only

< Right Wing Judicial Activism: Is The SCOTUS "A Contest Of Ideas?" | Wednesday Morning Open Thread >

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Advocating For Right Wing Judical Activism: When Zeal Leads To Ignorance | 22 comments (22 topical)

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Thomas Sowell is a very distinguished scholar, (1.00 / 1) (#12)
by Think Before You Type on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:40:54 PM EST

as anyone who has read his many books knows. (He has a PhD. in economics from the University of Chicago.) That doesn't mean we progressives agree with all of his views - that's a separate issue.

I assume that many of those on this thread who have said that Dr. Sowell is not a scholar are racists, perhaps unconsciously so, given that Dr. Sowell is African American. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't see any other explanation. I have trouble getting used to the racism (and antisemitism) that I frequently see lately on the left side of the aisle. Get with it, guys - racism is not cool!

I've read him for years (none / 0) (#13)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:46:05 PM EST

I respectfully disagree.

But then I never have been one of those "he wrote a book therefore he must be smart" people.


BTW (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:47:01 PM EST

Your accusations of racism are unacceptable and I will ba asking for you to be banned from the blog as a result unless you retract your charge and apologize to the commenters you just defamed.


In context, I believe my comment was (1.00 / 1) (#15)
by Think Before You Type on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:58:20 PM EST

acceptable, and I retract nothing.

If I am banned, so be it.


In the context (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 02:02:04 PM EST

It was completely unacceptable.

You called people who criticized Sowell racist for no reason other than their criticism of Sowell.

It would be the equivalent of me calling Sowell a racist for criticizing Sotomayor. I did not do so and would not do so.

I have recommended you be banned.

I have the power of banning you from my threads and am doing so now. Whether you are banned from the site is for Jeralyn to decide.

In the meantime, you are no longer permitted to comment in my threads. Any comments by your will be deleted regardless of their content.


BTD - you don't need to delete me . . . (none / 0) (#18)
by Think Before You Type on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 06:41:56 PM EST

. . . I won't post any longer if you don't want me to.

But I think expunging voices you disagree with is not the true progressive way . . .

and I truly believe in my heart that a white academic with the scholarly credentials and publications that Thomas Sowell has would not have been treated with the level of disrespect that he was subjected to on this thread, and I'm very passionate about both bigotry and civility. This type of disrespect is a known phenomenon in our culture with respect to conservative blacks - witness the liberal publication that put a "lawn jockey" caricature of Clarence Thomas on its cover, not understanding that this is demeaning to all blacks.

For me, civility sometimes means calling a spade a spade, though in a way that recognizes that another point of view may exist. Any of the commenters are welcome to explain some other reason why someone with such impressive publications, degrees, etc. is not a scholar. I have read many of Sowell's books, and I find them very impressive even where I disagree with him. Obviously, you disagree with his positions. This has nothing to do with whether he is a scholar.

Note also that I very carefully said "many of those on this thread" (not all of them) and that I added the proviso that the racism may be unconscious. (You can check my exact wording).

With all that said, I will no longer read or comment on TalkLeft, since you are the host and you have requested that I refrain.


BTW (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 08:55:03 PM EST

If anyone has read how I treat Ccass Sunstein, Jeff Rosen and Jonathan Turley thinks I treat "white scholars" differently than I treated Sowell has no idea what they are talking about.

That means you. Leave. Do not come back.


Calling a spade a spade (none / 0) (#20)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 08:52:55 PM EST

Un effing believable.

Are you nuts?


BTD: Once I told you I'm not coming back, (none / 0) (#22)
by Think Before You Type on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 11:31:22 AM EST

. . . it's no longer necessary for you to call me names, use barnyard expletives, or be abusive in other ways. Please try to hold onto your dignity.

Incidentally, I was not referring to you in my original post, but rather to certain commenters on the thread; I think that was amply clear if you read it. I would never have suggested what I suggested in reference to you, given that I've read your material for a number of years.


And yet here you are commenting again (none / 0) (#23)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 11:48:36 AM EST

in my thread.

You call people racists and have the temerity to get irate when I question your use of the phrase " a spade is a spade" in THIS CONTEXT.

Please stop commenting in my threads.

Obviously Jeralyn did not ban you. comment in her threads.


Calling a spade a spade is a . . . (1.00 / 1) (#24)
by Think Before You Type on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 01:25:19 PM EST

common expression, and I'm not certain why it set you off. (Maybe you're saying that the word "spade" it's a slur in some parts of the country; it certainly was not where I grew up).

I would be happy not to comment on your blog, but you should then not leave questions for me. Most reasonable people would agree that I have the right to answer your questions, especially if they appear to be accusatory.


: Stop commenting in my threads (none / 0) (#25)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 01:40:28 PM EST

NOW.
That you are ignorant of the connotation of the word "spade" in a racial context is no excuse for you to keep commenting after I have expressly told you to stop.
No more comment from you in my threads. PERIOD.

nonsense (none / 0) (#2)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:02:11 AM EST

Doughy Pantload is excellent at analyzing the contents. of his pantload.

Maybe, instead of (none / 0) (#3)
by oculus on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:05:37 AM EST

zeal-caused ignorance, this is zeal coupled with lying.

: or (none / 0) (#5)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:10:11 AM EST

ignorance caused zeal coupled with lying and moral bankruptcy?

Why the scare quotes? (none / 0) (#4)
by jerry on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:06:02 AM EST

I may disagree with Sowell, but why the scare quotes around "scholar?"

* Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, September 1980 - present
* Professor of Economics, UCLA, July 1974 - June 1980
* Visiting Professor of Economics, Amherst College, September- December 1977
* Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, April- August 1977
* Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, July 1976 - March 1977
* Project Director, The Urban Institute, August 1972 - July 1974
* Associate Professor of Economics, UCLA, September 1970 - June 1972
* Associate Professor of Economics, Brandeis University, September 1969 - June 1970
* Assistant Professor of Economics, Cornell University, September 1965 - June 1969
* Economic Analyst, American Telephone & Telegraph Co., June 1964 - August 1965
* Lecturer in Economics, Howard University, September 1963 - June 1964
* Instructor in Economics, Douglass College, Rutgers University, September 1962 - June 1963
* Labor Economist, U.S. Department of Labor, June 1961 - August 1962

...

* Sowell, Thomas (2009). The Housing Boom and Bust. Basic Books. pp. 184 pages. ISBN 978-0465018802.
* Sowell, Thomas (2008). Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One (2nd edition ed.). Basic Books. pp. 400 pages. ISBN 978-0465003457.
* Sowell, Thomas (2007). Economic Facts and Fallacies. Basic Books. pp. 262 pages. ISBN 978-0465003495.
* Sowell, Thomas (2007). Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy (3rd edition ed.). Cambridge, Mass: Perseus Books Group. pp. 627 pages. ISBN 978-0465002603.
* Sowell, Thomas (2007). A Man of Letters. San Francisco: Encounter Books. pp. 320 pages. ISBN 978-1594031960.
* Sowell, Thomas (2006). Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press. pp. 460 pages. ISBN 978-0817947521.
* Sowell, Thomas (2006). On Classical Economics. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press. pp. 320 pages. ISBN 978-0300126068.
* Sowell, Thomas (2005). Black Rednecks and White Liberals: And Other Cultural And Ethnic Issues. San Francisco: Encounter Books. pp. 360 pages. ISBN 978-1594030864.
* Sowell, Thomas (2004). Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press. pp. 256 pages. ISBN 978-0300107753.
* 2004. Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy, revised and expanded ed. Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-08145-2 (1st ed. 2000)
* 2003. Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One, ISBN 0-465-08143-6
* 2003. Inside American Education, ISBN 0-7432-5408-2
* 2002. The Einstein Syndrome: Bright Children Who Talk Late, ISBN 0-465-08141-X
* 2002. Controversial Essays, ISBN 0-8179-2992-4
* 2002. A Personal Odyssey, ISBN 0-684-86465-7
* 2002. The Quest For Cosmic Justice, ISBN 0-684-86463-0
* 1998. Conquests and Cultures: An International History, ISBN 0-465-01400-3
* 1996. Migrations and Cultures: A World View, ISBN 0-465-04589-8
* 1996. The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation As a Basis for Social Policy. Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-08995-X
* 1995. Race and Culture: A World View. Description & chapter previews. ISBN 0-465-06796-4
* 1987. A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles. William Morrow, ISBN 0-688-06912-6
* 1987. Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, ISBN 0688-07114-7
* 1986. Marxism: Philosophy and Economics. Quill, ISBN 0-688-06426-4
* 1984. Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, ISBN 0-688-03113-7
* 1983. The Economics and Politics of Race. William Morrow, ISBN 0-688-01891-2
* 1981. Ethnic America: A History. Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-02074-7
* 1981. Markets and Minorities. Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-04399-2
* 1980. Knowledge and Decisions. Basic Books.
* 1975. Race and Economics. David McKay Company Inc, ISBN 0-679-30262-X

Cuz he is not a scholar in my view (none / 0) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:14:28 AM EST

but a political pundit.

Your mileage obviously varies.


Why is he writing about Sotomayor. His (none / 0) (#8)
by oculus on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:24:44 AM EST

field of expertise is economics.


: Because he is a political pundit (none / 0) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:25:25 AM EST

not a scholar.

BTW (none / 0) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 11:17:48 AM EST

Even by your standards, you would agree he is not a scholar when it comes to legal issues.


: for me, being able to call yourself a scholar (none / 0) (#11)
by of1000Kings on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 01:22:03 PM EST

means that you continue to be so even after your degree is completed...
I know that's not the way it works in this country, though...

The dearth of comments (none / 0) (#17)
by NYShooter on Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 05:06:53 PM EST

to this thread is testament to the skittishness people feel about expressing their opinions regarding Mr. Howell.

The very first post by"Think.......," People's exhibit A-1, confirms that view.

Having had a Jewish father, and being raised around many Jewish folks, my ears naturally perk up whenever subjects regarding Jews, Israel, etc. are being discussed. Now, being sensitive, and being paranoid, or defensive, is not the same thing. Like Justice Potter Stewart said about another subject, "I know it when I see it," I have no problem whatsoever discerning criticism from anti-Semitism. I'm sure most A.A's, and other minorities, feel the same way regarding discussions having to do with their nationality, or religion.

I think Thomas Sowell is a sad, pitiful figure. His attraction to the likes of Ann coulter, Sean Hannity, et al is evidence enough for me to not take anything he says seriously. And the fact that I have to tip-toe in writing this is not evidence of my sensitivity or empathy, but rather an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Rush Limbaugh crowd using Mr. Howell, and Mr. Howell's willingness to being used, for purposes that are anathema to everything that's good and descent in our society.

What a shame.