Jeff - at this point it seems that scoring political points is the ONLY thing that matters, and this is true on both sides! And my name is Dave by the way...the Lord Chaucer thing is a gag that my friends find amusing.

Yeah, where does that Bader-Ginsberg get off passing judgment on the Constitution? She only has law degrees from Columbia, Princeton and Harvard, whereas Glenn Beck studied US History 101 at Sehome High School. Alas, the major flaw in the US Constitution is that it gives people like Beck a Right to spew nonsense in the face of learned, reasoned thought, but that is also it's greatest strength. Only we, the listeners, by thoughtful reflection, can ensure that the founders belief in the power of free speech to create a better society will be realized.

Wow! I rarely agree with Jeff Jacoby, but I have to say it's nice to hear him argue for civility in our public discourse. Our politics today are awful on both left and right because instead of listening to each other, we attack partial thoughts, rather than than complete thoughts.It's time for both sides of the aisle to tone it down a bit, really listen to each other and compromise!

Jeff, Bravo! I rarely agree with you and I don't think Justice Ginsburg's defense is justifiable only because Justice Scalia said something that could be quoted out of context and misused, however, I applaud you for taking up this issue. I just returned from Egypt where the rule of law is uncertain at best and it is obvious how society is negatively affected when institutions are not trusted. I am no fan of many of the decisions coming out of this Supreme Court but I hope the commentators who are busy tearing down the legitimacy of our court system and judges, realize the alternative is much less freedom for all.

Bravo, Jeff. This really needed to be said. Soon public people will fear saying "good morning" lest they be accused of insensitivity to those who are having a rough day.

Who cares what Glenn Beck has to say. Ginsburg is so right. If the US constitution was written in steel we would still have slavery, women would not vote, etc., etc., etc., That is why we have amendments to the constitution. The knee jerk BS from the ultra right is laughable. They know they are going to lose to Obama in November and they are becoming more and more hostile. Poor babies.

She was sworn to uphold our Constitution, but clearly holds it in contempt. Justice is just not the right position for someone like that.

Because Scalia went on to make the point that the Soviet constitution was nothing but "words on paper,'' a fig leaf for tyranny. What the heck do you think goes on here in the US? The impotent legislative branch has been informed by the American people for years that that the US Courts are corrupt. Congress has the authority to oversee the courts but gave it to the Judicial Conference where these criminals-yes criminals- regulate themselves. EXAMPLE: Leo T. Sorokin's promotion to Chief Magistrate US District Court of Massachusetts on FEB 1. This Magistrate Judge violated human and constitutional rights–ignored criminal contempt and fraud upon the court by corrupt court staff and corrupt attorneys. He assisted in promoting pretense litigation and the blocking of all filings from the US District Judge. He fraudulently found a disabled litigant in contempt and dismissed her case forging the US District Judge's name and scanned the document prior to entry in the system to cover the fraud; when aware he was caught he attempted to cover-up using a criminal case where the attorney for the convicted attorney is one minute walking distance from the corrupt civil defense attorneys. The circuit executive office then aided and abetted crime by producing bogus judicial misconduct orders written by the ACE/Legal affairs person who works for the federal judiciary with an inactive law license. The office of general counsel also aided and abetted by purposefully ignoring rules established by the Judicial Conference that would ensure the purpose of a congressional act. The court of appeals took a filing fee twice; in collusion with corrupt Jackson Lewis attorneys and the corrupt USDC staff, the USCA1 corrupt staff blocked the filings from any judge. The end result is the Plaintiff was denied justice and her Constitutional Rights, federal law enforcement did nothing, corrupt attorneys made their money, the corrupt judge was promoted, and the new Director for the Administrative Office of the US Courts, Judge Hogan, determined the 3rd Branch should be exempt from the federal wage freeze. The 771 pages of tyranny are now before the US Congress; the question now is how long before our impotent legislative body takes a hit of Viagra and restores our justice system. The tyranny is happening in US Courts all over this country. The corrupt staff in these courts are under the delusion that they have life tenure and are exempt from law; they freely break federal criminal law with no fear of consequence. This comment is backed by public record-do not delete it when these alleged criminals make the request because only the alleged criminals would flag this post;America wants her justice system back. The courts belong to the people not the corrupt!!!! http://scr.bi/wU3Los http://scr.bi/wkEI5n http://scr.bi/zC29QR

I almost never agree with Jacoby, but today's column is right on the mark in terms of how distortions are created. I might be more in favor of changing and modernizing our current Constitution than Jeff is (I think it focuses too much on property rights rather than individual and societal rights) but that is a discussion for another day. Bravo Jeff!

Did you even read the article??