How law school has influenced my political thinking

A lot of people would think law school must include a lot of talk about politics. I'm sure that is a question answered differently depending on your enjoyment of political discussion. It certainly has not influenced my thinking about politics on many issues. However, it has caused me to reconsider the priority I give certain issues. Therefore, here is a little insight into how I will be voting in November

I still believe a social conservative would be nice in the White House. I am not such a big fan of the war, although I think the republicans are doing a good job of selling it to the more moderate conservatives (evidenced by John McCain). I think the economy should be the second-most important issue this year, given it's current downturn. But most important:

Who will you nominate to the Supreme Court?

If I could ask each candidate only one question, this would be it. I would probably ask for names, because I'm sure the candidates each have some judges in mind. You have to be important to get nominated, so if a person is not already on the radar, the likelihood they get nominated is probably slim. I want to know names.

I know that Bush's "litmus test" language was criticized by a lot of people, but at least he was honest about it. And he stuck to it.

Most people, including me a month ago, would never have considered this a big issue. It really only takes one or two Supreme Court opinions from the last 30 years to recognize why this should be important to people. No matter which way you lean politically, we should all be able to agree that the judicial branch of government should be just a branch, and not the government. They have a job, and they should do it. Instead, the Court has stepped way too far into the realm of judicial legislation for the country's good.

I want a Supreme Court justice who trusts the legislature to do its job. More than that, I want one who trusts the people to do their job. It is a great thing in this country to be able to elect representatives who represent the views and beliefs of the majority, or at least the majority who care enough to vote. We have a system that also allows those representatives to be removed by a popular vote. Instead, the courts have often taken it upon themselves to override the legislatures of states and Congress, and thereby, the will of the people.

While I enjoy my rights, there is a proper way for those rights to be defined. It is not through Constitutional interpretation by the Court which is biased and politically motivated. The people have no recourse against that. Leave legislation to the proper branch of government, where the people have a means of being heard.