Darts & Laurels - February 10, 2017

We’re interrupting your weekly Darts & Laurels today in light of the news of President Donald Trump’s infamous travel ban being blocked by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. From the looks of it, it’s well on its way to the Supreme Court, so we’re going to have to reschedule our regularly planned musings on pop culture and shift aside for this week’s (specialized)…

Darts & Laurels

So just yesterday, we discussed how judicial review is an integral part of the U.S. government. The judicial branch isn’t the most glamorous branch of government. Little kids don’t jump up and down proclaiming that they want to be judges, after all. The executive branch gets more of the spotlight usually, since it is home to our figurehead (aka the president), and Congress, which makes up the legislative branch, has the occasional representative and senator who makes a commotion. For instance, take Sen. John McCain, who’s had a few tussles with White House press secretary Sean Spicer, or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was formally silenced while reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. And despite our familiarity with Ruth Bader Ginsburg (or otherwise affectionately referred to as “Notorious RBG”) and Clarence Thomas, they shy away from media — until something big happens.

On Thursday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reinstate Trump’s travel ban, a decision which, according to the Associated Press, was decided by a panel of three federal judges.

So to this we give a laurel to our judiciary branch of government, because amid the chaos and the scandals of the other two branches, it has lived up to its job of being an impartial judge to the U.S. Constitution. It’s a bit odd, though. Yes, we’re happy that we do have one branch of government doing its job and upholding the Constitution, but shouldn’t we expect that of every branch?

In short, the other two branches of government have performed less than perfectly. There’s been dubious going-ons in the Senate, bribes placed for certain highly unqualified cabinet members to be approved and an impressive number of executive actions signed in the last three weeks alone. Kellyanne Conway completely made up a shocking news event and promoted Ivanka Trump’s clothing line on national television — two things that someone in her position should just not have done. Politics aside, it’s been just a bit of mess when it comes to the government.

For that reason, we bestow a dart to the rest of our government. Shouldn’t we not have to hear stories about bribes that Cabinet members made to senators to get approved? Shouldn’t a counselor to the president be expected to deliver actual facts instead of “alternative” ones? Shouldn’t we be entitled to a government that has the interest of all its people at heart — not just its party, not just its demographic, but all the people who work, love and live in our nation? Administration changes are never 100-percent smooth, but rarely are they this rocky or contentious. It’s not just pride or reputation at stake here — it’s the lives of millions of people.

The next step of the travel ban is uncertain, but it looks like it’s headed to the Supreme Court, and perhaps, the history books.

But like silent protectors watching our country, the judicial branch has decided to make a move and do its job. And when it does, all eyes are on it.