Let the conspiracy theories and outrageous speculation begin. Midterm 2018, neither a red nor blue wave, is in the history books and attention in most flyover states returns to another nomination on the Supreme Court as news filters through social media of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s fall and subsequent hospitalization.
The oldest justice on the highest court has never missed an argument, despite a rocky bout with health problems. She has survived colon cancer and a pancreatic tumor, has had a stent placed for a blocked artery, broken her ribs in 2012, and now has suffered three fractured ribs.
She’s one tough old gal, and now all eyes are again focused on the octogenarian to see if she rallies or decides to give President Trump and conservatives one more justice to install on the big bench.
While Bader Ginsburg snacks on lime Jell-O and binge watches daytime television from her hospital bed, the court held a welcome reception for the newest justice, Brett Kavanaugh, flanked by President Trump and the interim U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.
The Lines in the Sand
But the crazies on social media were lurking about and full of opinion. George Takei, alt left celebrity hero for the Trekkie types, was tweeting messages of love and support, “Please take care of yourself, Justice Ginsberg. You are our guardian angel.” In Alt left speak that means “don’t you dare step down and give the Cheeto another win.” Evidently, George was so overcome with concern he forgot how to spell her name.
As much as former actress and self-described political mouthpiece for the alt-left, Alyssa Milano, aggravates conservatives to teeth grinding, her tweet was downright funny:
But regular folks lurking on Facebook are in full speculation and debate mode.
Douglass Mann piped up on the ABC Chicago affiliate and threw out a fastball at the left: “Democrats are auditioning ‘sexual assault survivors’ for the next confirmation hearings.”
The comments were a bit more amusing on the Fort Wayne NBC affiliate as Darko Stankovic inquired, “Did she try to take the microphone from Jim Acosta too??!?” And meanwhile, in Paducah, Kentucky, Sandy Weatherford was almost in a panic. “Oh no. We need to wrap our Honorable RBG in bubble wrap. Prayers for a rapid recovery.”
Meanwhile, In Des Moines, Iowa, David Lindquist begged the fallen woman, “Oh please just hang on two more years.” But his remark was met by Jerod Speake’s admonishment: “Nice, a woman falls, busted up her body, and you are more concerned about politics than her...you classy Democrat you.”
How do you not love the Heartland?
For those Americans expecting Bader-Ginsburg to retire, it may be a resounding disappointment when she arrives in her chambers on November 26. Whether she pulls up in a car or an ambulance is anyone’s guess, but unless she succumbs to her injuries, she’ll be back.
But for how long? As Iowan Jon James reminded us. “Remember when trump said he would be appointing 3 Supreme Court judges? Yup I do. This will be the third. Boom!”
But the Beckners of Kentucky cautioned, “After the last bout of crazy town, who would even want to be nominated?”
And that could be a problem for any male justice on the shortlist. Perhaps Trump will be honing the field to women-only next go around.
