Legacy

There is a large measure of legitimacy to the popular image of conservatives wandering around in the wilderness searching for the “next Reagan” and it need not be that way. Its like folkies searching for the “next Dylan” after he went electric. It’s over, it’s done with, it was a moment in time – time to move on, folks (what were conservatives looking for before Reagan? Well, they were looking to Barry Goldwater not a divorced, B-movie Hollywood actor. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?). Besides, it’s a glass-half-empty view of things when you look at one particular aspect of his legacy.

The Reagan Revolution lives on in the judges Reagan appointed to the appellate benches. Of the 83 judges he appointed, 66 still hear cases today and they are at the height of their power as they have become heavyweights whose opinions are highly sought-after in legal circles. They have also been directly responsible for the Supreme Court weighing in on the 2nd Amendment as it applies to the D.C. hand gun ban as well as having a hand in restrictions on partial-birth abortion and affirmative action.

According to USA Today article, Bill Clinton did not want to risk political capital on judgeship appointments so the Reagan legacy which was continued to a degree under the current Administration was not countered.

For their parts, McCain has promised to appoint conservative judges in the vein of John Roberts while both Obama and Hillary Clinton have promised more liberal judges.

The lesson here is clear: the appointments made at the time have ramifications both legal and societal many years after and this next election will similarly shape the national landscape for many years to come.