Lithwick calls "The Pinocchio Project," Court transforms "a corporation into a real

[katty]

live boy"

more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/21/the-supreme-courts-citize_n_432127.html

by Jason Linkins

If you're looking for a concise way of capturing today's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, how about: "We are all royally, hopelessly fucked for the rest of recorded time"? It's coarse, I know, but it really does the trick.

As you may have heard, in a 5-4 decision, the SCOTUS essentially went at the teeth of McCain-Feingold reform with hammer and tongs, leaving America in a "David After Dentist" state, wailing, "What's happening? Is this going to be forever?" Except that its not the anesthetic talking -- it's the very real, excruciating pain.

In one swoop, the court did away with nearly everything in federal campaign finance law, allowing corporations free reign to inject as much money as they jolly well please into federal campaigns. The decision completes what Slate's Dahlia Lithwick calls "The Pinocchio Project," in which the Court transforms "a corporation into a real live boy,"

[aquart]

1. What was the basis for the decision? What was the dissent?

And who were the Filthy Five THIS time?

[katty]

2. i'd certainly like read all the opinions!

[wtbymark]

3. the syllabus and all opinions

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/08-205.ZS.html

on edit: the Supreme Court's PDF won't load (hmmmmm)

[katty]

5. thanks for this!

[Zoeisright]

6. Same Filthy Five as always.

Scalia, the mob boss
His boy Thomas
Kennedy, that spineless wimp
Lying Roberts
Lying Alito

[lame54]

4. but we'll be the ones in the salt mines

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, katty.