Hugging Congressman Grayson on the Supreme Court Steps

We look happy, but we weren't. Just after the SCOTUS ruling on Thursday, January 21

The Supreme Court held a rare Thursday session this morning to decide the outcome of Citizens United v.  FEC. This was out of the blue.  I was set on going to the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the findings from Ft. Hood, but the Thursday court session trumped that.

If it would have been cool for the gallery to gasp we all would have when the majority opinion was read.  Looks like it will be all out spending allowed for unions and corporations. And, hold on to your hats folks, there will be even more political ads this mid-term election season.

This is clearly a much longer story.  It is being reported all over the place. I can only tell you this was a great experience, regardless of the true game changing decision handed down.

Freshman Congressman, Alan – outspoken new guy from Florida - Grayson(D) was there.  Mitch McConnell (R), who has long supported unregulated spending, was there.  (A previous case brought by McConnell was referenced in the SC’s ruling today).

Reading the court’s decision and dissent only took 30 minutes, began and ended promptly and felt a bit like sitting through church, our seats, pews.

I was surrounded by a gaggle of 12 year old Yale Law Students who were just cute as could be.  Seems that Judge Thomas had a long night last night as he could barely keep his eyes open.  Maybe if he hadn’t been almost fully reclined in his chair he wouldn’t have been oh, so sleepy.

Exiting the courtroom through the long red and gold fringed floor to ceiling curtains, I shared an excited glance with one of the Yale kids, she and I giggled to each other – we just witness history!  - our telepathic communication.

My fantasy was short lived.  Once I hit the regal front steps to the courthouse, it just occurred to me what had happened.  Campaign finance reform was kaput.

I stood on the steps.  Congressman Grayson came out.  I went up to him and thanked him for what he was doing, thanked him for speaking his mind from the chamber floor.  He hugged me.

I asked for a picture with him.  He said yes, let’s do that.

I said it kinda sucked in there didn’t it? He sort of rolled his eyes and said too bad I was the only democrat in there. Speaks volumes.

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