Scalia Bests Breyer for Senate Zingers, Asserts 'Every Banana Republic' Has a Bill of Rights
Antonin Scalia bested his colleague Stephen G. Breyer for the best quotes Wednesday when the two justices appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to talk about the role of judges under the Constitution.
USA Today, the New York Times, the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times reported on several of Scalia’s zingers, including these:
• “Every banana republic has a Bill of Rights.” What’s more important, Scalia said, is the separation of powers and independent courts to enforce the rights of individuals.
• “I’m hopeful that the living Constitution will die.” Scalia’s quote is a reference to Breyer’s view that the Constitution should be interpreted to adapt to modern life.
• Americans “should learn to love the gridlock” in Congress. Scalia said gridlock and disagreement make it difficult for Congress to pass an excess of legislation.
• “We sit there like nine sticks on chairs. There’s not a lot of dramatic motion.” Scalia offered the observation in opposing cameras in the Supreme Court. He argued that most people would see only 30-second sound bites of oral arguments that are not representative of the court’s work.
