I honor people, but I also honor institutions. For both of those reasons, I am headed to Washington, DC to pay my respects to Justice Ginsburg.
A Trip To DC To Say Goodbye to Justice Ginsburg
I published my reflections on the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last Saturday. I maintain that no matter your preferred jurisprudence, it is clear Ginsburg served her country with integrity and fought valiantly for her conception of liberty and justice for all. Any jurist who is elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court is a jurist that Americans should respect, for we honor the Constitutional institution that stands as an important check on the Executive and Legislative branch.
While Ginsburg’s funeral is private, her casket will be on display on the Lincoln Catafalque on the portico of the Supreme Court building through Thursday evening. I intend to file by as a gesture of gratitude for her service.
Before you think I’ve revealed my partisan leanings, I did the same thing for Justice Antonin Scalia:
And Justice William Rehnquist when I lived in the District in 2005:
Point is, I respect any justice who had made it this far. And I respect Justice Ginsburg. I look forward to returning to one of my favorite cities in the world.
Anyone else going to be in Washington this week?
I thought of doing the same but can’t travel at the moment. I’ll make it a point to travel to Arlington some day and pay my respects. Washington is indeed a fantastic city. During one visit I once woke up at 3 AM, went to the Lincoln Memorial, and had the whole site to myself. It was an incredibly emotional experience.
@ Matthew — Please stay at the Willard and say hi to Ali for me and the Queen!
“Any jurist who is elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court is a jurist that Americans should honor,”
So I should honor Roger Taney? The guy who said that African Americans weren’t citizens?
Richard Taney was nominated by Andrew Jackson and Jackson’s supporters formed the modern Democratic Party. Gene, lets give Democrats proper credit for their role in American history. As Biden once put it, if you were not declared a citizen and not prevented from ever becoming a citizen of the United States, then you are not black and persecuted by Democrats. Taney ‘s court also Democrat doubled down and declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, permitting slavery in all of the country’s territories. Maybe Michael Bloomberg (D) was just making amends when he paid the fines of thousands of felons in Florida (many black) to buy their vote in the current election. When is the Convicted Florida Felons for Biden campaign rally? As for Justice Ginsburg, rest in peace in Arlington with Lincoln (Section 31, Grave 13) and all his father’s fallen soldiers.
You do know that the Republican and DemocratIC parties basically swapped ideologies decades ago. The DemocratIC party of the 1800s is NOT the DemocratIC party of today.
Even worse, he said they weren’t people, they were property. I don’t honor that decision. I condemn it. I still honor the institution he served and his service to the nation, though deeply flawed.
Bravo, well put.
What a ‘mensch’
Nice reminiscence, Matthew. Justice Bader Ginsburg was a true national treasure. Wish I could. Safe journey.
So funny, I went to LA, your home. And you just flew to DC, mine. Have a blast, Matthew. The city is still reeling a bit from protests and Covid lockdowns but slowly showing life again. Nice that you are going to pay respects to a truly great woman.
I would suggest Fiola Mare on the waterfront in Georgetown for dinner. They have outdoor dining and exceptional precautions. The food is fantastic.
Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.
Is Matthew in the second photo? And he was a former clerk for Justice Scalia?
OMG, if so, he is a celebrity, a genius, a historical figure.
My feelings are that flying (mostly the part on the ground) is a hazard for Covid-19 and is something that I avoid even though I long to get back on a commercial jet, even a 737 or A320.
Exactly!
The horrors of flying a non essential “circuitous” routing to the memorial.
I look forward to a trip report in 14 days
For some reason, I thought that Judge Scalia was younger than he actually was – never realized he was almost 80.
Would love to make the quick trip to DC to pay respect. Timing sadly doesn’t work.
So I’ll just have to “Press F to pay respect”
You should pay your respects by voting for a non-dictator who is piece by piece destroying democracy, normality and people’s sense of freedom and security.
You know…someone who doesn’t stoke fear, anxiety, and violence.
You know… someone that actually cares for people, the environment and global peace.
You know… someone who sees truth honor and respect as values to cherish.
You know… someone who wants to put science in front of anti-science.
If you really cared about RBG’s legacy and life, you’d stay at home and donate your trip cost to the BIden campaign. A man that RBG respected and one who would finally end this 4 year nightmare of instability for the world.
Why don’t you save the $1,000 on airfare and hotel and donate that money to a cause you believe in? Could be conservative or liberal. The performative stuff may give you a rise and some blog content in a few months, but it’s not doing what you think it’s doing.
I won’t spend anything close to $1K and I’ll also be visiting dear family friends in Virginia.
Were you a clerk for Justice Scalia? Do you have any posts about that?
Tick tock, Matthew. I keep checking back for the answer to Scott’s question. You’re killin’ me with curiosity!
From your posting of a photo of the Late Sen. Robert Byrd, I take it you’re unaware of his past pursuits as a grand wizard in the klan.
I just happened to be there when he was there. I am well-aware of his “sheets” nickname. He was also repentant. I think we must forgive.
Repentant? You’re kidding, right? He filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He was 46 yrs old. You don’t just molt your skin at 47 and become a new person. I’m fairly certain that he codified his views into law using the democrat power apparatus. That’s why he ran for office on the democrat ticket in the first place. Who do you think elected him?
To everyone on here who thinks Matthew should have donated the money instead of traveling to pay his respects, you are all morons. Maybe we should all abstain from eating at restaurants so that we can donate the excess cash to the Democrats? Or to starving children in Africa? Get off your high horse.
Mathew, at 1130am tomorrow look up to see 70 vintage WW2 aircraft fly up the Mall to honor 75th End of WW2,,,,veterans gathering at WW2 Memorial,,,see Arsenal of Democracy Website for details,,,,,we need to honor the Greatest Generation in this time of chaos,,,,thank you all Vets for your service,,,,,,and for those of us who can’t attend,,,,webcast coverage begins one hour earlier…….
Gee, you’re so virtuous. She might of done a lot for women’s rights but her preference for the S African Constitution, age of consent for sex lowered to 12 years old and the millions of baby’s aborted on her watch (many female and disproportionately black) makes her evil in my book.
Anyone hearing that Justice Ginsberg wanted to lower the age of consent to 12 years should immediately be suspicious of the source of that information since it sounds so ridiculous, If you had bothered to do a simple Google search you would have found the origin of this false story. You may have valid reasons for differing with her opinions but if you begin you argument with obvious falsehoods you loose credibility and appear ignorant.
@stc – let me guess, you totally believe Q is a thing too, right?
Andy if what u said was true you would be voting for President Trump…. as that is what the words you sD RING TRUE!!
SO GREAT GOING TO rbg AT THE CAPITOL ..DID U GO TO PAY RESPECTS TO GEORGE H W BUSH???
Yes, I did:
https://liveandletsfly.com/george-hw-bush-houston-funeral-trip/
Regarding your partisan leaning, you realize it is all public information and it is easy to find your party registration in less than 5 minutes
That was 16 years ago…don’t make assumptions.
Whoa, Matthew! Is that you in the second photo? I didn’t know you clerked for Scalia. That’s damn impressive. The first time I went to DC for one of these events was when Dwight D. Eisenhower was lying in state in the US Capitol. It was my first solo road trip after getting a driver license and I was terrified. Very moving and emotional. Bless you for showing respect for RBG.