Observations: “By being the deciding vote on so many issues, [Justice Anthony] Kennedy in effect became the Court itself, making him the de facto incarnation of the judicial branch, the way the president is the physical personification of the executive branch. This became all the more problematic because Kennedy’s philosophy of judicial review all too often took the form of a deep personal inventory of his feelings rather than of Constitution’s text. Thus, Kennedy’s decision not to live forever — or at least until a Democratic appointee could replace the Reagan-appointed justice — was seen as a personal betrayal, because the political has become so personal for so many.” —Jonah Goldberg

Demo-gogues: “The menacing truth is that we have to face a reality coming at us where we might lose some of the precious ideals of our country. And I stand here to say, ‘This will not happen without a fight.’” —Sen. Cory Booker

Bad precedent: “I view Roe v. Wade as being settled law. It’s clearly precedent and I always look for judges who respect precedent.” —Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (We suppose that means she’d have been in favor of the infamous Dred Scott “precedent.”)

Apples and oranges: “If Republicans were consistent they would wait to consider Justice Kennedy’s successor until after the midterm elections. … Why should a midterm election by any less important than a presidential election? Leader McConnell is simply engaging in hypocrisy.” —Chuck Schumer

Non Compos Mentis: “As a woman, I think you’re trying to take my rights away. … If you take my right away from me, to judge what I do for my family and my body, I got a little problem with that. You got a problem. You don’t want people to take your guns? Get out of my behind! Get out of my vagina! Get out!” —constitutional scholar Whoopi Goldberg

Braying Jackass: “[Justice Kennedy’s leaving] creates an opportunity for those who don’t believe in our Constitution to lock in an anti-American majority for a long time to come."—Sen. Jeff Merkley

That escalated quickly: "I believe that [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] has become a deportation force. … I believe [we] should get rid of it, start over, reimagine it and build something that actually works.” —Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

And last… “Maybe if government didn’t interfere so much in our lives, every Supreme Court decision wouldn’t be such a life-or-death deal.” —Jon Gabriel