I know you were expecting some more scintillating discussion about the Decline and Fall of Duke University, but tonight's news is about another Duke Disaster in the making . . . and it's equally disturbing. Tonight's news is about a rightwing wacko named Rusty Duke who intends to buy his way into power as the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. If you are a person who values integrity, competence and the common good, this particular piece of news should scare the hell out of you. But don't take my word for it, just read his own website:

Judge Rusty Duke is a conservative Republican.

So much for trying to keep partisanship out of the judiciary.

Judge Rusty Duke is a strict constructionist in the tradition of U.S. Supreme Court justices Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, John Roberts and now Samuel Alito.

That is just too, too rich. Rusty's already going ga-ga over ScAlito, trying to bask in the halo of a man nominated by arguably the Worst President Ever.

Judge Rusty Duke opposes liberal judicial activism that seeks to change social policy by judicial interpretation.

TRANSLATION: I'm all in favor of reactionary judicial activism that seeks to change social policy in favor of whites and all my rich friends by judicial interpretation.

Judge Rusty Duke will work to increase legislative funding of the court system, make the courts more efficient and expand family and drug treatment courts.

The NC Supreme Court has been a joke under the watchful eye of Republican justices. Not long ago, the Court would weigh in with opinions on 100 or more cases per year. Under Republican leadership, that number has plummeted to 30 or fewer. Republicans like Rusty Duke hate public service, of course, so why should we expect them to be good at it?

Judge Rusty Duke comes from a rural eastern North Carolina family and will bring North Carolina values to the Supreme Court.

TRANSLATION: Rusty Duke is a pro-business, anti-environment, good old boy who could care less about the common good.

Married for 33 years with three children, Judge Rusty Duke knows firsthand the stresses modern families face - and believes the traditional family is the foundation of our culture.

TRANSLATION: Don't be bringing any of your damn homos into Rusty's court.

To make matters worse, the Dukester is not just a shill for Big Bidness, he's a rich shill who's foregoing public financing -- so he can personally create havoc in our state's judicial system. Remind you of anyone? I'm thinking he was separated at birth from Katherine 'The Witch' Harris in Florida? Gotta love it when rich wingnuts blow their family fortunes to satisfy their egos!