U. S. Supreme Court: No "bong hits" for students; Clean water first; Have faith; and, Run those issue ads.

In a few published opinions today, the U. S. Supreme Court has decided (5 to 4) as I predicted here in the "Bong hits for Jesus" case, Morse v. Frederick, 551 U. S. _ (2007), 06-278, that schools may constitutionally limit students' free speech rights that can reasonably be interpreted to advocate drug use (an illegal activity).

In another case, National association of Home Builders, Et Al V. Defenders of Wildlife, Et Al, 551 U. S. _, 06-340, the Court sided (5 to 4) with developers and the Bush administration in a dispute with environmentalists over protecting endangered species, ruling that the clean water law trumps the endangered species law when the EPA hands authority to a state to issue water pollution permits to land developers.

In yet another 5 to 4 decision case, Hein, Et Al v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., the Court ruled that ordinary taxpayers cannot challenge a White House initiative that helps religious charities get a share of federal money.

Continuing its 5 to 4 decision trend, the Court ruled in the so called issue ad case, Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., 551 U. S. _ (2007), 06-969, that corporate- and union-funded television issue ads -- issue ads are ads that cast candidates in positive or negative lights while stopping short of explicitly calling for their election or defeat -- that air close to elections were proper. The ruling upheld a Wisconsin Appeals Court decision that an anti-abortion group should have been allowed to air ads during the final two months before the 2004 elections, dealt a SEVERE blow to the McCain/Feingold campaign finance law, and cast SERIOUS doubt on the issue ad's prohibition's constitutionality.

All these 5 to 4 decisions suggest a huge ideological rift widening amongst SCOTUS members.