So in the past week, the Supreme Court has validated the limited use of race as a factor in college admissions, and today they struck down a ban on homosexual acts (and also, it seems, some heterosexual sodomy laws).

Now, I don't agree with the first decision, but I do agree with the second. But here's what I don't get...isn't this the same Supreme Court that was supposedly so conservative it helped George Bush steal the election in 2000?

Validating Affirmative Action and striking down bans on homosexual acts don't seem in line with the way this court was portrayed after the 2000 election decision.

So what gives? Are they lackeys for the Republicans, or aren't they?