“In my view today’s opinion recognizes a benevolent compassion that the law does not place it within our power to impose.”

So says Justice Scalia, in his dissent from today’s Supreme Court decision allowing disabled golfer Casey Martin to ride in a golf cart between shots. (Summary here.) Regardless of the merits of the decision — which I haven’t read yet — this first sentence of Scalia’s dissent pretty much sums up everything that’s wrong with the man. It’s too bad, because the man’s a brilliant thinker and writer. In fact, sometimes I find myself very tempted by his arguments, because they usually have a cold and internally consistent logic. It’s just that he lacks a heart.

Yet even though I usually disagree with him, his opinions are witty and incisive, although sometimes to the point of being caustic. They’re usually enjoyable reads, whether or not you agree with what he’s saying.