Saturday, April 30, 2016

THE HASTERT RULE

Now that the originator, of one of the greatest factors in tying the Federal Government into knots, is serving jail time, for a felony, isn't it time to retire his legislative rule? 

Sunday, April 24, 2016

THE SUPREME COURT AND THE THEORY OF THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE

During the Bush Administration, there were four advocates for the strong Unitary Executive theory on the Supreme Court, namely Justices Scalia, Roberts, Alito and Thomas.  They advocated for broad powers for the President, especially in time of war, within the Executive Branch.  Bush, indeed, depended on this theory when he issued all those signing statements as well as the legality of contravening written U,S. law with allowing torture as an instrument of the U.S. Government.


Despite the fact that Executive Orders,on immigration issues, having gone unchallenged during the Administrations of Ronald Reagan and  both Bushes,  a lawsuit challenging the right of Obama to issue and Executive Order, on immigration, is pending resolution.  

The outcome of that case may also determine whether only white Presidents may authorize torture or  offer Executive leniency to migrants.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

BI-POLAR FOREIGN POLICY

Has anyone noticed that at the same time Republicans are strongly criticizing Hillary Clinton for initiating a policy, to prevent genocide, in Libya, which ultimately led to a regime change, and which the U.S. should not be engaged in doing, they are excoriating Pres. Obama for not having removed Assad in Syria which has led to massacre of thousands of civilians and, consequently a refugee crisis in the Mediterranean area?  The Republicans assure us that, had both situations been reversed, with Gaddafi staying and Assad removed, with similar consequences, their criticism would have been consistent, showing their  even handed approach to the policies of the Obama Administration.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

LEARNING TO THINK "POLITICIAN"

To those who might be thinking that those Senators, who loathe Ted Cruz, are now eating crow because they are now endorsing him for Republican Presidential candidate, time to think again.  They are shooting for a twofer.  By stopping Trump and having a contested Convention, they will be working hard for neither Trump or Cruz to be on the ballot.  Politicians, by virtue of their profession, often think differently than you or I.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT

After all those years of running as an Independent, by citing, as a quotation, remarks that Hillary never said, Bernie may have had a mental lapse as to which political party he was competing for the nomination.  It is the Republican party which awards points for false citations.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

GROUNDS FOR STAYING THE COURSE?

Some of the national leaders, who are caught up in the Panama Papers scandal, having opened up dummy corporations, in Panama, to receive funds derived from bribes and kickbacks, are refusing to resign on grounds that to do so would impugn the integrity of the office they hold.  Who knew?

CAMPAIGN RHETORIC

After listening, for endless hours, to campaign rhetoric, I have little doubt that one day Homo Sapiens, on this planet, will be replaced by an intelligent species.