Constitution – Page 2

The BS on Reconciliation

March 8, 2010March 8, 2010 John E. J. Dionne, Healthcare Reform, Meet the Press, Orrin Hatch, Procedure, Reconciliation, Religion

Below is a youtube of a segment from Meet The Press this past Sunday in which E. J. Dionne calls out Sen. Orrin Hatch for the Republican’s continuing bullshit about the use of reconciliation to pass things based on a simple majority vote in the Senate. We need to be discussing policy and health insurance reform (or elimination), but instead, all the Republicans can come up with to try to “win” is to run around like Chicken Little complaining that the sky will fall if some Senate procedure is “out-procedured.”

Constitution Featured Gay Issues Politics Society

Why Free Speech Isn’t Private Speech

July 31, 2009February 2, 2010 John Benjamin Settle, Domestic Partnerships, free speech, Larry Stickney, petitions, Public Expressions, R-71, Restraining Order, TRO, Washington State

Washington State recently enacted a domestic partnership registry and granted most of the same rights held by married people to domestic partners. Needless to say, the wingnut fringe of the Republican party came unglued, and launched a petition effort to repeal the law. The organization sponsoring the drive has sought and received a temporary restraining order to keep the names of the petition signers secret.

Constitution Featured General Politics

And To The Republic…One Nation?

July 4, 2009July 15, 2009 John 4th of July, america, America the Beautiful, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Independance Day, July 4th, National Anthem, Ray Charles, Star Spangled Banner

One can’t be as opinionated as I, and not post a message on Independence Day. As I have stated before, I remain concerned about the condition of our Republic. We no longer seem to be one nation…we have devolved into red and blue states, with the extreme right and left pulling the center apart. We’ve become a nation of “haves” and “have nots” We have lost touch with that primary Constitutional principle of “the common good.”

Congress Constitution Crime Featured Politics Presidency Society War

Is Torture Ever Right?

May 25, 2009May 28, 2009 John Dick Cheney, FBI, Geneva conventions, george bush, John Adams, Newt Gingrich, Rule of Law, Soufan, Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Paine, torture

I continue to be baffled by the arguments in favor of torture, and the justifications that are made for America’s use of torture. I have heard one justification after another, and each falls with daily revelations of what really happened. Most disturbing though is a recent Pew Survey finding that the more people attend church, the more accepting they are of these torture justifications. That, my friends, causes me crisis of faith. I fear for what is to become of us as a people and a Republic.

Constitution Crime Featured Politics Presidency Society War

Lessons That Came At Too Painful A Cost

February 27, 2009 John Bush, Chenney, rendition, torture, War crimes

The Youtube clip includes a statement from Senator Leahy about his proposal to have a commission look into the possible crimes of the Bush Administration. It continues with a statement by Senator Whitehouse. Whitehouse, as a member of both the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees is in a position to have some idea of what has gone on in regards to our torture and rendition activities. In light of a stern and direct warning that when the details of what Amerikkah did under the Bush Administration comes out, it’s not going to be pretty, I am set back on my heels.