Supreme Court Guilty of Dereliction of Duty

In sports, a tie is said to be like kissing your sister.

The Supreme Court decision Masterpiece Bakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case where a baker was punished for refusing to make a cake for a gay wedding, was something like that. It was unrewarding for both sides.

The 7-2 decision ruled in favor of the baker, saying the state commission did not treat him fairly when it disparaged his religious beliefs. Also, the Court found the commission showed an obvious bias against this baker because it had upheld the right of other bakers to refuse to bake cakes with anti-gay themes. Unfortunately, the Court did not rule on the underlying issues in this case. Continue reading “Supreme Court Guilty of Dereliction of Duty” →

Nuclear Option? Call It Constitutional Option

“Elections have consequences.” (Barack Obama, 2009)

Indeed they do and the most important factor to consider in electing a president of the United States is what kind of justices will he or she appoint to the Supreme Court? While a president can serve for a mere eight years, a Supreme Court justice holds that job for life (or as long as he or she can sit on the bench without nodding off).

Will the high court consist of justices who will faithfully decide cases based on the Constitution alone (preferred by conservative Republicans) or should the high court be made up of justices who see the Constitution as a “living instrument” that can be changed on a whim (preferred by liberal Democrats)? Continue reading “Nuclear Option? Call It Constitutional Option” →

Flynn’s Dismissal Highlights the Difference Between Obama and Trump

Donald Trump lost a valuable member of his team when Michael Flynn was forced to fall on his sword and resign as his national security advisor. Flynn’s crime had nothing to do with the Russians, but his failure to tell the truth about his December conversation with Sergey Kislyak.

One can appreciate Flynn’s hesitancy to tell (then) Vice-president Elect Mike Pence that he had discussed the sanctions Obama had recently imposed on Russia with the Kremlin Ambassador. It wasn’t illegal. In fact, it was to be expected that Flynn would be laying the groundwork for what lies ahead. However, in light of all the accusations about Russia’s attempt to skew our election in favor of Trump, Flynn probably wanted to avoid throwing unnecessary fuel on that media-fanned fire.

Does anyone remember that cosy little conversation Barack Obama had in March of 2012 with outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the global nuclear security summit in Seoul, South Korea? Obama was caught on tape asking Medvedev to ask his successor, Vladimir Putin, to give hims “space” until after the November election when he would have more flexibility to deal with thorny issues like missile defense. Continue reading “Flynn’s Dismissal Highlights the Difference Between Obama and Trump” →

Trump as the Nation’s CEO

For the first time in well over a decade there is optimism in the air. The stock market has reached new highs. The dollar has regained its strength. Even the timid Federal Reserve finally appears ready to raise interest rates.

While the latter most certainly will have a short-term negative effect on the stock market, most Americans are beginning to feel that there is a high probability they will be better off than they have been in quite some time. And this optimism extends well beyond the economy.

The majority now feel that law and order will be restored at our borders, in our cities and throughout our broken judiciary. We also feel that our nation will regain its self-respect. We expect the U.S. military to be rebuilt and that, once again, we will have peace through strength. Continue reading “Trump as the Nation’s CEO” →

Trump Ties Himself in Knots on “60 Minutes”

In the third presidential debate I found myself screaming at Donald Trump when he addressed Chris Wallace’s questions regarding his Supreme Court appointments.

Trump, I assumed, fell into the litmus test trap when he answered Wallace’s first question on gun rights. Trump said, “We are going to appoint justices that will feel very strongly about the Second Amendment.”

Trump threw out a another litmus test when Wallace then asked, “Do you want the court, including the justices that you will name, to overturn Roe v. Wade, which includes, in fact, states a woman’s right to abortion?” Continue reading “Trump Ties Himself in Knots on “60 Minutes”” →

Supremes Move Back Alley to Main Street

I remember it as though it were yesterday. I developed a fever and stomach cramps. Assuming it was the flu, I went to bed to sleep it off. When my husband came home and found me with a temperature of over 103 degrees, he insisted on taking me to the doctor despite my objections.

Upon examination, my doctor determined I had a dangerous infection and left a waiting room full of patients to accompany us to the hospital while his staff called ahead. Once there, I was immediately placed in a room, where my own doctor ran tests and administered emergency treatment himself without waiting for the hospital staff to determine my condition or be brought up to speed. I later learned that these measures likely saved my life. Continue reading “Supremes Move Back Alley to Main Street” →

McConnell’s Groundhog Day

On Saturday, just after the nation learned that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had died, Senator Mitch McConnell opened his mouth and created a vacuum.

In the days that followed, volumes of words have been spoken and written about the majority leader’s short statement regarding the appropriate time to choose an individual to fill Scalia’s seat on the high court. Some praised his resolve. Others denounced him for trying to control the process set forth in the Constitution.

It has been a big waste of airtime and newsprint. In short, the majority leader said nothing of substance. He is full of so much hot air, we could package him and replace the National Helium Reserve. Then he might serve a useful purpose. Continue reading “McConnell’s Groundhog Day” →