Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Random
Good news on the southern border:
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed an environmental waiver that expedites the Border Patrol's plans to fill in canyons and erect additional fencing along the final 3 1/2 miles of the border before it meets the Pacific Ocean.
Good work, Chertoff! Finally, after 4 years of this war, the Bushies may be starting to understand that defending HUMANS matters more than defending tweety-birds and preserving miasmal swamps.
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The Roberts hearing is unusual in several ways. Senators of the Party of Treason are, of course, opposing civilization as usual. But they're doing it without throwing any of their usual Leninist tantrums. No pubic hairs, no marijuana. Just questions about law and judicial practice, which is exactly what such hearings should cover. And the Republicans have been remarkably tough and clear. Brownback and Coburn's questions will stand for a long time as fine little pieces of pro-Constitution rhetoric, even though Judge Mannequin never answered any of them. Makes me proud of my old home states.
I'm still not convinced that Mannequin is not another Souter. I really wanted to believe that Bush Junior was different from Bush Senior. Really hoped that would be the case....
Mannequin made one good point in response to Brownback's questions, though. Many of these bad court decisions can easily be undone by Congress, if it really wanted to solve problems. And though he didn't say this, Congress can prevent future bad decisions by including a clause in every new law, removing this law from the jurisdiction of federal courts. They have in fact included the clause in a few laws recently, so it's not an alien idea; just needs to be applied universally.
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Update: After hearing Rush's soundbytes of Roberts answering Town Drunk Teddy, I no longer have any twinges. In those answers, Roberts left no doubt that he understands the Constitution accurately. I don't have enough spare blood pressure to spend actual time listening to Kennedy, so it's good that somebody like Rush is willing to wade through the shit and find the pony. ¶ 7:11 PM
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed an environmental waiver that expedites the Border Patrol's plans to fill in canyons and erect additional fencing along the final 3 1/2 miles of the border before it meets the Pacific Ocean.
Good work, Chertoff! Finally, after 4 years of this war, the Bushies may be starting to understand that defending HUMANS matters more than defending tweety-birds and preserving miasmal swamps.
-----
The Roberts hearing is unusual in several ways. Senators of the Party of Treason are, of course, opposing civilization as usual. But they're doing it without throwing any of their usual Leninist tantrums. No pubic hairs, no marijuana. Just questions about law and judicial practice, which is exactly what such hearings should cover. And the Republicans have been remarkably tough and clear. Brownback and Coburn's questions will stand for a long time as fine little pieces of pro-Constitution rhetoric, even though Judge Mannequin never answered any of them. Makes me proud of my old home states.
I'm still not convinced that Mannequin is not another Souter. I really wanted to believe that Bush Junior was different from Bush Senior. Really hoped that would be the case....
Mannequin made one good point in response to Brownback's questions, though. Many of these bad court decisions can easily be undone by Congress, if it really wanted to solve problems. And though he didn't say this, Congress can prevent future bad decisions by including a clause in every new law, removing this law from the jurisdiction of federal courts. They have in fact included the clause in a few laws recently, so it's not an alien idea; just needs to be applied universally.
-----
Update: After hearing Rush's soundbytes of Roberts answering Town Drunk Teddy, I no longer have any twinges. In those answers, Roberts left no doubt that he understands the Constitution accurately. I don't have enough spare blood pressure to spend actual time listening to Kennedy, so it's good that somebody like Rush is willing to wade through the shit and find the pony. ¶ 7:11 PM
