Ever heard of a Super Congress? Well, hang onto your hats, because apparently this is the latest idea to navigate past all the obstacles and get a budget deal in Washington. Of course, it navigates right past the Constitution too, but hey, they’ve got to get a deal done, right? This is how today’s Huffington … Continue reading ‘Super Congress’? How is this legal?
In the wake of 9/11, Congress took advantage of a fearful public and a rare moment of national unity to pass the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, or USA PATRIOT Act. The legislation gave unprecedented and unchecked power to the president and cavalierly suspended many … Continue reading The unpatriotic Patriot Act
The Supreme Court today upheld an Arizona state law that would penalize businesses hiring illegal immigrants. The case was Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting. Frankly, I’m really surprised. There’s been so much talk about Arizona’s immigration-related laws (particularly SB 1070) being unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is the federal government’s responsibility, not the states’. Today’s ruling … Continue reading A surprisingly logical Supreme Court decision
I’ve already ranted about the TSA’s invasive groping and scanning in the name of national security, so I won’t launch into that again. However, I do want to lift my glass to the New Hampshire legislature for proposing a law that would criminalize such behavior. As noted in its introductory text, the NH bill (HB628-FN) … Continue reading TSA searches lack probable cause
Yesterday in Tucson, Ariz., Jared Lee Loughner shot 20 people, killing 6. His apparent target was US Representative Gabriel Giffords (D-AZ), who was critically wounded and remains in intensive care. Yet as horrifying as the shooting was, we cannot call it surprising. The rhetoric of hate and violence in our country has risen to unprecedented … Continue reading Free speech, not irresponsible speech
The following appeared in a Christian Science Monitor story about two hours ago: The Fourth Circuit’s decision has profound repercussions. … It grants the executive discretion to displace the constitutional protections of the criminal justice system, including the right to speedy presentment, confrontation, and trial by jury, merely by alleging a connection to possible terrorist … Continue reading Retrieving our Constitution
