Political Theatre category archive
Originalist Sin 0
Joe Patrice explores the con that is “Constitutional Originalism.” A snippet (emphasis added):
It (originalism–ed.) has always been a lie of course, but it’s a pretty successful one.
The conservatives on the Court have all but given up the facade of Originalism, granting cert in a gay rights case signaling an intent to protect Catholic Social Services who got cut off by the Philadelphia adoption program for refusing to place children with same-sex couples. The basis for the looming decision, previewed over the last several years by Supreme Court Oracle Justice Alito, is that religious freedom requires government respect the religious freedom to violate discrimination laws. The only problem with this plan is that the conservatives have already ruled that the “Originalist” read of religious freedom is the exact opposite. Apparently there are more different “Originals” in the First Amendment than there are in Ray’s Pizza establishments.
All the News that Fits 0
Will Bunch talks about the latest (!) white supremacist terror attack, this one in Germany, and laments the failure of the press to give it the coverage it deserves. A nugget:
That’s disgraceful — and arguably racist.
(snip)
It’s hard not to believe that — with our ADD-addled ability to focus only on the latest outrage of the last hour — we are missing the most alarming and important trend of the last decade. That would be the rise of violent, brownshirt-style, right-wing global extremism and the concurrent era of authoritarian-style rulers on every continent, whose angry rhetoric toward migrants, ethnic minorities or women inspires these terrorists. The world’s indifferent response to similar trends in the 1930s led to global conflagration in the 1940s. Are we repeating those mistakes in the 2020s as we fail to connect the dots?
Methinks he is onto something. We have forgotten the lessons of World War II.
I am not sanguine.
Judging Amy 0
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has had enough of Roger Stone’s guff.
Reboot(strap) 0
Nicholas Kristoff marvels at how a metaphor for futility became a prescription for policy. Here’s a bit; the full piece is at the link.
Yet this phrase has become part of America’s mythology and the centerpiece of our approach to help those left behind: We harangue them to lift themselves up by the bootstraps.
The Rule of Lawless, Newspeak Dept. 0
A former Federal prosecutor comments on the pardon of Rob Blagojevich. A snippet:
Elsewhere, Leonard Pitts, Jr., has a somewhat different interpretation, arguing that we are not, indeed, living in “post-fact America,” but rather in “post-integrity America.”
Experiments fail, even noble ones.
Lowering the Barr Boom
0
At the Idaho State Journal, retired professor Leonard Hitchcock fears that the rule of law is endangered. Here’s a bit from his conclusion; follow the link for his reasoning.
Dialectic, Reprise 0
Here’s another take on “socially liberal, fiscal conservative.”
Dialectic 0
In the context of discussing Michael Bloomberg’s presidential aspirations, Werner Herzog’s Bear explores the internal contradictions posed by this statement:
I am socially liberal but fiscally conservative.
Here’s the nub; follow the link for more.
Lessons Learned 0
Susan Collins simpering sycophant extraordinaire, said that Trump has learned his lesson.
Yes, indeedy-do, he most certainly has.
Trickle-Down Jurisimprudence 0
No one can say that this was unpresidented (details at the link).
The surprising result? A 13-month sentence of home detention for Andrey Kim, who pleaded guilty in a massive mortgage fraud case that began in 2006 and is estimated to have cost banks more than $16 million.
