It looks as though the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing the famous Newdow case, involving the constitutionality of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. The High Court's acceptance of the case for review takes the spotlight off Judge Ted Goodwin of the Ninth Circuit, who wrote the controversial Court of Appeals opinion and for whom I once was a law clerk. (Thanks to Howard Bashman of How Appealing for the link.)
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who has already made some fairly heated public remarks about the case, has now had to recuse himself on account of it. Doubtlessly he will receive praise for that decision, but as a taxpayer I'm not pleased. We ought to dock his pay. He's supposed to keep silent about pending cases and then rule on them, not make speeches about them and then have to sit them out.
The rest of the Supremes may dodge the First Amendment issue if they decide that the plaintiff in the case does not have standing to sue. The court could decide that he's a noncustodial parent, without the right to challenge what happens to his child at school. That's a hot issue that's likely to get more public attention as the case approaches decision by the justices.
Comments (1)
If we are going to start docking judge's pay for not doing their job, most Federal judge's would go hungry. Very few of them remember that little Separation of Powers doctrine. Since about the Warren court they have been willing to make laws more often then rule on them.
This has caused a good number of people who lose in a democratic setting (elections and legislative votes) to run to the courts for a judicial fiat. It is much easier to convince 1, 2 of 3, or 5 or 9 people of your point of view then 51% of the electorate. It also fosters the idea that the Plaintiff is morally superior to the un-educated ignorant electorate, and the enlightened judge will set things right.
We are at the point that we either need a "Not Withstanding" amendment to the Constitution (i.e. add a check to Judiciary power. See Canada’s constitution) or start impeaching people for ignoring that we have 3 branches of government.
I remind people that Marbury v Madison was a Separation of Powers case. Back then the Court felt that the Constitution limited its power and it wasn’t willing to overstep that power, even when invited to do so by Congress.
We really are on the same road that as Canada, but they are much further down that road. In Canada, the legislature was no will or impetus anymore. Canada has a 1 party system (like the old Soviet Union) and the legislature is secure in their jobs. Despite that fact that Canada has a “Not Withstanding” clause, they basically allow the courts to legislate. That is how they got gay marriage, convicts having the right to vote, etc. Every year Canadians get 1-3 rulings that change their way of life and rights and Canadians do not get to vote on that. Whether you agree with the court’s moral decisions or not (and some I do and some I don’t), it is not the purview of the judiciary to take laws and shove them down the citizen’s throats. The court’s in the US (or Canada) aren’t elected.
Alright comes the part were I make the obligatory statement of how I believe in all the liberal causes. Because if you don’t make this kind of statement people don’t have to address your argument, they can just call you a “racist,” “bigot”, “narrow minded”, or “intolerant” and end the argument. Demonizing your opponent is a great way to win an argument and suppress free speech.
Ok, here goes ...
I am pro-abortion. I am even pro-gay marriage. (But, we need to designate one of them as the “husband” so we know who to screw over in a divorce. Actually, I’d like to do away with marriage (leave it to the church) and just have the state recognize “domestic partnerships” with capital accounts, no remuneration for services, and informational tax returns, etc.) I am even atheist. I mean I hate God as much as the next right-thinking Democrat does. I just don’t believe we should be intolerant to those who want to believe in God.
The “ends” may be fine, but the “let us get a judicial fiat and win by any means necessary” idea that has taken hold in Western society should end. And, the idea that we’re pro-democracy but other laws should come from some un-elected official, should end too. (Although the EU constitution seems to formalize that idea.)
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 21
At this date last year: 52
Total run in 2012: 129
In 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (1)
If we are going to start docking judge's pay for not doing their job, most Federal judge's would go hungry. Very few of them remember that little Separation of Powers doctrine. Since about the Warren court they have been willing to make laws more often then rule on them.
This has caused a good number of people who lose in a democratic setting (elections and legislative votes) to run to the courts for a judicial fiat. It is much easier to convince 1, 2 of 3, or 5 or 9 people of your point of view then 51% of the electorate. It also fosters the idea that the Plaintiff is morally superior to the un-educated ignorant electorate, and the enlightened judge will set things right.
We are at the point that we either need a "Not Withstanding" amendment to the Constitution (i.e. add a check to Judiciary power. See Canada’s constitution) or start impeaching people for ignoring that we have 3 branches of government.
I remind people that Marbury v Madison was a Separation of Powers case. Back then the Court felt that the Constitution limited its power and it wasn’t willing to overstep that power, even when invited to do so by Congress.
We really are on the same road that as Canada, but they are much further down that road. In Canada, the legislature was no will or impetus anymore. Canada has a 1 party system (like the old Soviet Union) and the legislature is secure in their jobs. Despite that fact that Canada has a “Not Withstanding” clause, they basically allow the courts to legislate. That is how they got gay marriage, convicts having the right to vote, etc. Every year Canadians get 1-3 rulings that change their way of life and rights and Canadians do not get to vote on that. Whether you agree with the court’s moral decisions or not (and some I do and some I don’t), it is not the purview of the judiciary to take laws and shove them down the citizen’s throats. The court’s in the US (or Canada) aren’t elected.
Alright comes the part were I make the obligatory statement of how I believe in all the liberal causes. Because if you don’t make this kind of statement people don’t have to address your argument, they can just call you a “racist,” “bigot”, “narrow minded”, or “intolerant” and end the argument. Demonizing your opponent is a great way to win an argument and suppress free speech.
Ok, here goes ...
I am pro-abortion. I am even pro-gay marriage. (But, we need to designate one of them as the “husband” so we know who to screw over in a divorce. Actually, I’d like to do away with marriage (leave it to the church) and just have the state recognize “domestic partnerships” with capital accounts, no remuneration for services, and informational tax returns, etc.) I am even atheist. I mean I hate God as much as the next right-thinking Democrat does. I just don’t believe we should be intolerant to those who want to believe in God.
The “ends” may be fine, but the “let us get a judicial fiat and win by any means necessary” idea that has taken hold in Western society should end. And, the idea that we’re pro-democracy but other laws should come from some un-elected official, should end too. (Although the EU constitution seems to formalize that idea.)
Posted by Dev | October 15, 2003 3:17 PM