Bad term for Justice Scalia

The just-completed Supreme Court term was a bad one for conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.  He came out on the losing end of arguably the 4 biggest cases.  He was on the losing side on the Obamacare, Ariz.immigration law enforcement, stolen valor (First Amendment) and prison sentencing for crack cocaine offenders (federal sentencing guidelines) and juvenile killers (8th Amend. cruel and unusual punishment).
This article criticizes Scalia for being too "political." Of course 7 of the other Justices are also political. (Kennedy may be the exception).  Scalia used to be one of my favorites, but his First Amendment stand on the stolen valor case and his lack of concern for Fourth Amendment rights and the exclusionary rule, have dampened my enthusiasm.  Some of his conclusions in those cases are "stretches"   Of course everyone who loves freedom owes him great debts for his support for First Amendment rights in Citizens United and Westoboro Baptist Church cases and for Second Amendment rights in  Heller and McDonald.   It is Scalia's outspokenness that has caused concern.  One left-wing ideologue in the media called for Scalia to resign. IMHO he is the most intelligent, wittiest and sharpest mind on the Court.  Hopefully after he retires he  won't demonstrate a lack of class, self-respect and integrity like former Justice Stevens, and get on every the TV and attack the Court for the cases he lost.  One sore loser among ex-Justices is enough.

Good Short Document on Peace Officer Safety

This short document from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is  close to being a must-read for all peace officers.  Note esp. the endorsement of Tasers.

Free macroeconomics course

I've complained about the lack of education and public knowledge about economics in this country. Here is a free on-line macroeconomics  course. Not being an econ prof., I can't evaluate it, but it looks like a decent start. I hope someone will check it out and give us a preliminary review.

Hi-Tech Policing: Predicting a Crime.

The latest in high-tech policing.  Thanks to Vince for the link

Williams right on re higher ed in the U.S.

Economist and columnist Walter Williams hits the nail on the head again re higher ed.

"Don't Tase Me Bro"

FWIW:  The phrase "Don't Tase Me Bro" has become part of our popular culture.

Here is the “famous” “Don’t tase me bro” video.  The key words come towards the end of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE

AG Holder found in contempt of Congress

Pres. Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder, was found in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over documents relating to BATF's notorioius Operation Fast and Furious.  17 Democrats voted for contempt.
There were both civil and criminal citations.   Holder is the first cabinet member in history found in contempt.  Some Democrats charged that the charges against Holder were motivated by racism.  For many ideologues on the left, anytime a black person gets in trouble and there are whites involved, it's automatically labelled "racism."  I wonder if and when people are going to get tired of this knee-jerk, simple-minded charade. It's often an effective strategy to frighten off people and distract from the real issue.  As was expected, Holder's DOJ later indicated it would not seek criminal prosecution.  Those charged can use delaying tactics and civil contempt proceedings can drag on for months, if not years.  Holder may be out of office before anything gets resolved in the courts.

A look at America's far right.

Let’s take a look at what is usually deemed the far right in U.S. politics--the  American Nazi Party and the very similar National Socialist Movement.  Neither has endorsed either Obama or Romney.  As expected, only Aryans get a right to keep and bear arms.  Both party platforms contain economic and welfare provisions similar to left-wing or socialist groups. The usual left-right continuum seems to break down here. Not surprisingly, both are anti-immigration.  As expected, their stands on many issue  mirror the platform of Hitler's National Socialism (NSDAP), esp. the leftist economics.  In some respects the platform looks decidedly leftist (socialist) or even Marxist, with lots of Aryan supremacy and nationalist propaganda thrown in. .  Many have debated the propriety of labeling the NSDAP as an example of  a prototypical right-wing theory.  Of course, the Nazis were enthusiastic about disarming Jews and other "suspect" groups.

FWIW: Communists and Marxists fear Romney, want more gun control

Every once in a while it is interesting to look at what the really far left  (Communists, Marxists, etc) think.
FWIW, not surprisingly, they don't want Romney in the White House and want more gun control.   Their stand on gun control mirrors the USSR's strict control on guns and, of course, they hate capitalism and want basically unlimited government.  Citizens with guns pose a potential  threat to unlimited government power, and of course, the state will protect everyone.

Supreme Court Strikes down 1 part of Obamacare

What I did not mention in the prior post was that although the individual mandate was upheld, one part of Obamacare was invalidated. Most everyone thought the mandate was the most constitutionally vulnerable part. This part of the Court's ruling was somewhat surprising.
" In another part of the decision and in a blow to the White House, a different majority on the court struck down the provision of the law that requires the states to dramatically expand the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor."  This appears to be a victory for federalism.The impact of this ruling is not immediately clear.  Stay tuned!

U.N. Treaty and American Gun Control

FactCheck.org is usually relatively unbiased and accurate.  Can't vouch for them on this, but it makes sense--as far as it goes.  The treaty, at least, ostensibly, is limited to international trade in guns. Notice use of the word "ostensibly."  Further, the Constitution takes precedence over treaties.  As long as Heller and McDonald are good law, this should ease concerns.  However, the Court can pull stunners and "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."  On the other hand, what is ignored is that many popular  guns are made overseas and must be imported.  On the other hand, some popular foreign companies, such as Glock, do have some operations in the U.S. The article notes "The administration says."  Personally, I don't trust Obama when it come to guns or religious freedom. If the current Pres. is re-elected, negotiation and ratification of this obviously will  be an issue worth watching.  It would be naive to believe that Obama is not  basically hostile to the Second Amendment (e.g. his "Bittergate" speech, comments to the Brady Center, etc).  Hopefully, the Senate will not vote on the treaty before a new President takes office.  Then we will have a better feel for what could happen if such a treaty is approved.  The Senate's power to approve treaties and confirm Supreme Court nominations should alert everyone to the importance of senatorial elections.  Finally, overall, the UN leads way left.  They do not recognize a right of individuals to self-defense and favor maximizing government power.  One always needs to keep and eye cocked when the UN is involved.

Obama care constitutional!

In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate in Obamacare as a valid exercise of the Congress' Art. I taxing power..  It was expected that the case would be decided on the basis of the commerce clause. The court did not uphold it under the commerce clause.  To call the individual mandate a "tax," is a huge stretch.  Even Congress did not call it a "tax."  None of the lower courts found that it was a tax.  Surprisingly the 5th vote was cast the the usually conservative Chief Justice--John Roberts.  Many were shocked that Roberts joined the liberals on the case.  J. Kennedy, who is usually the swing vote and the most middle-of-the-road of all the Justices, voted against Obamacare.  A big defeat for those who are concerned about the scope of federal power.  Obama care will now move ahead unless there is Congressional action to block it.  This will certainly be an issue in the crucial Nov. congressional elections. The battle moves from the Supreme Court to Congress. The Court has spoken, now the voters will speak in November.  You think politics was hot and brutal now, this Court decision only throws more gasoline on the fire.

TIH: 2010, McDonald v. Chicago--Victory for Liberty

In a landmark opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court ignored the howls of the liberal authoritarians and made the individual's Second Amendment rights enforceable against the states.  This was also a landmark case as it was the first Fourteenth Amendment incorporation case in nearly 40 years. This was a great victory for those who truly love liberty.  One would have thought the ACLU would have thrown a party.  Instead, the left-leaning "Civil Liberties" organization has virtually ignored and refused to support this section of the Bill of Rights.

Operation Fast and Furious, Holder in contempt for coverup?

Democrats are saying the potential Congressional investigation and upcoming  vote on holding AG Holder in contempt is a "witch hunt." This is the usual cry of both Democratic and Republican stalwarts whenever someone goes after their President.  "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." However, the Obama  adminsitration has not be truthful over the course of the investigation.  Whatever happened to Obama's promise for a more open government.  Another campaign promise bites the dust once the promisor gets in office.  The first lie (?) perhaps came in 2010:

"What's the controversy over the Justice Department's Feb. 4, 2010 letter to Sen. Grassley?

In its earliest response to Sen. Grassley's questions about the gunwalking operation, the Justice Department sent a letter that contained inaccurate information. The letter, signed by Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich, stated that ATF never "knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser who then transported them into Mexico." Ten months later, the Justice Department withdrew the letter acknowledging that it contained inaccuracies. In April 2012, Weich announced his intention to resign from the Justice Department to become dean of the University of Baltimore Law School. Documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, but not turned over, include Justice Department communications after the Feb. 4, 2010 letter leading up to the Dec. 2010 retraction of the inaccurate letter. Republicans in Congress want to see who-knew-when that the Feb. 4 assertion denying gunwalking was false, and why it took ten months for the administration's retraction."

For more from CBS on the controversy and the source of this quote see this article.

TIH: D.C. v. Heller (2008): Victory for the Bill o fRights

On this day in 2008 the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in D.C. v. Heller.  In a landmark victory for civil rights, the Court invalidated D.C.'s draconian handgun ban and held that the Second Amendment's right of the people to keep and bear arms included people who were not members of an official or unofficial militia.  The left squealed like stuck pigs.  Former Justice Stevens and current Justice Breyer are still squealing.  However, this was a 5-4 decision.  One new justice who is anti-Second Amendment could cause this right to disappear. No Obama appointees were on the Court, but later,  an Obama appointee, J. Sotomayor,  voted against making the right applicable to the states (McDonald v. Chicago, 2010). It's pretty clear where Sotomayor stands on the Second Amendment.  Pres. Obama can be expected to try to appoint Justices who are hostile to the Heller decision.  If you love freedom, keep this in mind when you vote in Nov.  Nothing unmasks left-wing authoritarians quicker than their negative reaction to this decision.

Supreme Court on sentencing teen Killers

The Court bans mandatory life without parole for teen murderers.

Supreme Court issues Split decision on AZ Immigration Law

Mostly unconstitutional.  "Papers please" law upheld.

Citizens United Upheld

This case from Montana was seen as an opportunity to reverse the Court's decision in  Citizen's United. The left whined luck a stuck pig after Citizens United.  Anti-First Amendment populists in Montana were defeated.  Looks like their agony will continue.  As usual, the Court's liberals voted against First Amendment values. It was also a great victory for an independent judiciary.

Sex Offender loses First Amendment case

Although I am an avid supporter of First Amendment rights, these rights, like all rights in the Bill of Rights, are not absolute.  I agree with the decision.  It's too bad the ACLU will back these questionable types of cases and yet refuse to support the Second Amendment.  Their attitude is a good look at Left-wing hypocrisy about the Bill of Rights.

Gowder v. Chicago: Victory for 2nd Amendment

A well-deserved Second Amendment victory. The facts of this case give you some insight into the mentality of the powers-that-be in Chicago.  They argued, based on a flawed study, that people with misdemeanor convictions who seek handguns are more likely than others to be at increased risk of committing violent crimes.

TIH: 1977 AG Mitchell starts prison term

On June 22, 1977 Richard Nixon's former attorney general John N. Mitchell started serving his federal prison sentence for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.  Another example of the poor quality people we get in the White House.  Doesn't make any difference what party controls the White House. Integrity is always in short supply.

Our Disgraceful Media: e.g., MSNBC

I have never seen the media so intensely involved in a blatantly partisan fashion in the events leading up to a Presidential election.  Fox attacks Obama at every turn.  ABC, NBC, and to a lesser extent CBS, fawn over Obama.  The worst offenders are MSNBC and the New York Times who often look like they've gotten their material from the White House. They have become Obama's version of Pravda. ABC, NBC and MSNBC ignored the fast and furious scandal but the potential contempt  citation from Congress against AG Holder may force them to cover the issue (if it already hasn't).  An example of how the pro-Obama media spin things in a pro-Obama direction is this piece from MSNBC which suggests that the whole case against Holder is nothing more than a right-wing conspiracy.  Notice how they dodge the question about Obama's promises for more open government. When are the American people going to wake up and see that most of the media are engaged in propaganda and not real news. What ever happened to ethics in journalism?

House Committee Approves Holder contempt resolution

The U.S. House committee investigating the DOJ and BATF over the notorious Fast and Furious operation has approved a resolution to find AG Holder in contempt.  The resolution goes to the full house.  This comes after Pres. Obama claimed executive privilege and Holder retracted a second statement made to the committee.  Doesn't make any difference who's in the White House, Repub. or Dem., it's the same unethical CYA song and dance.  Anyone who the Obama presidency would be different in this regard needs to wake up.

Obama stonewalls on BATF Fast & Furious Investigation

Pres. Obama has asserted executive privilege to justify denying documents to a House committee studying BATF's notorious Operation Fast and Furious.  Whoever thought Obama would conduct a more open and honest government appears to be sadly mistaken.  Looks like business as usual in D.C.

ACLU Rejects Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

Although it leans strongly left, the ACLU is occasionally able to rise above and even-handedly support freedom of speech (unlike Congress and the President). It opposes a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. They write:

"Any rule that requires the government to determine what political speech is legitimate and how much political speech is appropriate is difficult to reconcile with the First Amendment. Our system of free expression is built on the premise that the people get to decide what speech they want to hear; it is not the role of the government to make that decision for them.

It is also useful to remember that the mixture of money and politics long predates Citizens United and would not disappear even if Citizens United were overruled. The 2008 presidential election, which took place before Citizens United,was the most expensive in U.S. history until that point. The super PACs that have emerged in the 2012 election cycle have been funded with a significant amount of money from individuals, not corporations, and individual spending was not even at issue in Citizens United.

Unfortunately, legitimate concern over the influence of “big money” in politics has led some to propose a constitutional amendment to reverse the decision. The ACLU will firmly oppose any constitutional amendment that would limit the free speech clause of the First Amendment."



I second the motion!

Rodney King passed away Sunday

The attempt by CHP officers to stop a speeding Rodney King late one night in March 1991 developed into one of the most infamous series of events in American history.  By the time the second trial was over, policing, race-relations and police-community relations had changed dramatically.  Los Angeles suffered its worst riots ever when the officers tried in state court for beating King were acquitted.  A good book on the entire sequence of events is Lou Cannon's Official Negligence.  In retrospect, much of what happened seems to be the result of some incredibly bad and unjust decisions.  This expose' will blow your mind!

Outrageous British cyber snooping plan.

You may have to read this twice to believe it.  Britain is already covered with government-monitored surveillance cameras. I can't believe a democratic government would do this to its own people.  Tell me again why we need to be more like socialist Britain?

Juneteenth (1865) celebrating liberty!

Juneteenth (June 19th) holiday celebrates the announcement of Emancipation to then-slaves in 1865.  Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, but it didn't mean much until Union troops occupied an area. In 1868, with the Thirteenth Amendment, slavery was officially outlawed. 

TIH: 1961 Mapp v. Ohio

In 1961 the U.S. Supreme Court handed down one of its most important, if not most revolutionary cases on criminal procedure--Mapp v. Ohio.  Now that the exclusionary rule applied in state courts, the limitations of the Fourth Amendment on the police finally became a national reality.  State courts would be flooded with defense motions to exclude evidence and federal courts would be called upon to review state court decisions on the Fourth Amendment and exclusionary rule.  This case caused radical changes in police training and procedures everywhere.  Although much-criticized, the case was a great victory for those who love liberty and want serious limits on government power.  Although the conservatives who dominated later Courts (and even some liberal Justices), began gutting the rule, it still remains a powerful tool for vindicating the Fourth Amendment.

Summary of Russian Gun Control Laws

Obviously, another country that doesn't trust its own citizens.