June 09, 2005
Why I love Law School
We’re discussing the difference between strict liability and general intent. The Prof pointed out that you can’t get married without intending to get married, which broke down into a 10 minutes discussion about whether or not you can get married ‘accidentally’. (You can in Las Vegas! What if you’re really drunk?)
Then we compared marriage to speeding.
WTF?
Does the Marine recruitment manual mention anything about kidnapping?
At about 3:30 in the morning, Alex was awakened in the motel and fed a little something. Twelve hours later, without further sleep or food, he had taken a battery of tests and signed a lot of papers he hadn't gotten a chance to read. "Just formalities," he was told. "Sign here. And here. Nothing to worry about.”
Ironic
So, of course, a couple of days after the Dean flap, we learn one of the bigger players in the ‘White Christian’ wing of the GOP was apparently fine with paying a known white supremacist for his list of supports.
Dean and the Woodshed
Of course, I find it amusing that the GOP has taken offense to Dean’s ‘white christian party’. Dean might as well had been reading from their recruitment materials. They thrive on their religious base, much more so than the Demns. They are also, significantly white. So, what Dean said is essentially true.
Of course, it’s also true of the democrats – for whom the largest block of voters would also be white and Christian. As well as the candidates. Kerry – White and Christian. Dean – White and Christian. Gore – White and Christian.
The GOP is certainly more white and more Christian. But the distinction, by itself, is meaningless. The difference that Dean should be pointing out is that Dems seem to (as a rule) take the ‘I don’t let my religion dictate my political stances’ where the GOP is certainly less willing to separate religious values from political ones.
Which, of course, is part of what is driving the backlash against Dean. Being a spokesperson for the party requires a little bit of savy, which Dean seems to be lacking of late.
(Of course, the GOP is also known for calling the Dems names, like anti-religion and anti-god, which seems more offensive to me, yet gets hardly a peep from the news. Liberal press, I guess).
June 08, 2005
I wonder
What could cause the DoJ who, under Ashcroft wanted to drop the Racketeering suit against the Tobacco industry, to suddenly decide to only ask for 8% of the initially penalties sought.
It’s as puzzling as why an administration official, who previously worked for the petroleum industry, was allowed to edit global warming reports.
Absolutely puzzling.
June 07, 2005
WTF?
A man shows up to the US / Canadian border, apparently splattered with blood and with a bloody chainsaw and other weapons. The border agents confiscate the weapons, and then They let him in? (With very scary picture).
Turns out that he had killed two people. Luckily he was picked up in Massachusetts before he killed someone else.
I guess as long as you don’t look middle eastern...
I wonder
Was Kerry’s grades the reason he didn’t want to release his military records? This seems to me to be the only conclusion . Especially in light of observations such as this:
Certainly, Kerry’s intellect helped blunt (somewhat) his luke warm personality (at least as portrayed in the press). He wasn’t a fiery speaker like Bush, but more thoughtful and reflective.
What else could it have been?
(Of course, grades or no grades, there was a very good reason Kerry was portayed as the ‘intellectual’ candidate.)
That plummeting sound you hear
Is Bush’s approval ratings.
Boeing after Scott
Q So what?
Q I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand -- what does that have to do with --
MR. McCLELLAN: It's the Inspector General for the Department of Defense, in this instance. They only have jurisdiction over their particular agency. We worked to help facilitate the investigation by the Inspector General, but this is a jurisdictional matter.
Q Is that to say that the White House will not allow those names to be made public?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's a jurisdictional matter, and like I said, it was understood. I mean, I think it --
Q Is that a "yes" or a "no," Scott?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think it was understood --
Q How is it a jurisdictional matter, for god's sake?
This, of course, is about what role the White House had into the Air Force / Boeing Scandal
Medical Marijuana
Yesterday’s SCOTUS decision in Raich is an interesting read, but I have to admit the more subtle issues are somewhat lost on me. Is this a signal of anti-federalism, or merely a blip on radar due to the specific issue? For much more on these subjects than you could possibly want, check out the SCOTUS Blog which bats the issue from all sides.
Interestingly, I think the most interesting point was made in Thomas’s dissent. He comes closest, I think, topointing out the medical marijuana is somewhat of a red-headed step child. He essentially says this: We allow people to use drugs far more addictive than marijuana, under doctor’s supervision, and no one would claim that this somehow undermines the Controlled Substances Act. Because it would be politically suicide for Congress to deny people in pain morphine for fear that some of that ‘legal use’ drug would find itself in the illegal drug trade.
The difference is, of course, that Congress says those drugs are okay, but marijuana is not which is why the legal argument is framed by the Interstate Commerce issues – but the common sense view is that the only practical difference is stigma. If congress had any decent values, it would correct the issue.
I found it interesting, as well, that there seems to be a ‘screw the law’ mentality of some of the medical marijuana users. I think there’s a political landmine here. Certainly, I find it hard to believe anyone - the FBI or local police, are going to do raids on cancer victims and charge them with possession. Glaucoma patients, on the other hand, aren’t quite as sympathetic. So, we’ll most likely end up selectively prosecuting people who we think aren’t quite ‘sick enough’ to make us look bad.
June 06, 2005
Tasty Conservatives
Why is it that a Governor telling his citizens he’d rather they live someplace else is not major news?
Christ’s love
Blah, Blah, Blah, Pope, Blah,Blah,Blah, Gay marriage is anarchy, Blah,Blah,Blah, evil.
Nothing new.
Win in Washington
At least, until the appeal is heard.
Smiting the Critics
As a conservative governor, how do yopu celebrate the passing of laws restricting abortion and bashing gays? Well, you sign the bills at a conservative church!
Because, if the constitution tells us anything, it’s that religion and politics should be closely intertwined….
