Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008 White Elephant Gifts

By definition white elephant gifts refer to a possession whose maintenance cost exceeds its usefulness. White elephant gift exchanges have been over the years a popular holiday party game.

The 2 Regular Guys have a few white elephants to unload from this past year. These stories and events from this past year have cost us much. At this point one wonders how we ever found them useful.

Would you be interested in taking any of these off our hands?

Police Investigating Possible Hate Crime At SynagogueVIDEO: White Elephants The 2 Regular Guys Wouldn't Mind Giving Up For Good

The enemy combatant detention camp at Guantanamo Bay must go. Few brave souls are left to defend Gitmo’s propriety. The Supreme Court last summer delivered the final blow in the case Al Odah v. United States. By striking down the President’s Military Commission Act and thereby granting certain constitutional rights to the detainees, it was only a matter of months before the doors to this camp would be closed. Though closure is a must, we do wish that a reasonable debate might be used to clarify presidential power in times of war.

It is time once and for all to reassess the importance given to the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. Two relatively small, insignificant and unrepresentative states have for too long kidnapped our presidential nomination sweepstakes. The amount of time and money spent in Iowa and New Hampshire is difficult to defend. Worse, how do we explain that without winning one of them you cannot be president? We love both states. But do we love them that much? It is time to think about a rotating regional primary system in order for a far greater representative selection process.

The currently used Presidential Debate format needs overhauling. Most would agree that too often the moderators see themselves as part of the show. Questions are asked to make headlines rather than make informed citizens. A generation of citizens now believes a debate is nothing more than a well-rehearsed infomercial. Why not use the Lincoln-Douglas debates as a model? Candidates should tour the country holding conversations about the timeliest issues. Such events should not be numbered on one hand but made more routine. It is time for real debate.

High-level discussions have already begun and it is about time to replace the War Powers Act (1973). The relationship between the executive and legislative war making powers has for too long been unseemly. The executive branch has assumed too much power. The legislative branch has become a willing accomplice. Checks and balances during wartime have disappeared. Our Congress has been unwilling to make tough choices. The President has been allowed to make tough choices too easily. A reconsideration of this important constitutional relationship would protect all of our interests.

One last white elephant gift that continues to cost us is the fact that Illinoisans so overwhelmingly rejected the referendum to revisit the state’s constitution. A state constitutional convention is no panacea. Yet as our most recent scandal would attest, many of our political problems here are systemic. With the lack of true campaign finance reform and a pay to play expectation, political impropriety is not just the fault of a few errant rogues. Here in Illinois we have institutionalized graft. The referendum back on Election Day sure looks pretty good albeit in our rear view mirror.

The good news about these gift exchanges is that no receipt is required. With these white elephants, take all of the time you need. Our feelings will not be hurt. In fact we urge you, please return these.

Precedent for the unprecedented?

Before embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich even had the chance to officially announce his pick to take the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama, lawmakers blunted the power play, insisting they won't seat Roland Burris.

Happy New Year! Gov. Blago followed through with his resolution to fight, fight, fight. Did you see the press conference? True political theatre, Illinois style. Blog here on the latest Blago bizzare move. This guy may be crazy. But it may be crazy like a political fox.

While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said with a letter signed by all 5o Senate Democrats, that the U.S. Senate would not seat anyone nominated by Blago under the powers in Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution, the text on the Senate's ability to block the Gov.'s appointment is not clear:

"Section 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide. "

The appointment of the 71-year-old Burris did not come from an election. Also, there is a precendent Supreme Court decision that would seem to side with the governor.

In Powell v. McCormack (1969) the Court ruled that the Senate could expel, but not exclude a member legally put there.

Adam Clayton Powell pecked at his fellow representatives from his unassailable perch in New York's Harlem. Powell had been embroiled in controversy inside and outside Washington. When Powell failed to heed civil proceedings against him in New York, a judge held him in criminal contempt. His problems were only beginning. He won reelection in 1966 but the House of Representatives voted to exclude him.

Chief Justice Warren concluded that since Powell had been lawfully elected by his constituents and since he met the constitutional requirements for membership in the House, that the chamber was powerless to exclude him.

www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1968/1968_138/

The governor said he was required to govern, and appoint a replacement for the Senate seat, and that the Illinois General Assembly was playing politics, by not calling for a special election and moving ahead with impeachment proceedings.

Ok. But the theatre was a politically loaded. Included statements by Rep. Bobby Rush that through the race card into the ring.

Politico.com has good coverage of the events plus video of the raucus press conference here:

www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16930.html

Blog here and tell me, do you think Blago is legally right, even if everyone else says he is wrong and should just go away. Also, just for fun, put in your date for when the Gov. will be removed from office by impeachment. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said he would be gone by Lincoln's birthday bash on Feb. 20.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Judicial Review....And More


Review for your Advanced Placement Final Exam right here thanks to the Review Guys and CitizenU.org.
Do it today, tomorrow, or anytime even after the final exam when you download to your favorite mp3 player. (The Review stuff sticks at AP Test Time!) Blog me about the creative ways and places you review.
Also if you are studying at night, post a question and I'll check and post back an answer.
Anyway, here (or hear) are the Review Guys looks at:

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The politics of the Federal Courts


www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/12/08/GR2008120800205.html?sid=ST2008120702887&s_pos=list

There are no cameras in the Supreme Court or other Federal Courts, although movement to advance bills such as the "Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007" has been progressing.

www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=19772

But there are charts that track the decisions that our Judiciary make. Click on the picture above and you will get a great graphic from the Washington Post which shows the number of US circuit court judges appointed by Dems & Repubs as well as the # appointed by Bush. Then click here for an article that argues that Bush may not have changed the Supreme Court as much as he wanted (Justice Stevens the 87-year-old hold out) but he has had a significant impact on the circuit court level.

This article talks about how Obama may be able to create a "major shift"in the federal judiciary.

The chart at the left tracks the the SCOTUS voting record of the last session of the High Court, which had more 5-4 decisions than the Supremes have had in the past.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

So bad it "would make Lincoln roll over in his grave"

Our Land of Lincoln already had a political culture of corruption of historic proportions.

But this was bleeping bad -- or good.

Governor Rod Blagojevich's arrest for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a "political corruption crime spree" that included attempts to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, puts Illinois solidly No. 1 in the political corruption rankings.

Robert Grant, special agent in charge of the FBI's Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.

"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said.

CNN has several videos on this still breaking story.

www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/12/09/sot.fitzgerald.lincoln.grave.wgn

The Chicago Tribune has full coverage at Chicagotribune.com.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-blagojevich-maindec09,0,7734677.story

Even before the 6 a.m. busting of Blago, Illinois has been near the top of any national political corruption ranking.

Last year an article in the Chicago Sun-Times made the case for Illinois as the best among the worst states in political corruption. Afterall, this is a State where votes by dead men are legendary, and four of the last eight governors (Blago, George Ryan, Dan Walker and Otto Kerner) have gone to prison.

James Merriner writes:

"You might remember that in 1998 Minnesota elected Gov. Jesse Ventura, the Reform Party candidate and a former pro wrestler. Witty Minnesotans soon sported bumper stickers -- "My governor can beat up your governor."

Some Illinoisans had enough pride to respond. "Our governor is a bigger crook than your governor," said a National Taxpayers Union of Illinois bumper sticker in 2000.

That's the spirit. We're No. 1!"


So why are we -- the Land of Lincoln -- so corrupt? Professor Larry Sabato -- an AP american Government textbook author, among other things, says it will finally be up to the voters to say enough is enough. In Chicago, there have long been questions about how Mayor Daley gets things done. He was last re-elected with over 60 percent of the vote.

Sabato was asked, assuming that Illinois and New Jersey are among the most corrupt states, why is that? What is different about them?

"Corruption is nurtured by the political culture . . ." he said. "Through the generations, corruption has become strongly associated with politics [and] people just expect the two to go together like love and marriage."

To quote Sabato once more on the culture of corruption: it "depends heavily on what average voters will tolerate from their elected officials."

www.cebcglobal.org/Newsroom/News/News_031107.htm

The citizens probably won't let Blago stand in office for long without resigning. After hearing reports of his explitive-laced corruption conversations, Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV polls showed 95% of the people said Blagojevich should step down now. Reports say he will not resign. So this is still a fasinating developing story.

But for now the people, by way of the polls are saying --- Bleep Bagojevich! (As Patrick Fitzgerald said in making the case against the Governor -- "The bleeps are not what was said." )

VIDEO: Buzzwords Related To Blagojevich Case








Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Change 1860 Style


President-elect Barack Obama has nominated Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State and Gen. Jim Jones as National Security Advisor. Jones quite possibly voted for his opponent in the presidential election. Clinton warned Iran of retaliatory attacks, where Obama has advocated talks without preconditions.


President-elect Barack Obama is a student of Abraham Lincoln and comparisons are natural. The theme from Obama's Inauguration is taken from a line in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "A New Birth of Freedom"

In announcing now half of his cabinet, it is almost becoming cliche,' (And free publicity for historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's book), like Lincoln, Obama is assembling a "Team of Rivals."

Goodwin profiles five of the key players in her book, four of whom contended for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination and all of whom later worked together in Lincoln's cabinet.

www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=981406n

With the Gates and Jones -- and advisor to John McCain -- and then primary rival Clinton, who made the infamous "3 Am Ad" Obama may not only be following Lincoln's lead, but a Chris Mathews Harball strategem -- "Keep your friends close, your rivals closer."

Obama himself, says he wants a healthy, vigorous debate among his advisors. In announcing his new team, the President-elect quoted another Commander-in-Chief making it clear who will be in charge.

“the buck will stop with me” when he dismissed doubts over how a heavy-weight “team of rivals” that includes Clinton and a Republican Defense Secretary can work in harmony.

Presenting half a dozen nominees for senior national security posts, the President-elect said that the “strong personalities and strong opinions” that he had brought together would ensure vigorous debate, even disagreement, in the White House.

“But understand – I will be setting policy as President,” he added. “I will be responsible for the vision that this team carries out, and I expect them to implement that vision once decisions are made.”

So will a "Team of Rivals" work? Like 1860, 2008 brings another thin man from Illinois, relatively new to Washington but wise to the world challenged to bring the nation together to face a crisis.

Still, honest Abe didn't have a 24-7 newscycle with "gotcha" potential among the Team of Rivals. Doris Kearns Goodwin is one thing, Fox News quite another.

Also does the exerienced Team of Rivals jive with Obama's campaign Change message? There will be change in bringing debate to the cabinet. President "W' Bush surrounded himself with loyalists the first, second and in some cases third (Attorney General) time around.

Remember that these nomination do have to go through Senate approval. And how's this for a rumor, Bill Clinton nominated by New York Governor David Patrick to take Hillary's Senate seat?

Bonus for anyone who can name the two former presidents to go on and serve in the Senate.