Scary monsters, super creeps, keep me running, running scared

Once again, the feckless and faithful Democratic Party border collie patrol seeks to rein in stray sheep with dark warnings about something wicked this way to come should the scary monster GOP gain numerical (as opposed to merely practical) control of Congress. Once again, IOZ provides the appropriate rejoinder: Republicans drive the empire; Democrats consolidate [...]

The Union Makes Us Strong, and Fox’s Corporate Backers Can’t Stand That

My friend and mentor Big Stu provides a succinct answer to the question, “Are unions still relevant?“ The story itself is classic Fox: feigned objectivity while implicitly slanting the story in favor of the corporate narrative. Yes, “the numbers don’t lie”. But the numbers have a history, one that Fox and other corporate outlets persistently [...]

GOP Senators <3 judicial activism — when it suits their reactionary agenda

A foolish consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but the problem doesn’t seem to afflict mindless little hobgoblins like Senators Cornyn, Coburn, and Sessions. Meanwhile, in a twist on their argument that Ms. Kagan might be a “judicial activist” who would legislate from the bench, some Republicans expressed concern on Wednesday that she [...]

A nice parting shot from Mr. Justice Stevens

On the merits, I generally agree with the majority’s conclusion in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment applies to the states and not just the federal government; I also agree with the holding in Heller that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to possess and use guns. On the more specific question [...]

Workers of All Countries, Unite!

Richmond police ignore city law, fail to issue permit for May Day parade

[UPDATE April 30: In response to the public outcry, Richmond police have reversed their stance and issued a parade permit, dropping the requirement that organizers pay the cost of police coverage for the event. A good victory for civil liberties.] It’s a pity I’ve already written my Administrative Law exam, because this would have made [...]

Today in Redneck Demagoguery

North Carolina State Senator Jim Forrester claims the state legislature is under the thumb of “Slick city lawyers and homosexual lobbies and African American lobbies“. Predictably, he then claims he “didn’t mean to offend anybody.” No, I’m sure he meant to compliment the “homosexual lobbies and African American lobbies” on their political prowess.

How Now, Clown Yow?

The local paper reports that incumbent Rep. Howard Coble (in whose district I currently reside) will face a GOP primary challenge from the delightfully named Billy Yow, currently a Guilford County Commissioner. As a relative newcomer to Greensboro, I was previously unfamiliar with Yow. He seems like a charming fellow: In 2004, Yow sold shirts [...]

Barack Obama, Phil Ochs, C. Wright Mills, and Me

Dissenting Justice — a great blog by Darren Hutchinson, a law professor at American University — has had some of the best commentary I’ve seen on the emerging crackpot realist narrative about the health care bill, in which the White House and its cheerleaders attack as “naive”, “insane”, or “irrational” those who actually support health [...]

Health Care Refauxrm: Good for insurance corporations; not-so-good for health care

The stock market appears to be drawing the appropriate conclusions from the misbegotten health care finance bill: Insurance corporation share prices are up this week. Prospects for actually ensuring that everyone in the U.S. has access to adequate health care, not so much. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party Border Collie Patrol are working overtime trying to [...]