July 23, 2004
Fears about Herseth prove true
Stephanie Herseth hid Thursday behind the gay marriage straw man created by the GOP . She voted with the Repugnicans to approve a House resolution that denies federal courts jurisdiction to hear or determine any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Defense of Marriage Act or the federal statute defining marriage.
I don't care where you stand on gay marriage. It is appalling that Herseth, a lawyer, would support a measure to deprive federal courts of their right to review congressional action. Even the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service could find no precedent for Congress passing a law to limit federal courts from ruling on the constitutionality of another law. Under the Herseth-approved approach, Congress could immunize any action it takes from judicial review. While the bill is certainly suspect under the seminal case of Marbury v. Madison (which established the Supreme Court's right to review acts of Congress), they evidently didn't mention that case in whatever constitutional law class Herseth took or else she was gone those days.
This bill is further proof gay marriage is nothing but a bogeyman for the right. Granted, Herseth told us during her campaign that she was with the right-wingers on this issue. I also understand she is worried about re-election and that she would likely say she has to pick her fights and save them for ones more crucial to a Democratic or liberal agenda. I find the latter a bogus argument. Since when is it wrong or ill-advised to vote against an unconstitutional measure? Tom Daschle is in a tough (and probably more targeted) race and had the guts to look past the bs of the Gay Marriage Amendment to the truly substantive issues of federal involvement in state issues. The legislation Herseth voted for is an even greater attack on fundamental constitutional principles. She should be ashamed.
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I don't care where you stand on gay marriage. It is appalling that Herseth, a lawyer, would support a measure to deprive federal courts of their right to review congressional action. Even the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service could find no precedent for Congress passing a law to limit federal courts from ruling on the constitutionality of another law. Under the Herseth-approved approach, Congress could immunize any action it takes from judicial review. While the bill is certainly suspect under the seminal case of Marbury v. Madison (which established the Supreme Court's right to review acts of Congress), they evidently didn't mention that case in whatever constitutional law class Herseth took or else she was gone those days.
This bill is further proof gay marriage is nothing but a bogeyman for the right. Granted, Herseth told us during her campaign that she was with the right-wingers on this issue. I also understand she is worried about re-election and that she would likely say she has to pick her fights and save them for ones more crucial to a Democratic or liberal agenda. I find the latter a bogus argument. Since when is it wrong or ill-advised to vote against an unconstitutional measure? Tom Daschle is in a tough (and probably more targeted) race and had the guts to look past the bs of the Gay Marriage Amendment to the truly substantive issues of federal involvement in state issues. The legislation Herseth voted for is an even greater attack on fundamental constitutional principles. She should be ashamed.
1 comments
July 20, 2004
South Dakotans for a Sound Society
Welcome to a new South Dakota blog, South Dakotans for a Sound Society. Their introductory statement and initial posts indicate they should be a nice addition to area blogspace.
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July 19, 2004
More on Thune and gay marriage
Newsweek has a report this week that Thune is betting the gay marriage issue is a winner. I've posted before on what a bogus issue this is. But let's look at the strategy. Thune wants to attack Daschle on what he perceives to be a "hot button" issue that can give all sorts of sound bites and slogans. The truth is this is an issue that is truly irrelevant in the scheme of things. The feds have nothing to do with gay marriage and shouldn't. It's a matter for the states. You'd think a candidate from the "states rights" party would realize that. Daschle should not get sucked into this meaningless "debate".
Instead of Thune, a presumably heterosexual white male, freaking out over what homosexuals are doing, he should focus on things that matter. What about Bush's budget busting? (Of course, that discussion might bring up the fact that what Bush and the Repugnican-controlled Congress has done to the budget is contrary to what they told voters they were going to do in the 2000 GOP platform, the 1996 GOP platform, the 1992 GOP platform, the 1988 GOP platform and the 1984 GOP platform.) What about the abominable state of health insurance, particularly in South Dakota? What about creating living wages in South Dakota and other parts of the country?
No, Thune would rather pander to the religious right on an issue whose resolution produces nothing substantive for the people of South Dakota or the country. But then, for Thune it's probably not pandering. According to Newsweek, "he does not believe in evolution." We really need a guy in the Senate who would rather believe wholly unsourced and unverifiable statements over scientific fact. Of course, that does make him a lot like the liar-in-chief.
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Instead of Thune, a presumably heterosexual white male, freaking out over what homosexuals are doing, he should focus on things that matter. What about Bush's budget busting? (Of course, that discussion might bring up the fact that what Bush and the Repugnican-controlled Congress has done to the budget is contrary to what they told voters they were going to do in the 2000 GOP platform, the 1996 GOP platform, the 1992 GOP platform, the 1988 GOP platform and the 1984 GOP platform.) What about the abominable state of health insurance, particularly in South Dakota? What about creating living wages in South Dakota and other parts of the country?
No, Thune would rather pander to the religious right on an issue whose resolution produces nothing substantive for the people of South Dakota or the country. But then, for Thune it's probably not pandering. According to Newsweek, "he does not believe in evolution." We really need a guy in the Senate who would rather believe wholly unsourced and unverifiable statements over scientific fact. Of course, that does make him a lot like the liar-in-chief.
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Recommended manifesto
Ted Rall is a syndicated columnist and award-winning political cartoonist. He also gained some notoriety (and death threats) earlier this year for a Pat Tillman cartoon and a blog comment after Reagan's death that Ronnie was probably "turning crispy brown right about now." (And while others might also find this one unpalatable, my favorite recent cartoon of his is here.) Ted is never afraid to speak his mind, which makes him a priceless commodity.
Yet Ted is much more than a columnist, cartoonist or a blogger. For example, Ted traveled to Afghanistan before and after our invasion, has written about it and takes the time to actually learn the subject on which he's writing. Ted has published a tremendous political manifesto: Wake Up, You're Liberal: How We Can Take America Back from the Right. As you can tell from my reading list to the right (and last year's if you check the archive), I read a variety of politically-oriented works. Wake Up, You're Liberal is one of the best. Ted's straightforward prose ranges from serious to to humor to hyperbole to cynicism but he articulates credible and common sense suggestions on why and how liberals should step forward and lead this country to all the promise it offers.
Michael Moore's F 9/11 is getting plenty of attention and he topped the bestseller lists with Where's My Country? I don't agree with everything Ted Rall says or suggests or all of this theories and approaches. Yet there is more than enough there that I am convinced Wake Up, You're Liberal is a more important and essential work. Ted is seriously looking at and thinking about the big picture. While it's plain he doesn't like Repugnicans or Bush, he also has little problem excoriating Democrats and the left.
Buy and read this book. Maybe the only conclusion you'll reach is that Ted (and I) are naive, crazy, stupid, etc. On the other hand, maybe you'll learn and use something that will help this country.
Ted is currently offering a great deal on inscribed copies of both Wake Up, You're Liberal and his latest work, Generalissimo el Busho: Essays and Cartoons on the Bush Years. You can't go wrong buying them the inscribed copies from Ted. If you're not interested in an inscribed copy, Ted's web site has links to buy all of his works.
Reverse disclaimer: I do not know Ted Rall and have never met or spoken to the man. I get no cut or economic benefit from the sale of his books or visits to his web site. I am just firmly convinced this is valuable reading.
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Yet Ted is much more than a columnist, cartoonist or a blogger. For example, Ted traveled to Afghanistan before and after our invasion, has written about it and takes the time to actually learn the subject on which he's writing. Ted has published a tremendous political manifesto: Wake Up, You're Liberal: How We Can Take America Back from the Right. As you can tell from my reading list to the right (and last year's if you check the archive), I read a variety of politically-oriented works. Wake Up, You're Liberal is one of the best. Ted's straightforward prose ranges from serious to to humor to hyperbole to cynicism but he articulates credible and common sense suggestions on why and how liberals should step forward and lead this country to all the promise it offers.
Michael Moore's F 9/11 is getting plenty of attention and he topped the bestseller lists with Where's My Country? I don't agree with everything Ted Rall says or suggests or all of this theories and approaches. Yet there is more than enough there that I am convinced Wake Up, You're Liberal is a more important and essential work. Ted is seriously looking at and thinking about the big picture. While it's plain he doesn't like Repugnicans or Bush, he also has little problem excoriating Democrats and the left.
Buy and read this book. Maybe the only conclusion you'll reach is that Ted (and I) are naive, crazy, stupid, etc. On the other hand, maybe you'll learn and use something that will help this country.
Ted is currently offering a great deal on inscribed copies of both Wake Up, You're Liberal and his latest work, Generalissimo el Busho: Essays and Cartoons on the Bush Years. You can't go wrong buying them the inscribed copies from Ted. If you're not interested in an inscribed copy, Ted's web site has links to buy all of his works.
Reverse disclaimer: I do not know Ted Rall and have never met or spoken to the man. I get no cut or economic benefit from the sale of his books or visits to his web site. I am just firmly convinced this is valuable reading.
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, Timothy Egan
, Lewis Black
, Yevgeny Zamyatin
, Daniel J. Levitin
, Richard Powers
, Nick Schou
, Cormac McCarthy
, Richard Dawkins
, Sam Harris
