Category: Opinions

The Media Distortion of Michael Flynn – Truth Suffers Another Blow

Yet again our most revered news organizations let us down.  We must read between, over and above their written lines to try to get to the truth. Reporters no longer take photographs of what they see, or simply record and report what they hear.  Instead, they paint pictures with broad brushes, using shades and color to reveal their personal portraits.  They weave a web instead of knitting a stitch.  The “stories” of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and of “contacts” between persons involved with the Trump administration and Russia, are just the latest sorry watercolors.  The media distortion of Michael Flynn is another sad tale of truth taking a shot to the jaw.

We take a look in this piece at the reporting of the Flynn “story.” We save for another piece the ongoing reporting addressing Russian “connections” to the Trump administration. Continue reading “The Media Distortion of Michael Flynn – Truth Suffers Another Blow”

Impeach President Trump, So Says Congresswoman Waters – But There’s the Constitution…

That didn’t take long. It’s time to impeach President Trump.  So says California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.  She is ready for articles of impeachment barely three weeks into his presidency.  Now we may or may not be fans of the President.  Staying faithful to the rules of our blog, we take no side on this one.  At least not yet.  But Congresswoman Waters does a disservice to herself, her constituents, and the country, with talk of impeachment.  There is no constitutional basis for it.  The Congresswoman would do well to bury herself in the constitution that she took an oath to uphold.

Impeach President Trump
Maxine Waters

So we will take a look at the impeachable offenses, according to Congresswoman Waters.  We see four possible counts, according to the Congresswoman.  And we also turn to the Constitution, and history, for a little guidance on what’s required to impeach a president.  Is Ms. Waters right? It is already time to impeach President Trump?

Continue reading “Impeach President Trump, So Says Congresswoman Waters – But There’s the Constitution…”

New Immigration Executive Order From President Trump, and the Many Flaws in the Ninth Circuit’s Ruling

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Trump immigration order (the “Trump Order“) is flawed on several levels.  The court’s analysis is shockingly poor and disturbing for a variety of reasons.  We do not reach this conclusion because we agree with the Trump Order, for we take no position on it.  Rather, the court’s ruling would set dangerous precedents, particularly regarding a president’s power to act quickly to protect the country.  At the least, the key parts of the ruling addressing (or failing to address) constitutional issues for non-resident aliens will likely not survive the Supreme Court.  But the court’s ruling makes clear at least one thing.  The Trump Order was poorly drafted.  President Trump will likely soon follow with a new immigration executive order, if he truly believes national security requires it.

We briefly look at the what and why of a new order.  Then we provide a detailed review of the numerous flaws in the Ninth Circuit’s analysis. Continue reading “New Immigration Executive Order From President Trump, and the Many Flaws in the Ninth Circuit’s Ruling”

Judge Gorsuch is His Own Man – His Criticism of Trump Proves It

Democrats wondered aloud, and loudly, whether Judge Neil Gorsuch was independent of President Trump. Well we now know that, indeed, Judge Gorsuch is his own man.  Just three days ago a Washington Post story styled “Trump Blasts at Judge Raise Questions for Gorsuch on Independence” highlighted Democrats doubts.  Democrats, the Post stated, challenged Judge Gorsuch “on an important but elusive issue.  Is Gorsuch independent enough, they ask, to stand up to the president who picked him?”  Today we received the most reassuring, and gratifying, answer.  Judge Gorsuch is independent.  He can think for himself and is beholden to no one.  He is no lackey to President Trump. Continue reading “Judge Gorsuch is His Own Man – His Criticism of Trump Proves It”

Federal Court Analysis of Trump Order is Flawed – Boston Court Has it Right

U.S. District Court Judge James Robart entered a temporary restraining order on Friday, preventing implementation of President Trump’s immigration order.  Judge Robart applied his directive on a nationwide basis.  The only problem with this Federal court analysis and the monumental judgment is that it is wrong.  Judge Robart’s written opinion cited no authority, constitutional or otherwise, to support his judgment that the States involved “are likely to succeed on the merits . . . [and that] the States are likely to suffer irreparable harm . . . [and that] the balance of the equities favor the States.”

We aren’t surprised by Judge Robart’s failure to cite legal authority.  His was an extraordinary decision.  In a case where the President of the United States cited a national security purpose for his executive action, Judge Robart struck down that judgment and substituted his own.  At the very least, a Federal court judge owes the American public a complete dissertation explaining why the President is wrong and he is right.  He offered up nothing.

Continue reading “Federal Court Analysis of Trump Order is Flawed – Boston Court Has it Right”

Wave of Illiberalism Across America – The Worst Angels of an NYU Professor

A wave of illiberalism is rolling across America.  Once our great universities were the brightest beacons of free thought and free expression.  They were great bulwarks against intolerance.  Today, they are devolving into bastions of bombast, fanaticism, dogmatism and hatred.

We have great faith in the power of freedom of speech.  Our country was founded on it.  Our future depends on it. Without freedom of speech, the grand traditions of liberalism will perish.  So long as we cherish and preserve free speech in the United States, wisdom will ultimately triumph.

We fear no idea in the marketplace of ideas.  The American tradition welcomes them all, including offensive and even abhorrent ideas.  Perhaps, especially offensive and abhorrent thoughts.  Because those ideas and thoughts will not, in the end, survive the raging rapids of human turmoil. They will not prevail against the essential light of the human spirit.  And it is the failures of those offensive ideas, laid bare for all to see, that push humanity ever closer to the better angels of its nature.

We Must Roll Back the Rising Wave of Illiberalism

Continue reading “Wave of Illiberalism Across America – The Worst Angels of an NYU Professor”

Democrats Supreme Court Blueprint – Avoid Nuclear War

The Democrats Supreme Court blueprint for the Neil Gorsuch fight is evolving.  And it must. Democrats must cool off from the first weeks of the Trump presidency or they risk stumbling into a disaster.  They must focus dispassionately on their long-game.  And there’s a very important long-game to be played, with very serious consequences to the Democrats and their agenda if they play it wrong.

The Republicans Will Not Allow the Court’s Ideological Balance to Shift

The Court’s composition with Justice Scalia was reasonably divided.  Four progressives, four “conservatives,” and one swing vote.  His death opened a seat on the conservatives side.  His replacement with another conservative justice does not alter the Court’s balance.  The Republicans will not tolerate a shift. Continue reading “Democrats Supreme Court Blueprint – Avoid Nuclear War”

Sally Yates Violated Her Duties – A Poor Reflection on the Justice Department

The hubbub about former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates’ heroic or un-heroic stand ignores the central issues raised by her conduct.  Let’s be unpolitical and as impartial as possible, and take a hard look at what happened here.  Let’s ignore that she is a Democrat and that the President is a Republican.  None of that matters.   The conduct of the Attorney General of the United States, whether acting or otherwise, must be beyond all reproach.  In our view, what occurred here is one of the lowest moments in the history of the Department of Justice of the United States.  Sally Yates violated her duties.  We explain. Continue reading “Sally Yates Violated Her Duties – A Poor Reflection on the Justice Department”

More Political Hypocrisy – The Sad Tale of Senator Jeff Merkley

Our campaign against political hypocrisy continues.  This has become a full-time avocation.  The latest sad entry comes from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, one of the key architects of the November, 2013 change to the Senate filibuster rules.  It seems that Senator Merkley, a strong proponent of eliminating the filibuster, has become the filibuster’s greatest champion.  It took less than four years, and a change in the party of the presidency, for this remarkable turnaround.  It’s another example of why faith in our political leaders is at an all-time low.  When will anyone – anyone – stand up on consistent principles?  It’s more political hypocrisy.

The principled Senator Merkley has a deep and enduring respect for his Constitutional responsibilities.  So, according to Senator Merkley, should the filibuster be available to the minority side in the Senate?  Well of course not – except when “we” are the minority.  All of which somehow allows him to claim the moral high ground when it comes to U.S. Supreme Court nominations.  Is there more political hypocrisy here?  You be the judge. Continue reading “More Political Hypocrisy – The Sad Tale of Senator Jeff Merkley”

The Decline of Ethics in Journalism – The Huffington Post and Trump’s Immigration Order

Will the sad decline of ethics in journalism ever end?  There’s no mystery why the public doesn’t trust the media.  It didn’t used to be this way. Journalists focus less on reporting facts and more on drawing attention. They frequently distort or omit relevant information.   Sometimes, they use more indirect means to mislead, such as applying inaccurate labels to facts, or using inappropriate words to create false inferences or connotations.  Truth and accuracy are sacrificed to sensationalism.  They are victims of the competitive push for eyeballs and profits.

The Decline of Ethics in Journalism – The Trump Order on Immigration

Which brings us to the Huffington Post.  On January 25, 2017 they published an article entitled “Read Draft Text Of Trump’s Executive Order Limiting Muslim Entry to The U.S. (EXCLUSIVE).”  Now, that headline really got our attention.  For one, it sure sounds like President Trump actually went ahead and limited Muslim entry into the U.S.  We’ve got to read about that!  The headline also emphasizes the word “exclusive” in bold print.  The article must contain unique information that we really need to read because we won’t find it elsewhere. Continue reading “The Decline of Ethics in Journalism – The Huffington Post and Trump’s Immigration Order”

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