Category: Debates

Ravens Draft Days Two and Three, and More

No need to spend much more time on Zay Flowers.  He was the best receiver in the draft, pure and simple.  Lamar will have zero excuses this year.  He’s surrounded by high end skill position players everywhere.  The wide receiver trio of Beckham, Bateman, and Flowers is plenty good enough.  Mark Andrews and his fellow tight ends are elite.  The running back trio is excellent.  Now we will see what Todd Monken can do.  There should be big enough offensive philosophy changes coming.  Now let’s take a look at days two and three.

A Debate With Eric DeCosta

I was foolish enough to believe, for two years running now, that the Ravens would not draft a player for a position where they did not have a need.  Last year, it was Kyle Hamilton.  This year, it is Trenton Simpson.  It was my fault failing to review inside linebackers this season under this false assumption. Continue reading “Ravens Draft Days Two and Three, and More”

Anthony Richardson versus Will Levis – Easy Call for the Ravens

I’ll ignore the “what’s going to happen with Lamar” debate for this limited purpose.  In this blog, the simple issue raised is this.  If the Ravens find themselves with a high draft pick and the choice between Anthony Richardson or Will Levis, who should they select?

You can read volumes of material on each of these players and argue it any way you want.  Let me touch on my key points. Continue reading “Anthony Richardson versus Will Levis – Easy Call for the Ravens”

Patrick Queen’s Future: Keep Him or Trade Him?

It’s a given that the Ravens will not exercise their fifth year option on Patrick Queen.  They aren’t going to spend that much more money on the inside linebacker group, and certainly not for a weakside linebacker.  But should they keep him for the 2023 season, or trade him before or during the draft?  What is Patrick Queen’s future?

Readers know that I’m not a Patrick Queen fan.  But I’d be dogmatic to claim that Queen didn’t produce a whole lot more once Roquan Smith took over the strong side responsibilities.  The two play very effectively together.  Smith’s presence allowed Queen to do more of what he does well, and less of what he doesn’t do well.  Playing together, the Smith-Queen duo must be the fastest inside linebacker group in the league. Continue reading “Patrick Queen’s Future: Keep Him or Trade Him?”

Who Founded the United States of America? Listen First, Then Speak

These days people have differences of opinion over the most basic questions.  It is so bad that it seems as if they cannot agree even over whether the sky is blue.  Which leads me to a simple difference of opinion over the basic historical question of who “founded” the United States – Europeans or Native Americans?  In one corner of this dispute sits former Senator Rick Santorum.  In the other corner rests CNN anchor Don Lemon.  Their argument, in the end, is really about the meaning of a simple word.  It is an illustration as to how people talk right past each other – intentionally or not – and the inability to hear what the other person is saying.

In this little blog piece, I’ll first lay out the simple debate.  Then, I’ll illustrate the difficulty people have recognizing that a single English language word has different meaning, leading to antagonism, personal enmity, and worse.  And finally, I’ll answer the historical question. Continue reading “Who Founded the United States of America? Listen First, Then Speak”

Tyranny of the Majority on Campus – An Assault on Free Speech

A dangerous and continuing assault on free speech is growing on our campuses and across our society.  It is a threatening wave of illiberalism. Tocqueville long ago warned that a tyranny of the majority was the principle danger inherent in any democracy.  Majority despotism could overwhelm public discourse, ultimately leading to the danger of a restructured and intolerant government.  This despotism, he observed, is rooted within the majority’s values and mores, and pose the greatest threat to liberty.

Tocqueville’s concerns are in full display today at Middlebury College, Berkeley, Auburn and other universities.  Protesters at each institution suppressed the expression of political views seen as opposed to their own.  These protesters claim their actions are justified because these views offended their sense of social and personal acceptability.  And further, they completely silenced these voices before words were ever uttered, deploying uncivilized tactics.  In turn, each of these institutions were willing accomplices to the speech suppression.  Each was unwilling to create and protect an environment of full and free political speech, a base necessity for any institution of higher learning in the United States. Continue reading “Tyranny of the Majority on Campus – An Assault on Free Speech”

Presidential Candidates Tax Returns: Is Forced Disclosure A Good Idea?

Should presidential candidates be required to disclose their federal income tax returns?  A recent push comes from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a critic of President Trump, with the latest Congressional effort to require candidates to do just that.  But is forced disclosure of candidates tax returns a good idea?  On balance, we think not.  Tax returns are poorly equipped to inform the public regarding legitimate issues involving a candidate’s qualifications for the presidency.  Furthermore, the informative value of tax return data is outweighed by its inflammatory impact.  We explain. Continue reading “Presidential Candidates Tax Returns: Is Forced Disclosure A Good Idea?”

The Constitutionality of Trump’s Immigration Ban: Is it Permissable? – A Debate

This debate involves the constitutionality of Trump's Executive Order "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States" (the "Order").  The debate also offers statutory analysis for and against the legality of the temporary ban.  Readers may weigh-in with their view.

Before jumping into the debate, there are several key elements, among others, to consider.

First, the President's authority to act.  President Trump cites both his Constitutional authority as President, and authority under relevant statutes.  The laws he relies on include the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code.

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A Debate on the REINS Act – The Future of the Administrative State

Should Congress Pass The REINS Act?

A series of proposals centered on regulatory reform are squarely in the cross-hairs on Capital Hill.  This includes the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (the “REINS Act”).  Long-brewing concerns about over-regulation, law-making, lack of accountability, rule-making abuses, waivers and more are driving lawmakers as they consider a variety of proposals.  The over-riding consideration is this: over the past 80-plus years a major transformation in the structure of the federal government has occurred at the most basic constitutional level.  There has been a continuing transfer of power from the legislative branch to the executive branch of government.  This transformation has occurred without the passage of a single Constitutional amendment.

Reins Act
Congress

The REINS Act is the subject of the following debate.  The REINS Act recently passed in the House and now awaits Senate consideration.  The general goal of the REINS Act is to allow Congress to re-gain direct oversight of the regulatory process. Continue reading “A Debate on the REINS Act – The Future of the Administrative State”

Proof of Hacking by Russian Government? Experts Remain Unconvinced By U.S. Report

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a Joint Analysis Report (JAR) on December 29, 2016.  The JAR claims to prove that the Russian government was behind the hacks of the Democratic National Committee and others.  This JAR has failed to convince come cyber-security experts of Russian government complicity.

Prior to issuance of the JAR we took a look at the two sides of the debate regarding Russian government hacking.  Now, we review that debate in light of the new JAR.  We invite readers to further consider whether the U.S. government has proven its claim of hacking by the Russian government. Continue reading “Proof of Hacking by Russian Government? Experts Remain Unconvinced By U.S. Report”

Is it Russian Government Hacks, Someone Else or Inside Leaks?

The CIA has supposedly determined that Russian government hacks, as directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, were the source for publication of Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails and related emails.   Comments from a variety of private security firms buttress these claims.  However, in an open letter dated December 12, 2016, the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) claimed that the emails were leaked, not hacked.

VIPS is no ordinary group of citizens with an opinion.  Rather, it includes a group of highly accomplished retired and senior intelligence personnel.   It’s steering committee includes intelligence luminaries including Thomas Drake (former senior executive with the NSA), Mike Gravel (former adjutant, top secret control officer and special agent of the Counter Intelligence Corps, as well as a former U.S. Senator), and famed NSA whistle blower William Binney (former technical director, world geopolitical and military analysis in the NSA), among others.

VIPS Steering Committee says No Russian Government Hacks
Renowned whistle blower William Binney

So which is it, Russian government hacks, third party hacks or insider leaks?  Here’s what the two sides are telling us to date. Continue reading “Is it Russian Government Hacks, Someone Else or Inside Leaks?”

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