University of Chicago Professor Todd Henderson has found himself in the curious position of being the focus of a national debate over tax rates — and his family’s finances. The corporate law professor wanted to show that people making more than $250,000 a year are not super rich and indeed can be struggling in this economy like other families. The response to this argument on his blog was fast and furious — leading Henderson to shutdown his blog and decline further commentary.
Continue reading “Does This Man Deserve a Tax Break? Blog Triggers Bizarre Debate Over a Law Professor’s Finances Swirls”
Category: Congress
We previously discussed the disconnect between Democratic leaders and liberal voters in the increasing complaints of leaders like Vice President Biden over Democratic “lethargy.” Democrats in Washington once again seemed shocked that voters are not eager to fight for their retention. Now, Biden has added the helpful advice to Democratic voters to “stop whining” about things that they did not get in Washington and to “buck up.”
Continue reading “Biden Tells Democratic Voters to “Stop Whining” and “Buck Up””
This week Congress held hearings on the controversial decision by the Obama Administration to drop charges against Black Panther members for voter intimidation in Philadelphia in 2008. I have previously criticized the decision since I fail to see how these pictures did not show intimidation and the Obama Administration has created a dangerous precedent (if not an invitation) for other groups to engage in the same practices at polling places. In the hearing, Christopher Coates, former voting chief for the department’s Civil Rights Division, called the decision a “travesty of justice” and deepened the controversy over the policies and practices in that division.
Continue reading “DOJ Official: Black Panther Decision a “Travesty of Justice””
Civil libertarians enjoyed a major victory yesterday against Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) with the ruling in the case of Maj. Margaret Witt — ordering her reinstatement despite the fact that she is a lesbian. This important victory, however, was tempered by the news that the Obama Administration is seeking to limit the earlier blockbuster ruling that found DADT unconstitutional. The Administration had the option of not seeking such a change (an option taken by Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown in the Proposition 8 case) but decided to try to gut the national impact of the court’s order.
Continue reading “Judge Orders Lesbian Nurse Reinstated While Obama Administration Fights To Limit Earlier Ruling Finding DADT Unconstitutional”
With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I was asked in this cover story for the Civil War Magazine to explore the rivaling constitutional claims that were made at the start of that bloody conflict. As a military history buff, I have occasionally written for these history magazines but I found this assignment particularly intriguing.
Continue reading “Uncivil Action: Was Lincoln Wrong on Secession?”
We just followed the debate in Delaware over whether the GOP candidate for governor is a failed witch or a witch wannabe. Now, new reports have raised the question whether her Democratic rival, Chris Coons, 47, is a failed bearded Marxist. You have to love this race.
Continue reading “Is Coons a Failed Bearded Marxist?”
For civil libertarians, the decision by President Obama to bar the prosecution of Bush officials for the torture program was always a flagrant choice of politics over principle. Now a poll ratifies that decision. A poll commissioned by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that Americans are accepting torture in greater numbers. The study also shows a decrease in support for Israel in any military conflict and two-thirds saying that they would like the U.S. to be neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Continue reading “Poll: Americans More Supportive of Torture — Though Still a Minority”
The Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous has been suspended for the the Jewish holiday. It will resume on Tuesday.
Continue reading “PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL”
The fourth day of the Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous starts today. Yesterday, we called Timmy Porteous, son of Judge Porteous and one of the judges who pleaded guilty in the Wrinkled Robe investigation. The latter was a House witness who was dropped at the end of their case in chief.
Continue reading “PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL — DAY FOUR”
The third day of the Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous starts today. The witnesses include a former judge and former prosecutor. We are likely to start our case on Wednesday . . .
Continue reading “PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL — DAY THREE”
Here is today’s column in USA Today giving a bit of constitutional and historical context for the raging debate over illegal immigration.
Continue reading “Who Is A Citizen?”
The second day of the Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous starts today. The witness list include Lori and Louis Marcotte . . .
Continue reading “PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL — DAY TWO”
We have completed the opening statements. While I deviated a bit in presentation, here is the written opening statement.
The Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous begins today at 8 a.m. Today we will hear opening statements and the testimony of Robert Creely, Jake Amato, Joe Mole, and others.
Continue reading “THE PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL — DAY ONE”
The Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous begins Monday morning. I will be therefore out of pocket for the coming week and part of next week. Unfortunately, that means that postings will be extremely limited but I expect the denizens of this blog to post stories as comments in my absence. I will try to post a little each day on the schedule for the trial and maybe even a story to facilitate discussion depending if I have a second in the morning.
Continue reading “THE PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT CASE STARTS MONDAY”