Category: Society

Boofed Is The New Borked: How Democrats Laid A Perjury Trap For Brett Kavanaugh

Screen Shot 2018-10-03 at 6.55.48 PM
Youtube

Below is my column in USA Today on what appears now to be a clear perjury strategy against Judge Brett Kavanaugh that focuses more on his credibility than his alleged criminality.  There are many who have questioned whether Kavanaugh testified truthfully on the meaning of well-known sexual terms as well as his statements on his prior drinking habits.  Clearly, any false testimony would be a barrier to confirmation regardless of the subject.  Yet, this confirmation could create a new term for future nominees: “boofed.”  The questioning on high school lexicon and conduct is a new element in confirmations — precedent that could further degrade our process for selecting Supreme Court justices.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Boofed Is The New Borked: How Democrats Laid A Perjury Trap For Brett Kavanaugh”

California State University Dumps “Prospector Pete” As Offensive

prospector peteI have previously expressed my concerns over the removal of long-held mascots and names in colleges from “the Cowboys” to “Shooter the Fox” to the Aztecs to the “Fighting Sioux” to “Chief Illini.” Now, the California State University at Long Beach has decided to dump its mascot, “Prospector Pete,” because some students complained that a gold miner from the 49ers is  “offensive.” Continue reading “California State University Dumps “Prospector Pete” As Offensive”

Gallup: Hillary Clinton Remains More Unpopular Than Trump Two Years After The Election

Hillary_Clinton_Testimony_to_House_Select_Committee_on_BenghaziWhile Democratic politicians and groups continue to use Hillary Clinton as a matinee draw for fundraisers and campaign events, a new Gallup poll shows Clinton remains at record lows in the polls.  Indeed, she remains more unpopular than Donald Trump at 36%.   Trump has a 41% popularity.  It is a striking disconnect. Many of us were critical when the Democratic establishment (and virtually every Democratic member of Congress) all but guaranteed the nomination of Clinton despite every poll showing her to be unpopular and the voters seeking an anti-establishment choice.  Now, even after two years of book tours and speeches, Clinton is still distinctly unpopular but Democratic groups continue to make her the face of the Democratic campaign for the midterms.  It shows the hold of the Clintons on some in the Democratic ranks even though she is likely to continue to alienate many who are looking for an alternative this election.

Continue reading “Gallup: Hillary Clinton Remains More Unpopular Than Trump Two Years After The Election”

Georgetown Professor Again Triggers A Firestorm of Controversy With Hateful Anti-Republican Comments

Georgetown_sealDr. Carol Christine Fair, an associate professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown, has created a firestorm of controversy after she called for the castration and “miserable death” of Republican senators. This is not her first such controversy in profanely attacking Republicans.

We previously discussed Fair tirades against Republicans. Continue reading “Georgetown Professor Again Triggers A Firestorm of Controversy With Hateful Anti-Republican Comments”

North Carolina Professor Releases Statement To FBI Contradicting Kavanaugh On College Drinking

thumbnailCharles Ludington, a college friend of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, released a statement that directly contradicted the testimony of the judge on this drinking in college.  Ludington told The Washington Post that he gave a statement to the FBI that Kavanaugh was “belligerent and aggressive” as a drunk in college and once threw a beer in the face of someone who insulted him.  He is the third college friend who described Kavanaugh as a belligerent drinker in college.

Continue reading “North Carolina Professor Releases Statement To FBI Contradicting Kavanaugh On College Drinking”

“Necessary in a Democratic Society”: European Court Bars Pro-Life Advocate From Calling Abortion Murder

imagesWe have previously discussed the alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly in France (here and here and here and here and here and here and here) and England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Much of this trend is tied to the expansion of hate speech and non-discrimination laws.   The Europeans appear committed to this trend of curtailing free speech and subjecting speech to coercive definitions of what the majority deems acceptable.  That commitment was made all the more evident, and chilling, by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights rejecting a German anti-abortion activist’s challenge to court orders enjoining him from referring to abortions as “aggravated murder” and comparing them with the Holocaust.  So now the courts are enforcing speech controls over clearly religious and political viewpoints in Europe. Continue reading ““Necessary in a Democratic Society”: European Court Bars Pro-Life Advocate From Calling Abortion Murder”

The Kavanaugh Hearing Leaves Lingering Questions Over Representations Made To The Committee By Counsel

Yesterday’s Kavanaugh hearing left many questions on both sides, including the ultimate question of the alleged attempted rape of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.  However, for lawyers, one exchange sticks out from a professional standpoint.  Ford was questioned why she delayed the hearing due to her alleged fear of flying and, more importantly, why she did not simply meet with committee staff in California.  Ford admitted that, while she does not like to fly, she does in fact routinely fly around the world, including frequent trips to nearby Delaware.  The most striking statement however was the suggestion that she was never told by counsel that she did not have to fly to Washington and the Committee was ready to fly to her — a prospect that she said she would have welcomed.  That left a lingering question of whether her counsel did not tell her of a material offer or whether she misrepresented the reason for her delay in speaking to the Committee.

Continue reading “The Kavanaugh Hearing Leaves Lingering Questions Over Representations Made To The Committee By Counsel”

Arizona Sex Crimes Prosecutor Hired To Question Ford and Kavanaugh

senate_large_sealThe Senate Judiciary Committee has announced the identity of the lawyer who will conduct the primary questions of both Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh.  Rachel Mitchell, the sex crimes bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, is someone with considerable experience in not such sex crimes but delayed sex crime prosecutions.  It is an unusual step for the Committee but not unprecedented.  Congress will hire outside counsel or allow counsel to question witnesses on some occasions, particularly at fact-finding stages.  I was hired a lead counsel to represent the United States House of Representatives in the successful challenge of the unilateral funding decisions of the Affordable Care Act by President Barack Obama. Continue reading “Arizona Sex Crimes Prosecutor Hired To Question Ford and Kavanaugh”

Turley To Speak At Brazosport 50th Anniversary Celebration

downloadToday I have the honor of serving as the keynote address at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, Texas. I have previously spoken at the college which was selected as one of the top ten community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute. The Clute and Lake Jackson areas is also the location of the Ron Paul Institute.

The keynote is entitled “Unpacking the Supreme Court: History, Hierarchy and Headlines.” Continue reading “Turley To Speak At Brazosport 50th Anniversary Celebration”

The Decision To Testify Rests With Ford But Not The Conditions For Her Testimony

senate_large_sealBelow is my column in the Hill newspaper on the demand of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that the FBI investigate her allegation of attempted rape against Judge Brett Kavanaugh when they were high school students.  Ford has been given the opportunity to present her allegations before the Senate, which delayed its Committee vote on the confirmation to the Supreme Court.  She can certainly refuse to testify. However, neither the Senate nor the FBI customarily strikes such a quid pro quo agreement for testimony.  Ford can testify or not testify but, if she wants her allegations to be considered, she cannot set conditions on the Senate for such testimony.

It appears that Ford is reversing her latest position and may testify next week but not on Monday and only if the Senate can demonstrate that the hearing will be fair. In the meantime, the Senate is rumored to be preparing for a female lawyer to question Ford.  That is not necessarily good news.  A female lawyer may have less qualms about pressing Ford on inconsistencies than a male Senate just a few weeks away from an election. If Ford does not testify, the Republicans can treat her allegations as unproven and unsupported — and move toward a final vote.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “The Decision To Testify Rests With Ford But Not The Conditions For Her Testimony”

Former Schoolmate Says That She Was Told About Sexual Assault On Ford While Third Alleged Witness Denies The Incident Ever Occurred

download-6download-7Two more people came forward yesterday in the still unfolding drama surrounding the allegations of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that Judge Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were both high school students.  Cristina Miranda King says that she heard of the incident from others while in high school.  In the meantime,Patrick J. Smyth, a Georgetown Prep alum who graduated in Kavanaugh’s class, contacted the Committee and categorically denied the allegations of Ford (who identified him as the third person (other than Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge) as present during the assault. Continue reading “Former Schoolmate Says That She Was Told About Sexual Assault On Ford While Third Alleged Witness Denies The Incident Ever Occurred”

Losing The High Ground: Democrats Hit Kavanaugh With Anonymous Allegation Of Sexual Assault From High School

Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the recent allegation of sexual assault against Judge Brett Kavanaugh and the demand for a delay in his confirmation vote.  Both Kavanaugh and the other man referenced in the anonymous letter have denied the allegations from their high school days.  The reported law professor who contacted Congress appears to want the allegation considered by members but has refused to come forward and said that she did not want to be drawn into the controversy.  If that was her position, Democrats have now done the opposite and leaked the letter’s details and called for a full investigation.  If this is a law professor, it is unclear why she is not willing to come forward with an allegation of a sexual assault.  She clearly thought that the allegation should be raised with Congress but has refused to come forward to substantiate the claims. That leaves Kavanaugh in a grossly unfair position in my view.  UPDATE: Kavanaugh’s accuser has now gone public.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Losing The High Ground: Democrats Hit Kavanaugh With Anonymous Allegation Of Sexual Assault From High School”

The Spanish Inquisition: Actor Becomes Latest Blasphemy Target In The West

913px-Santo_Domingo_en_oraciónI have previously written about the continued use of blasphemy laws in the West, including Spain and Ireland.  The continued enforcement of medieval concepts of blasphemy as evidenced by the detention of Willy Toledo, who was accused of ridiculing God and the Virgin Mary in court. Toledo is being targeted due to comments made on social media in support of three women who are being prosecuted for blasphemy.   It is chilling to think that an actual judge would hold such a hearing in modern times.  The nation that gave us the Spanish Inquisition still claims the right to imprison people for insulting God.

We have previously discussed the alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly in France (here and here and here and here and here and here) and England (here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Much of this trend is tied to the expansion of hate speech and non-discrimination laws as well as blasphemy laws. Continue reading “The Spanish Inquisition: Actor Becomes Latest Blasphemy Target In The West”

Clinton Pushes False Story Against Kavanaugh

225px-Hillary_Clinton_official_Secretary_of_State_portrait_cropHillary Clinton surprisingly tweeted a clearly false allegation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday that had already been widely disproven.  Clinton told followers that Kavanaugh referred to birth control pills as “abortion-inducing drugs.” He didn’t but that does not appear to matter to many spreading this false story, including Clinton.  Clinton said that she wanted to be
“sure we’re all clear about” about Kavanaugh’s comment to “set off a lot of alarm bells.”  It did but not the alarms that she intended.  The false account was first spread by Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Cal.) who received four Pinocchios for the claim from The Washingon Post. Continue reading “Clinton Pushes False Story Against Kavanaugh”

A Bill Comes Due: Susan Collins Faces Rising Demands To Fulfill Her Promise To Vote Against A Presumed Anti-Roe Nominee

440px-Susan_Collins_official_Senate_photoBelow is my column in The Hill newspaper on the rising pressure on Sen. Susan Collins over her vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.  There is considerable anger over Collins maintaining that she would never vote for a nominee hostile to Roe v. Wade but refusing to acknowledge the widespread view of Kavanaugh as not only hostile to the reasoning of Roe but appointed by a president who promised only to nominate an anti-Roe justice.  As with Neil Gorsuch, Collins appears inclined to vote for Kavanaugh despite her oft-repeated pledge.   She insists that she is comfortable after Kavanaugh told her that Roe is “settled” law.  However, many have put Collins’ position as falling somewhere between hopeful thinking and willful blindness.  As discussed below, the unsettling thing about settled law is that only five votes make anything truly settled on the Court.

Adding to the political dimension are polls showing that the hearings did not produce a bump for confirmation.  The latest polling shows 38 percent in favor of Kavanaugh and 39 percent opposed. 

Here is the column: Continue reading “A Bill Comes Due: Susan Collins Faces Rising Demands To Fulfill Her Promise To Vote Against A Presumed Anti-Roe Nominee”