More thoughts. I, too, am mystified by the commenter who wants to grant tenure to all existing federal laws. To me, one of the benefits of the amendment would be in its potential to clean up the existing code.
The Beginning Of Justice
Corey Maye has been granted the right to a new trial. In a just world, Radley Balko would get a Pulitzer for this.
LAWDKI
I have some thoughts on today’s NASA announcement over at The Corner.
[Update a few minutes later]
Alan Boyle has a lot more on the story.
Dana Milbank
Cantor, Bishop and the other supporters of the amendment believe they are rebalancing the Constitution in a way the Framers would like. But it’s strange that the lawmakers would show their reverence for the Founding Fathers by redrafting their work.
Hey, Dana. The Founders put an amendment process into the Constitution for a reason. Though I suspect that one reason that hadn’t occurred to them would be that people like you would decide that it was a “living document,” subject to perverse interpretation that would eviscerate it of their original intent.
[Afternoon update]
More thoughts on Milbank’s ignorance, from La Althouse.
The Evolution Of Cooperation
…and religion. Some interesting research.
Human Dignity
Why the Tea Party resonates with the American people.
Upending The Spending
This sounds good to me:
The plans include slicing and dicing appropriations bills into dozens of smaller, bite-size pieces — making it easier to kill or slash unpopular agencies. Other proposals include statutory spending caps, weekly votes on spending cuts and other reforms to ensure spending bills aren’t sneakily passed under special rules.
On some level, their plans may create a sense of organized chaos on the House floor — picture dozens of votes on dozens of federal program cuts and likely gridlock on spending bills. And don’t forget that a lot of these efforts will die with a Democratic-led Senate and a Democrat in the White House.
But the intent is to force debate as much as to actually legislate — and make Old Guard Republicans and Democrats uncomfortable with a new way of thinking about the size and scope of government.
The fact that the appropriators hate it is a point in its favor, as far as I’m concerned.
Reality Isn’t Negotiable
…but then, the so-called “reality-based community” has never been all that into reality.
[Update a few minutes later]
Raise your own taxes, Fareed, but leave ours alone.
The only reason I watch This Week on Sunday morning, particularly since Christiane Amanpour took over, is to see George Will, who doesn’t appear in any other venue, as far as I know. Well, we had a treat this past week, when instead of her panel (which is always too short anyway) she devoted most of the show to Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who tell us that we’re not being taxed enough. Hey, wrote the feds as big a check as you want, guys, pour more of your own money down the rat hole, and get a receipt. But leave the rest of us out of it.
It’s Not Just Monday Any More
It’s Cyber Week
And thanks to the readers who bought the netbook and the shoes. Every bit helps keep this blog going.
New Course On Space
A new course has been added to the LaunchSpace catalog. Doesn’t look like it’s worth attending, though — the course instructor probably doesn’t know what he’s talking about.