Twilight Zone: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
Photoshop supplied by FReeper armymarinemom
Posted on 01/04/2011 7:11:56 AM PST by RogerFGay
The House Republican majority has said it will require members to cite the specific authority for any bill they introduce.House Democrats are lining up to ridicule a closely related rule that the Republican majority has said it will adopt, requiring members to cite the specific constitutional authority for any bill they introduce. "It's an air kiss they're blowing to the tea party," says Barney Frank, outgoing chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Henry Waxman, outgoing chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, all but dismissed any role for Congress in assessing the constitutionality of its actions: "Whether it is constitutional or not is going to be whether the Supreme Court says it is."This isn't the first time I've heard politicians claim that they have no practical allegiance to the Constitution. Members of both parties have been ridiculing citizens for raising Constitutional concerns for decades. Not my yob, mon!, as if aiming at the obvious ignorance of the common masses.Perhaps, one might think, too many lawyers have been elected to public office. Their professional relationship to the Constitution is one far different from that which is implied when taking the oath of public office. Protecting and defending the Constitution is a far distant second to protecting and defending a client, even for ethical attorneys. That easily translates into representing special interests, in ways that are unethical, or even illegal for legislators.
We might also keep in mind that lawyers are generally less educated than the average college graduate. They often finish only two years in general studies – the equivalent of an associate degree – before entering law school to become familiar with the laws and legal procedures of their respective states. And those two years might be spent studying political history rather than taking courses in math, engineering and science; which might otherwise give them some basic background in logic, system development, maintenance, and stability.
Waxman and Frank are both enthusiastic extremists; generally a clear sign of lower intellectual ability. That something is Constitutional merely because someone says it is lacks any understanding of the concrete role and importance of the document. It's an open door to completely arbitrary, irresponsible, and destructive behavior while in office. Whether or not they both wish to plead stupidity, Waxman's assessment is easily translated to “we'll do whatever we can get away with.” A child would know that.
As a practical matter, it's easy to see they can get away with a lot, especially when bills are constantly rammed through without enough time to read, consider and debate. Due to limitations on the amount of work a nine justices can handle, the Court typically hears only between 60-75 oral arguments per year and reviews approximately another 50-60 more cases on paper. This represents a mere 1-2% of the cases submitted on appeal.
Federal courts are absolutely politically biased and clear examples of corruption exist; the worst displayed for decades in the Ninth Circuit. (Western United States) Cases are heard year in and year out, with a continuous steady erosion of Constitutional integrity in the administration of law. Enacting piles of unconstitutional legislation each year ensures that the system will eventually collapse.
And, it is now generally understood that it has.
Another view: Congress Rediscovers the Constitution
Looks like Issa and his staff need at least a thousand hardened investigators 24/7 to clean up the corruption in DC.
So, Barney Frank is asserting that our country is an oligarchy ruled by 9 appointed judges?
The Constitution is anathema to the left, as is any fixed set of rules.
Fixed rules do not allow them to apply the law unequally,
and applying law unequally is where they derive their power.
Why are we reading cr*p from outgoing chairmen? These people are OVER!
Ordinarily I'd tell Bwarney Fwank to kiss my tushee, but I'm afraid he'd like it too much.
I pray that Issa isn’t one of them and is up to the job. Lady Liberty is on life support.
You can say what you want about Barney Frank but when he starts talking about blowing no one should dispute his expertise.
Photoshop supplied by FReeper armymarinemom
The only authority they have is what is granted to them by virtue of being codified in the Constitution. They’ve made themselves irrelevant.
Uh, where did you get that idea?
“We might also keep in mind that lawyers are generally less educated than the average college graduate. They often finish only two years in general studies – the equivalent of an associate degree – before entering law school to become familiar with the laws and legal procedures of their respective states.”
You need to correct this. I don’t know of any accredited law school that takes students after 2 years of college. If any do, it is exceptionally rare. Every lawyer I know has at least 7 years of higher education - a four year college degree and a three year law degree. Moreover, all laws schools teach more than their own state’s law. In fact, many law schools hardly teach that at all because a large number, if not most, of the graduates will be practicing in other jurisdictions. Federal law also comprises a large part of the curriculum.
There are many, many legitimate criticisms of lawyers, and especially law schools. This, however, isn’t among them.
“Waxman and Frank are both enthusiastic extremists; generally a clear sign of lower intellectual ability.”
My discerning guess is that neither Frank nor Waxman have any intimate relationship with God. This puts me in mind of something the great GK Chesterton said, “The first effect of not believing in God, is that you lose your common sense.”
Sounds treasonous to me. But then treason isn’t punished anymore.
We, American citizens, are leaving the traitors at the helm to steal our freedom.
Our kids are going to live a lousy existence.
Really, Barney. Say, how does that oath go that you took at the beginning of your career as a Congresshole?
Maybe it's time the whole Congress took the oath en masse at the beginning of every session.
Is Waxman Bat Boy’s real father? The resemblance is astounding.
“Whether it is constitutional or not is going to be whether the Supreme Court says it is.”
This may actually end up with the gun carrying citizens not the court.
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