[Alberta's Child]

You may not like the decision, but it does involve a legitimate legal question under the U.S. Constitution. Nobody is disputing the authority of Congress to legislate, but in cases involving diplomatic relations with foreign governments there is a clear oversight role for the Executive Branch.

In the case of the 2002 law that was the heart of this legal dispute, the first question that ought to come to mind is: Why would the Bush administration willfully ignore a legislative mandate that it had signed into law? The answer is that the passport issue was not passed as stand-alone legislation. Instead, it was buried in a much larger Federal spending bill ... and the Bush administration made it very clear that it did not recognize Congress' authority in the matter, while the administration decided not to hold an entire Federal funding bill hostage to it.

On its face, the 2002 passport regulation is highly questionable. It actually gives the holder of the passport the right to decide how their country of origin is to be listed on their own passport. This sounds ridiculous on its face. If I was born in Baltimore, should I have the right to decide that Tibet or Haiti was actually the country where I was born?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I guess they must submit to the official label, even if that label is wrong.

What if Caitlyn Jenner wants a passport that says he is a female? Bet in that case everyone switches sides and decides the individual can choose.

The insane generation.

[Jack Black]

On its face, the 2002 passport regulation is highly questionable. It actually gives the holder of the passport the right to decide how their country of origin is to be listed on their own passport. This sounds ridiculous on its face.

Wow! That does sound ridiculous.

Thanks for all that background, Freepers like you are what make this site so great!

[1010RD]

Good analysis and thanks. Conservatives seem very hot blooded lately and cannot see the forest for the trees.

The Left is out to destroy the Constitution. We should walk carefully and think wisely.