Posted on 12/31/2010 5:22:25 PM PST by RyanC1384
As we reported yesterday, Republicans plan to read aloud the Constitution of the United States when the 112th Congress kicks off on January 6th, 2011. Many find this to be a political tactic, a gimmick of sorts. Republicans are attempting to hold support from the Tea Party and are howling for Congress to follow the Constitution word for word. A firm skeptic of this Republican stratagem is Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, one of the most astute minds when it comes to procedure within Congress and fiscal concerns. Yesterday he appeared for an interview with MSNBC's Nora O'Donnell to discuss the matter:Returning To The Constitution
Conservatives have fired back with venom and a touch of sarcastic vitriol. The site Iowahawk was even moved to create a satirical essay of Ezra Klein applying for work at the Washington Post. The rambling text portrays Klein as a buffoon who is unable to string multiple thoughts together or think critically. Others, like EyeBlast's Stephen Gutowski, have employed a less ambiguous tactic by outright blasting him. Gutowski firmly asserts that Klein's stance on the Constitution is a liberal plot for power:
Make sure you watch that again to get what hes arguing here. Hes not saying that he can’t understand it because its over 100 years old. Hes saying that nobody can understand it because its over 100 years old.This narrative is all too familiar coming from the right wing of the American political spectrum. They insist that all liberals are power hungry, anti-constitutional socialists, who have an overarching goal of destroying what this country stands for and the foundation she was built upon.By the way, in case it isn’t clear, the reason these two liberals want people to believe the constitution is impossible to decipher is because they despise the constitution. Liberals want the government to have limitless power and that is in direct contrast with what the founders designed the constitution to do. Of course the constitution allows for its own amendment but liberal policies simply aren’t popular enough to garner constitutional amendments thus simply ignoring the constitution is the next best step.
Plus who cares about rule of law when it comes down to it? We’ve got a liberal utopia to build!
As with much of the political discourse these days, both sides make reasonably valid points. Unfortunately the urge to paint your foe as "Anti-American", and utilize hyperbolic rhetoric is blinding to any rational thinking. The best way to preface my point is by planting a quote by Salman Rushdie during his interview on Wednesday night with Charlie Rose. During a lucid discussion around religion and their holy books, Rushdie said this :
You can find in these books (holy) the texts that justify the point of view you happen to have already.Klein was suggesting exactly this: the Constitution is akin to a holy book. It was written hundreds of years prior, so individuals are unable to derive exactly what the original writers were intending, while at the same time mapping their existing political philosophy onto the text.
This shows that conservatives have a point, but they are misguided in their need to monopolize the urge for power to the liberal side of the isle. The plain truth is that because certain portions of the Constitution can be interpreted and construed, this void is filled in by politicians. Politicians with their own limitations, corrupt inclinations, and agendas. Contrary to the belief of each political party, this proclivity is not confined to one side of the power structure in Washington.
Apparently Klein got wind of the right wing outrage, he responded to his detractors in a post this morning:
The Constitution was written more than 223 years ago, and despite the confidence various people have in their interpretation of the text, smart scholars of good faith continue to disagree about it.I remain cynical that his attempt to clarify will be framed in any other way than weak by his opponents. When conservatives invoke the Constitution they speak with an air of ownership. It is does not demean the document to recognize that over time it can lose its contextual meaning. After all, we do have amendments for a reason.
WE THE PEOPLE was writ large for a reason.
One of these days I'm gonna get me some fancy schooling and be smart too. Then I'll have better good faith and write more better than I used to could.
He died with his Jimmy Choo’s on.
I would really like to meet one of these folks in this neck of the woods.But they’re always somewhere else.Or else thet are smart enough to keep their mouth shut.
Happy New Year , 7 + 1
“After all, we do have amendments for a reason”
—Wow! You mean these amendment-thingies are there for a purpose? Who woulda thunk it??
Silly me, I thought unelected activist judges were simply supposed to declare whatever they want the law of the land to be...
I listened to about 30 seconds of this little snot nosed pretender.
NOT worth giving the time of day. Pretentous recent grad with dillusions of granduer.
Ezra Klein is one of the smarter Leftwingtards, but watch out for the drool.
The Constitution was written more than 223 years ago, and despite the confidence various people have in their interpretation of the text, smart scholars of good faith dumbasses continue to disagree about it.
P. S. Don't come back sheethead.
This is the lib loser who brought us JournoList...
JournoList: Ezra Klein’s Secretive Conspiracy
Journolist’s anti-Palin crusade of 2008
Journolist veers out of bounds
Ezra Klein Shuts Down Journolist In Wake Of Dave Weigel Resignation
“The Constitution was written more than 223 years ago, and despite the confidence various people have in their interpretation of the text, smart scholars of good faith continue to disagree about it.”
Smart scholars... Hmm, let’s see. Is Ezra Klein talking about Justice Scalia not getting it or Justice Sotomayer? Justice Roberts or Justice Kagan?
Ezra Klein needs to be taken outside and slapped.
IATZ...sigh.
LMAO. That didn’t take long. The Mods definitely deserve a cheese tray (and a whopping big bonus) for their tireless efforts swatting the trolls. Happy New Year and thanks for keeping FR cleaned up!
The stats for the college that Mr. Boy Genius originally attended (cough, cough):
Admissions Data (2009):
Percent of Applicants Admitted: 72%
Test Scores — 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 510 / 630
SAT Math: 520 / 640
SAT Writing: 510 / 620
ACT Composite: 22 / 27
ACT English: 21 / 27
ACT Math: 21 / 28
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/ucsc-santa-cruz.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Klein
Right back at you sir!
Obviously, IATZ.
Happy New Year, All.
Maybe of good faith, but certainly some of them (the liberals) are delusional and stupid. I used to believe this way as well, when I was more liberal. It is very clear, however, what the Constitution meant, if you compare it to the various States constitutions, and if you read what THEY ACTUALLY WROTE THEMSELVES about it. No doubt, however, that all sides started to twist and turn the Constitution, almost from the get-go. Both sides deviated from it when convenient, heck, even Jefferson. But it is fairly clear what they meant, back when it was written.
IATZ.
A well deserved ZOT! at that.
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