“Plaintiffs must realize that secrecy is yet another form of regulation, prescribing not ‘what the citizen may do’ but instead ‘what the citizen may know.’” US Appellate Court Judge Janice Rogers Brown “…the public has no interest in saving the government from the burdens of complying with the Constitution.” US District Court Judge Richard Leon […]
The First Republican Debate Group and the Constitution
President Obama has been criticized for overstepping constitutional boundaries with his governing approach dependent on his “pen” and his “phone”. The Supreme Court has made sweeping constitutional decisions regarding Obamacare and same sex marriage. Both the executive and the judiciary have been described as “lawless” in these and other contexts. That description principally addresses perceived […]
Constitution’s 22nd Amendment: Term Limits for the President
In 1797 President George Washington set a precedent that would not be broken for 143 years. He retired from office after two terms. In 1940 Franklin Roosevelt ran for and was elected to a third term. Roosevelt was the first to serve more than eight years, and his success resulted in the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment limiting […]
Howard Baker: A Profile in Courage We Need Today
The passing of Senator Howard Baker (R-TN) brings to mind a time when the US Congress was held in high esteem.[1]Senator Baker valued country above partisan politics. His passing provokes thoughts comparing the Congress of the 1970’s to the Congress of the 2010’s. A Distinguished Career Highlighted by a Famous Question Senator Baker served 18 […]
Curt Clawson Hits Right Tone, Not Just for SWFL but the Nation
On April 22, in a special primary election in Southwest Florida, Republican voters selected Curt Clawson as their nominee for the June 24th special election for the United States Congress. The campaign waged against Clawson had been perhaps among the most negative that the country has seen. His business record was falsely portrayed, and a false innuendo […]
Betrayed: The Story of Extortion 17 by the Father of a Navy SEAL
Review of Betrayed: The Shocking True Story of Extortion 17 On May 1, 2011, Aaron Carson Vaughn, member of America’s elite special operations force, Seal Team VI, called his father, Billy Vaughn and exclaimed: “Dad, we got him!” The elder Vaughn asked: “Got who, son?” Aaron Vaughn replied: “Who do you think? Go turn on […]
Three Court Cases That Should Doom Obamacare
Over 100 cases are in federal court challenging constitutional aspects of the Affordable Care Act. Most cases address a specific portion of the act and may alter a portion, but not overturn the entire law. Three cases have potential to doom the entire law. These cases involve the Constitution’s Origination Clause which requires that “…bills […]
What a President Can Legally Do with His Phone and Pen, Part II
David Frost: you’re saying is that there are certain situations … where the president can decide that it’s in the best interests of the nation or something, and do something illegal. Richard Nixon: Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.[1] “… if Congress won’t act soon … I will.” Barack Obama, […]
What a President Can Legally Do With a Pen and a Phone, Part I
President Obama brought national attention to the idea of running the country by “executive order” with his now famous: “I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone”. He made that intent clear during the 2013 and 2014 State of the Union Addresses as well: “… if Congress won’t act soon … I will… I will […]
ICYMI: DACA Goes To The Supreme Court
“[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed….” The United States Constitution: ARTICLE II, SECTION 3 There are a few other things going on besides impeachment. An example, the challenges to President Trump’s roll back of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) got debated at the Supreme Court on November […]