INTRODUCTION Part 1 of a 5 Part Series On September 24, 2019 I had a court matter in Dixon, IL. During the nearly two-hour drive I was able to listen to President Trump’s speech at the United Nations. (A video of President Trump’s UN speech can be found at the end of Trump at the […]
Congress Terminates Only Emergency Declaration Protecting US Citizens, Trump Vetos
The Legal Status of Presidential Emergency Powers In 1976, Congress passed the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651). It contains the following simple and straightforward language giving the President power to declare a national emergency: “With respect to acts of Congress authorizing the exercise, during the period of a national emergency, of any special or […]
America First: The MAGA Manifesto
Before Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January, 1776, no one in the British North American colonies would utter the word “Independence”. By July 4th, a little over six months later the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. In more recent times, the concept of placing America First was something like “independence”, not to […]
My Support for Judge Kavanaugh
Investigating President Trump’s nomination for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh brought back memories of law school and a nettlesome problem I observed in America. Here’s how I came to believe a Justice Kavanaugh will be good for America. As part of being on law review all members write a piece called a “note”. It’s […]
Supreme Court Upholds “Travel Ban” With “DUH”
There’s a legal phrase that an appellate court uses to say a lower court failed to follow the law: ABUSE OF DISCRETION It’s the legal equivalent of “DUH”. In his majority opinion for the United States Supreme Court that upheld President Trump’s limitations on travel to the United States in the case of Hawaii v. […]
Police Officer, Good Samaritan, Guardian Angel
It is said that every day of life is an important day because you can never have it back. None the less, it is clear when you look ahead on the calendar, some days loom as more important than others. Friday May 11, 2018 was to be more important than others. I was scheduled to […]
Is The OIG and Michael Horowitz Our Best Hope?
Our constitutional republic is predicated upon the rule of law. We stand to lose the republic and our freedoms when those who have been entrusted with power utilize that power, not for the public good, but rather for personal political gain. As we learn from the Declaration of Independence, “Governments are instituted among Men” to secure […]
Justice Gorsuch and the Rule of Law in His Own Words
“It is the role of judges to apply, not alter, the work of the people’s representatives.” Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch, January 31, 2017 (After his nomination on January 31, 2017, Neil Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 2017. The title of this piece was altered to reflect that.) Over the next few […]
Constitutional Impeachment: An Alternative to Assassination
The Constitution‘s Impeachment Clause regarding the president and all civil officers of the United States is in Article II and reads: “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” The Constitution’s Article […]
Trump continues to play Democrats like a fiddle
There are a couple of recent happenings that I would like to highlight here. First of all, the sight of Pelosi and Schumer trying so hard to remain relevant, is amusing to say the least. Pelosi is trying to talk tough, so that her supporters in congress, and more importantly the electorate, do not get […]