Be Thankful for the Fourth Amendment!

The Supreme Court issued three different opinions in this case, but I really think the Court made the right decision on this case of police putting GPS tracking devices on suspects cars without first obtaining a warrant.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 

Watch Want to Use a GPS-Tracking Device? Get a Warrant, Supreme Court Tells Police on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

MLK Was More Than a Dreamer

MLK Was More Than a Dreamer:
In the years since his assassination I have been troubled by what I consider to be the co-opting of Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision. What has troubled me over the years is how his revolutionary message has been hijacked, compromised and relegated to being that of just a dreamer.

People are comfortable with dreamers. Why? Dreamers are safe and in a restful state. Dreamers are docile and easy to manipulate. To cast King in the light of a dreamer allows people to be convinced that substantive change resulting from clear vision and direct action is not necessary.

Read full article...

Why can't we have civil discourse in our politics?

For those of you thinking about the themes of civil discourse, compromise, political parties, etc. this article just posted by USA Today  is a must-read.  I actually think it is good for everyone to read.

After Giffords shooting, civility still elusive: One year later, Americans and their elected leaders still struggle to show each other respect when opinions differ.

From a previous posting, here are some links that deal with the issue on modern American politics.

President Obama Asks Americans to Reflect on How We Talk to Each Other

Last school year, I showed most of the speech.  If you are interested in watching it, here it is:


University of Arizona to Open Civility Institute - NYTimes.com

http://nicd.arizona.edu/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/publicmedia_01-13.html?print=

Evaluating 2011 for Obama' - and Congress

The conservative Washington Times criticizes Obama for making America weaker in 2011.

On the other hand, National Public Radio ran a story yesterday claiming After A Year of Struggles, Obama Finds His Footing.  One note in his favor after a very hard year is that his poll numbers have risen a bit since the battle with House Republicans over the bill to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for another two months.  Gallup: Obama's approval rating at 5-month high

Obama has been putting a lot of the blame on Congress - more specifically Republicans in Congress for not being willing to compromise.  As the New York Times reports this morning, running against Congress will be a part of his election year strategy.

Was Congress that bad?  Well, I might be biased, but I think the polls showing the approval rating for Congress at about 12% tell us a lot.  NPR also ran a very interesting story asking experts to evaluate the job Congress has done in the past year.  This Year In Congress: Much Drama, Little To Show

How would you evaluate the job the President and Congress have done?

News of Interest from Dec 24

Some news stories that caught my attention:

Justice Dept. Cites Race in Halting Law Over Voter ID

By CHARLIE SAVAGE

The department said a new South Carolina law that would require voters to present photo identification would disproportionately suppress turnout among eligible minority voters.

Obama Challenges Provisions in Budget Bill

By CHARLIE SAVAGE

When President Obama signed a budget bill on Friday, he issued a signing statement claiming a right to bypass dozens of provisions that placed requirements or restrictions on the executive branch, saying he had “well-founded constitutional objections” to the new statutes.

The Death of a Tyrant - Kim Jung-il

Only the second leader of communist North Korea, Kim Jung-il died yesterday at age 69.  Most believe he will be succeeded by his son, Kim Jung-un.  The first leader of communist North Korea was Kim Jung-il's father.

University of Arizona to Open Civility Institute - NYTimes.com

University of Arizona to Open Civility Institute - NYTimes.com

http://nicd.arizona.edu/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/publicmedia_01-13.html?print=

Notice here, one simple example.  Republican Senator Lindsay Graham refers to Obama's new regulatory agency as "something out of the Stalin era":

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Michael Jackson's doctor sentenced

From NBC news:

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He was convicted of manslaughter defined as: the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.

Was justice done in this case?

WA Legislature Special Session Begins With Turmoil

Monday, the State Legislature was back for a "special session" that was called by Governor Christine Gregoire to deal with the $2 billion dollar budget shortfall.

That is $2 billion more than they expected when they passed the budget in the spring, which already made deep cuts in state government programs such as K-12 education, state universities, and health care services for the state's poorest residents.

So, lots of people showed up to protest the state making any more cuts.  Here was the scene at the State Capitol on Monday:


Last week, Governor Gregoire gave a forceful, and passionate speech urging the legislature to increase the state sales tax by 1/2 cent to cover some of the shortfall.  The legislature can't do that with a simple majority however, so Gregoire has asked them to put it on the ballot as a referendum to be voted on by the people of WA in March.




I'm with the Gregoire on this one, except in my perfect world, the solution would be to institute a state income tax, which would fall most heavily on those able to pay.  A sales tax hurts the poor, unemployed, and lower middle classes much more.

What do you think the government should do?  Do you think the legislature will raise taxes, or make deeper cuts? 

No Deal from the Super Committee

Thanks for nothing Congress.  Of course this isn't over because new legislation can replace the legislation calling for the automatic spending cuts triggered by the committee's failure.  The cuts don't begin to take effect until 2013, and cooperation may be easier after the election.

From the USA Today:  Panel's inability to cut debt deal reflects divide

From the NBC Nightly News:

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Super Committee Standoff?

Prospects look dim for a budget deal to be reached by the November 23rd deadline:

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UC Davis - Police Use Pepper Spray on Passive, Non-Violent student protesters

The video of seemingly indefensible police action:





The police claim they were surrounded and the protesters would not move.  From the CBS news article:

"according to Annette Spicuzza, UC Davis police chief...police used the pepper spray after they were surrounded. Protesters were warned repeatedly beforehand that force would be used if they didn't move, she said.

Meanwhile in Seattle, as a part of the Occupy Seattle protests:

An 84-year-old woman who was pepper sprayed this week at an Occupy Seattle protest said the national attention she received can help the movement's cause. 

This info is taken from an article from CBS news you can connect to here.

Supreme Court to Hear Legal Challenge to Health Care Law

Note:  I will try to get a brief summary of the law and the controversy surrounding it posted here soon.

The signing of the law was a high moment for the Obama Administration, which promised to solve many of the problems plaguing the American health care system, including estimates that 47 million Americans don't have health care insurance.

However, many conservatives, especially "Tea Party" activists thought the law went too far and challenged the constitutionality of it in court.  Those challenges have quickly worked their way through the system and Monday, the Supreme Court, announced its decision to hear the case in March of 2012.

The NBC Evening News report:

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You can also read more detailed coverage from the New York Times:

Justices to Hear Health Care Case as Race Heats Up

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in GPS Tracking Case

One of the more controversial cases of the Supreme Court term was heard this past week.

Below NBC has a short report on the case, and the oral arguments made before the Court.

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Two more detailed sources on the case:

From the NY Times:

Court Casts a Wary Eye on Tracking by GPS

In an argument studded with references to George Orwell’s “1984” and the possibility that rapid advances in technology would soon allow the government to monitor everyone’s movements, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struggled to articulate how the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures should apply to the tracking of cars using GPS devices. The fit between 18th-century principles and 21st-century surveillance seemed to leave several justices frustrated.

From the NewsHour on PBS:

Americans Coming Home from Iraq - What will be the legacy?

This question is posed by the following report from NBC news:

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Gadhafi Killed in Libya - War is Over

Now the nation of Libya must work to unify under new leadership, after the end of 42 years of authoritarian rule by Gadhafi. A look back at his reign by PBS:

Watch Looking Back at Gadhafi's Brutal, Sometimes Bizarre 42-Year Reign on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

E-Verify bill opens new front in debateTimes Newspaper

Good idea or a way to hassle immigrants?

Opinions vary on this law enacted by Congress, but the Governor of Washington thinks proposed changes would hurt the farming business in our state.

E-Verify bill opens new front in debate over immigration | Seattle Times Newspaper

Costco's $22 million sets record for initiative spending

What does it say that Costco is willing to spend this much money to pass this initiative?

Politics Northwest | Costco's $22 million sets record for initiative spending | Seattle Times Newspaper

MLK Memorial Finally Dedicated

A summary of the dedication ceremony from the NewsHour on PBS:

Watch Obama, Civil Rights Leaders Formally Dedicate MLK Memorial on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

More complete remarks from Civil Rights icon John Lewis - Freedom Rider and now Congressman from Georgia:

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Interesting Article on Romney

An interesting portrait of Mitt Romney's faith and how it has influenced his life and work. I found it to be generally positive, portraying Governor Romney as a caring and dedicated person.  From today's N.Y. Times:

The Long Run: For Romney, a Role of Faith and Authority

From 1981 through 1994, Mitt Romney operated as clergyman, organization man
and defender of the Mormon faith.