Posts

Showing posts from 2017

The Lame-Stream Media or How To Evaluate Claims of Bias

Republicans and conservatives seldom tire of lambasting the media for its bias against Republicans. In our age of over-quantification, "watchdog" groups assign scientific numbers to the bias. Like this article  from a while back about President Trump's first 100 days.  As President Trump approaches the end of his first 100 days in office, he has received by far the most hostile press treatment of any incoming American president, with the broadcast networks punishing him with coverage that has been 89% negative. The networks largely ignored important national priorities such as jobs and the fight against ISIS, in favor of a news agenda that has been dominated by anti-Trump controversies and which closely matches what would be expected from an opposition party.   Ratings Not Bias?  First, I wonder how much of the alleged bias can be explained simply by ratings. News organizations like CNN, Fox and MSNBC are for-profit. In depth point-counterpoint doesn't scream &q

Mr. President, There is No "Easy Button" For Governing

Image
Cometh now the latest leaks from the White House that President Trump is frustrated by the way the government works . In politics, we should all try to recognize the premise from which we start our arguments. I get the impression that Trump's premise is that ready-made solutions exist but Obama was just too [insert pejorative here] to implement these obvious solutions. What better illustration of this than his campaign slogan: Make America Great Again. Let's leave aside the issue of whether American is great (and therefore requires a return  to greatness). Instead, look at his specific policies for achieving this goal: 1. Win 2. Win some more 3. Get rid of immigrants who Republicans think are simultaneously stealing our jobs and too lazy to work   Would that it were that simple, Mr. President. Would that it were. 4. Win another one 5. And another one Ok, President Trump has neither specific policy proposals nor a coherent legislative plan to Make America Great

A True Originalist Would Decline the Supreme Court Nomination

President Trump nominated 10th Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court vacancy left by Nino Scalia's passing. With the snap of his tiny, orange fingers, President Trump has created drama. This is the seat that Former President Obama tried to fill with Merrick Garland but Republicans refused to  even meet  with man despite universal agreement that he was qualified. Democrats refer to it as the " stolen seat " and are understandably unmoved by Republican's shamefully hypocritical denouncement of Democrats as already being obstructionist. What about Neil though?    Gorsuch is being hailed as an  originalist . Originalism is a doctrine that favors looking to the original intent of the men who wrote the Constitution when interpreting it today. It relies on "plain reading" of the words that are actually in the Constitution rather than, say, made-up concepts like " penumbral rights ." For now, let's leave aside the very real possibility th