tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post2896224164186788231..comments2024-03-27T19:11:37.620-04:00Comments on You Don't Say: The Founders' dilemmasJohn McIntyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03559687583130468871noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-71487751131007692872009-11-12T02:07:55.421-05:002009-11-12T02:07:55.421-05:00Campaign finance reform will not be rendered uncon...Campaign finance reform will not be rendered unconstitutional unless and until the Supreme Court decides that money and speech are not the same. I don't know by what torturous route a previous court leapt to that bizarre conclusion, but that is what we as a nation live with today. Dorothy Parker, who for the record was not a member of the nation's highest court, once observed that there were some days when she felt very Russian, and wanted to sit atop a cold stove and moan all day.There are some Court decisions, and that was one of them, that make me want to rush to the kitchen.Patricia the Tersenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-41455420909256134572009-11-11T18:46:52.645-05:002009-11-11T18:46:52.645-05:00Bruce Robinson: The words adopted were indeed the ...Bruce Robinson: The words adopted were indeed the <i>words</i> adopted, but those who agree on words may know full well that they disagree on interpretations.John Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452247999156925669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-49028953510859236432009-11-11T15:48:13.318-05:002009-11-11T15:48:13.318-05:00Failures of imagination are indeed important, but ...Failures of imagination are indeed important, but failures of nerve are even more so: the inability to (as my Irish ancestors had it) take the bull by the tail and look the future in the face.John Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452247999156925669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-87655985115803271512009-11-11T15:18:38.432-05:002009-11-11T15:18:38.432-05:00The founding fathers did understand that the Const...The founding fathers did understand that the Constitution was the most basic and foundational of laws. If the meaning slips about here and there, it is a foundation of sand. We should keep that in mind. Whatever their differences in debate, what was adopted was - - what was adopted. The words had meanings that were known to them and they understood what they proposed. <br /><br />They also understood that changes might be desirable so they provided for amendment. They did not put in a clause that permitted for changing meanings of the words and structure of the document, they provided for changing the document through amendment. They didn't even provide for the courts to change the document, as has become popular in recent years.<br /><br />A last note - The Supreme Court is not empowered to have the last word on the Constitution as Chief Justice John Marshall commented. Each member of each branch is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and comporting themselves within its dictates. Were they to do this, we would not have had McCain-Feingold Campaign finance pass in hopes that President Bush would veto the bill. But President Bush was demonstrating his best "let's all get along" mindset when he signed the bill with the sure knowledge that The Supreme Court would toss out the sections that offended the First Amendment. Nobody took on their responsibilities. Until recently, when the Court began to exercise those responsibilities. We'll hear rending of garments and gnashing of teeth when they begin to recognize the unconstitutionality of limiting free political speech, but we will be a more free nation for it.Bruce Robinsonhttp://www.brucesbasementbooks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-34273190066133646112009-11-11T14:22:56.671-05:002009-11-11T14:22:56.671-05:00Thanks, John, for making me aware of this book. I ...Thanks, John, for making me aware of this book. I will grab it for reading over the holidays.<br /><br />Isn't a failure of imagination at the root of our problems today, too? So many who cite the founders' intent seem to have decided that, because they themselves are virtuous and correct, the founders' intent must align perfectly with their own views.Cliff Tyllicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6051744883907551402.post-48029439253678935152009-11-11T13:44:22.666-05:002009-11-11T13:44:22.666-05:00The lament about how "even those delegates wh...The lament about how "even those delegates who saw slavery as a great evil..." implies that any but a very few of these gentlemen had even the most remote interest that we might actually "live together in freedom an equality". <br /><br />Dig out your DVD of the play "1776" and fast forward to the scene when the Southern gentlemen regale us with "Cool, Cool Considerate Men".<br /><br />MrRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com