Monthly Archives: September 2012

Policy Brief on the NDAA

Posted on September 22, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

My latest policy brief for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding is now available. I went to their annual gala last weekend, and a smaller, more exclusive, luncheon on Sunday. There is something just a bit strange about being … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics in General | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Mormons: We Are the 46%

Posted on September 21, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

My friend just tipped me off to this map. In response to Romney’s complaint that almost half of Americans don’t pay federal income taxes–and his implication that they’re all Democrats–The NYT analyzed where the non-payers live. No surprise that it’s … Continue reading →

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How Will They Justify Gutting the First Amendment Now?

Posted on September 21, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

Liberals were outraged by the Citizens United Ruling that struck down restrictions on independent campaign expenditures. The Supreme Court ruling would allow corporations to buy the election outcomes they wanted, they said. Never mind that I, at least, never heard … Continue reading →

Posted in The Democratic Process | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

The Gerrymander

Posted on September 19, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

You may or may not know that the gerrymander is named after Massachusetts pol Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814). Gerry was one of only a handful of men who both signed the Declaration of Independence and was at the Constitutional Convention (but … Continue reading →

Posted in The Democratic Process | 3 Comments

Learning the Federal Budget Process

Posted on September 17, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

I’m writing a chapter for my American Gov’t anti-text on federal budget politics. I know the general outline of congress’s procedure but not enough to write an explanatory chapter, so my research project for the week (or two) is reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics in General | Tagged | 3 Comments

The First Victory Against the NDAA

Posted on September 14, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

On Wednesday, Judge Katherine Forrest of the U.S. District Court for the District of Southern New York issued a permanent injunction against the National Defense Authorization Act’s provisions allowing the executive branch to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens, without access to … Continue reading →

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Lincoln, Bush, and the Constitution

Posted on September 12, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

I’ve been invited to give a public talk tonight, at the William G. Thompson House Museum in Hudson, Michigan, about constitutional challenges during the Civil War and after 9/11. The House has a special display on Lincoln, the Constitution, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Bad Solutions: Term Limits Version

Posted on September 10, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

I received the following email from a family member today. Congressional Reform Act of 2011 1. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below. A. Two Six-year Senate terms B. Six Two-year House terms C. One Six-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

What Hayek Means

Posted on September 8, 2012 by J@m3z Aitch

[Note: This was my latest guest post at the League of Ordinary Gentlemen.] Apparently Hayek is in season again. James K discussed him just over a week ago, now Jason K (no relation, so far as we know) features him … Continue reading →

Posted in Economical Musings | 2 Comments