Day: June 28, 2012

States Rights And Taxation: Chief Justice John Roberts Asserts Federal Authority And The Right To Tax

Ronald 1 Comment

Republicans are furious with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who has made it clear that he believes in federal authority, as on health care and immigration, and also in the right to tax for the public good.

Expect that there will be calls for his resignation, not that he will listen!

Expect that he will get death threats, and that right wing talk show hosts and Fox News Channel will stir up animosity, as he is seen as a “traitor” to the President (George W. Bush) and the party that gave him the prestigious position as Chief Justice!

But Roberts has the potential to be a statesman in the long run if he continues to defy the party that promoted him, and does what is right to do–fight states rights, and assert the right to tax!

Salute To Ted Kennedy: There Must Be Celebration In Heaven Right Now!

Ronald 1 Comment

At this moment of great excitement and pride at what President Barack Obama and the Democrats have accomplished, it is appropriate to stop and pay tribute to the late Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who fought the good fight for health care for decades, and lived long enough to see progress being made on the road to the present legislation.

While Ted Kennedy would have wished for better legislation, the Affordable Health Care Act is still a great triumph, with the possibility of improvements over time.

But there are so many aspects of this legislation that will benefit millions of Americans, and finally have America catch up with the rest of the “civilized world”, in promoting decent, available health care for all Americans over time!

The battle to keep what has been accomplished cannot be complete until the right wing Tea Party Movement and fellow Republicans who are nasty, mean spirited, and heartless beyond belief, are removed from the ability to promote chaos and anarchy, as the Republican House has been doing now for 18 months, making them the worst Congress in American history!

Some might point out that rich people have no concern about those not wealthy. That is certainly true of some, but Ted Kennedy was rich, and he CARED about those less fortunate.

Ted Kennedy and Mitt Romney both came from Massachusetts, but they are polar opposites on caring about average Americans, while both being rich!

One wonders why Mitt Romney has so little concern about average Americans, while Ted Kennedy really cared!

Could it be their political philosophy separates them, the vast difference between the “WE” attitude of Democrats and the “ME” attitude of Republicans?

In any case, there must be a celebration in heaven going on right now, with Ted Kennedy having a great time, proud of his nation, his political party, his President, and even Chief Justice John Roberts and the four Democratic appointments to the Supreme Court!

The Persecution Of Chief Justice John Roberts Begins: Threats Of 2nd Amendment “Remedies”!

Ronald 1 Comment

Chief Justice John Roberts was a true “profile in courage” this morning in siding with the four Democratic appointees on the Supreme Court, and upholding the Obama Health Care law.

Roberts, despite his other shortcomings in the minds of progressives, including reaffirming the Citizens United case in another case involving Montana this week, has shown open mindedness on the immigration issue, and now on the health care issue.

He is concerned about the image of the Supreme Court, trying to avoid making it an overly partisan body, as it was in the Bush V. Gore case of 2000, which seriously damaged the image of the Supreme Court.

Roberts has a sense of history, and two Harvard Law School professors, Laurence Tribe and Walter Dellinger, correctly came to the conclusion that he would do what he did today.

Roberts, appointed by George W. Bush in 2005, has shown growth and great insight, and if he continued along the road he showed this week on immigration and health care, he could rank among the great Chief Justices by the time he retires in the next 20 years or so, considering he was appointed to the Court at age 50.

It would be great if long term, we could say Roberts ranks with John Jay, John Marshall, Charles Evans Hughes, and Earl Warren. He has begun the first steps along that road!

But he will have to bear severe criticism and bitter attacks from Republicans in Congress, and hateful right wing talk show hosts. He should be proud of defying them, and doing the right thing, and being insulated on the Court, he can suffer the attacks without having to comment on them.

But it is sad and scary that some right wing nuts talk about a Second Amendment “remedy”, implying bloodshed and violence against, maybe, President Obama, or Chief Justice Roberts, or really anyone who believes that all Americans are entitled to good health care!

The government needs to step up infiltration of right wing groups who are actively plotting to bring about a Fascist takeover, and are ready and willing, through militia groups, to plot the death of our leaders for having principles and morals and strong beliefs!

Right now, we can pray for the safety and good health of President Obama, Chief Justice John Roberts, and all good people who believe in humanity, social justice, and common decency!

FANTASTIC VICTORY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, PROGRESSIVES, AND BARACK OBAMA!

Ronald 5 Comments

America can celebrate June 28, 2012 as one of the greatest days in the history of American reform, joining with the victories for Social Security under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, and Medicare under Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965!

Barack Obama will go down as easily the greatest President, at least in domestic affairs, since LBJ!

America is finally coming into the 21st century on health care, and the decision of the Supreme Court is the most important decision of the Court in the past decade, and will reverberate throughout American history, and insure the victory of Barack Obama to a second term as President in November!

Social justice and humanity won out in this decision, and it advances American values of fairness, equity, and decency, and becomes institutionalized as part of the “American Dream”, which can be restored by a sound defeat of the Republicans and Tea Party right wing radicals in Congress this November!

But even if the opposition triumphs through their spending of inordinate amounts of money, and trying to suppress the vote, and wins control of both houses of Congress, Barack Obama will be there to stop their negativism and retreat with his veto!

So this is a day to celebrate, the most important day of this year, except for the Presidential Election Day on November 6!