Because it was my sweet Brink's birthday I made a little trip to DC to take her to dinner. We ate at a very interesting restaurant, 1905. It is located upstairs at 1905 Q Street. Excellent food and French music.
Friday morning Brinkley went to work and Millie and I headed out on our jaunt. Our route is to go down Cathedral Ave. to Wisconsin and head to Georgetown. We turn off onto 37th Street, take a left on R and cross back over Wisconsin. If you have read the Camel Club books this is the area where all the action takes place and the location of the graveyard that Oliver Stone lives in. Take a left on Q and head across Rock Creek Park over the bridge with the buffalo onto Sheridan Circle. Then we head back up Massachusetts; Embassy Row. Millie was a little wild but by the time we headed up the hill she became much more calm...then as we passed the Japanese Embassy, where there were 8 VIP cars and many people apparently waiting for someone, Millie decides to deposit the byproduct of her last meal. I did not want to look at all the well dressed and very important looking men (no women at the Japanese Embassy). I proceeded to pick it up with a plastic bag and we moved on. I later found out they were waiting for the Foreign Minister of Japan who was about to be transported to the White House. Way to go Mil!
I joined Brink for lunch in the Senate cafeteria and we sat at a table next to Senator Kent Conrad from North Dakota. I love Senate Navy Bean Soup and had some...along with Senate fried chicken. I got to tour Senator Landrieu's office and meet many of the people Brink works with. Headed back to NC....miss my babies.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
THE Constitution
Today the 112th Congress convenes and the House Republicans will read aloud The Constitution. This should be very interesting since I doubt many of the readers have actually read the document and considered the accompanying history. Along with the reading of Madison's masterpiece , the Supreme Court's interpretation of the words must be considered. The court is granted the power in Article III to interpret the Constitution, thus their rulings become "the law of the land". Many of the tea party types, if they actually pay attention, will be very surprised at many of the things that they hear and don't hear. Will they understand the complicated historical and judicial context that must be considered along with the words?
When the Preamble is read what will they think when they hear "We the people in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, provide for the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America."? Provide for the general welfare?
Article I, section 8 is interesting. This is where the powers of Congress are listed (the enumerated or delegated powers). Some may be surprised that the very first power granted is "to lay and collect taxes". Clause 8 gives Congress the power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts"...interesting. Clause 11 may surprise many who are not aware that ONLY Congress can declare war. Gee that hasn't technically happened since December 8, 1941. THEN Article I, section 8, clause 18 will be read..."and Congress shall have the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." REALLY? Well, isn't that interesting. The Supreme Court ruled in McCulloch v Maryland that this clause meant that there were implied powers granted to Congress and they COULD pass laws that were not specifically stated but implied by clauses 1 through 17. Thus settling the argument over whether the Congress had the power to create a national bank. This ruling by the Court with the Tenth Amendment in place!
Nowhere in Article I does the word filibuster appear, and nowhere in the document is reference made to members of Congress having the power to block all bills that come before either House. The House and Senate can make their own rules and enforce them, and the filibuster is JUST a rule...not a constitutional mandated activity.
Article II, section 2 begins with the words "the President shall be the commander in chief..." The President, not the military commanders, head up the armed forces of the United States. General Douglas MacArthur and his many admirers were not aware of this, but President Truman set him straight and George Washington smiled from above.
Article IV, section 1 states, "Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state." Could this mean that a gay couple married in Massachusetts is still married in South Carolina, or Texas, or Kentucky? Then section 2 states "The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states." Oh drat, how could gays who are married in one state not be married in all states?
Article VI contains that pesky little supremacy clause which states "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land...
This document that so many wrap themselves in and refer to regarding any trivial political whim is a very complicated thing. Those who toiled through the hot, steamy Philadelphia summer of 1787 wished to create a nation that was markedly different from the monarchies of Europe and more clearly defined than the flimsy structure provided by the Articles of Confederation. They were for the most part nationalists trying to bring the states under the national government while protecting the individual, internal interests of each. Will those who stand in the Well of the House chamber read the original Document? Those who are so intent on the original intent of the founders might be surprised (or not) at the protection of slavery with the three-fifths clause, the prohibition to ending the importation of slaves before 1808, and the granting of power to the Congress to pass a fugitive slave law. The Senate was originally elected by the state legislatures. The original intent of the Founders was not to give people too much power...the people were feared (just in case you wonder why the Electoral College exists). Do we really want to go back to this mindset? Some actually do. The creation of the Constitution must be considered within the time period it was written and it must be followed through the pains of the ante-bellum period, the ravages of the Civil War, the societal upheavals of industrialization, the emergence of "modern" America, two world wars, and a devastating economic collapse in order to fully understand the meaning of Madison's masterpiece. The words must be fused with the changes of time. A single individual cannot dictate what the Constitution means...that constitutes an opinion. The Supreme Court determines what the august document means. Constitutional case law is a convoluted, complicated aspect of Constitutional history that must be understood in order to "know" the meaning of THE CONSTITUTION.
Oh, then there are the Amendments...I have to go jog, later.
When the Preamble is read what will they think when they hear "We the people in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, provide for the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America."? Provide for the general welfare?
Article I, section 8 is interesting. This is where the powers of Congress are listed (the enumerated or delegated powers). Some may be surprised that the very first power granted is "to lay and collect taxes". Clause 8 gives Congress the power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts"...interesting. Clause 11 may surprise many who are not aware that ONLY Congress can declare war. Gee that hasn't technically happened since December 8, 1941. THEN Article I, section 8, clause 18 will be read..."and Congress shall have the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." REALLY? Well, isn't that interesting. The Supreme Court ruled in McCulloch v Maryland that this clause meant that there were implied powers granted to Congress and they COULD pass laws that were not specifically stated but implied by clauses 1 through 17. Thus settling the argument over whether the Congress had the power to create a national bank. This ruling by the Court with the Tenth Amendment in place!
Nowhere in Article I does the word filibuster appear, and nowhere in the document is reference made to members of Congress having the power to block all bills that come before either House. The House and Senate can make their own rules and enforce them, and the filibuster is JUST a rule...not a constitutional mandated activity.
Article II, section 2 begins with the words "the President shall be the commander in chief..." The President, not the military commanders, head up the armed forces of the United States. General Douglas MacArthur and his many admirers were not aware of this, but President Truman set him straight and George Washington smiled from above.
Article IV, section 1 states, "Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state." Could this mean that a gay couple married in Massachusetts is still married in South Carolina, or Texas, or Kentucky? Then section 2 states "The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states." Oh drat, how could gays who are married in one state not be married in all states?
Article VI contains that pesky little supremacy clause which states "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land...
This document that so many wrap themselves in and refer to regarding any trivial political whim is a very complicated thing. Those who toiled through the hot, steamy Philadelphia summer of 1787 wished to create a nation that was markedly different from the monarchies of Europe and more clearly defined than the flimsy structure provided by the Articles of Confederation. They were for the most part nationalists trying to bring the states under the national government while protecting the individual, internal interests of each. Will those who stand in the Well of the House chamber read the original Document? Those who are so intent on the original intent of the founders might be surprised (or not) at the protection of slavery with the three-fifths clause, the prohibition to ending the importation of slaves before 1808, and the granting of power to the Congress to pass a fugitive slave law. The Senate was originally elected by the state legislatures. The original intent of the Founders was not to give people too much power...the people were feared (just in case you wonder why the Electoral College exists). Do we really want to go back to this mindset? Some actually do. The creation of the Constitution must be considered within the time period it was written and it must be followed through the pains of the ante-bellum period, the ravages of the Civil War, the societal upheavals of industrialization, the emergence of "modern" America, two world wars, and a devastating economic collapse in order to fully understand the meaning of Madison's masterpiece. The words must be fused with the changes of time. A single individual cannot dictate what the Constitution means...that constitutes an opinion. The Supreme Court determines what the august document means. Constitutional case law is a convoluted, complicated aspect of Constitutional history that must be understood in order to "know" the meaning of THE CONSTITUTION.
Oh, then there are the Amendments...I have to go jog, later.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Case of the Missing Decorations
When we began hauling out the Christmas decor to plaster our new Pitt house with holiday tack three years ago, we discovered that some of our favorite stuff was missing. We searched everywhere but no luck. Last year we looked again but gave up assuming that the box either never made it onto the moving truck or never made it off. We got over it....BUT then Halloween came this year and the lovely non-scary decorations were pulled out. Alas, a box, of our FAVORITE things could not be found. This box was here last year...but it had disappeared. Now I ask you, what is going on here? If this keeps up we will be decoration deficient.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Thanks...
While jogging this morning and contemplating turning the house into a Christmas wonderland I thought about what a nice Thanksgiving we had with our girls...I am thankful for so many things...
...thankful for my Pat, my love and partner for life
...thankful for my two wonderful daughters who I love more than life itself. Two journeys
that began at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta continue to blossom and grow.
...thankful for my brother, Bruz, who I love and who always amazes me.
...thankful for Kristy and Diana, my sisters by choice.
...thankful for my pal Katrina who never judges me when I am grumpy and is always there.
...thankful for all the experiences that have made up my life so far; preparing me for changes and challenges and moving forward.
...thankful for my Pat, my love and partner for life
...thankful for my two wonderful daughters who I love more than life itself. Two journeys
that began at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta continue to blossom and grow.
...thankful for my brother, Bruz, who I love and who always amazes me.
...thankful for Kristy and Diana, my sisters by choice.
...thankful for my pal Katrina who never judges me when I am grumpy and is always there.
...thankful for all the experiences that have made up my life so far; preparing me for changes and challenges and moving forward.
...thankful for all the wonderful people I call friends.
...Oh, and thankful for at least one half of a fabulous Bama over Auburn football game. I am sure all the Auburn fans are thankful for the other half.
...Oh, and thankful for at least one half of a fabulous Bama over Auburn football game. I am sure all the Auburn fans are thankful for the other half.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
A Connecticut Yankee in King Roy's Court....
We attended a realtor event last night and Lennie Rosenbluth was there! Who the heck is that you say...Well he played for the Tar Heels on the 1957 NCAA Championship Team coached by Frank McGuire, and he is at least a 100 (not really, but close). His wife must be a realtor.
Well, when the event was over everyone went to the bar to continue...whatever. Several of us began talking with a man at the bar who was from, you guessed it, Connecticut. Naturally the conversation turned to basketball and of course he had to confess that he was a UConn fan. After the booing subsided our broker, Randy, informed him that we (Pat and me) were bulldogs...it got a little confusing at this point because I had just said how lovely Connecticut was...The man asked me if we were alumni...I'm thinking, huh? I went on to say, "No just him", pointing to Pat...at this point the man said, "And New Haven is a really nice place too". I agreed, but was quite confused. "When did he", pointing to Pat, "Graduate from Yale"? "Yale"? I said, thinking where in the heck did Yale come from. "Yeah, Yale Bulldogs". "Oh no, Georgia Bulldogs" I said. The man looked puzzled as though he had never heard of the Georgia Bulldogs. If that doesn't put things in perspective, I don't know what does.
Well, when the event was over everyone went to the bar to continue...whatever. Several of us began talking with a man at the bar who was from, you guessed it, Connecticut. Naturally the conversation turned to basketball and of course he had to confess that he was a UConn fan. After the booing subsided our broker, Randy, informed him that we (Pat and me) were bulldogs...it got a little confusing at this point because I had just said how lovely Connecticut was...The man asked me if we were alumni...I'm thinking, huh? I went on to say, "No just him", pointing to Pat...at this point the man said, "And New Haven is a really nice place too". I agreed, but was quite confused. "When did he", pointing to Pat, "Graduate from Yale"? "Yale"? I said, thinking where in the heck did Yale come from. "Yeah, Yale Bulldogs". "Oh no, Georgia Bulldogs" I said. The man looked puzzled as though he had never heard of the Georgia Bulldogs. If that doesn't put things in perspective, I don't know what does.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
What did I tell you.....
....Michael Bloomberg and Joe Scarborough are thinking about an independent run for the Presidency and Vice! Veeery interesting I say. I am ready to abandon the idealogical left and support pragmatic politics. Bloomberg comes out of the progressive Republican politics in New York and Scarborough comes out of the South but is fed up and turned off by the current political sideshow called the Republican Party. Change!? Oh yes, it is time for change. FLUSH I say and FLUSH it good!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Presumed Intelligent
I have finally figured out what went wrong...why didn't Obama counter the ridiculous rhetoric of the WRRRIGHT prior to the election? Silly, not born in America, man; you thought most people would know that the teabag crowd was ill informed and really did not know what they were talking about. You presumed those who voted would figure this out....huh?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
News from the Pitt
I know there are those of you out there who are just dying to know the news from Pittsboro. Well, let's see...The Neighborhood School/Pizza Takeout has morphed into an Italian Restaurant, Bella Donna's. I think the little school is still there too. We have ordered takeout and it was really good. We missed the Street Fair this year because we were in Atlanta, but understand it was as good as ever. They have put a temporary roof on the Courthouse and taken down the scaffolding. It looks a little bit better. The county is still deciding what to do. A Japanese takeout is going to open soon and most are very excited. (there are very few fast food places)
The political situation is grim, at least from my standpoint. The Dems lost all contested seats on the county commission, and Bob Etheridge is behind in the vote for the 2nd District Congressional seat. There will be a recount but it does not look good for Bob. So much for the Blue State euphoria I have been in for the past two years.
Katrina and I made a pledge on this blog back in January that we were getting in shape....well we have persevered. We can count on one hand/paw the number of times we have not exercised. Walking became "wogging", and now we are jogging! Four Miles! Many (maybe 70) pounds have been left on Pitt asphalt. We are not finished, 15 more pounds!!! This could explain the lack of posts...too tired.
Pat ran the car, aka Shamu, into a pole of some sort last Sunday and smashed the entire front. He blamed it on the sun. Good thing we have good insurance.
Our homeowners association is at it again; war has been declared on solar panels. Since we have all been transported back to the 19th Century we must remember that energy conservation does not exist.
The political situation is grim, at least from my standpoint. The Dems lost all contested seats on the county commission, and Bob Etheridge is behind in the vote for the 2nd District Congressional seat. There will be a recount but it does not look good for Bob. So much for the Blue State euphoria I have been in for the past two years.
Katrina and I made a pledge on this blog back in January that we were getting in shape....well we have persevered. We can count on one hand/paw the number of times we have not exercised. Walking became "wogging", and now we are jogging! Four Miles! Many (maybe 70) pounds have been left on Pitt asphalt. We are not finished, 15 more pounds!!! This could explain the lack of posts...too tired.
Pat ran the car, aka Shamu, into a pole of some sort last Sunday and smashed the entire front. He blamed it on the sun. Good thing we have good insurance.
Our homeowners association is at it again; war has been declared on solar panels. Since we have all been transported back to the 19th Century we must remember that energy conservation does not exist.
Football...I'm outta here!
Cam Newton being allowed to play for Auburn last night was bad enough, but the "second coming" reception he got by the fans was just a bit ridiculous. (I wonder how many of those adoring fans are also fans of Beck, Limbaugh, & Palin.)
Here's the thing...anyone who thinks Urban Meyer and the gator nation would get rid of someone as good as Cam Newton if something were not terribly wrong, hasn't been watching SEC football. Yes, the charges of stealing, cheating, etc are allegations, but like Georgia and UNC, Auburn should have kept Newton on the bench or in the locker room until the mess was sorted out.
This is NOT like the Duke lacrosse scandal!!!! CBS announcers were ridiculous in their over the top effort to minimize the seriousness of the situation. If Newton had left Florida I could see how people might say this was a setup....but he was kicked out!!!!!! Mississippi State has nothing to gain by making public their belief that father Newton was shopping his son...too many people, too many allegations.
Bama better do really well next week in the Iron Bowl, especially during the first half when Auburn is crippled.
Here's the thing...anyone who thinks Urban Meyer and the gator nation would get rid of someone as good as Cam Newton if something were not terribly wrong, hasn't been watching SEC football. Yes, the charges of stealing, cheating, etc are allegations, but like Georgia and UNC, Auburn should have kept Newton on the bench or in the locker room until the mess was sorted out.
This is NOT like the Duke lacrosse scandal!!!! CBS announcers were ridiculous in their over the top effort to minimize the seriousness of the situation. If Newton had left Florida I could see how people might say this was a setup....but he was kicked out!!!!!! Mississippi State has nothing to gain by making public their belief that father Newton was shopping his son...too many people, too many allegations.
Bama better do really well next week in the Iron Bowl, especially during the first half when Auburn is crippled.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
OFF Year elections...
I have many things to say about the outcome of the 2010 off year elections, but here is THE most important thing to come out of this mess...RAND PAUL. He is not really a Democrat or a Republican...HE is the one person best articulating the reason for the results. People better be paying attention. Our political system is ripe for the emergence of a third party movement like never before.
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