Another week of unpopular decisions, associated protests by the populace and, at last, some good news (in part) from the Gulf. Elena Kagan was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, following a 63-37 vote in favor. Ms Kagan is to be sworn in as the country’s 112th Justice later today. Regardless of her political stance, it is incredible that so many Senators could disregard her absolutely dismal performance at the three-day hearing. The fact that five Republicans voted in favor, including Lindsey Graham, is even more worrying. The other four were Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Richard Lugar of Indiana, and Olympia Snowe of Maine. Perhaps they would like to ban a few books, even though “government won’t really enforce it”.
To not enforce something totally unconstitutional would be a first for this administration, given its track record of imposing, or attempting to impose, legislation which contradicts the founding principles of the nation. Similarly, they have no interest in supporting those who do uphold the laws of the land.
I’m referring, of course, to the unanimous vote of no confidence in ICE Director John Morton, by the ICE Union. In a no-holds-barred letter from Union President Chris Crane, he describes how their mission has been skewed toward amnesty, how they are prevented from making arrests, other than in jail settings, and the Obama administration’s guidelines on detention centers, which provide bingo nights, dance lessons and plant hanging. Searching of detainees is not allowed, creating the potential for possession of guns and drugs which poses a risk to ICE agents and contract guards.
I know nothing about Mr Morton, and I would not launch an assault on the man as I believe his hands have been well-and-truly tied by Obama’s administration. I would ask him to look to his conscience. He is employed by the people of the United States to uphold immigration laws and to protect legal residents from the results of uncontrolled immigration, ranging from violence to the drain on US resources. Have some courage, Mr Morton, and show support for your demoralized staff. Be a man, not a puppet for Obama and his minority-voter campaign.
It was another classic case of “We don’t care what America thinks, we’ll do it anyway” this week, with the ruling by Judge Vaughn Walker that the Proposition Eight ruling was unconstitutional. His verdict was based on the Fourteenth Amendment which states, in part, “nor to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws”. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the law only apply to marriage between a man and a woman?
Under Section 7 of the US Code, as at February 2010: “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word “marriage” means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word “spouse” refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife”. Therefore, Judge, same-sex couples do not have “equal protection” guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
A glimmer of good news this week, as BP seemed, at last, to have sealed the oil spill. While BP say that the fish in the area are perfectly safe to consume, many local fishermen who rely on this for their livelihood are not convinced. Who would you believe?
(Editor Dee is in for Skip today)
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