As regular VC readers know, I’m a big fan of the Godfather movies and book (see here and here). So I was interested to learn from this post by Eric Muller that President Bush apparently calls Attorney General Alberto Gonzales “Fredo,” after the hapless Fredo Corleone, son of the Don and elder brother of Michael. […]
Archive | July, 2007
Big Box Takings:
Duncan Currie of the Weekly Standard has a useful article on the increasing use of eminent domain to acquire land for major “big box” chain stores, such as Costco and Wal Mart. He quotes a letter from Costco Senior Vice President Joel Benoliel defending the practice: [I]n places like California, Redevelopment Districts with bonding authority […]
Conversion from Islam:
Egypt’s Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa — described by Agence France Press as “Egypt’s official religious advisor” wrote last week in a Newsweek/Washington Post “On Faith” forum: The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can, because the Quran says,
Lawsuit Challenging Qualifications of Deputy Patent & Trademark Office Director:
The complaint is here; it alleges that Deputy PTO Director Margaret Peterlin lacks the statutorily required “professional background and experience in patent or trademark law.” I can’t speak to whether the deputy director in fact lacks such background and experience. Her biography doesn’t stress much of it, though it points to quite substantial general legal […]
Eric Muller Weighs in on Getsy v. Mitchell:
Over at IsThatLegal.
Farm Subsidy “Reform” Bill to Limit Subsidies to Couples Making $2 Million.–
Congress is considering increasing farm subsidies, but limiting the ability of couples making over $2 million a year to collect them: A prominent San Francisco patron of the arts, Constance Bowles — heiress of an early California cattle baron, widow of a former director of UC Berkeley’s Bancroft library and a resident of Pacific Heights […]
The New Court Packing Plan:
On the op-ed page of the New York Times, Jean Edward Smith argues that if the Roberts Court keeps on its current path, a future Democratic President and Democratic Congress should consider a court-packing plan and add Justices to ensure a liberal majority on the Supreme Court. This might be necessary, Smith contends, because the […]
Fundraiser for Lost Pants Defendants:
Peter Lattman reports on a Tuesday night fundraiser for Jin and Soo Chung, the defendants in the infamous lawsuit Judge Roy Pearson over an allegedly missing pair of pants. Lattman reports that the fundraiser produced $64,000 toward the Chungs’ accrued legal bills of $83,000. Lattman also reports that Pearson has indicated that he will appeal […]
Judge Merritt’s Puzzling Dissent in Getsy v. Mitchell:
I agree with my co-blogger Jonathan that the en banc Sixth Circuit was correct in reversing the panel decision in Getsy v. Mitchell. I realize that different people will disagree about the death penalty. But as a matter of binding law, I don’t see this case as even remotely close. In my view, the key […]
Giant Space Aliens Consume Newspaper!
American Media, Inc. announced it will cease print publication of the nation’s most informative supermarket tabloid, the Weekly World News, citing “challenges in the retail and wholesale magazine marketplace that have impacted the newsstand.” Experts speculate the real reason may be an infestation of giant, blood-sucking earthworms. Thankfully, the WWN website will continue for the […]
Junk Social Science Column:
Today’s Washington Times contains my column co-authored with Gail Heriot about the peculiar congressional subcommittee hearing last week where I testified, ostensibly on the subject of “Medical Debt and Bankruptcy.” The column, entitled “Juck Social Science Index,” is available here.
Richard Carmona’s Political Science:
Earlier this month, former Bush Surgeon General Richard Carmona testified about political interference with his performance as Surgeon General. Carmona sought to portray himself as a medical professional interested in scientific fact who was pressured and obstructed by ideologically motivated political appointees. Yet as Radley Balko reports, Carmona has a political science problem of his […]
Debating Climate Law & Policy at ACS:
On Friday morning, I will be participating in a panel discussion on “Climate Change and Other ‘Hot’ Topics” at the Fifth Annual National Convention of the American Constitution Society. Other panelists will include former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, Georgetown’s Lisa Heinzerling, Douglas Kendall of Community Rights Counsel, and environmental attorney Al Meyerhoff. We will discuss […]
The Getsy Decision:
Jason Getsy was sentenced to death for his participation in a murder-for-hire. Getsy filed a federal habeas petition challenging his death sentence on various grounds, including the fact that John Santine, the man who hired Getsy, only received a life sentence. Though indicted jointly, Getsy and Santine were tried separately. The jury in Getsy’s case […]
“Gay Marriage” or “Same-Sex Marriage”?
I don’t have a strong preference for either formulation, and I’ve certainly used both in blog posts and in other contexts. Neither is wrong or offensive, as Eugene notes. But in most contexts, if forced to choose, all else being equal, I opt for gay marriage. I do so for two reasons. First, “gay” is […]