1 What is "Here comes the Judge"?

2 That's a cute Match-Box car.

3 Hear ye, hear ye...All seeking justice draw nigh and get screwed

4

Btw, that car ROCKS!

5 Our Political Class is bereft of the notions of Honour and Duty.

6 But our Frodo is taking the Ring straight to Soros- I mean Sauron.

7 GTO's were lawbreakers

8

Btw, that car ROCKS!

Until you hit a turn.

9 I love that car.  I really, really, really love that car.

10 ...and if you can't afford an attorney one will be appointed to you

11 Reminds me of My Cousin Vinny.

12

Until you hit a turn.

Posted by: garrett at January 22, 2011 04:35 PM

Get a beef-up anti-sway bar...

It's what all the really arrogant judges do.

13 All this talk about rules  I got your rules right here.   when the deal goes down .. well you know


http://tinyurl.com/ylx3anh

14
If the photo is a '69 GTO Judge, they really fucked up the paint match?

15

General Lee > GTO Judge

16 Very well written.....Very well said.

17 So does that make George Washington equal to Bilbo Baggins? Or vice versa? The only man to refuse to be a king, vs the only Ring-bearer to cast it aside voluntarily?

18 If that Goat is the the Judge, General Lee is the Supreme Court.

19
The General Lee car was a Dodge Charger!

20 That'll get thier "Goat".

21

Have a friend that Only rebuilds these cars .-back  to factory, as a hobby.

I always thought meh, hell they aren't even a vette. but i guess He makes big bucks off of his hobby.

22
The General Lee car was a Dodge Charger!

thanks, Spurwing.

23 Oh, and to the rest of the Post? everyone forgot.

24  Oh, and to the rest of the Post? everyone forgot.

Posted by: willow at January 22, 2011 04:48 PM (h+qn

Do you also give quizzes on the contents of playboy articles?

25

Although I was distracted by the muscle car, this was a great article. Tempest at Dawn by James Best did a pretty good job of depicting what the Framers were trying to accomplish.

 

 rd is right. They did not anticipate the fucking scumbags who would find themselves in power with this system.

26

Do you also give quizzes on the contents of playboy articles?

Posted by: robtr at January 22, 2011 04:50 PM (hVDig)

why yes, I ask my husband , "was it good"?

27

re Judges:

 These self-indulgent despots have abandoned what it means to be a judge. Their open disinterest in impartiality and upholding the law--documented easily enough--is a clear violation of their oath, and, in my view, it is grounds for removal from office.

So that we don't get run over.

 

 

yes.

28 Tempest at Dawn by James Best

So it really was all about the Pontiacs, then.

29

OK, I'm a retard... Why is this group of photos of a GTO going along with this blog post?

Is there a connection I'm missing?

Help a retard out.

30

The Founders put protections in place, which we have allowed the Federal Government to take away.

The Senate, being the direct representatives of the States, were supposed to be ONE check on Federal Power.

And the RIGHT to Petition for redress, and for Grand Jurys to be able to investigate, were in place to keep Government empolyees in check.

Yet now? The Right to petition for redress has been diluted through Court rulings by the whole "standing" issue...  (when a citizen can't even sue to see the Presidents Birth Cert, to ensure he is not wasting his vote?).

And Grand Jurys are now nothing more than an arm of Prosecutors, not the independent bodies they origioinaly were.

Add in that you cannot sue ANY Government Official for NOT doing their Job?

And there is no longer any avenue for the common citizen to Force the Government to abide by the Rule of Law.... for when ONLY the Government has a say in what Law is (Prop 8 in California is a great example) then the Government WILL, overtime, overstep its limits...

31 4 of 9 Justices agree, International Law is sexier than a GTO.

32 Ed, that car is "The Judge."

33

Is there a connection I'm missing?

Help a retard out.

Posted by: ed at January 22, 2011 05:07 PM (emG8W

Ed, the Car is a gto, also called the Judge back in the days when all of us respondants remember. yeah we're old as dirt, Get off my Lawn!

34

The Senate, being the direct representatives of the States, were supposed to be ONE check on Federal Power.

And the RIGHT to Petition for redress, and for Grand Jurys to be able to investigate, were in place to keep Government empolyees in check.

Yet now? The Right to petition for redress has been diluted through Court rulings by the whole "standing" issue... 

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

35

Or, if you were going to write a new amendment that addresses the problem, what would you write?  (Exact wording.)

Keep in mind, we already have a 10th Amendment judges are not defending.

36

Why is this group of photos of a GTO going along with this blog post?

In short, a 'Judge' GTO was the high performance model.

37 Lowandslow, I thought I saw a yellow one.  Wikipedia sez: "The Judge was initially offered only in 'Carousel Red,' but late in the model year a variety of other colors became available."

38 I hope rdbrewer.. realizes He cannot put up sparkly things while trying to have a serious disussion.

39 Excellent, concise summary. You did really well there, sir. That's a sincere compliment,btw.

 So now, with whom and how do we restore our constitutional republic BACK to it's former state? Again, a serious question.

40 The only problem with the rule of laws, not men, is that men make laws. Even worse, those men are lawyers.

And that car would be nice with at least $4000 of suspension work (including brakes, wheels and tires). I love musclecars, but I also love corners (and also not dying in a flaming crash).

41 I guess you could say our current judiciary is high performance if, by 'high performance' you mean, 'exceeding the legal limit.'

42 I do feel I should point out...Bilbo gave in.

The Ring was destroyed, as it happened, because of Gollum's lust for it...not Bilbo's will.

Sobering...

43 Willow, I figured there'd be a mix.  I wanted it to contrast with the point--to run over it--like activist judges vis-a-vis the law.

44 Red judges...heh.

45
  Wish you hadn't posted that pic, rd. Brings back a flood of memories of the muscle car era(that I came of age in), does anyone have an answer for the question posed  at #39?

46 Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

also, Obama is a wanker

47  So now, with whom and how do we restore our constitutional republic BACK to it's former state? Again, a serious question.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 22, 2011 05:22 PM

That's what I'm wondering.  Ted Nugent wants a new constitutional convention so that USA II can begin. 

(You know you're sifting through the dregs when you're quoting Ted Nugent.)

If the political will can be mustered, I'd say some amendment that weathers the helm.

48 ....and what is that machine, and how did you get color in the photogravures?

49

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM (Ghgw

Go back to Aristotle:  He said that we know things by what they do, and what they are in the process of becoming.  A seed is a potential tree, etc

The FFs ( who read a lotta Aristotle ) created a document that defined the American nation and polity, and brought into existence a device--government--that could develop legitimate needs of the people into laws--while limiting the inherent potential for abuse of that power to 'develop'

start at the beginning.......

50

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM (Ghgw

Whew, that's a question. Certainly not something you can write up in one afternoon...

51 I do feel I should point out...Bilbo gave in.

The Ring was destroyed, as it happened, because of Gollum's lust for it...not Bilbo's will.

Sobering...

Posted by: AoSHQ's DarkLord© at January 22, 2011 05:26 PM (Fs7RJ)

No he didn't, that was Frodo.

52
  I'm thinking it could be done through successive  electoral cycles, incrementally, much the same way we've arrived at this junction.

 Obviously, you need the same party in ascendancy, or at least enough of a majority  to deter regression. The most effective, it seems, is reversal of some of the more egregious laws currently afflicting the country. Of course, the Chief executive would have to be in accord with the above. I don't want to waste bandwidth fleshing this out further, I think y'all can see where it's going.

 Besides you're much better at that than me.

53 Were there words after the pictures?  I didn't notice.

54 32 Ed, that car is "The Judge."

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:11 PM (Ghgw

Oh, that is Sweeeet!!!

 

Ed, the Car is a gto, also called the Judge back in the days when all of us respondants remember. yeah we're old as dirt, Get off my Lawn!

Posted by: willow at January 22, 2011 05:12 PM (h+qn

Ah willow, you are as beautiful as Audrey Hepburn, as rockin' cool as Joan Jett, and and as kick-ass as Sarah Conner and Sigorney Weaver combined...

55

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM (Ghgw

Actually had this discussion with my Son awhile back...

And thought about putting up a "Constitutional Convention" website and blog... where this exact type of thing could be addressed... ie... how WE would rewrite the Constitution.

The Founders debated, and rewrote for years... in public debate.... which is somthing which is really lacking today... ie a true debate about how we wish our Government to function.

56

The individual states must advocate their own sovereignty to push the Fed back into it's cage, IMO.  Last Nov. was the first step, but we'll have to keep the pressure on 'at home' to continue the movement. 

I love the multi-state lawsuit against ZeroCare, but nullification seems a more effective means of stamping it out, if enough states (are forced to, by the will of their voters!) dare to try legislating it into the dustbin.

 

57

And thought about putting up a "Constitutional Convention" website and blog... where this exact type of thing could be addressed... ie... how WE would rewrite the Constitution.

That's not a bad idea.  Someone has to have already addressed the issue.  I'd like to see a sample of the amendments people would/have proposed--since re-writing the Constitution is too big a subject to address meaningfully.  I'm sure proposed amendments to address the problem all run along the same line, with slightly different wording.

Let me Google that for you.

58 Good post, rdbrewer.

Nice looking magnolia tree too.

59 I love that car!

Great post, well said.  Maybe not said often enough by those who should be shouting it from the rafters. 

It makes me nuts how people so easily disregard contracts, contracts are important.  I wish more people realized this.

60 We need to fit all members of the federal government with collars that are programmed to deliver a shock whenever the wearer attempts to commit an act outside of their constitutional boundaries.

61

Lemme see...

Abortion legality is left up to the several states

Natural born citizen is one born on the soil of two citizen parents, period

Prenumbra wording is inert, without power or hidden meanings

a much tighter, narrower definition of "regulate commerce between the several states"

a more descriptive definition of "high crimes and misdemeanors" leading to impeachment

prohibition against executive branch czars

Congress must pass a budget before 9/1 of it's first year term.  Else Congress is dissolved on 11/1, automatic continuing spending resolutions are in effect from 10/1 until 2/1 of the following year, new elections are held first Tuesday in November, new Congress is seated first Monday in January that's not New Year's Day.  No member of the Congress that was unable to pass a budget may run for re-election, ever (lifetime ban)

Members of Congree shall not switch political parties mid term.  They shall resign and run as a candidate freshman member in the next election cycle.

Still thinking.... 

62

Posted by: ed at January 22, 2011 06:05 PM (emG8W)

ed, haha so kind, but actually everyone thinks hot lips hulahand resemble me. (another blast from the past)

63 Posted by: Count de Monet at January 22, 2011 06:28 PM (XBM1t)

term limits?

64 That is one beautiful sexy car.  What year is it and can you tell me about it?

65

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM (Ghgw 


My personal preferred method involves a masonry wall, some posts in the ground,a few strips of cloth or some dark colored bags a never ending supply of .30/06, some assembly required.

66 There is no rewriting of the constitution that could prevent judges from ignoring its words and interpreting it to allow them to make their personal policy choices into law.
The only remedy is political. We need to elect a president and a senate that will appoint and confirm future Scalias and Thomases.

67 And the problem is the conservative justices but NOT the liberal ones hold to stare decisis which means that they don't reverse bad, unlawful decisions that previous courts have made. I hold Thomas but NOT Scalia a lone exception to this evil.

68 term limits?

Posted by: curious at January 22, 2011 06:31 PM (p302b)

 

Possibly.  If excessive gerrymandering and safe seat protection can be eliminated/severely restricted so that every seat is truly competitive, term limits on Reps won't be needed.  Agree that 17th Amendment (Senators elected by state legislatures) should be reinstated.

69 I hold Thomas but NOT Scalia a lone exception to this evil.

McDonald v Chicago?

70 Agree that 17th Amendment (Senators elected by state legislatures) should be reinstated.

Posted by: Count de Monet at January 22, 2011 06:38 PM (XBM1t)

oh no, no....look at the legislature in my state....it is a disaster....

71 O/T:  "Diesel fuel spills into Boston Harbor"

72 The Boston Diesel Party!

73 Curious, it's a '69 Pontiac GTO "The Judge." 

74 Registering to vote has to be at least as hard as getting a conceal carry or a drivers license.

75

Posted by: real joe at January 22, 2011 06:35 PM (w7Lv+)

Posted by: Doc Merlin at January 22, 2011 06:37 PM (TC/9F)

Agree.  SCOTUS screwed the pooch re natural born citizen precedent with Wong Kim Ark majority decision (1898, 6 - 2).  Chief Justice Melville Fuller was joined by Justice John Harlan in a dissenting opinion which reasoned that the majority opinion exactly contradicted the original intended meaning of the 14th Amendment.

In the view of the minority, excessive reliance on jus solis (birthplace) as the principal determiner of citizenship would lead to an untenable state of affairs in which "the children of foreigners, happening to be born to them while passing through the country, whether of royal parentage or not, or whether of the Mongolian, Malay or other race, were eligible to the presidency, while children of our citizens, born abroad, were not".

I think the dissenting opinion was precisely correct.  But we now have case law precedent to overcome in order to correct a bad decision.  Ripley only had a swarm of aliens to overcome to survive Burke's bad decision, an easier hurdle IMO.

76 Return election of senators to state legislatures rather than by direct vote. That will bring a return of states rights.

77 What does rule of law have to do with the Monkee Mobile?  (ducks and covers)

78 Not familiar with the Wong Kim Ark case. I just read Heller and McDonald, and I have become a big fan of Thomas. His concurrence rejecting the Slaughter House case and urging incorporation under the Privileges and Immunities clause was brilliant and right on the money.
I remain a huge fan of Scalia. He will reject stare decisis when he feels he must; if he can find a way around an old case he disagrees with, he will do it that way. A conservative approach. I am thinking of when Bruton was overruled, Scalia wrote the opinion (interlocking confessions does not eliminate the right to confront witnesses). People call Scalia a conservative and I suppose he is but as a jurist he is an originalist. As a result he may author an opinion joined by the left wing of the court, usually in criminal cases.

79

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM

I would agree with most of Count of Monet's points and add the following:

1.  Verbage that would give beef to State's Rights in the 10th Amendment.  The states are the 4th branch of our givernment and deserve a equal stakr in it.

2.  A Federal Judge recall like we have in Iowa at the 8 year mark or maybe even on the odd years so their records can be focused on and people can recall their judges accordingly without coattails of Presidnets or Senators or Governors.  These judges need to know that they are not above accountability.  I would hope that we could get judges that adhere to the strict limits of the Constitution that way and not judicial activists.

3.  I kind of like this amendment idea floating around that would allow the states to overturn poor legislation.  But I would change it to 2/3 of the states could override a presidential veto so a law could pass in Congress and get vetoed, the states could have a check on the President, aka, Obamacare repeal. 

More to come.

80 Another idea - elected and appointed Federal officals of all kinds must sucessfully pass the same Citizenship Test given to green card holders before they can serve in office.  Two attempts allowed.  Requalification tests required every five years.  One retake allowed. 

81

4.  Require 55 votes in the Senate and 55% in the House instead of a simple majority to pass legislation to slow down the process of making laws.  Simple majorities are for board rooms, not politics.

5.  A no spending more than 17.5% of GDP amendment and a flat tax amendment of 12.5% for everything, Personal Income, Corporate Income, Estate and Capital Gains, so there are no loopholes and no money shuffling that puts everbody on the same playign field.

82 Dad had a GTO like that when I was little. A white one. Mom said you had to have a lead foot to drive the thing.

83

Help a retard out.

Posted by: ed at January 22, 2011 05:07 PM (emG8W)

Hey, how'd we get a retard in here with us morons?

84

Here's an interesting question: If you were going to re-write the Constitution, what would you change--exact wording--in order to check the creep we've seen over the last 60 years?

Posted by: rdbrewer at January 22, 2011 05:16 PM

There are a number of potential additions, mostly relating to certain themes: (1) the balance of power between an entrenched bureaucracy and elected representatives; (2) the power of incumbency; (3) end-runs around enumerated powers [that even the FF's knew of and attempted to address with the 10th Amendment's plain text.....and got finessed]; (4) the balance of power between states and the Federal government [that we fought a bloody war to "clarify"]; (5) the power of the purse [and who can use the "national credit card"]; (6) activism v. inertia; and (7) how to escape "bread and circuses" where a disinterested populace is bought off using their own money for largely useless expenditures.

For (1) and (2), I'd have that anyone entering the District of Columbia is permanently tattooed with the date of first entry, and that anyone caught within the district more than ten years and one day after their first entry (or without a legible tattoo) shall be shot.

This would leave the gate open to solving #3 -- all laws should be reviewed periodically to determine whether they continue to support an enumerated power. Since there wouldn't be anyone left of the bunch that passed it ten years later, ten years would be a good length of time to pass between reviews.

Issue #4 got "solved" the hard way in the 1860's. I'd hesitate to revisit the issue.

Issues (5), (6), and (7) are somewhat interrelated -- and are dangerous to mess with too much, lest the government fail repeatedly and often. Just to run something up the flagpole, I'd suggest that Congressional votes be run at three different levels:

To allocate expenditures previously authorized between uses previously authorized -- 50%; To reduce taxes imposed -- 50%; To reduce expenditures -- 50%. To repay borrowed funds -- 50%; To authorize expenditures -- 55%; To authorize uses of funds -- 55%; To authorize tax increases -- 60%; To authorize borrowing funds -- 60%. Of course, the original "To amend Constitution" would still be available to tweak these.

85 Oh, yeah, guys.  "GTO" stands for gas, tires, and oil.  In order of usage rate.