Missing the Obvious
James Taranto in today's Best of the Web makes a valid criticism of Juan Williams' verbal assault on Howard Dean. Said Williams:
Gov. Dean has suggested that states like Vermont, Montana and Wyoming, with overwhelmingly white populations, really don't need gun control, in part because of their rural character, but urban areas, such as Baltimore, Md., with large minority populations, do need gun control.
This is an unwarranted interpretation of Dean's actual position. No one believes Dean is racist.
On the other hand, Dean's actual position on gun laws - and on the Constitution, generally - is far, far worse. If summarized accurately by Taranto, it is Constitutionally insupportable. Taranto writes [emphasis mine]:
Howard Dean deviates from liberal orthodoxy on one issue: gun rights. Coming from Vermont, the state with the nation's least restrictive gun laws, Dean holds a genuinely moderate position. He opposes new federal gun-control laws, but he also believes the 10th Amendment trumps the Second and that states have the authority to pass whatever gun laws they see fit.
Surely, Dean cannot seriously believe this?
On this basis, would it then be a reasonable position to believe that the 10th Amendment trumps the First, that states should be able to pass laws restricting speech, the press, religion, and the right to assemble?
How about the Fifth - shall states be able to seize private property without compensation, if they see fit to do so? Or put a person on trial twice for the same crime?
Carried to the extreme, maybe the 13th Amendment? Should Vermont be able to reinstitute slavery?
This sort of "reasoning" betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The amendments are there to guarantee and protect the basic rights of the people. Anything not specifically addressed is left to the states, under the Tenth Amendment.
Such basic errors should be considered an absolute disqualification from holding an office under the federal Constitution.
Buh-bye, Howard.
Posted by Russ at 06:34 PM, September 10, 2003 in Guns & Shooting
& Politics
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.emersons.net/mt/mt-pingback.cgi/185
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Missing the Obvious:
http://www.coldfury.com/Sasha/archives/004193.html from SashaCastel.com
Russ Emerson makes an excellent point regarding Howard Dean's purported stance on gun control. Now neither Russ nor I have [Read More]
Tracked on September 12, 2003 05:24 AM
Dean on the Constitution from SashaCastel.com
Russ Emerson makes an excellent point regarding Howard Dean's purported stance on gun control. Now neither Russ nor I have [Read More]
Tracked on September 12, 2003 05:38 AM
Comments
I think Howard's comments concenring Israel and the Middle East are probably going to bring him down sooner.
Posted by: charles austin at September 10, 2003 09:38 PM
Well, yes.... His opinions in that regard could (theoretically) be considered to be within the bounds of normal political discourse, but are so out of line with the rest of the American people that he's probably shot himself in the foot.
But to misunderstand the basic nature of our founding documents... that is, to my way of thinking, an automatic no-go.
Posted by: Russ at September 10, 2003 11:17 PM
Russ - type "selective incorporation" and "14th Amendment" into google and go read. Then come back here and retract this post.
Posted by: Mithras at September 12, 2003 11:25 AM
Retract, hell.
Posted by: Russ at September 12, 2003 12:53 PM
Maybe you should also think for a second about the idiot currently living at 1600 Penn Ave.
Remember that drunk driving arrest? That showed some great judgment.
How about this incredibly perceptive and insightful dissection of our political system:
"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law."
November 22, 2000
http://slate.msn.com/id/76886/
or this:
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."—St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000
Now, you tell me if a person with such an "understanding" of our political system ought to be President...(oh, wait, he's not really. That's right, he actually lost that election. Explains a lot, I didn't think we a country were that dumb to have actually voted him in...)
Posted by: Anonymous Coward at September 12, 2003 10:52 PM
Remember that drunk driving arrest? That showed some great judgment.
And this applies to our Constitution... how, exactly?
"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law."
Well, it is the job of the executive branch to look at the laws and to read out of them the right way to implement them. I would call that "interpretation," though some might say that only the courts are allowed to do anything that might resemble "interpretation." Real handy - wait for the courts to rule on every law before the executive branch puts them into effect.
That's right, he actually lost that election.
Ah, yes, a canard... betraying your own ignorance of the Constitution.
Bzzz-zzzt! Thank you for playing... we have some lovely parting gifts for you.
Posted by: Russ at September 12, 2003 11:39 PM
Dean is opposed to the bill of rights
http://idaho.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/4215.php
Posted by: scott huminski at September 25, 2003 12:11 PM
Stop it! Stop it right now! This paranoia with guns has gone far enough! This country is by far so chaotic and wild that this issue needs to be brought up all the friggen time! No doubt there are isolated happenings and there will always be. No matter what "gun laws" you adopt. (Except for this one),,"hear ye...hear ye" Now hear this. All of you with criminal records need to surrender their weapons. The rest of you need to buy a pistol permit and register your guns. Providing you are an outstanding citizen with six references.
Posted by: Glenn Leibowitz at November 6, 2003 03:54 PM
Imperial Department of Hegemony By Force
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.emersons.net/mt/mt-pingback.cgi/185
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Missing the Obvious:
http://www.coldfury.com/Sasha/archives/004193.html from SashaCastel.com
Russ Emerson makes an excellent point regarding Howard Dean's purported stance on gun control. Now neither Russ nor I have [Read More]
Tracked on September 12, 2003 05:24 AM
Dean on the Constitution from SashaCastel.com
Russ Emerson makes an excellent point regarding Howard Dean's purported stance on gun control. Now neither Russ nor I have [Read More]
Tracked on September 12, 2003 05:38 AM
Comments
I think Howard's comments concenring Israel and the Middle East are probably going to bring him down sooner.
Posted by: charles austin at September 10, 2003 09:38 PM
Well, yes.... His opinions in that regard could (theoretically) be considered to be within the bounds of normal political discourse, but are so out of line with the rest of the American people that he's probably shot himself in the foot.
But to misunderstand the basic nature of our founding documents... that is, to my way of thinking, an automatic no-go.
Posted by: Russ at September 10, 2003 11:17 PM
Russ - type "selective incorporation" and "14th Amendment" into google and go read. Then come back here and retract this post.
Posted by: Mithras at September 12, 2003 11:25 AM
Retract, hell.
Posted by: Russ at September 12, 2003 12:53 PM
Maybe you should also think for a second about the idiot currently living at 1600 Penn Ave.
Remember that drunk driving arrest? That showed some great judgment.
How about this incredibly perceptive and insightful dissection of our political system:
"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law."
November 22, 2000
http://slate.msn.com/id/76886/
or this:
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program."—St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 2, 2000
Now, you tell me if a person with such an "understanding" of our political system ought to be President...(oh, wait, he's not really. That's right, he actually lost that election. Explains a lot, I didn't think we a country were that dumb to have actually voted him in...)
Posted by: Anonymous Coward at September 12, 2003 10:52 PM
And this applies to our Constitution... how, exactly?
Well, it is the job of the executive branch to look at the laws and to read out of them the right way to implement them. I would call that "interpretation," though some might say that only the courts are allowed to do anything that might resemble "interpretation." Real handy - wait for the courts to rule on every law before the executive branch puts them into effect.
Ah, yes, a canard... betraying your own ignorance of the Constitution.
Bzzz-zzzt! Thank you for playing... we have some lovely parting gifts for you.
Posted by: Russ at September 12, 2003 11:39 PM
Dean is opposed to the bill of rights
http://idaho.indymedia.org/news/2003/09/4215.php
Posted by: scott huminski at September 25, 2003 12:11 PM
Stop it! Stop it right now! This paranoia with guns has gone far enough! This country is by far so chaotic and wild that this issue needs to be brought up all the friggen time! No doubt there are isolated happenings and there will always be. No matter what "gun laws" you adopt. (Except for this one),,"hear ye...hear ye" Now hear this. All of you with criminal records need to surrender their weapons. The rest of you need to buy a pistol permit and register your guns. Providing you are an outstanding citizen with six references.
Posted by: Glenn Leibowitz at November 6, 2003 03:54 PM