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Sunday Roundup

Posted: 04/ 8/2012 12:00 am

This week, the branches of government traded checks and balances for sticks and stones. First, President Obama fired a shot across the Supreme Court's bow, saying that to strike down his health care law would be "an unprecedented, extraordinary step." Though not actually unprecedented, it would, in fact, be extraordinary -- but not as extraordinary as what came next: a Court of Appeals judge, hearing a related case, asked the Justice Department to turn in a three-page, single-spaced letter, signed by Eric Holder, explaining the executive branch's position on judicial review, a move that embarrassed even some conservative legal experts. The attorney general's response to the unusual homework assignment fell a bit short; it was only two-and-a-half pages long. Doesn't the AG know all he had to do was make his margins bigger, add a bibliography, and start off with a long quote?

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
zooks1
10:43 AM on 04/09/2012
Unprecedented, did democrats just learn a new word,they should look up the word research. Democrats will find the Supreme Court overturned 159 Congressional acts previously and that Obamacare will be 160 to be overturned. How they managed to overlook the 159 spereate precedents is amusing. They also fail to mention that 129 of the overturned were theirs(many during FDR) that is why FDR tried to appoint six additional(1937) justices to gain majority. The Supreme Court shot down that takeover also
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mark S Raymond
I like facts. Got any?
10:35 PM on 04/08/2012
"Doesn't the AG know all he had to do was make his margins bigger, add a bibliography, and start off with a long quote?"

LOL Don't forget to increase the font size.
09:57 PM on 04/08/2012
The Affordable Care Act passed by seven votes, the reason that the ACA did not include the mandate/penalty as a tax because the democrats would not have had enough votes to pass the bill into law. When President Obama was running for the democratic nomination for presidency leading up the 2008 election, he came out against the individual mandate. The people who pushed the bill knew that they were playing a word game which is evident by their defense of the law before the Supreme Court. If those who wrote the ACA bill had included the single payer format for healthcare the bill would have lost by even a greater margin that if the mandate had been presented as a new tax on the American people.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jumpinjezebel
I'll show U mine if U'll show me urs
07:38 PM on 04/08/2012
Assuming that the Scalia/Thomas/Koch Brothers Owned/ Jurists strike down the whole law - will the insurance companies back bill all the people now on their parents insurance, and others who may have benefited already??
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
john262
Elko, Nevada
10:43 PM on 04/08/2012
That will probably be another issue for the courts to sort out.
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T Trump
Sarcasm / Truth / Mocking
07:25 PM on 04/08/2012
I just went to the Politics section of the HP, there are three different headlines all with the word STUPID in the headline. What in the name of everything good and decent makes these people calling each other stupid makes them think that doing so doesn't make themselves look stupid! The current crop of politicians are the worst I have ever seen in the last forty years. Grow up and act like decent human being, not spoiled little brats.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DrJykell
Truth hunter
08:38 PM on 04/08/2012
This is the American ppl finally realizing that political leaders aren't as intelligent as they prtetend to be on TV------I believe it's progress--because Africa is not a country and anyone who doesn't know that shouldn't have almost become the VP of America..

It really says something about the ppl in this country---
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mark Knudsen
07:21 PM on 04/08/2012
Damn you people...when are you going to have the courage of your convictions and stand up fore what is right.and have the guts to see it through..it won't change till you change..and we are past the point of just going to the ballot box...you just elect more of the same...of either party..and that is our problem...different actors...same play..it is your responsibility to see we have a good government...water runs down hill and all the water that fallows is the same till you build a damn and devert the old supplies.....grow up and take you place in a good society..it won't change by its self folks...the ole viking
07:08 PM on 04/08/2012
Obama has every right to speak his mind on the judicial review process. He did not forfeit his first amendment rights when he won the presidency over McPalin.

Jack Lenahan
A Devil's Chaplain
Charleston, SC
08:39 PM on 04/08/2012
open mouth
insert foot
in law professors mouth
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Romaine Chritton
06:16 PM on 04/08/2012
The three branches of our government appear broken. Partisan politics prevail to the detriment of the populous.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DrJykell
Truth hunter
06:11 PM on 04/08/2012
What's going to happen to the folks who lose HC if the court strikes down the reform that finally--after yrs of private sector death panel---pre sicko--denials---gave the sick HC?

All they have to do is make the mandate a buy in to medicare or medicaid only...
The only thing that the uninsured do is drive up the HC costs---when they can't pay---I guess some folks like having high medical debt but I don't believe it's fair----we're paying for single payer--w/o the single payer-----I bet the mandate they really hate is the one that forces HC insurers to pay 85% of premiums to HC-----

You mean to tell me conservatives are really jut fighting for the individuals right to be a HC dead beat?-------B S-------medicaid expansion saves millions of families out here---The American ppl need to find it unconstitutional for the GOP to win elections or judge anything!

Africa is not a country!
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The Smartest Monkees
Planet of the Apes? We're on it, baby!
06:55 PM on 04/08/2012
If the Pubs had simply allowed the Public Option to become law, those who wanted affordable insurance that didn't discriminate because of preexisting conditions, or drop them when they became ill, could buy the government health care plan.

The Pubs would have still been able to have their precious insurance companies, and would have likely seen their premiums lowered due to the competition.

But noooooooooooo!

They just had to pander to their insurance company campaign contributors, and delay serious health care reform for the next god-only-knows-how-many years.

If this bill is shot down, the people need to march on DC by the millions, and DEMAND single payer! Enough is friggin' enough!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mark Knudsen
07:22 PM on 04/08/2012
and Dr Jykell the US is not far behind
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IAmNotAHateFilledRanter
FOX viewers are brain dead
05:44 PM on 04/08/2012
I for one hope this bill survives. I would love to have insurance. My husband has it through his job aT $300 month but if spouses are added it is $875. There was a chart I saw that estimates what your insurance rate will be according to your income.(for affordable care act).well our family making under $50 it was $187 month, I havent been to a dsr. in 9 years because Im afraid what they would find..I will die before I bankrupt our family with mass medical bills. Im sure there will be some haters out there who will say they will have to pay a percentage of my payments..well good for you.
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The Smartest Monkees
Planet of the Apes? We're on it, baby!
07:02 PM on 04/08/2012
If this bill doesn't survive, folks like you (and there are millions) need to get organized with the rest of us who are literally sick of this insurance-driven health care system, and demand single payer like the rest of the civilized (we are not civilized) world enjoys in one form or another.

And if the bill survives, we need to pressure Congress to make it even better next year. That's how they sold us this weak version of HC. They said it would be the foundation for constructing a serious and affordable health care system in the future.

It's time to start building!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DrJykell
Truth hunter
07:57 PM on 04/08/2012
Your not alone out there and sadly this is what Big business counts on---the American ppl have been taken advantage of for too long---and this I believe is what finally exposes the GOP and big business agenda for what they truly represent.....

I believe Big business Insurers need to answer for this..
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08:49 PM on 04/08/2012
If you are truly a "Truth hunter" you would add some dem's to that list. In my opinion if the HC act is trashed then Mr. Lieberman should be the lawn we march on first. He was the one that waited for the last second too through out the signal payer. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
05:14 PM on 04/08/2012
Where were all these wood workers when

1) The Republicans were sending Plane loads of $100 bills to Iraq to pay bogus Texas Companies.
2) When the Republicans were collecting 1.5Trillion in Social Security SURPLUS and giving it to
their largest Contributors.
3) When the people who ramrodded the Prescription Drug bill in the the middle of the night that
gave Pharmaceutical companies $40B up front, paid them 114% of Cost and made it illegal for
the Government we Pay to protect our interests to Negotiate volume Discounts!
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05:14 PM on 04/08/2012
Supreme Court Justices should take heed of what a president says about them...

“the proper role of judges” is “to apply the laws as written, and not to advance their own agendas” because “elected officials, not appointed judges,” are supposed “to represent the popular will.”

“...is a grave threat to the rule of law because unaccountable federal judges are usurping democracy, ignoring the Constitution and its separation of powers, and imposing their
personal opinions upon the public.”

Before you complain about President Obama saying these things... he didn't ...

George W. Bush did.

The first was an October 6, 2008 statement by George W. Bush in a speech to the Federalist Society
of Cincinnati. The second was from the 2008 Republican Party Platform from the convention in 2008.
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Mark Knudsen
07:25 PM on 04/08/2012
the judges are not to support the popular willl sport..they are to interpet the law and its intent and inforce it or deny it...not cater to the will of the people...that is for others to do like congress..even they don't do it they cater to big bucks
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03:36 PM on 04/09/2012
“the proper role of judges” is “to apply the laws as written, and not to advance their own agendas”

"...and imposing their personal opinions upon the public.”

As you say, "...they are to interpet the law and its intent and inforce it or deny it...not cater to the will of the people"

Citizen's United practically proves they cater to the will of "some" people, though. As they themselves decided, "Corporations are people."
04:24 PM on 04/08/2012
Actually he began by addressing and reminding the Conservative Media about the hypocracy of
their constantly talk about "Activist judges" And the President was extremely kind not to mention that the republicans on the Supreme Court deliberated the case by used Rush Limbaugh talking points.

As for getting through to them about their Hypocacy** this is a lost cause since Republicans
have redefined hyspocracy long ago! AND under their beloved hero: The moronic Ayan Rand
Altruism (i.e Insuring everyone) is a first order character flaw .

**Hypocracy: In one of their weekendLong College Republican indoctrination session these psychologically abusive liars redefined a hypocrit as a rich man like Ted Kennedy fighting
for minimum wage!!

The recent cascades of erroneousness by the Belway Media (BM) -- which is another way of saying Republican Appeasers and their Lie Repeaters) -- was on more assault on Informed Intelligence.

But KEY the word Informed while Out of Context Yellow Journalism is rampent, Where those who SCAN transcipts are not to be trusted as the GOP & BM blow carbon monoxide into our information pipelines.
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RudyHaugeneder
04:16 PM on 04/08/2012
The US Constitution of the 1700s was great but in many ways but it is old and in many ways outdated, and should be upgraded to take into account the present and, with luck, the rest of the 21st Century -- after which and possibly before the end of this century, must be brought up to date again. Either that or allow the thinking machines we are giving birth to, artificial intelligence, do it for us -- among other things.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
john262
Elko, Nevada
10:52 PM on 04/08/2012
Then call your elected representatives in Congress and ask them to start the amendment process. After all that would be the only legal way to update the Constitution.
ColoradoPete
End of term coming.......
02:56 PM on 04/08/2012
I think the funny thing about this whole debate related to Obama's SC comments is this:

The Supremes could care less what this president says to them. They know their role as one of three branches of our Federal government and what the president says is is irrelevant.........isn't that, in part, why the Founders created three branches, each with a specific role???
05:08 PM on 04/08/2012
He was talking to the Conservative Media which has for years and years obsessed about "Activist Judges" after deliberations in which the Repubs in the Supreme Court repeated Rush Limbaugh
Talking Points in their deliberations.
ColoradoPete
End of term coming.......
05:44 PM on 04/08/2012
Oh was he now..........that's about the 18th version I've heard from the WH and libs on what and who he was talking about..........Would you like to try for 19???