January 31, 2011

Individual Mandate Unconstitutional

We were assured that objections to the constitutionality of the individual mandate were frivolous. Judge Vinson found them quite convincing, especially the objection that if the individual mandate is not limited by the Constitution, then damn near nothing is. He found the individual mandate unconstitutional.

With prejudice.

In subsequently dealing with the issue of severability, Vinson wholly accepted the government's oft-repeated assertion that the individual mandate was inextricably integral to the entire bill, and accordingly struck down ObamaCare in its entirety, saying it was not the function of the judiciary to re-write legislation when it failed to pass judicial review. That, he said, remains the job of Congress.

Hoist with their own petard.

Vinson's Summary Judgement decision can be read HERE.

January 21, 2011

Pleasant Diversions

Is it that time of year again? Why, yes it is!

Online Poker

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January 20, 2011

California's Creative Disaster Preparedness Plan

As reported by IowaHawk:

As you may have read recently, a panel of 100 scientists is now warning that the state of California faces the risk of severe “superstorms” that could inflict more that $400 billion in economic damages to our state economy. According to these predictions, such storms could bring more than 120 inches of rain to the Central Valley, and last as long as 40 days. And, possibly, nights.

In anticipation of such a catastrophic event, I will soon begin seeking $75 billion in emergency supplementary appropriations from the California Assembly and federal sources for the construction of the California SuperArk, a state-of-the-art mass transportation vehicle which will help insure the sustainability of our state and its endangered species.

Chase the linky to read the rest. Being as it's Jerry Brown's idea, I'm sure that this is the real deal, and not some scam whereby the requested federal funding would be diverted to shore up the state's minor current deficit.

January 14, 2011

Sarah Palin did it? Really?

In the aftermath of the Tucson shootings, the contention of the left that heated rhetoric on the right and on the part of Sarah Palin in particular is somehow a root cause of this tragedy is, to say the least, disingenuous.

Sheriff Dupnik in particular deserves to be singled out for scorn in this regard. A review of the available evidence shows that not only was jared Loughner not a right-wing nut, but apparently paid little attention to politics at all. The only voices that seem to have affected his behavior were those coming from his fillings, or perhaps his breakfast cereal.

(When contacted for their reactions, Snap, Crackle and Pop had no comment.)