SamSaid!

ROLL

     The Republicans are really on a roll. Not only did they gain control of the Senate and expand their majority in the House, but they also got Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic Minority Leader in the House. True, the Democrats elected her, but, given the chance, the Republicans would have picked her also.

     Ms Pelosi is a charming bright  lady who is a hard working fund raiser. She is also a far left San Francisco liberal. After all of the rhetoric dies down, she will have to face the hard task of uniting her far left buddies with the conservative “blue dog” Democrats who are philosophically much closer to George Bush. Nowadays, most politicians like to stake a claim in the “main stream” of American thought, but Nancy is nowhere near the mainstream; rather she is in the left side of the river, swimming in an eddy pool fed by left wing runoff. It would be foolish to underestimate her or to write her off too soon. But she can't have it both ways in dealing with her comrades. Unless the Republicans shoot themselves in the foot, she will have a tough row to hoe in dealing with fellow Democrats  –  much less the Republicans.

ACTIVISM

     On 11/5 the Republicans won big. The margins weren't great, but the impact was. A variety of major issues of national concern will be affected, but none more important than the selection of Circuit Court Judges since they are the reservoir from which future Supreme Court Judges will be taken. .

     Our system of governemental is set up to give a big advantage to those in Congress who would prevent legislative change rather than effectuate it. If nothing else, just consider the power of Congressional Committees and the option to filibuster. Unless one party has the Presidency and an overwhelming majority in both Houses it is not easy to implement a legislative program. That is why the Democrats and Liberals look to the Courts for desired change rather than passing legislation. As an example, think about capital punishment. No right minded liberal would consider placing the issue on a ballot to let the people vote.  Oh no, they will take their chances with a liberal ACTIVIST Judge who will decide against capital punishment. .

     Briefly described, an activist Judge is one willing to interpret the law  ..  i.e., the Constitution  ..  as the thinks it SHOULD be applied rather that what it says. Every year, we see the Constitution re-written by actiivist Judges  –  independent of Congress. They simply interpret our #1 Document to mean much more than was ever implied ir intended. And that it why nominations to the Supreme Court are so important. They are the last word.

     As opposed to Activist Judges, there are Strict Constructionist Judges, i.e., those who do not stretch the Constitution to satisfy their own social goals or philosophies. They do nor create rights not specifically granted by the Constution, and apply the Constitution as it reads  –  not what they think it should read. George Bush wants to fill Circuit Judge vacancies with conservative Strict Constructionists. Up until now, Patrick Leahy and Ted Kennedy have prevented these appoinments from being voted upon by the Senate. No more – not after 11/5. . Now the Senate Judicial Comittee will be chaired by Orrin Hatch who will see to it that qualified judicial nominees will be voted up or down in the full Senate. They will not be buried in Committee.

     George's judicial nominees, if appointed, will influence this country for the next 10-20 years as changes begin to occur on the Supreme Court. The strict constructionist Judges will be much less likely to expand the welfare state through judicial decree, and we all will be better off. It is difficult to underestimate the judicial impact that will come from this Republican controlled Senate. It is not unreasonable to expect 2-4 Supreme Court appointments in the foreseeable future. And George has the power to nominate.

    If ever there was a case to show that one vote can make a world of difference, this is it!

GOING IT ALONE

     I am convinced that george Bush means business. As he watches the military buildup in the Gulf area, Saddam Hussein thinks so too. More importantly, our ambivalent friends in the UN think so also. Their problem is finding a way to have George back off. If they cannot dissuade George, the only alternative is to buy time. That's what the inspector program will do. Once the inspectors are on site and looking for Nuke, Bio or Chemo weapons we are not apt to pull the pin. And Saddam will have his best wish granted  –  time to play hide and seek and slowly erode the resolve of the UN crowd. The UN folks want to buy time and so does Saddam. Don't hold your breath waiting for a UN recommendation to “go get him”.

     It particularly galls me to subject our actions to the lily-livered French whose miltary history is a long sequence of spectacular defeats from Napoeon's retreat from Moscow, Waterloo, the Franco Prussian war, the failire of the Maginot Line in WWI, the WWII “pitiful 14 days” in 1941, Dien Bien Phu in Indo-China, and Algeria. Twice we have sent thousands of Americans to save their country when they couldn't do it themselves. I wonder what they would do if the Ragheads blew up the Eiffel Tower? When it comes to the French, I am reminded of that tongue in cheek WWII slogan for selling used French or Italian war rifles, “Never been fired, only dropped once”.

GOING IT ALONE

     I am convinced that george Bush means business. As he watches the military buildup in the Gulf area, Saddam Hussein thinks so too. More importantly, our ambivalent friends in the UN also think so.  Their problem is finding a way to persuade George to back off. If they cannot dissuade George, the only alternative is to buy time. That's what the inspector program will do. Once the inspectors are on site and looking for Nuke, Bio or Chemo weapons we are not apt to pull the pin. And Saddam will have his best wish granted  –  time to play hide and seek and slowly erode the resolve of the UN crowd. The UN folks want to buy time and so does Saddam. Don't hold your breath waiting for a UN recommendation to “go get him”.

     It particularly galls me to subject our actions to the lily-livered French whose miltary history is a long sequence of spectacular defeats from Napoeon's retreat from Moscow, Waterloo, the Franco Prussian war, the failure of the Maginot Line in WWI, the WWII “pitiful 14 days” in 1941, Dien Bien Phu in Indo-China, and Algeria. Twice we have sent thousands of Americans to save their country when they couldn't do it themselves. I wonder what they would do if the Ragheads blew up the Eiffel Tower? When it comes to the French, I am reminded of that tongue in cheek WWII slogan for selling used French or Italian war rifles, “Never been fired, only dropped once”.

     It is easy to be a big time diplomat and compromiser when you are not the target. Right now we are the target, and good words are not likely to suffice. So the Arabs might get mad at us. Many of them already are. I would like to feel optimistic about the UN resolutions, but I'm not. If we take out Saddam, we will likely have to go it alone.

     Just be happy that Bill Clinton and Al Gore are not in the White House!!