Alabama Harsh Immigration Law to Stay In Effect, Justice Scalia Praises Republican Gridlock in Congress, An Area Where Gridlock Did Work . . .

And Other News that Just Begs for Comments

Alabama passed on of the nation’s toughest anti-immigration laws.  It turns the state into a Soviet style police state where the state law enforcement officers can demand to see “your papers” and grade school teachers are turned into the border patrol.

Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn of United States District Court had upheld provisions allowing the police to ask for immigration papers during routine traffic stops and requiring schools to learn the immigration status of students when they register,

 

The law is now subject to appeal but while that process is taking place the Judge is allowing the law to remain in force.  After all, no one wants Alabama to miss a chance to take criminal action against a six year old brought to this country illegally by a parent who has the audacity to be in the first grade. 

In an unusual event, Justices Scalia and Breyer testified before Congress recently on judicial ethics and the judicial process.  On an unrelated subject

Justice Scalia expounded on what sets the United States apart from other countries: not the Bill of Rights, which “every banana republic has,” but the separation of powers. Americans “should learn to love the gridlock,” he said. “It’s there for a reason, so that the legislation that gets out will be good legislation.”

Presumably Justice Scalia can identify some good legislation that has come out of Republican efforts to completely shutdown the legislative process when things are not going there way, but nobody else can.  If in the future Democrats cause gridlock one can be sure it will result in the ire of Justice Scalia.



John Raoux/Associated Press

Hank Williams Jr. first adapted

 his song lyrics for "Monday

 Night Football" in 1989.



Singer Hank Williams Jr. is upset that after he made highly offensive remarks about the President, ESPN will no longer air his opening song for Monday Night Football.  Mr. Williams apparently thinks his right to sing the opening song for MNF is enshrined in the Constitution.

“After reading hundreds of e-mails, I have made my decision. By pulling my opening Oct. 3, you (ESPN) stepped on the toes of the First Amendment freedom of speech, so therefore me, my song and all my rowdy friends are out of here. It’s been a great run.”

A Constitutional expert, Bruce W. Sanford,  cleared things up for Mr. Williams

“He seems to be saying that ESPN is discouraging his freedom of speech, which it certainly is, but it is entitled to do so as a private company which does not have to use a tone-deaf politico to sing into its kickoffs,” 

But keeping looking in the Constitution for something about ESPN Mr. Williams, it may be there and there rest of us just haven’t found it yet.

Amazingly, Mr. Williams made his offensive comments on Fox News.  Wow, who could have seen that coming.

 

Amidst the well deserved praise that everyone is lavishing on the late Steve Jobs,

 “For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it’s been an insanely great honor,” said Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder. “I will miss Steve immensely.”

does anyone want to take note of the fact that all of this innovation, all of this genius, all of the technological and financial success took place in the United States with its corporate income tax and its Estate Tax?  You know, the tax system that Conservatives say does not allow people like Mr. Jobs to invent, innovate and prosper.