As we learned four years ago, the election process for President and Vice President of the United States is many-layered and extends over several months. Not only have candidates been campaigning for what seems to be years; the timeframe to vote, in various ways, has been greatly expanded by a number of states, which means […]
January 6
Some Positive Developments for the American People
Things sometimes change very quickly in politics! On Saturday, July 20, Joe Biden was still running for President. By early afternoon on Sunday, July 21, he was dropping out of his reelection campaign and endorsing VP Kamala Harris as his successor. Contrary to what some Republicans seem to be calling for, Biden has every intention […]
Civics Lessons from the Era of Trump: Part I
If we feel sometimes like we’ve gone to law school over the past eight years, it’s understandable. For many of us who have been paying attention, we have learned more than we ever wanted or expected to know about our Constitution and legal system. This is not an entirely bad thing; we citizens should definitely […]
An Excellent Application of the 14th Amendment
“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of […]
Undaunted Courage in the Face of Disparagement and Racism: Five Examples
In our divided, contentious and often violent country, many of us yearn for examples of courage and resilience. We can feel surrounded – not only by social media and news feeds but even in our own neighborhoods – by demoralizing examples of vengeance, fear-mongering, lawlessness, and cruelty. The most egregious, visible, powerful and omnipresent source, […]
Index to the Seventh Year
Thank you for your interest in these blog posts! Here is a listing by topic for posts since October 2021. (Some topics overlap.) Social and Racial Justice, Diversity Honoring the Wampanoags Today and Moving Toward a More Perfect Union, November 26, 2021 Suggested Readings for Black History Month: The Self-Education of White Americans, February […]
Let Us Count the Ways: Reasons to Support Democrats in November
Every national election is important, but the 2022 midterm elections may be among the most consequential in our nation’s history. As President Joe Biden stated in a prime-time address on September 1, the “extreme ideology” of Donald Trump and his adherents “threatens the very foundation of our republic.” Democrats in general often do not seem […]
Going After Trump Legally: Arguments for Taking the Risk
In an article for US News and World Report written a few days prior to the stunning testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson before the January 6th Committee, writer Susan Milligan examined the pros and cons of the Department of Justice charging former President Donald Trump with a crime (or several). It is […]
SPLC on the January 6 Hearings: Suggestions for Citizens and Lawmakers
On June 14, 2022, Margaret Huang, President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, sent an email to supporters about the hearings of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Here are some of the important take-aways from that notice as to what we citizens of the US must do in light […]
Legislation that Could Result from the January 6 Investigation
As we look back on the insurrection at our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021, we must take stock not only of the tragic and deadly results of that day – and the bravery of law enforcement officials who protected the building and the lawmakers assembled to affirm the legitimate election of Joe Biden to […]