Friday, June 29, 2012

Nobody got what they wanted

I was one of those hoping that the Supreme Court would gut the (allegedly)Affordable Healthcare Act. That didn't happen. Recall, though, that even getting a Supreme Court challenge to Obamacare was regarded as a long shot. The long-term cure for that disaster always had to be Congress.  However, I don't think the decision is the unmitigated disaster for conservatives that some think. And I'm not alone.

For one thing, the cancerous growth of the Commerce Clause was stomped on in such unambiguous language even a non-lawyer like me can understand it. For added effect, the Necessary and Proper Clause was also included in the category of Things That Have Limits. Given that Congress has taken the attitude that either or both of these gave them permission to regulate us to death, this is a good thing.

Furthermore, the wording of the decision was that IF ACA was constitutional, the ONLY WAY was if the mandate was a tax. I remember vividly the contortions the Democrats went through to argue that whatever it was, it couldn't be a tax.  And if the bill that created the ACA originated in the Senate, and it is a tax, there will be another Supreme Court case coming up very soon to argue the entire thing--not just the mandate--is unconstitutional since tax bills must originate in the House. (Also clearly stated in the Constitution.)

The decision took a lot of people by surprise.  The full analysis needs to wait for emotions to die down, and I suspect there are some busy conservative politicians wargaming a number of scenarios to take Obamacare down. This could be much like the "miss" of the dive-bomber at Midway that damaged the Japanese flagship carrier's rudder so badly it could only turn in a circle...waiting to get bombed again. Damage was done. By itself it won't be enough, but it will help.

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Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sunday Funnies

-Schlock Mercenary Do not use the word "bait".
-TwoLumps Kitties don't understand warfare.
-Girl Genius Maybe the training is effective.
-No Need For Bushido Planning for the attack on a ninja fortress.
-Delta Bravo Sierra The specialist remembers a crucial detail.
-xkcd
-Amya Being prepared.
-Romantically Apocalyptic The moth disapproves.

Not Updated, fie!
-Lackadaisy
-Commander Kitty
-Power Nap br /> -Dresden Codak
- Banished
-My Ninja Family
-Gone with the Blastwave
-Argghhh-onauts will weaponize Nerf for food.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sunday Funnies

-Schlock Mercenary Hunting the nanny-zombie.
-TwoLumps You were expecting cats.
-Girl Genius Rescuing the sniffing weasels.
-No Need For Bushido It isn't as much fun to steal when you have been given permission.
-Delta Bravo Sierra Low crawling until Top isn't mad any more.
-xkcd
-Amya Shouldn't leave home.
-Romantically Apocalyptic Snippy touched The Mug!
-Power Nap Say hi, Noob.
-Lackadaisy Personalities.
-Commander Kitty The spacers want the credit.
-Dresden Codak More Dark Science.

Not Updated, fie!
- Banished
-My Ninja Family
-Gone with the Blastwave
-Argghhh-onauts is busy opening fish.

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Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Into the Light: Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury has passed away at the age of 91.  He was a Grand Old Man of science fiction, and influenced many writers.  Including me.  My very first introduction to the world of science fiction was a battered copy of The Martian Chronicles, mysteriously hidden behind a couch at my fundamentalist grandmother's house.  (I suspect some other clandestine reader had brought it and forgotten it, for it was definitely NOT something she would have permitted.)  I was fascinated by the stories. It took me a while to figure out what it was, because the cover was missing.  But then I knew, and then I found more, and it's all been downhill from there.

The pages can burn, but the story remains--and lingers, like a dormant seed in the mind, until the time comes to blossom and cast seeds of its own.  Thanks, Ray.