Trump, Hamilton, and the Electoral College

Don’t blame the primary author of The Federalist for our current mess.

Ivy Ressentiment

Old men still bitter about where they went to college.

President Joe Biden prepares to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 25, 2021, en route to Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden prepares to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 25, 2021, en route to Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

White House Staff Turnover!

Much ado about a perfectly normal phenomenon.

The Least Dangerous Branch?

The apparently eminent demise of abortion rights has reignited an old debate.

Lived Experience in Art and Journalism

What are the limits of representation?

Hamilton on Super-Majorities

Looking to Federalist 22.

Another Anti-Filibuster Post

Defense of the filibuster tend to be a combo of mistakes and mythology.

Stop Blaming the Framers for Everything

America’s institutions are undemocratic but only some of them are a product of the Constitution.

Janet Yellen Biden’s Treasury Secretary Pick

Another unassailable if boring cabinet choice.

Rhode Island Cracking Down on New Yorkers

Gina Raimondo has apparently lost her copy of the Constituiton.

Executive Privilege and Impeachment

George Washington invented the concept and was quite clear that it did not apply to impeachment proceedings.

Country First, Or Trump First? Republicans Face A Choice.

Republicans face a choice. Do they put their country first, or do they put their President first?

More on “A Republic, not a Democracy”

For a change not by me.

Appeals Court Rules States Cannot Punish ‘Faithless Electors’

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that states cannot punish electors who fail to follow the will of the majority of voters n their state or state laws purporting to direct how they should vote.

The Political Reality Of Impeachment

While the drumbeat for impeachment of the President continues on the left, political reality suggests caution.

Trump Administration Punts Yet Again On Putting Harriet Tubman On The $20 Bill

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin punted once again on the question of replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, making clear that any change that does occur won’t happen until after Donald Trump is out of office.

A Separate Election For Vice-President?

A seemingly out-of-the-blue political movement is arguing in favor of independent election of Vice-Presidents.

Lyndon LaRouche, Conspiracy Kook And Perennial Presidential Candidate, Dies At 96

Lyndon LaRouche, an eight-time Presidential candidate who ran a cult-like organization that spread bizarre conspiracy theories, has died at 96.

The Constitution Makes A Successful Third-Party Presidential Run Unlikely

The way we elect Presidents make it unlikely that a third-party candidate like Howard Schultz could ever actually win the the Presidency.

My Case Against Brett Kavanaugh

While I was originally content to let Brett Kavanaugh sail through to confirmation, I now feel compelled to oppose his nomination to be a Supreme Court Justice.

Federal Judge Allows Emoluments Suit Against Trump To Proceed In Historic Ruling

A Federal Judge in Maryland ruled last week that a lawsuit against the President based on a rather obscure provision of the Constitution could go forward.

Army Refutes AP ‘Army Discharging Immigrant Recruits’ Story

The situation isn’t as awful as portrayed by the AP—but it’s still pretty bad.

Trump Administration Still Won’t Commit To Putting Harriet Tubman On The $20 Bill

The plan to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill appears to be running up against President Trump’s bizarre affinity for Andrew Jackson.

Rudy Giuliani Suggests Trump Could Ignore A Mueller Subpoena

Rudy Giuliani is basically now suggesting that his client would be willing to set off a Constitutional crisis that would make Watergate seem like a picnic.

Connecticut Joins National Popular Vote Initiative

Eleven states plus DC, who have 172 of the 270 electoral votes needed to elect a President, are now part of the compact.

Trump Administration Scrapping Plan To Put Harriet Tubman On $20 Bill?

Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary won’t commit to putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.

No, The Electoral College Is Not Unconstitutional

Wherein a law professor makes the absurd argument that the Electoral College, which exists pursuant to the Constitution, is unconstitutional.

More EC Fantasties

Another day, another EC fantasy,

Electoral College Fantasies

No, the EC is not going to elect Clinton.

Vice President-Elect Pence Visits Broadway, Gets A Post-Performance Message

Mike Pence’s night at the theater included a message from the cast. Good for them.

Trump, Hamilton, and the Presidency

If one believes the electoral college is awesome, one cannot make an argument from the position of “the wisdom of the Founders” nor from a viewpoint based on original intent.

A Second First Impression: Greetings!

In which I use a lot of words to say hello.

Counter-Point: The ‘Popular Vote’ is Relevant

The President-elect lost the popular vote. Legally, that is the way that is it. This is a disgrace for “the Greatest Democracy in the World.”

Harriet Tubman To Replace Andrew Jackson On $20 Bill

Woman who liberated slaves to replace slaveholding President who presided over Native American genocide on American currency.

Treasury Department Likely To Spare Alexander Hamilton, Bad News For Andrew Jackson

The success of the Broadway musical ‘Hamilton’ appears to be helping to save Alexander Hamilton’s place on the $10 bill. Andrew Jackson, meanwhile, looks likely to be booted from the $20 bill.

The Treasury Department Wants To Put A Woman On The $10 Bill

Surely it’s time to put a woman on American currency again, but why go after Alexander Hamilton?

Wikipedia Wants to Eliminate The Federalist! Oh, noes!

When I saw the entry at memeorandum proclaiming that “Wikipedia Is Now Trying To Eliminate The Federalist’s Online Entry,” I was flummoxed.

Republican Congressmen Keep Talking About Impeachment

For a party that says its not interested in impeachment, the GOP sure keeps bringing it up.

A Typo in the Declaration of Independence?

Could a transcription error be changing our understanding of America’s founding document?

The Anti-Federalist Impulse

Many who speak with great passion about the Constitution rather frequently make anti-Federalist arguments.

Crossfire Returns with New Hosts

CNN is reviving the Crossfire shoutfest with Newt Gingrich, S.E. Cupp, Stephanie Cutter, and Van Jones as hosts.

How Hamilton saw the Electoral College

Looking to Federalist 68.

Jim DeMint Demonstrates What’s Wrong With Washington

Senator Jim DeMint demonstrated clearly today what is wrong with Washington.

Are Obama’s Recess Appointments Unconstitutional? Probably Not

While the President’s recess appointments are bound to set off a political dispute with the Republicans, there does not appear to be a Constitution ban against them.

Thoughts About The Constitution On Constitution Day

Where do we stand after 224 years?

Looking to the Design of the Electoral College

Of the institutions designed by the Framers, the electoral college is the one that deserves the least amount of defense if one’s defense is predicated on assumptions of the genius of said framers.

For A Guy Who Says He Likes The Constitution, Rick Perry Sure Wants to Change It A Lot

In the book he released last year , Rick Perry advocated far reaching changes to the Constitution.