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Blog No. 24 Whither NSA Metadata: The Judges and the Report to the President (Part I).

On December 16, Judge Richard Leon of the District Court in the District of Columbia issued an opinion in which he found it likely that the collection and analysis of telephone metadata by the National Security Agency is unconstitutional (“the Leon Opinion.”) In Judge Leon’s view, the NSA system appeared to constitute a warrantless “search” in violation of the 4th Amendment. Accordingly, he granted a preliminary injunction against the collection of such data with respect to the plaintiffs in that case (but stayed the injunction pending appeal). Read More »Blog No. 24 Whither NSA Metadata: The Judges and the Report to the President (Part I).

Special Bulletin. The Patty and Paul Show Update: Now Let’s Support the Deal.

The budget agreement reached between Senator Murray and Rep. Ryan meets the most important precept of medical ethics: Primum non nocere (First, do no harm). The agreement, if approved by the House and Senate, will avoid the harm to the country that would follow from another government shutdown. It will also avoid the harm to the Republican Party from yet another demonstration of inability to function in a divided government. Read More »Special Bulletin. The Patty and Paul Show Update: Now Let’s Support the Deal.

Blog No. 22. Obamacare and Contraception: Science, Freedom of Religion and Politics

JUSTICE - religion and ACA BLog 22 version 2 LOGOThe Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases challenging the requirement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that insurance plans provided by employers must include coverage for certain contraceptive drugs and devices. Circuit courts hade reached conflicting decisions as to whether that requirement infringes the rights of corporate employers or their stockholders under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and the Court will resolve that conflict.  The cases raise interesting legal questions and, like most of the more interesting cases in the Supreme Court, they have stimulated political reactions of which more no doubt lie ahead. RINOcracy.com will not predict how the Court will rule, or even take a firm position as to how it should, but will merely attempt to clarify the issues.  As a political issue, however, we will suggest that the cases probably represent more of a risk than an opportunity for Republicans and that they should treat  the Court’s eventual decision with some caution.Read More »Blog No. 22. Obamacare and Contraception: Science, Freedom of Religion and Politics

Blog No 21. The Agreement with Iran: Historic Breakthrough or Historic Mistake?

As soon as it was signed, the Agreement with Iran became a subject of vigorous debate. As is often the case, RINOcracy.com questions some of the claims on both sides of the debate. In our view, it is neither a historic breakthrough nor a historic mistake. Whether it is one or the other, or more likely neither, will not be known for at least six months or perhaps much longer.

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Iran’s Nuclear Capability: BBC News, Nov 24, 2013

Read More »Blog No 21. The Agreement with Iran: Historic Breakthrough or Historic Mistake?

Blog No. 20. What now for Republicans? (Schadenfreude is not a policy.)

Schadenfreude: a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people.

Republicans may be forgiven if they have indulged themselves in a bit of Schadenfreude over the continuing debacle of Obamacare.  To be sure, that debacle could hardly have come at a more opportune time. The furies unleashed by the website failures and the cancellation of insurance policies served to soften, if not erase, the public disdain for the Republicans’ recent antics: the ill-advised gambits with the government shutdown and the debt ceiling. Nevertheless, those furies, and the agonies they have produced in Democrats, may prove to be ephemeral. A diet of Schadenfreude does not provide much nutrition, and it surely is not a policy.Read More »Blog No. 20. What now for Republicans? (Schadenfreude is not a policy.)

Blog No. 19 Senator Lee vs. Scrooge McDuck

IO Nov 2013 - Gold Duck for WebSenator Mike Lee has not been a favorite of RINOcracy.com. Most particularly, we strongly disapproved of his effort, along with that of Ted Cruz, to seek the defunding of Obamacare at the price of a government shutdown. Nevertheless, we salute Senator Lee for his willingness to address an issue that most Republicans have tended to tiptoe away from: income inequality. While the subject is often raised by liberals, a typical Republican response has been to mutter a complaint about “class warfare” and attempt to change the subject.

Senator Lee, however, has introduced legislation intended to mitigate economic hardship through tax reform, and it has drawn favorable comment from several quarters. Nevertheless, as constructive as his proposal may be, Lee’s recognition of our underlying problems and the need for action–by Republicans–may be even more important. Speaking in September to the American Enterprise Institute, Lee’s remarks are worth quoting at some length:Read More »Blog No. 19 Senator Lee vs. Scrooge McDuck