The following is an excerpt from a Politico article about the surprises in the Mueller report. I think that one of the most surprising parts of the report was its discussion of why it could not reach definite conclusions on obstruction of justice. Barr concluded on the facts and the law that DOJ could not … Continue reading »
Remembering the Red Summer of 1919
One hundred years ago this July, the Chicago riot began when Eugene Williams was murdered for “swimming while Black”. Williams had gone swimming in Lake Michigan when he inadvertently crossed the invisible line that separated the black and white beaches and bathing areas. He was stoned by Whites and drowned but the police arrested a … Continue reading »
Iran: 40 Years after the Revolution
Revolutions inevitably generate complicated and at times polarizing outcomes, both from an ideological and practical standpoint. Any cursory assessment of revolutions is likely to result in a shallow and grossly incomplete picture, while forecasting the current or future status of freedoms won or lost in the ultimate success of a revolution almost always invites controversy. … Continue reading »
Affirmative Action’s Last Stand? Harvard vs SFFA
Ever since the US Supreme Court’s 1978 Bakke vs the UC Board of Regents decision, the appropriate role of race and ethnicity as a factor in admissions to highly selective universities has been the focus of a succession of legal challenges. The list is long. Those that have reached the Supreme Court include Hopwood v … Continue reading »
Elizabeth Warren’s approach to combating inequality makes sense
As the Democrats take over the House and Democratic presidential hopefuls begin the slog toward the 2020 primaries, their party is also debating its economic policy vision for the future. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who just announced that she is forming an exploratory committee for a presidential bid, offers a program that focuses more on what … Continue reading »
Henry H. Haight, UC’s 150th anniversary and the erasure of history in public spaces
Inspired by the events of Charlottesville in summer 2017, I became interested in local monuments to white supremacy here in the Bay Area. I knew Alameda had parks and streets honoring slave owners, but I had no idea that who Henry H. Haight was. An Alameda elementary school bears his name.
A free speech centennial: Should we celebrate?
It was 100 years ago that the U.S. Supreme Court decided its first free speech case. It was an inauspicious start to a century of free speech decisions, and the result would be unthinkable today. On March 3, 1919, the court handed down its decision in Schenk v. United States. In an opinion by the … Continue reading »
Shutting down the government—A very bad idea
Government matters!
California counties should relieve youths, families of juvenile fees
http://www.dailycal.org/2018/11/30/state-counties-must-relieve-youths-families-of-juvenile-fees/ Before his recent resignation, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spent the better part of two years trying to turn back the clock on criminal justice reform. Among his other regressive actions, last year Sessions rescinded 25 guidance documents issued by his predecessors in the Department of Justice, or DOJ, including two that dealt explicitly … Continue reading »
California needs to end all collection on juvenile detention fees
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-selbin-juvenile-fees-sb190-20180911-story.html
Whitaker’s appointment is unconstitutional
President Donald Trump appointed Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general last week, despite the fact that he cannot legally hold the office. While the president could fix his mistake with any lesser official and in any normal time, the attorney general is no lesser official and this is no normal time. Whitaker takes office during … Continue reading »
The American pipe bomb
There’s nothing unprecedented about the pipe bombs sent to the Clintons, the Obamas, CNN, Maxine Waters and celebrity critics of Donald Trump. The historical context for these bombs isn’t just an obscure intellectual issue. Not understanding the violence and racism embedded in American history is why so many liberals have gotten Trump and his followers … Continue reading »
End homeless-exclusion districts
In 2010, they actively campaigned for a San Francisco ballot measure to restrict sitting or lying on public sidewalks, and in 2012, their CEO was the major financial contributor to the campaign for a similar law in Berkeley. In 2013, they pushed for a new sit-lie law in Chico, and in 2016, they urged Sacramento to expand its aggressive anti-panhandling … Continue reading »
Senators, show fairness to Kavanaugh
Senate Judiciary Committee members, take heed: You are not running a criminal trial. You are carrying out your constitutional duty to provide “advice and consent” regarding Brett M. Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The appointments clause vests the Senate with this “check” on the president “to prevent the appointment of unfit characters,” as Alexander … Continue reading »
Judge Kavanaugh tries to cut the Gordian Knot
In the process of conquering the world, Alexander the Great came to the town of Gordium. In that town was a piece of rope entangled in an intricate knot. Whoever unraveled the knot, according to legend, would rule the world. Many had tried, and all had failed. Nor had anyone ever ruled the world. Alexander … Continue reading »
Democratic socialism beyond the New Deal
The financial and housing devastation of 2008, youth underemployment, and ultimately the victory of the radical right at the polls has resulted in talk of socialism in America. Then the talk turned to growing organization, culminating in serious challenges to the democratic establishment. What many mean by “democratic socialism” is an inclusive version of the New Deal (though there … Continue reading »
The answer to GOP dog whistles? Democrats should talk more about race
By Ian Haney Lopez and Anat Shenker-Osorio Since Donald Trump’s ascension to the White House, various political insiders have warned Democrats not to talk about race issues or what they term “identity politics” — a phrase that intentionally downgrades a raft of critical concerns. In an op-ed last year, for instance, Mark Penn, a former consultant to … Continue reading »
On Women’s Equality Day, balance the scales for men
Forty-five years ago, Congress passed a resolution designating August 26 “Women’s Equality Day,” commemorating the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Much has improved for women since that resolution, not to mention since the amendment passed in 1920. Women no longer need a husband to co-sign for a credit card … Continue reading »
Chris Collins and honest graft
By: Henry E. Brady and Kay L. Schlozman Representative Chris Collins, who represents a district between Rochester and Buffalo in upper New York State, has been indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of insider trading. He has already decided not to seek re-election this November, although he will finish out his current term. If he … Continue reading »
Beyond mass incarceration: felony convictions and economic opportunity
When it comes to employment, a felony conviction is more damaging than imprisonment. Criminal justice reform advocates have rightly celebrated recent victories that will reduce the use of money bail. For example, New Jersey eliminated almost all cash bail last year, and recently more and more cities are doing so. Yet the significant harms created … Continue reading »