Obama Administration's Shift on DoMA

[Imran Siddiqui]

For a commie you and I agree more frequently than not.

On a side note, if I was a commie to the Newsmaxians, I wonder what they're calling President Obama right now...

[MikeH]

Don't worry Imran, to us Europeans you're still an extreme right religious nutcase.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

On a side note, if I was a commie to the Newsmaxians, I wonder what they're calling President Obama right now...

anti-christ

[SpencerH]

True but as an example when Bush admitted that he had reservations about McCain-Fiengold being constitutional and decided to punt the issue to the supreme court instead rather than veto it, this smacks of abrogation of constitutional responsibilities and the localized interpretation one would expect from a given branch of govermentment. Each branch should be tasked with detemining constitutionality and pose that as one of the fundamental issues as part of the process. The checks and balances are defeated if merely allowing to have SCOTUS decide everything.

Again I agree.

We are faced with a real dilemma though on a truly "constitutional" issue that requires a solution. How do we deal with a law that the President now deems to be unconstitutional while (presumably) Congress deems it to be constitutional? The obvious 'tie breaker' are the Supremes. For me, this particular question avoids the nonsense of judicial review that has existed since Marbury.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Again I agree.

We are faced with a real dilemma though on a truly "constitutional" issue that requires a solution. How do we deal with a law that the President now deems to be unconstitutional while (presumably) Congress deems it to be constitutional? The obvious 'tie breaker' are the Supremes. For me, this particular question avoids the nonsense of judicial review that has existed since Marbury.

As was originally thought with gay marriage advocates and DOMA, someone with standing will have to advance it to the Supremes. Until then it wil hang in limbo, as no one will have the passion on the issue to raise this to the point of impeachment proceedings. In fact I would strongly doubt that anyone will be bothered to raise the specter of defunding DOJ over this loser issue. No passion around the issue. Ranks near dead last.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Don't worry Imran, to us Europeans you're still an extreme right religious nutcase.

But, but... I'm against the death penalty and for universal health care! Can't I be a non-extreme right religious nutcase?

[molly bloom]

But, but... I'm against the death penalty and for universal health care!

Skip the anti death penalty bit and you could almost be Nixon reincarnated (despite his manifest failings, a surprisingly radical figure with regard to welfare, health care and the protection of the environment).

[MikeH]

But, but... I'm against the death penalty and for universal health care! Can't I be a non-extreme right religious nutcase?

You communist!

[Imran Siddiqui]

I can't win

[MrFun]

He actually said that he will continue to enforce it but that if the courts strike it down, which seems likely, he will not appeal the decision.

The one person who got it right.