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May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
May 25, 2005
/ 16 Iyar, 5765
A Senate Regency
By
Tony Blankley
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Well, it would seem that the United States Senate has been
placed into receivership by 14 self-appointed trustees, several of whom are
amongst the Senate's most wanton exhibitionists. Some of these ladies and
gentlemen can be seen almost daily preening in front of television cameras
confessing their moral superiority over their colleagues by virtue of their
lack of firm convictions and their unwillingness to be team players.
Ironically, they have just formed the most exclusive club in the
Senate, which was, until Monday evening, itself the world's most exclusive
club. They are the charter and, presumably exclusive, members of a club
within a club.
This will be an interesting experiment in the application of
Lord Acton's ever-applicable maxim that power tends to corrupt and absolute
power corrupts absolutely. The Senate trustees might want to recall another
of Lord Acton's many pithy truths: "The danger is not that a particular
class is unfit to govern ... Every class is unfit to govern."
Let no one assume that this little assemblage of selfless
senators will limit the reach of their writ to the matter of judicial
appointments. As if one couldn't guess, on Monday night, Sen. Lindsey
Graham the Tom Sawyer of the Senate looking all twinkly-eyed and
mischievous into the television camera, promised that the wonderful 14 would
soon be announcing their plan to reform Social Security. Tomorrow, the
world!
So begins the Regency Period of the United States Senate. As
long as these 14 stick together, nothing can pass the Senate. Certainly they
now possess, jointly and severally, veto power over the president's judicial
appointments. Hereafter it would be imprudent of the president of the United
States to send up any nominations without first requesting permission from
Democratic Sens. Robert C. Byrd, Daniel K. Inouye, Mary Landrieu, Mark
Pryor, Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman and Ken Salazar. The president need not
check with the seven Republican senators because their only job is to keep
the Republican leadership powerless. It is exclusively the Democratic
senators who are empowered to give their imperial thumbs up or down signals.
What shall we call these 14 senators? Trustees, regents,
governing board members, blessed ones, lord protectors, proconsuls,
oligarchs, cabalists, conspirators, usurpers? For the moment, it doesn't
matter. History will give them their final designation. Certainly they see
themselves as saviors of the Senate traditions. (G-d save us from
self-appointed saviors. It always ends in tears.)
Whatever they are, they are not defenders of tradition. For
starters, they have converted the allegedly traditional authority of a
minority of 41 to block passage or confirmation into an empowered minority
of three. Any three Democratic regents may block a judicial nomination. By
organizing into a blocking mechanism and presumably swearing blood oaths
of loyalty to one another in a secret ceremony out of sight of the
uninitiated they have created a new "tradition."
Already they are taking on the trappings of a governing entity.
On Monday night, they didn't issue a press release as senators and
congressmen usually do. Instead, they issued a "Memorandum of Understanding
on Judicial Nominations" on plain Senate stationery, subscribed by the 14
self-chosen ones. I assume in due time they will have their own stationery
printed up. Gold-embossed, I shouldn't wonder.
They will become the object of special pleading from other
senators and from outside interest groups. Having seized power they will be
treated as power holders always are with fear, supplication, envy,
resentment and, finally, revolt. Surely other groups of senators will
quietly form to attempt to influence the regents on and with collateral
matters.
Once they go to work on Social Security reform, as Sen. Graham
promised Monday night in an audience he gave to Mr. Chris Matthews on MSNBC,
they will have expanded their power to include legislation. Their 14 en bloc
votes would be decisive. Given their policy proclivities, we can assume tax
increases but not private accounts will be included in their bill, which
will be enrolled on the mountaintop before they come down to deliver it to
their colleagues in the Senate.
The art of being them requires that they act in secret together
and present a common front. If they permit individual negotiation after they
have reached their accord, they will lose all their power.
But for the time being, they have the power which was until
Monday afternoon in the possession of President Bush and Sen. Frist.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Tony Blankley is editorial page editor of The Washington Times. Comment by clicking here.
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© 2005, Creators Syndicate
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