Thursday, March 14, 2013

Three Branches Of Government: Executive, Legislative And Unmedicated

OK, so when we're driving down the street and we see a police car, we expect that its occupant will know that we need to match our speed to that number on the sign, and if we are, will let us pass unmolested. If we go to the doctor we expect him or her to know which end of the stethoscope to insert into his or her ears before determining whether we should make any long term plans. And when we elect a politician to some political office, we expect that person to have some sort of understanding of the political process.

Apparently, the people in Oklahoma don't have as rigorous a set of requirements.

Still smarting over last year’s ruling upholding Obamacare, freshman Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-(not)OK) dismissed the idea that the Supreme Court decides whether or not laws are constitutional. "Why would anyone think the Supreme Court has anything to do with interpreting the Constitution?" Bridenstine asked.

"Just because the Supreme Court rules on something doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s constitutional," he continued. "Do you think any of the Founding Fathers ever expected a black man to be president?"

So what we have to do as a body of Congress is say, “look, just because the courts” – and I hear this all the time from Republicans – they say that the court is the arbitrator and after the arbitration is done, that’s the rules we have to live under and we can go forth and make legislation given those rules. That’s not the case. A perfect example if Obamacare. Obamacare is not constitutional. I mean, have you looked at the man? Does he look like someone you'd want your daughter to bring home for dinner? Does he look like the kind of person who will make constitutional laws? Maybe laws about that there rap music, or laws that say you can wear your pants down around your ankles if you want to, but laws that affect white people? Not on your life."

Now, before you hurt yourself banging your head on the table, we have to tell you this is not the stupidest thing ever said by a republican, or any semi-sentient species for that matter. No, that honor belongs to another republican, representative Joe Barton, who was also the fellow who apologized to BP for all the inconvenience the government was causing them after they destroyed the Gulf. Yeah, that stupid. Top that Bridenstine.

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