Blagojevich makes his Senate appointment

The embattled governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, has appointed his former rival, and Barack Obama supporter, Roland Burris to fill President-Elect Barack Obama's seat in the United States Senate.

Four qualities that made Burris advantageous to Blagojevich:

• Democrat
• Former political rival for governor of Illinois
• Endorsed by Barack Obama for governor over Blagojevich
• African-American

Such an appointment will make it hard for Democratic leaders in the Senate to speak out against Blagojevich. He seems to have made lemonade from all the lemons he has collected over recent weeks. Will it improve his image? It is doubtful, but I do believe Burris' appointment to the Senate will stick. As the state's governor, it is his right to fill vacancies.

Israel and Palestinians

Palestinians along the Gaza Strip cannot fathom why Israel would launch a defensive operation into their territory.

I wonder if it could have anything to do with the attacks on Israel being launched from its border over the past weeks?

That's an interesting side-note they don't want the rest of the world to know. They can fire grenade launchers and missiles over the border, but when Israel gets defensive they always call foul. If you want peace then work with your enemy instead of antagonizing it, especially when it is way bigger and stronger!

The News Media & President

Barack Obama, and his family, are caught in a 24/7 news "bubble," where every detail of their private and public lives are broadcast to the rest of the civilized world.

Is that necessary?

I do not think it is newsworthy to know what the president--or president-elect--had for lunch. I don't need to know he had a snowcone. I particularly do not need to know how long he spent with his family and friends at an aquarium in Hawaii. Those things are beyond need to know.

That's how I feel, at least.

Can a president quash his pardon?

George W. Bush is many things. He believes that what he can give what he can take away. In this case, he recently rescinded a presidential pardon he granted to a New York developer who was found guilty of mortgage fraud. (President Bush should have done his homework--or at least paid someone else to do it--before he signed any pardons.)

Now, to the main idea of my post: Can the president constitutionally quash an executive pardon?

In regards to pardons, Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution simply states, "[H]e shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." It fails to mention the president can be an "Indian-giver," as my students would so eloquently note. It simply says the word "grant" in terms of the president's authority on this issue.

This seems like a question only the United States Supreme Court can fully answer. Legally, I do not think the president has the power to change his mind once the deed is done. An executive pardon is an irrevocable constitutional power.

Caroline Kennedy is no Sarah Palin

Some disillusioned Republicans are attempting to railroad Caroline Kennedy from being appointed to Hillary Rodham Clinton's seat in the United States Senate by comparing her to Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Let's face facts here. Caroline Kennedy is the daughter of a president of the United States and her mother was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Sarah Palin is no where near that caliber, and the world knows it!

Somali Pirates Beware

Iran has sent its own naval vessels to patrol the pirate-rich waters off of the Horn of Africa. I say woe be to the pirates caught by the Iranian navy. They cited their move as a precautionary move to thwart any potential threats to Iranian shipping interests. In other words, Iran needs to make sure its yellow cake uranium makes it to Tehran on time.

Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich

Illinois Governor Milorad "Rod" Blagojevich has been a naughty boy, but he is unwilling to acquiese to the charges filed against him by a federal prosecutor. He is adament that he is innocent; therefore, he will not step down as governor. For some reason I keep wanting to call Governor Blagojevich by the name Slobodan Milosevic. I guess that is because he is of Serbian lineage. I know that is terrible. I just don't know what to make of this individual.

Chrysler Shuts Down

Chrysler released news that it will cease production at its 30 plants on Friday. The Detroit giant stated that the halt to production will last at least a month.

George Bush gets a shoe-full of life in Iraq

During a "surprise" visit to the Green Zone in Baghdad, George W. Bush was met by the president and later prime minister respectively. Later, during a news conference with the prime minister, a disgruntled member of the audience decided to throw his shoes at Bush's head.

Of course, Bush left the event without being maimed by one of the shoes, but perhaps for the first time of his presidency he sees how he is viewed by the rest of the world. It was a great signal sent to Bush by a pair of sandy shoes, considering the social connotation of shoes in Iraq as being degenerate.

Rod Blagojevich

FOX News is keeping a 24-hour vigil on Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL). I was watching it today at my doctor's office, because I do not watch it at home. It would seem that the ultra-conservative news channel is obsessed with this case, since Blagojevich is a Democrat.

Further, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has called on the state's supreme court to rule Blagojevich unable to execute his constitutional duties as governor and install the lieutenant governor in his place. This goes further to the issue of whether or not Blagojevich can install a senator to take Barack Obama's former seat in the United States Senate until the 2010 election. Many pundits agree that he now lacks the authority to make such an appointment, since he has been indicted on federal charges, including those stating he attempted to "sell" the pending senate seat to the highest bidder.

300,000,000 free Dr. Peppers

Does PepsiCo owe all Americans a free can of Dr. Pepper?

It would seem there was a challenge levied against Guns N' Roses regarding the release of their first album in 17 years by Dr. Pepper and free swill.

The challenge was simple: release a new album before the end of 2008 and everyone in America is entitled to a free can of Dr. Pepper.

Of course, Guns N' Roses released a new album, "Chinese Democracy" last week, which obligated the soft drink giant to make good on its promise. The company placed a coupon on its website for only 24-hours which entitled the bearer to a free can of the soft drink. The outpouring was so great that the company's website crashed leaving many seekers out in the dark and thirsty for revenge.

The band was blamed for PepsiCo's lack of fulfillment, which has now resulted in a legal battle between the two entities.

I think the lesson from this fiasco is simple: be careful what you promise consumers. Some of them will hold you to it.

Wal-Mart gets sued

There is little cheer this season for Wal-Mart in the legal area. A father and son have sued the retail giant for $2,000,000 resulting from injuries they sustained during the holiday shopping rush at the Long Island Wal-Mart where one employee was left dead Friday morning.

The plaintiffs contend that Wal-Mart was negligent in how customers were clamouring outside the locked door where no barriers were set up to control the unruly mob. In addition to suing Wal-Mart, they are also suing the Nassau County, New York, police department, which they alleged allowed the incident to occur by not providing adequate security and crowd control.

I wonder if the father and son are part of the onslaught that killed the employee who was attempting to unlock the door at 5am?

Senator Bill Clinton?

Upon the nomination of Senator Hillary Clinton as secretary of state attention has turned to her replacement in the upper-house of Congress.

One name to be circulated is President Bill Clinton. Although, I believe his appointment by the governor of New York is a long-shot, it does have precedent. Former presidents are not barred from public service, except in the Executive Branch if they are a two-termer like President Clinton. John Quincy Adams served Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives until his death. Also, William Howard Taft went on to become the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Will it happen? I do not think he would accept a position in the United States Senate. It just doesn't seem like his style.

I've often wondered what would be the constitutional ramifications, if any, of a president who nominates himself/herself to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court of the United States. It would be a nice job to retire into from the presidency. I do not think the Constitution bars such a move. For example, I am the president and I am entering my waning days, like George W. Bush is now, and a vacancy becomes available on the Supreme Court. I could nominate myself (via the president's duties in the Constitution) and be confirmed by the Senate after my term as president has concluded (or resign if the confirmation is before January 20).

Something to consider. I'd do it!

It's Official

True to the buzz and gossip, Hillary Clinton was nominated by Barack Obama to be the next secretary of state of the United States. The only obstacle left now is confirmation by the United States Senate. It will be a shoe-in for her.