We are fortunate that it’s more complicated and will take longer to purport to grant the District of Columbia statehood than remove Winston Churchill’s name from a Maryland high school up the Potomac from the Capital.  During that elongation let’s think about what we are trying to do, why and the foreseeable consequences. […]

Today’s classic liberals like classic vinyl were pressed in the late 1960s and the 1970s.  They are thinking and acting during this inflection point of “The American Dilemma” with an overarching objective.  That more progress is made this time than at previous crucial moments and possibly more progress than in all previous. […]

Around midnight last Friday Chief Justice John Roberts issued a short ruling affirming district and circuit court denials of an injunction sought by a Pentecostal church against California’s limitations on public gatherings. California’s emergency measure limits attendance to 25 percent of capacity or 100 people at lectures, concerts, movies, theatres, spectator sports and religious services. […]

1917, not the flick that would have Oscared had 2019 not been the year of inclusivity in Hollywood and English the wrong language.  The 1917 that Trump incessantly declares the date of the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918.  He knows when it actually occurred, because he was corrected after his first or second counterfactual pronouncement – the way Bush 43 was told “it ain’t New Q ler”.  But like W he continued to recite the wrong thing for a reason.  With Trump it is a reason that the electorate hoping to defeat him must understand or suffer the consequences. […]

A focal point today like most days during the last 50 has been Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 briefing.  I’m not alone watching, joined by family in this pod and millions of viewers and listeners around the nation and world.  In the background there’s noise, some emanating from a basement in Wilmington, Delaware.  I vaguely hear what Joe Biden woulda done, will do next year and right now is doing – appointing a committee to help him select a woman as running mate and letting one of the contenders conduct her own national campaign to pressure him. […]

Virtually everyone pondering Georgia’s reopening of nail salons, body arch studios, fitness centers, barber shops, cosmetologists, hair designers, massage therapists, gyms and bowling alleys on April 24 believes that this action by Governor Brian Kemp will result in some additional COVID-19 infections and deaths.  That is, above what would have prevailed had these resumptions of business occurred later – in accordance with the virtually unanimous weight of public health advice.  We are certain that Kemp understands this as well. […]

There’s a killer in the Whitehouse.  For those who don’t think so, it’s still a free country and no need to read further.  The rest are well served to think Korean for a moment and act that way this fall, when we can cast our ballots. […]

Similar to the observation in HL 99, that the viral plague has ironically produced collateral benefits (e.g., less pollution) the ongoing political plague has been a boon to scholars of the Constitution.  Trump has not merely flouted or challenged numerous familiar constitutional provisions – dealing with subjects like freedom of and from religion, privacy/bodily integrity and assertions of broad/plenary executive power, but also many arcane and obscure provisions.  Such as those dealing with emoluments (HL 14, Emoluments, Legal Prostitutes and Tax Law 101), the byzantine rules involving the power to adjourn Congress and the brooding, if not obsessive, consideration of the never invoked fourth section of the 25th Amendment.[1] […]

Hopelessly Liberal 100 is posted at the worst of times but best to keep on with what we do that is useful and makes others and us happy.  On November 15, 2016, one week after Trump’s election, we launched with HL 1, stating the intention of being a voice for classic liberalism during the expected rough times ahead.  They have been far rougher than anticipated, without consideration of COVID-19 that Trump did not create, but factoring in his atrocious responses.  When the inevitable Warren or 9/11 style commission reports[1] it likely will conclude that Trump ranks among the U.S. Presidents with the most innocent blood on his hands.[2] […]

A barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude that closed at a price of $61.06 last year and at $98.17 just six years ago, closed at $21.51 yesterday.  That translates into the lowest gasoline prices for Americans in many years.  Since most of us are staying put these days, the primary beneficiaries are essential workers – nurses, doctors, food producers and vendors and government employees – risking their lives to keep us alive and fed. […]