Birthright citizenship doesn't pass the test of common sense, nor does it match the declaration of the bill's sponsor during Congressional debate. John's decoder ring is faulty as it always says, "Drink Your Ovaltine."
In 2016, Constitutional Law scholar Lino Graglia of The University of Texas School of Law made the same common sensical point: granting birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens is irrational *and* harmful.
Well his ring is stuck. One should drink one's Ovaltine. (I don't. It tastes bad. But, one should.) It's not like the Left's decoder ring, which tells them that Dylan Mulvaney is the key to recruiting young men.
Unlike the Left, who have trouble parsing english sentences (see Amendments 2, 9, 10, 5, heck the whole original ten,) John is troubled by the meaning of phrases and terms of art from the end of the Civil War. The question is: "If a person can be arrested, prosecuted, and punished for violating our laws, does that not mean they are subject to the jurisdiction thereof?" In short, NO.
When a foreigner enters our nation, they are subject to our laws. But when they leave, they are nor. A person subject to the jurisdiction of our nation is always, regardless of current location, subject to our laws. A simple example: You visit China and sell an F35 blueprint. It's not illegal in China to do so. Nonetheless, you can be arrested for espionage back home. The buyer however, is not subject to our jurisdiction.
In the case of a person illegally present in the United States, they are not only not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, but have rejected that jurisdiction. (As evidenced by their illegal presence.)
I'm guessing that Donald Trump doesn't have the authority to take over other crime-ridden cities, but I sure wish he did. And I suspect a reasonable number of inner-city residents, those that are law-abiding, feel the same way I do.
Taking one of the grands to McD's recently, I learned that customers are encouraged to use all of the electronic doohickies, apps, and screens now installed therein rather than ordering food with an actual human being. This is not an improvement, blue-and-pink-dream-cloud-colored shakes notwithstanding.
I remember when a McDonald's burger was 15 cents. Yeah. I'm old. Now when my wife and I take our two local grandkids to McDonald's for lunch, it comes close to 30 bucks. That is some serious inflation over 60 plus years.
That's right. We did have shakes though. Which was soft vanilla ice-cream with a squirt of strawberry, chocolate or vanilla flavoring spun in. This introduced air into the mix which brought them up to the full line. BTW, the fries were made with real potatoes stored in the cellar. We peeled them in a tumbling type machine, sliced them, blanched them, and refrigerated til ready to go in the grease. Sometimes they would start to spoil downstairs before we got to them so we had to cull them quite regularly. Great fries.
I can certainly imagine a scenario where a President took control over local DC law enforcement as preparation for a coup d'etat, but why would that apply to Trump? Trump has congressional majorities and a (relatively) friendly Supreme Court; he's carrying out the popular will, as determined by the 2024 election.
I always enjoy the humor you weave into your writing, Steve. BTW, I'll have to pass on John's debate over birthright citizenship. That would try the last of my too often irritated nerves with Mr. Yoo. Though I know he means well. I wish him nothing but the best.
This is why I rely on Lucretia and Steve to slap him around when he is being naive, showing how out-of-touch he is with what is going on in the real world. Which is much too often. That is not to say I haven't expressed my 'dismay' with him in a comment or two, but now try to mostly leave it alone.
Steve, you should have your friend Richard Samuelson, The Punster In Chief, on to give his take re birthright citizenship. He wrote not one but two very compelling articles earlier this year on the subject:
Also, I thought one of the classical arguments against popular government is that popular governments tended to become so feckless and unstable that wide-spread chaos followed. The people then eagerly turn to tyranny because it provides safety and order. If the Democrats want to avoid future tyrants, shouldn't they make a point to provide safety and order?
Yes, they should. Which tells you that, as always, the Democrats are accusing their opponents of what the Democrats are doing. They want the people to turn to tyranny. Just not to their opponents.
Lots of gold and arches. Think Sydney Opera House with gold edging, red accents, and wrapped in neon. There must be at least one street paved in gold and security personnel in in uniforms similar to vintage Marine Corp issue.
Birthright citizenship doesn't pass the test of common sense, nor does it match the declaration of the bill's sponsor during Congressional debate. John's decoder ring is faulty as it always says, "Drink Your Ovaltine."
In 2016, Constitutional Law scholar Lino Graglia of The University of Texas School of Law made the same common sensical point: granting birthright citizenship to the children of illegal aliens is irrational *and* harmful.
Well his ring is stuck. One should drink one's Ovaltine. (I don't. It tastes bad. But, one should.) It's not like the Left's decoder ring, which tells them that Dylan Mulvaney is the key to recruiting young men.
Unlike the Left, who have trouble parsing english sentences (see Amendments 2, 9, 10, 5, heck the whole original ten,) John is troubled by the meaning of phrases and terms of art from the end of the Civil War. The question is: "If a person can be arrested, prosecuted, and punished for violating our laws, does that not mean they are subject to the jurisdiction thereof?" In short, NO.
When a foreigner enters our nation, they are subject to our laws. But when they leave, they are nor. A person subject to the jurisdiction of our nation is always, regardless of current location, subject to our laws. A simple example: You visit China and sell an F35 blueprint. It's not illegal in China to do so. Nonetheless, you can be arrested for espionage back home. The buyer however, is not subject to our jurisdiction.
In the case of a person illegally present in the United States, they are not only not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, but have rejected that jurisdiction. (As evidenced by their illegal presence.)
I'm guessing that Donald Trump doesn't have the authority to take over other crime-ridden cities, but I sure wish he did. And I suspect a reasonable number of inner-city residents, those that are law-abiding, feel the same way I do.
Rudy Guliani's "broken windows " approach worked because
1. The city was both safer and cleaner
2. Everybody knew that cops were watching for even the smallest attack on personal and property misbehavior.
Like strict parents, that policy made life in a big city not only livable but pleasant and safe.
Taking one of the grands to McD's recently, I learned that customers are encouraged to use all of the electronic doohickies, apps, and screens now installed therein rather than ordering food with an actual human being. This is not an improvement, blue-and-pink-dream-cloud-colored shakes notwithstanding.
You can thank higher minimum wage rates for some of that.
I remember when a McDonald's burger was 15 cents. Yeah. I'm old. Now when my wife and I take our two local grandkids to McDonald's for lunch, it comes close to 30 bucks. That is some serious inflation over 60 plus years.
Amen to that Ralph. BTW, I worked for McDonalds back-in-the day when there burgers were 15 cents. No salads, no filet-O-fish, just burgers.
As I recall it was just burgers, fries, and soft drinks. And not even any Quarter Pounders or Big Macs.
That's right. We did have shakes though. Which was soft vanilla ice-cream with a squirt of strawberry, chocolate or vanilla flavoring spun in. This introduced air into the mix which brought them up to the full line. BTW, the fries were made with real potatoes stored in the cellar. We peeled them in a tumbling type machine, sliced them, blanched them, and refrigerated til ready to go in the grease. Sometimes they would start to spoil downstairs before we got to them so we had to cull them quite regularly. Great fries.
It's a dream come true. The American Dream of less interpersonal interactions that yields a faster delivery of deliciousness.
You had me at Hamburglar
Mayor McCheese serving a second non-consecutive term after overcoming Grimace's smear campaign that he was a puppet of Burger King.
If only McDonald's had Sydney Sweeney's buns . . .
If McDonald's had Sydney Sweeney's buns, I'm sure I would have gone there sometime in the last two decades, but alas...
I think I will take a pass on anything that "has a surprise flavor" 🤢
#Me too
I can certainly imagine a scenario where a President took control over local DC law enforcement as preparation for a coup d'etat, but why would that apply to Trump? Trump has congressional majorities and a (relatively) friendly Supreme Court; he's carrying out the popular will, as determined by the 2024 election.
I always enjoy the humor you weave into your writing, Steve. BTW, I'll have to pass on John's debate over birthright citizenship. That would try the last of my too often irritated nerves with Mr. Yoo. Though I know he means well. I wish him nothing but the best.
Yes, as a Deep State swamp creature, John Yoo means well.
Wait - what?
Hello LD,
This is why I rely on Lucretia and Steve to slap him around when he is being naive, showing how out-of-touch he is with what is going on in the real world. Which is much too often. That is not to say I haven't expressed my 'dismay' with him in a comment or two, but now try to mostly leave it alone.
Steve, you should have your friend Richard Samuelson, The Punster In Chief, on to give his take re birthright citizenship. He wrote not one but two very compelling articles earlier this year on the subject:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/02/23/born_american_a_look_at_birthright_citizenship_152403.html
https://americanmind.org/features/the-case-against-birthright-citizenship-2/citizens-not-serfs/
Also, I thought one of the classical arguments against popular government is that popular governments tended to become so feckless and unstable that wide-spread chaos followed. The people then eagerly turn to tyranny because it provides safety and order. If the Democrats want to avoid future tyrants, shouldn't they make a point to provide safety and order?
Yes, they should. Which tells you that, as always, the Democrats are accusing their opponents of what the Democrats are doing. They want the people to turn to tyranny. Just not to their opponents.
On the case's being accepted by the Supremes, will both John and Richard be submitting amicus curiae briefs? Will Lucretia?
Please do not feel you need any excuse for further pics of whoever that young lady is.
I wonder what a McDonaldsland theme park would look like?
Lots of gold and arches. Think Sydney Opera House with gold edging, red accents, and wrapped in neon. There must be at least one street paved in gold and security personnel in in uniforms similar to vintage Marine Corp issue.