Sunday, January 9, 2011

(Posting #5) Reactions to the AZ shooting

"TUCSON, Ariz. – Federal prosecutors brought charges Sunday against the gunman accused of attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killing six people at a political event in Arizona." (Read full story from the Associated Press HERE.)

U.S. District Judge John M. Roll and five others were killed in the tragedy at a Tucson-area Safeway supermarket, and US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) remains hospitalized in critcal condition with a bullet wound in her brain.

Journalist Corey Dade wonders whether the "inflammatory language" that is increasingly characteristic of American political discourse could be a root cause of Saturday's shooting. Read Wade's article HERE. Pima (AZ) County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik (D) reacted in a similar way at a press conference later on Saturday afternoon; view an excerpt of his comments in a YouTube video.

What are your reactions?

Monday, January 3, 2011

(Posting #4) Judicial Review of Health Care Reform?

Please use this thread to continue the dialogue we began in class today: does federal Health Care Reform with mandates (aka the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare) violate the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution? Should the US Supreme Court hear the case?

GO FARTHER! Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is a leading voice advocating legal challenges to Federal health care reform legislation. Read his thoughts (unfiltered) at McCollum's blog. St. Petersburg (FL) Times columnist Howard Troxler offers his opinion HERE. A conservative federal District Judge in Virginia has issued a ruling that may render parts of the health care law unconstitutional. Talking Points Memo reports on its blog that the Department of Justice will appeal, and suggests HERE that the case raises issues of partisanship within the judiciary.

THREE REMINDERS:
1. To satisfy requirements for this assignment, you must either: 1) post your opinion - thoughtfully; and/or 2) respond to one of your classmates' posts - in the spirit of deliberative dialogue. (Daily Work grade)

2. Criteria for Grading
: To guarantee a ‘Gentleman’s C’, so to speak: a) write respectfully and thoughtfully, b) write a minimum of 5 sentences, and c) attempt to be “remarkable” — to borrow from Mr. Monaco's chapel speech — so that visitors will want to “remark” about your post.  Beyond that, write in a way that is meaningful and compelling. Period.  Students’ submissions will be individually evaluated based on overall thesis/ideas/creativity/style.

3. Remember to 'sign' your post with first name and last initial - so that you'll earn credit.