Patterico's Pontifications

2/7/2021

Constitutional Vanguard: The Constitution Doesn’t Mean a Damned Thing to the So-Called “Constitutionalists”

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 2:25 pm



My latest Substack newsletter is out, and it addresses a very simple concept: you don’t get to call yourself a “constitutionalist” if you always read the Constitution in a way that is politically convenient for you. With the impeachment trial set to start next week, it does a deep dive into the arguments that the impeachment is unconstitutional because Trump is out of office. Here’s a sample:

“OK,” I can hear you say, “but doesn’t the person being impeached have to be in office at the time of conviction?” No, and any other result would create an absurd result that the Framers could not have intended: that an officeholder could simply avoid future disqualification by resigning moments before the vote to convict is held. Under this view, an impeached president whose conviction was imminent and certain could simply burst in through the wall of the Senate chamber, like the Kool-Aid Man, minutes before the vote of conviction, only instead of yelling “OH YEAHHH!” the president would yell “I RESIGN! OH YEAHHH!” And unlike Michael Scott “declaring” bankruptcy by yelling “I DECLARE BANKRUPTCY!” at the workers in his office, the president’s resignation probably could take effect that quickly. I don’t think the Founders meant to allow a president to escape disqualification so easily.

Also, I believe I have created the opportunity for you to become a paid subscriber. The benefits begin tonight. I think around 5 p.m. my time, I plan to send any new subscribers two emails. One will be my analysis of a likely upcoming ruling in a lawsuit filed by the Association of Deputy District Attorneys against one George Gascón. The ruling could come down as early as tomorrow, so you’ll be able to see right away just how good my predictive powers are.

In addition, I’ll be opening a thread for paid subscribers to talk about anything. It will be like the open threads here, except that people will ponying up for the chance to speak to other like-minded people. Over the years we have talked about the idea of setting up a more exclusive comment section, and this is probably the best way to do it. Something about having some skin in the game may make the interchanges more civil and meaningful. I’d love to see how it works out.

If you are already a paying subscriber to the blog (it’s possible, on the right sidebar), you are automatically on the paid subscriber list.

In general, I’ll probably be sending out emails to paid subscribers midweek, around Wednesday, with the free version continuing on Sundays. But please do consider a subscription. I think those posts are likely to be more thought-provoking and controversial.

Read the latest post here. Subscribe here.

Sunday Music: Bach Cantata BWV 8

Filed under: Bach Cantatas,General,Music — Patterico @ 9:49 am



It is the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. Today’s Bach cantata is “Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?” (Dearest God, when will I die?)

Today’s Gospel reading is Mark 1:29-39.

Jesus Heals Many

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

The text of today’s piece is available here. It contains these words:

Dearest God, when will I die?
My time runs away continually,
and the old legacy of Adam,
which includes me as well,
has this as its inheritance;
for a little time
to be poor and wretched on the earth
and then to become earth itself.

. . . .

But hence, you foolish, useless worries!
My Jesus calls me: who wouldn’t go?
Nothing that delights me
belongs to the world.
Dawn on me, blessed, joyful morning,
transfigured and glorious, standing before Jesus.

Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.


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