by jpitney | Mar 31, 2020 | Congress, Constitution, House of Representatives, Uncategorized
In 2003, Rep. David Dreier explained why we should fill mass vacancies in the House through expedited special elections, not appointment: I think that Chairman Sensenbrenner has very ably focused on two of the authors of the Federalist, James Madison and Alexander...
by jpitney | Mar 30, 2020 | Civility, Journalism
Angela Evans at The Hill: There can be no doubt that the media reward conflict, not consensus building. “If it bleeds, it leads” in the news business. But blaming the media is an alibi, not a valid excuse. There can be no doubt some of the new forms of social media...
by jpitney | Mar 29, 2020 | California Politics, Coronavirus, Newspapers
Previous posts have discussed the crisis in local news. Steven Waldman and Charles Sennott at The Atlantic: In this moment, the bottom is falling out economically for local news organizations. Those small businesses in your town that are closing left and right? They...
by jpitney | Mar 28, 2020 | Congress, Coronavirus
At Legbranch.org, Timothy LaPira and James Wallner note obstacles to a virtual Congress in the current House and Senate rules and the Constitution: The House and Senate rules require members to assemble in person to vote. Senate Rule XXVI, stipulates that senators...
by jpitney | Mar 27, 2020 | Coronavirus, Uncategorized
‘I was at a hospital where there were a few #coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everybody’ says Boris Johnson. Read the Government’s #COVID19 plan: https://t.co/pEzE4JWf5P pic.twitter.com/mucbaPSSbP — Sky News (@SkyNews) March 3, 2020 The...
