The Middle Way

Recently, I have been reading suggestions on how to improve readership of my blog. According to the conventional wisdom of blogging, most of my entries are much too long. However, I try to provide substance. Let me know what you think. Should I try to make them shorter, or do you think I need to keep them long to sufficiently back up my point?

Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate and often unpredictable voice in the Supreme Court, has retired for family reasons. The Chief Justice, William H. Rehnquist, is expected to retire soon for health reasons. The pundits are expecting a bitter battle between the Bush Administration and Senate Democrats over naming replacements.

The whole basis of such a battle is wrong. We should not be appointing (or block appointment) of Justices on the basis of political beliefs, but on the basis of the nominee's knowledge of the law, and track record in faithfully applying the existing law to cases. Perhaps this would be a good time for me to reiterate my modest proposal for fixing the abuses of judicial discretion (first item in my February 17 post).

I encourage you to read the Declaration of Independence sometime over the weekend. It will remind you of the reason we wave the flag, eat hot dogs, and watch fireworks. I also hope that it will strengthen your resolve to do something good for your community and country, whether in volunteer service or in political participation.

Copyright © 2005, Harold D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use the material in this blog provided both conditions are met: (1) Credit is given to the author, and (2) the use is not for profit.