Sunday’s Forum

FILED UNDER: Open Forum
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a retired Professor of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    Can’t believe I’m the firstest here, but happy Sunday, one and all!

    1
  2. OzarkHillbilly says:

    Huh. The page says there is a comment here. Damned if I can see it. I wonder if it will appear after I post this?

    eta: Nope, but now it says there are 2 comments.

  3. OzarkHillbilly says:

    A new Texas bill could soon establish a taskforce using civilians that would have the authority to “arrest, apprehend or detain persons crossing the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully”, raising concerns around state-sponsored vigilantism.

    House Bill 20, authored by Republican state representative Matt Schaefer, seeks to create a new “border protection unit” that would deter migrants from unlawfully entering Texas using non-deadly force. It could include civilians with prior military experience among its members – such as national guards or former border patrol agents – who would be granted some immunity from prosecution for actions they carried out as members of the force.

    Gee, what could possibly go wrong?

    Bernardo Cruz, an attorney for the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), told the Guardian: “It’s really an unlawful action or exercise by the state government. We are really afraid it’s going to lead to more racial profiling of current migrants, and also that it affects everyone who lives across the border and the states.”

    Although immigration law and enforcement on the US border is under federal jurisdiction, border states like Texas argue they have the right to protect themselves if the federal government fails to do so, as per the “invasion” clause of the US constitution.

    Such a drastic move by a state to enforce federal immigration law is likely to end up in court.

    Ya think?

    1
  4. OzarkHillbilly says:

    A good interview: Melissa McCarthy: ‘I spend a lot of my work shredding people’

    I love MM, her work has been a little uneven at times but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything of hers that didn’t give me at least a few chuckles. This bit from the article cracked me up:

    In 2017 she won an Emmy for her portrayal of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer as a pugnacious, bullyish baby on Saturday Night Live – Trump was displeased and later, Spicer, grinning tightly, admitted her impression “cost me a lot of money in therapy”, but conceded yeah, fine, it was quite funny.

    It was f’n hilarious Spicer.

    1
  5. CSK says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Says the guy who was on Dancing with the Stars.

  6. James Joyner says:

    @OzarkHillbilly: Ironically, Luddite’s “first” post got moderated for whatever reason. Those show up on the counter but not the site unless released.

  7. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @James Joyner: Ah, that makes sense… I guess. 😉 I can never do tech, that’s what my wife is for. Well, that and the plumbing.

  8. OzarkHillbilly says:

    Too f’n funny:

    Ryan Breton
    @RyanBretonWX

    Saw this live and I still can’t believe it.

    Apparently he got penalized a stroke because the law of gravity took his side. Golf is weird. I had no idea they have a shot clock.

  9. steve says:

    I think my wife would kill me if I referred to her special parts as plumbing.

    Steve

    3
  10. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @steve: So would mine, but I’m talking about toilets and sinks and pipes etc etc etc.

    Get your mind out of the gutter. 🙂

  11. Mister Bluster says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:.. Huh. The page says there is a comment here. Damned if I can see it. I wonder if it will appear after I post this?

    eta: Nope, but now it says there are 2 comments.

    Probably not a good idea to question the technology of the site.

    1
  12. CSK says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Steve is a medical professional; he thinks of everything in terms of bodily parts.

  13. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    Oh ho! The games afoot! My response to being moderated has been sent to detention. Wheeeee!

    1
  14. Mister Bluster says:

    @Flat Earth Luddite:..My response to being moderated has been sent to detention.

    Sunday detention is the worst. It means you go straight to hell and miss Sunday dinner.

    4
  15. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    @Mister Bluster:
    Dammit, teach! Er, I mean, guess I’ll just sit here on the back porch with my coffee and leftovers from dinner. Mmm, pie!

    1
  16. CSK says:

    A melancholy day for me today. My nephew, the one who died in an auto accident at the end of last September, would have been 16 today.

    2
  17. Sleeping Dog says:

    @CSK:

    A virtual hug for you.

    1
  18. JohnSF says:

    Weather has taken a turn for the better over the last two weeks after a rather cold wet early spring.
    The plants in the garden have just erupted since the start of May.
    (Weeds in particular. Do you have couch grass and creeping buttercup in the US? If not would you like some? ’cause I’ve got plenty to spare.)
    Today was “Finished Planting Out the Sweetcorn Day” in the JohnSF veg patch
    About a fortnight later than last year, I think.

  19. CSK says:

    @Sleeping Dog:

    Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

  20. JohnSF says:

    Also in UK: Sinn Fein continue to advance towards being politically dominant in Northern Ireland.
    After last weeks NI local election results were declared yesterday, (roughly equivalent to counties in the US, sort of) they are now the largest party in local government there.
    Sinn Feiin: 143 (+39)
    DUP: 122 (no change)
    Alliance: 67 (+14)
    UUP: 54 (-21)
    SDLP: 39 (-20)

    1
  21. EddieInCA says:

    Howdy from the Peabody Hotel in Memphia, TN.

    Memphis has damn good BBQ.

    That is all.

    2