Come Heller high water …
- The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says a lot about us as a country. Mostly it says we’re not very nice. He wasn’t dead five minutes before everyone from presidential candidates on down was arguing over how he should be replaced, as if a human being is just a spare part. C’mon, people, the guy had a family and friends, and it’s a real tragedy that he’s gone, whether you shared his politics or not. (Which I didn’t.) Where’s the period of mourning before we dive into bitter, partisan squabbling again? We can do better.
- I know, I know. It’s hard not to get sucked in. I’m as guilty as anyone. But I’ll give you – and him – a few days before I tell you what I really think of the rotten, little Republican scheme to, in Trump’s words, “delay, delay, delay.” (Rotten, little scheme was a hint.)
- Donald Trump says he might sue Sen. Ted Cruz over where he was born. In response, Cruz is threatening to countersue Trump’s hair over where it was born. My guess: Hair Club for Men.
- Apple is refusing a judge’s order to break into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists, saying to do so would somehow expose its customers to a greater risk of being hacked. Yeah, but doesn’t refusing to break into one phone expose the rest of us to a greater risk of being blown up or shot? Which is worse? This is a dumb move by an otherwise smart company. How long before you see memes with a photo of an iPhone and the words: “The iPhone: Official Cell Phone of Terrorists Everywhere”?
- The NAACP says it will begin “disruptive civil disobedience” if Gov. Snyder doesn’t present a plan in the next 30 days for replacing lead pipes in the city. Great idea but way too generous. There should have been a plan a month ago. Or two months ago. Or three months ago. Or six. Snyder’s response continues to be dirt slow and four beats behind in my view. So you don’t know where they all are yet, so what? Start with the ones you do know about, for crying out loud. Just get moving.
- A new study says Flint’s water was not only toxic but cost more than just about anywhere in the nation. If there’s such a thing as karma, Flint’s going to be paradise some day. C’mon, life, give Flint a break, wouldja?
- I love clear answers, which is why I loved a New York Times article this week that says – definitively – how much exercise you should get. The answer: A lot more than you think. According to the results of two major studies, both announced last week, you should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week to live longer and have a 31 percent lower chance of dying. A little less, you get less. A lot more – 450 minutes – earns you a 39 percent lower chance of dying. Got it? Good. Now go move.
- I haven’t been excited about the Detroit Pistons in years but yesterday’s trade for a true power forward – 6-foot-9, 235 pound bad-ass Tobias Harris, formerly of the Orlando Magic – got me jazzed. With him and the rest of their young core, they’re looking like a playoff team for years to come. Go, Van Gundy! It’ll be nice to care again.
- A Florida man was arrested Monday for throwing a 3-foot alligator through a Wendy’s drive-thru window. Sounds horrible but if you live in Florida and they screw up your order for the 12th time, what are supposed to do, right?
- The Detroit Tigers start spring training tomorrow. I repeat: Spring officially begins tomorrow. In Lakeland, Florida, at least. Good enough for me.
- No one asked me but I say the Tigers win the division in a rout. But then I always do.
- Shark attacks hit an all-time high last year. I repeat: An all-time high. And here you thought “Sharknado” was make-believe. Me, I’ll look at the pretty, pretty ocean from the safe, safe beach from now on, thank you very much.
- “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Come Heller high water runs every Wednesday at noon.
How about instead of looking at the ocean from a nice safe beach, just look at a just as beautiful Great Lake from a nice safe beach, and swim in the nice safe lake too?
In July or August, yes. The rest of the year in Michigan – nooooo
Justice Scalia had a pugnacious public face with some snarky put downs when answering questions. His strict constitutional circa 1776, interpretation left me baffled but I think sometimes his point was the congress was tasked with law making not the Supreme Court. I can’t say I was saddened or joyful at his death but agree I was “gob smacked” at the responses both public, mainly politicians..and anonymous etc on (anti) social media. I unfriended some on Facebook b/c of disgusting personal comments and speculations regards the “truth” about his death.
I’m no spring chicken but I find I’m asking am I naive or is something truly ugly happening?
I am no spring chicken either (71) and I agree that the vicious, degrading comments about Judge Scalia are very inappropriate and just plain rude to his family. We may not have agreed with the man but he was a dedicated scholar and in that should be respected. As to something truly ugly happening, it sure is. This year’s election and the GOP candidates have brought out the worst of our population. I haven’t seen this kind of hate since the racism of the 20’s 30’s and 40’s with the rise of the KKK, the anti Semite towards the Jewish people and then the Japanese. The religious outpouring of discrimination for all types of things is sad. I am truly afraid for our country. Yes it is ugly.
I agree with you, Marie. I think social media has something to do with it.
It’s not that I’m glad a husband and father of nine passed away. Is it o.k. If Im glad he’s no longer on the Supreme Court? Thank you.
what happened post-Scalia re: responses was my family after both dad and mom passed: hounds on precious meat. The call for delays on approving a replacement is ironically a blight on his legacy. The constitution clearly advises, Prez serves, Senate vets. To delay, delay, delay, says screw you Scalia–we got the reins now.
You’re right on succession Tim. But it could have waited til after the funeral. We’re like a nation on speed, and social media is partly to blame.
I ignore the comments posted by those who are trying to imply that Justice Scalia died under mysterious circumstances. Scalia mentioned hours before he went to bed that he was tired. When I took a psychology course years age we studied death and dying. What Scalia did was not unusual. I have had relatives who made similar statements up to 2 days before they died. Good grief he was 79 years old and not in the best of health.
As to the politics of it is proper for the president to nominate someone at this time. Let him go for it.
The republicans can turn to the democrat playbook and do the same thing that the democrats have been doing for years.
Delay, filibuster and other wise generally smear a candidate for for the Supreme Court.
In 2007 Democratic senator Chuck Schummer went on the record stating President Bush should not nominate someone for the Supreme Court because he had 17 months or so left in office.
President Bush ignored him and nominated.
Democrats are the most racist people on the earth. They were the founders of the KKK and the writers of the Jim Crowe laws in the south.
Abe Lincoln was a republican and Jefferson Davis was a democrat.
Slow down now. I am a Democrat and please don’t paint all of us with a the broad brush of racism. That’s not nice. And some of us are good Americans, a lot of us.
Jim, that ‘Dems are racist’ hooey is straight out of the Rush Limbaugh library of talking points. Today’s Democrats are far more on the side of equal rights than Republicans. I know that sounds partisan but it’s just true.
You’re talking about the Democratic party of HOW many years ago? We’re discussing today. (I’m also considering the possibility that a sarcasm font would completely change the intent of your last three sentences by the way. If that’s the case, I withdraw my comment.)
I love the idea of a sarcasm font, but no, I t’weren’t kidding. C’mon, tho, Kathy, just look at Cruz and Trump and Carson et al. These are not presidents.
Andrew, another great column, addressing many issues in a succinct
Manner. In President Obama’s address to the Press yesterday, once again I couldn’t help but compare his ability to handle hard questions with grace and humor. Can you imagine Trump in his position? How sad that any nominee for the Supreme Court is bound to fail out of spite. Frightening things are happening in our country and it isn’t just terrorists.
I fear grace and humor are on their way out. We’ve been a cold, heartless nation. Our politics at least.