Advise and Politicize

Article Two, Section Two, of the U.S. Constitution dictates that the President of the United States "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint . . . Judges of the Supreme Court . . ."  As with lots of other statutory language pertaining to how our government functions, the original Constitutional requirement has been interpreted and applied in different ways over the last 200+ years.

Remembering Atticus

One of the cultural highlights in the U.S. during the summer of 2010 is the calendar of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the classic American novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.  From Birmingham to Boston and Plano to Pasadena, fans of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning book are turning out in communities of all sizes to read passages from the story, discuss its themes and screen the 1962 motion picture that was based on the novel.

The Price of Narcissism

Last week, one of the dominant sports-related conversations in the U.S. was the imminent decision by LeBron James -- at 25, already a two-time Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association and one of the most talented basketball players we've ever seen -- regarding which team he would choose as his new employer.  As an unrestricted free agent, this was his right, to consider offers from any team interested in hiring him and select the one that suited him best.

Is it the Fourth?

Tomorrow, millions of Americans will gather in communities from Alaska to Maine to celebrate Independence Day.  This will mark the 234th birthday of the United States of America, the most stable democracy the world has ever known.  But it will also mark the 184th anniversary of the passing of two of our founders, including the author of the Declaration of Independence itself.