This wonderful verb Mark, to add to “beatdown,” fresh out of American Heritage:
excoriate
ĭk-skôr′ē-āt″
transitive verb
To censure strongly; denounce.
To criticize (something) harshly.
To tear, scrape, or wear off (the skin).
I relish reading these decisions out of our courts. Vive la République! I’ve lived in France for 20+ years now, and there is no equivalent to our third branch of government. Macron seems to spin his pronouncements in an imperial void; you hear very little pushback on the “ passe sanitaire” from the (corrupt) news media, TF1 and the rest. French courts? Litigation? Silence…and now Brussells is flexing its muscles…shades of the 30’s, as you’ve already mentioned. It is reassuring that at least Americans are trying to hold their government (!) to account - but as De Gaulle said, “les français sont des veaux” and most even still wear masks at the outdoor markets…and as my husband, who is French reminds me, the legal profession here went with Vichy…bon courage to you Mark and all your outstanding commenters!
There are pros and cons to written v. unwritten constitutions--call it the contrast between the American and British constitutional systems. De Maistre was a prominent critic of written constitutions. However, as you suggest, in the current crisis--which is really a political and cultural crisis--the salvation for America has been its three separate branches of government, with a strong judiciary. It's not perfect, no human system is, but it has unquestionably helped to hold the line against the forces of cultural and political dissolution--leading to authoritarianism.
This wonderful verb Mark, to add to “beatdown,” fresh out of American Heritage:
excoriate
ĭk-skôr′ē-āt″
transitive verb
To censure strongly; denounce.
To criticize (something) harshly.
To tear, scrape, or wear off (the skin).
I relish reading these decisions out of our courts. Vive la République! I’ve lived in France for 20+ years now, and there is no equivalent to our third branch of government. Macron seems to spin his pronouncements in an imperial void; you hear very little pushback on the “ passe sanitaire” from the (corrupt) news media, TF1 and the rest. French courts? Litigation? Silence…and now Brussells is flexing its muscles…shades of the 30’s, as you’ve already mentioned. It is reassuring that at least Americans are trying to hold their government (!) to account - but as De Gaulle said, “les français sont des veaux” and most even still wear masks at the outdoor markets…and as my husband, who is French reminds me, the legal profession here went with Vichy…bon courage to you Mark and all your outstanding commenters!
There are pros and cons to written v. unwritten constitutions--call it the contrast between the American and British constitutional systems. De Maistre was a prominent critic of written constitutions. However, as you suggest, in the current crisis--which is really a political and cultural crisis--the salvation for America has been its three separate branches of government, with a strong judiciary. It's not perfect, no human system is, but it has unquestionably helped to hold the line against the forces of cultural and political dissolution--leading to authoritarianism.
Yes absolutely Mark. And irony of ironies: wasn’t separation of powers an idea of Montesquieu?
Thank God, these people are evil.
It's like Invasion of the Body Snatchers took over Biden and replaced him with a kumquat.
Whoa...is it really necessary to disparage kumquats like that? ;0)
Yep. Calling BS on them.
For an appellate opinion smacking the Executive Branch, they really didn't pull any punches. Their contempt is palpable.