I’m with Mitt Romney: I’d vote YES on Article I and NO on Article II. The enormous powers of the Executive Branch should not be marshaled or weaponized to damage, investigate or monitor political opponents. That’s a terrible precedent. This goes for a president coaxing foreign allies either with favor or via threatened-withheld resources to get them to launch a damaging investigation, or getting them to announce one. And it also applies to allowing a…

The Constitution’s apportionment clause makes the wealth taxes advanced by both Senators Sanders and Warren clearly unconstitutional. That’s not to say a wealth tax is impossible. Just as when federal income taxes were enacted, there is a way to have a legal wealth tax: the Constitutional Amendment process. But the Constitution first requires two thirds of the House and two thirds of the Senate to pass an Amendment. Then it requires 75% (i.e., 38 of…

Esek Hopkins was the brother of Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island and Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed the first Commander of the Continental Navy in 1775. A few months later, the Continental Congress declared independence, and Commander Hopkins suddenly became the most powerful naval officer in the new United States. Despite their decision to bestow this position on him, Commander Esek Hopkins held the Continental Congress in very low regard.…

On average, campaigns directly spent $21.96 per vote in the August 6th Seattle City Council Primary Election. Which Seattle City Council Primary candidates spent the most/least per vote? Based on preliminary numbers of direct expenditures and votes counted as of 8:00PM last night, here’s a chart. Names in bold are, at this writing, most likely to move on to the general November 5th election, though these names could change as the remaining votes come in.…