The News Journal Op-Ed Page: A Wingnut Bastion?
What’s in the water over at the News Journal Editorial Board?
Today they are running an op-ed, “An Unconstitutional Nobel”, tha looks at whether or not President Obama can constitutionally accept the Nobel Prize. Oh yeah, the article is written by Ronald Rotunda, a senior fellow of the Cato Institute, and Peter Pham, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies — which is a neocon think tank.
What’s next, an op-ed about how Obama is outlawing Christmas?
Tags: News Journal
I think it’s almost time for their weekly what’s the rush let’s go slow editorial on health care reform.
It’s a very careful, deliberative three-step process.
1. Realization: Aaack, there’s still a hole on this page, since we no longer have enough editors to actually do the job.
2. Search: Hmm … let me look for something on the wires to fill it.
3. Plug: Is that the right size? OK, throw it on there and let’s go home.
I think it’s almost time for their weekly what’s the rush let’s go slow editorial on health care reform.
They must be still waiting for Carper to turn it in.
anon, priceless. Bill the Cat explains a lot.
Ronald D. Rotunda is distinguished professor of jurisprudence at Chapman University Law School.
Time for Mr Rotuda to turn in the “distinguished” part of this title. So a glibertarian and a neocon join forces to provide an op-ed that — if turned in by a student — should have gotten a D or an F. Largely because the Nobel Prize Committees act on behalf of the intentions of the Nobel Foundation created to execute the terms of Alfred Nobel’s will, not on the intentions of Norway.
And somebody remember this, because it will be useful — that these geniuses think that President Obama should not take the prize money (which will go to charity) because he will (no shit) get a tax break for the charitable contribution.
Wow, NJ, I am reallyreallyreally hoping that you got this for free.
Can the NJ even apply the slightest bit of fact-checking?
No, you can’t turn down a prize. It’s awarded anyway.
I don’t know if they’re pushing the Neda thing – but there are no posthumous awards.
Sitting presidents have accepted the award in the past.
Other sitting officials have accepted awards (Schwartzkopf from QEII for example).
This is last week’s recycled wingnut talking points. Can’t they even find new wingnut talking points to publish?
And about that Christmas thing — I don’t want Obama to outlaw Christmas, but I would be eternally grateful if he could do something about Christmas displays going up at Labor Day. No displays until after Halloween — perfection would be no displays until Thanksgiving!
Did anyone mention that in addtion to being wingnut craziness, the editorial was factually wrong? Three other sitting Presidents were awarded the Peace prize. Was it unconstitutional for them to accept it? Of course not because they not the Kenyan usurper.
UI: See anon @12:07, above.
There are three people remaining on the NJ editorial page staff – Sweeney, Williams and Graham – two of whom have been there since before the Flood and thus have a ton of vacation leave to take every year. So during an average week, that leaves two people to edit and design 15 pages, write up to 14 unsigned editorials, verify and edit letters to the editor and write a signed column if they have time, solicit and edit guest columns, and write headlines for all of the above.
Fact-checking stuff off the wires just doesn’t rise to the top of anyone’s priority list. You generally assume it’s been done at the point of origin. No newspaper in the country fact-checks Associated Press copy on its own.
Jason – I’m finding two other sitting presidents on the Nobel list, Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Carter didn’t get it until way after he left office. Who am I missing as the third?
Well, if BHO outlaws Christmas, I guess you’ll all have to join me in celebrating all 8 days and nights of Chanukah.
Jason – only 2 sitting POTUS’s received the Nobel Peace Prize – TR for helping to end the Nippon-Russo War and Wilson for helping to establish the League of Nations.
See Kleiman:
http://www.samefacts.com/2009/10/uncategorized/the-nobel-peace-prize-and-the-blind-chipmunk-principle/