Saturday Open Thread [1.17.15]
Cool moves from the Dover Police Department.
The uninsured rate continues its historic decline under Obamacare, according to the latest Gallup survey. Gallup began surveying on insurance in 2008. Last spring, following the first enrollments in Obamacare, the uninsured rate fell below the 2008, pre-Great Recession levels. It’s fallen even further after the second enrollment period opened last November.
Drum cheers:
The uninsurance rate has dropped the most among blacks, Hispanics, the young, and the poor. It’s dropped by only a small amount among the middle classes, since they’re mostly insured already by their employers. But even right smack in the middle, uninsurance rates have dropped by three percentage points. Obamacare just keeps on working, and it’s working for everyone.
So the Supreme Court has decided to take up the whole issue of marriage equality once and for all. Specifically, the questions presented and to be decided by the Court are as follows:
The cases are consolidated and the petitions for writs of certiorari are granted limited to the following questions:
1.) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?
2.) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?
A total of ninety minutes is allotted for oral argument on Question 1. A total of one hour is allotted for oral argument on Question 2. The parties are limited to filing briefs on the merits and presenting oral arguments on the questions presented in their respective petitions.
My opinion is that the answers to both questions will be yes, by a vote of 6-3. Yes, the four liberals plus Kennedy and Roberts.
A rare victory for the Fourth Amendment. From WaPo:
My first reaction: You mean it was that simple? The AG could have stopped this at any time?
Dash Cam: Well… if it makes you happy. The supreme court vs. marriage equality? I don’t put anything past the Roberts court but I’m hoping for 5-4, but 6-3 would be welcomed as a decisive defeat for social conservatives (always fun). Per Puck’s comment, yes, a rare victory for the fourth amendment. But so called “civil forfeiture” should be banned outright, it amounts to legalized theft.
The AG could have stopped this at any time?
Just the Federal program — he can’t do anything about state and local laws that authorize this looting.
Why Chris Christie may have been in Jerry Jones’ box for playoff games: Jerry Jones And Campaign Donor Benefit From Izod Center Decision
New Yorkers disapproved of the NYPD turning their backs on Mayor DiBlasio: