2019 – Phil Cline

Cline on the Constitution

December 23, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Congress / Presidency

Impeachment Chronicles – Part III I admit to being somewhat mystified. My goal in writing these posts is to make the Constitution understandable to the citizens to whom it belongs. However, even for someone steeped in the more intricate elegance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the events of the last couple of weeks […]

A Birthday Poem

December 15, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

Thanks to all my Friends for your kind Birthday wishes. Thought I would share a trifle of a poem on aging. My gift to you. Out Beyond the City Limits Sign As the summer months cool, I take some time To stand in the shade of the overhang, And consider a ride. My Red Corvette Convertible Sits […]

Impeachment continued

December 8, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Congress / Presidency

Cline on the Constitution Impeachment Chronicles – Part Two The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives held a hearing last week. It was a yeoman’s attempt to underpin all the speculations and opinions being passed off as facts with legal speculations and opinions on whether all the speculations and opinions would be enough to […]

Impeachment

November 24, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Presidency

The Impeachment Chronicles-Part One Demands for the impeachment of President Trump have come from various quarters since before he was sworn into office. Any pretext has sufficed. If one turned out to be groundless, another has been quickly adopted. There are two major characteristics in the demands. The first is that there is an intense desire to remove […]

Right to Confront Witnesses

October 20, 2019 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Congress / Presidency

In 1603, Sir Walter Raleigh, one of the most celebrated men of his era, was brought to trial for treason based upon accusations generated by the Spanish Ambassador. The evidence used against him was testimony taken in secret and a letter by an alleged accomplice, a man named Cobham. Raleigh demanded the witness against him be […]

Cline on the Constitution

September 8, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Judiciary

Cline on the Constitution – the Census Question and the Politization of the Court Summer vacation is over, and the Supreme Court’s traditional opening for the new term the first week of October draws nigh. With a brutal campaign for President unfolding the stage is set for what could be a turning point for the Supreme […]

Double Jeopardy

July 21, 2019 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Federalism / Judiciary

The Supreme Court recently, and for the first time in a hundred years, issued a definitive opinion on Double Jeopardy. A close reading, however, leaves an impression that the opinion was about more. As privacy issues (such as the “right” to an abortion) make their way back to the Court, this case may provide a road map […]

Cline on the Constitution

July 1, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Free Speech / Judiciary

While I was on vacation the Supreme Court began to wind down their current term and issue opinions on a few highly anticipated cases. As usual there were a few smart opinions and a few stupid ones. And following the trend over the past decade, a lot of 5-4 votes. Though there has been some discussion that […]

Synapses and Ganglia

June 12, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

Wednesday’s poetry rendering Synapses and Ganglia What demon incarnation is this That strides back and forth Over the world, steps across oceans, Traverses mountains and continents, Tempts man with gifts, fears, anger, and rage, Persuades to lust and jealousy, To theft and fraud and mendacity, Who stands bestride the world Crowned in cruelty and brutality? […]

Wednesday Poetry Rendering

May 29, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

The Space Between by Phil Cline The space between is where life is, Where emotion is, where feeling Is, The space Between fists raised in furious rage, Held, poised, awaiting, Brutality’s rapture, And Poor arms pale, splayed Underneath. Weak, Inadequate. In that space Between. In that, time, no time, Before the hit Where Dread resides, […]

Year: 2019