philcline – Page 10

Voting

January 29, 2019 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Uncategorized

This Week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution Voting The process of casting a vote is changing. Who, when, and how is an accident of location. It can be vastly different from state to state. The image of an adult citizen showing up at the polls on election day, being handed a ballot, retiring to the voting […]

Poetry in the Public Square

January 18, 2019 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Literary Writings / Poetry / Public Interest / Uncategorized

Is poetry a public or private thing? One’s love of country could be deliciously stirred by the magic of poetry: “This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, …………. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England . . .” Historically western poetry concerned itself with […]

He Credited Fear

December 8, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

At the window he credited Fear, Regretted his temper drive, And looked to gloomy vistas This morning again arrived. Secrets of giggly girls, Potent Innocence fails Divers of missing pearls Bartered from greasy nails. Christmas lights harken End, Heralded toys broken fine, Discarded in the snowy mud Cheered by crows atop a line. Don’t hurry […]

Where Boys Walk

December 8, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

Where Boys Walk Fist clenched, Forearm flexed, Raised above, hovering, Before down the hit. Cringed below, a boy child’s Dread, And fear. And Humiliation. Again. Hands, kind, reach, Stretch, pat on’a back, Rest on’a shoulder, A smile, a nod, he said “good job.” Eyes open, breath released, hope. Courage, And will. And defiance. Indomitable. And between […]

Cline on the Constitution Privacy of Cell phone data

October 15, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Privacy

I am back with a new segment of Cline on the Constitution. Took a little hiatus to explore the Mississippi via Paddle Boat. Great trip. I then monitored the resumption of hearings on Justice Kavanaugh. Much has been discussed about Due Process and the Presumption of Innocence. I won’t repeat the various arguments. […]

Privacy and Property

September 21, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Privacy

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution Privacy and Property One momentous decision of the Supreme Court’s last term involved cell-phone privacy. In Carpenter vs. U.S., penned by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court found that data collected from a cell phone that pinpointed a suspected robber’s movements over 127 days involving […]

Laugh like a young man

September 7, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Literary Writings / Poetry

Trigger Warning. Caution: This poem tends to glorify being a man. Laugh as a Young Man Laughs Laugh as a young man laughs. Laugh hearty, laugh out loud, Laugh at facing a day’s hard work, Laugh at the wobble in your knees Hauling hundred pound sacks of “taters” Balanced across your shoulders. […]

Cline on the Constitution

September 2, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Judiciary

Justice Kavanaugh and Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie Tuesday morning the Senate will open hearings on the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The candidate has lived an honorable life, is well liked, enjoys a reputation as a good and decent man, and is an experienced and imminently qualified jurist who […]

The Cake Baking case

August 28, 2018 by philcline in Bill of Rights / Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Free Speech / Religion

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution. “We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone.” When Americans think of Civil Rights, they often think of the Constitution. That is okay. But it is inaccurate. Our most fundamental rights are enshrined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. There is, however, […]

Speech Issues on Abortion

August 13, 2018 by philcline in Blog / Cline on the Constitution / Free Speech / Religion

This week’s segment of Cline on the Constitution continues the review of major cases decided by the Supreme Court in the last term. The court issued opinions on two cases involving Freedom of Speech and Association. In one case the Court affirmed an important principle regarding Free Speech. In the other they punted. […]

Author: philcline