From Southwest Ledger Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution is all about the House of Representatives. While the first three clauses attract most the attention and discuss the setup of the House, the last two clauses are equally important and deal with vacancies in the House and that body’s role in impeachment. It … Continue reading Constitution 101: House Vacancy, Impeachment Clauses
Tag: donald-trump
Trump, Harrison and Presidential Do-Overs
From Southwest Ledger It’s not often in life that we get a do-over, and in politics it’s even rarer. Most of the time, once a candidate is associated with defeat, they are never considered for office again. What is even rarer is a president losing reelection and getting a second shot. In fact, that has … Continue reading Trump, Harrison and Presidential Do-Overs
Off-the-cuff: unscripted comments that sank presidential campaigns
From the Southwest Ledger At the time of writing this column, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is currently leading in most polls to win the Presidency of the United States. With only three weeks before the election, the worst thing that could happen for the Harris campaign is a snide, off-the-cuff remark that could sway voters … Continue reading Off-the-cuff: unscripted comments that sank presidential campaigns
Executive v. Executive: A Parallel in American Presidential Elections
From Southwest Ledger As a political historian, I was disappointed when Joe Biden backed out of the presidential race. I say that for no other reason than it’s been a rare occurrence in history where we have had two presidents battle it out. However, while it would have given me plenty to write about, a … Continue reading Executive v. Executive: A Parallel in American Presidential Elections
Scrutinizing Primaries: Political History is Cyclical, Evolutionary
From Southwest Ledger I read something online the other day that said, “not to brag but I have won as many primary votes as Kamala Harris.” At first it made me chuckle, but then it made me think. My first thought was “how many times has a candidate run for president without winning a single … Continue reading Scrutinizing Primaries: Political History is Cyclical, Evolutionary
“It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose”
From Southwest Ledger Unfortunately, assassination attempts are not new to our nation. In a time of such hatred, when each side sees the other as evil, it is no surprise that an attempt was made towards Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. When discussing assassinations, most historians focus on the death of the four … Continue reading “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose”
Absolute v. Qualified Immunity: Examining Executive Vesting, Separation of Powers Clauses
From Southwest Ledger Starting with the Jefferson administration, the courts have recognized two types of immunity: absolute and qualified. Absolute is just how it sounds, absolute redress regardless of motive or action. Qualified is also how it sounds, it’s a limited protection. For this, the person accused must demonstrate they acted with the belief their … Continue reading Absolute v. Qualified Immunity: Examining Executive Vesting, Separation of Powers Clauses
Do Televised Presidential Debates Sway Voters? Short answer: Probably.
From the Southwest Ledger Historically speaking, presidential debates are relatively new. The first one presidential debate was held between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Before then, debates were seen as beneath presidential candidates. There were plenty of debates for other positions. The 1858 Lincoln-Douglass Debates for the Illinois Senate seat are probably … Continue reading Do Televised Presidential Debates Sway Voters? Short answer: Probably.
Convict 2253 Runs For President
From Southwest Ledger The conviction of President Donald Trump on all 34 counts of the Hush Money Case in New York has left us with more questions than answers. The main questions center around jail time for an ex-president and how it affects his campaign for a second term. By all accounts, jail time does … Continue reading Convict 2253 Runs For President
Reviewing “For the Love of Country:Leave the Democratic Party Behind”
From Southwest Ledger Stop me if you have heard this before. The Democratic Party is threatening our freedom and democracy. Its leaders care more about power than safety. By trying to remove Donald Trump from the election ballot they are killing the democratic process. They are using the criminal justice system as a tool against … Continue reading Reviewing “For the Love of Country:Leave the Democratic Party Behind”
Historically Speaking 