‘Small lies matter’ and are disqualifying in and of themselves

However you may feel about former FBI Director James Comey, he said something this past week which should be determinative for U.S. senators: “small lies matter.”

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Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus” is a legal principle that dictates jurors can rule a witness to be false in everything if he says one thing that is not true.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh has mislead the Senate and has told lies, both big and small, in each of his confirmation hearings over the years for the court of appeals and the Supreme Court. These lies are disqualifying in and of themselves. There should be no doubt after Thursday’s disastrous performance that Judge Kavanaugh is unfit to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and possibly even remain on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

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First Monday in October: SCOTUS Preview

The U.S. Supreme Court term for 2018-19 begins on the first Monday in October.

While all attention is on the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and what may come next from a “limited” FBI background investigation and confirmation vote scheduled for later this week, the court does have important business on the docket.

Dara Lind at Vox.com has a preview of court business:

On Monday, October 1, the Supreme Court will start its 2018-’19 term. Since nominee Brett Kavanaugh hasn’t even had a confirmation vote in the full Senate, there [will] be only eight justices on the Court when the term begins.

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The Supreme Court is perfectly able to function with only eight justices — they did so for over a year after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016. (Republicans refused to confirm a replacement nominated by Barack Obama, and the seat was ultimately filled in April 2017 by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch).

The only potential hiccup is a 4-4 case that makes it impossible to issue a nationwide ruling on a subject — but the Court has enough control over when it takes cases, and when it rules on them, that it could easily go through the first few months of the term without having to issue a 4-4 ruling on a case it would rather have a 5-4 ruling on.

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Melinda Merkel Iyer’s guide to the Nov 2018 ballot measures

The 2018 midterm election is coming! You’ve probably already decided which candidates you support – but what about the propositions? There’s a lot of conflicting information out there. CLICK HERE to get a thorough breakdown for the 2018 ballot measures, but right up front, here are the Weekly’s recommendations: Proposition 125 (Public Retirement System Reform): NO Proposition 126 (Protect … Read more

Political Calendar: Week of September 30, 2018

The Political Calendar is posted on Sundays. Please send us notice of your political events prior to the Sunday before your event (7 days would be most helpful). See the calendar icon in the right-hand column of the blog page for easy access to the calendar.

Send notices of your events to blogforarizona@gmail.com.

Note: For Event Notices and Fliers, click on the “Calendar” button in the menu options above.

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Political Calendar for the Week of September 30, 2018:

Continuing: Oktoberfest on Mount Lemmon, 10300 Ski Run Road, Mt. Lemmon (Tucson). Free admission. $5 parking and highway fees. Enjoy a festival of German food and music in the forest at Mount Lemmon Ski Valley during the last two weekends in September and first two weekends in October: Sept. 22-23, Sept. 29-30, Oct. 6-7, and Oct. 13-14, 2018. No dogs admitted, please. For more information please call (520) 576-1321.

Sunday, September 30, 1:15 p.m.: LD 9 Forum with Dr. Randy Friese, Victoria Steele & Pamela Powers Hannley, at the Martha Cooper Library, 1377 N. Catalina Avenue, Tucson.

Sunday, September 30, 3:00pm: Pima County Interfaith Council Candidates’ Accountability Session, at St. Pius X Church, 1800 N. Camino Pío Décimo, Tucson. Learn where the candidates stand and hear them address our issues.

Monday, October 1, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria). New price: buffet lunch is $10.00 cash, $12 credit; just a drink is $3.50. Featured speaker is Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild on City Parks Bond Question.Next Week: Multiple Speakers on Ballot Initiatives.

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