Author Archives: James J Heaney

Quick Check-In on Trump’s Approval Rating

Trump’s current approval rating is pretty similar to the approval rating for both Obama and Reagan at this point in their respective presidencies. (Trump 43%, Obama 45%, Reagan 43%.) Reagan’s recovered sharply over the course of the election year, and … Continue reading

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One Reason to Punch Nazis (and Two Reasons Not To)

“Error has no rights.” It’s not clear where this axiom comes from. (Some say the Inquisition. I can’t find it before Orestes Brownson, who critiqued it.) Yet the axiom seems correct to me, and I think, at some level, most … Continue reading

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The Correct, Scientifically Accurate Term Is “Embryonic Heartbeat”

We have recently seen the passage of a number of “heartbeat bills.” These laws provide legal protections to unborn children who have achieved a detectable heartbeat. Embyronic heartbeat begins around the fourth week after the last menstrual period (or roughly two weeks … Continue reading

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2020 Presidential Candidates, RANKED by How COOL/CHIC/FETCH You are for Having a BUMPER STICKER Supporting That Candidate in Saint Paul, MN

This is the 2020 sequel to Unflattering Assessments of 2016 Presidential Candidates. I realized today that I need to get these in before candidates start dropping out like flies. I admit I am not as mean this year, but only because I … Continue reading

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Alito’s Concurrence in FUCT Case

I was surprised to see Justice Alito joining the Supreme Court majority in Iancu v. Brunetti today. This is a trademark case. The U.S. Trademark Office rejected a trademark for the brand “FUCT” because of a law (the Lanham Act) … Continue reading

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Some Church Documents #2: 1975 Nullity Case Involving a “Transsexual”

The document and my discussion are at the bottom, if you want to skip down and read the darn thing. Otherwise, I have some introductory comments on the Catholic Church and gender issues. For some years, I have tried to … Continue reading

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