Founding father #1: We can only hope that our countrymen of the future will extract phrases from this great document and focus single-mindedly on them until they pretty much contain any meaning they want them to.
Founding father #2: Are you drunk?
Founding father #1: A little hungover, maybe.
If you haven't already, please read E.J. Dionne's brilliant Fourth of July column, The Founders' True Spirit. Best sentence: "Before we expend enormous energy deciding how many angels can dance on the head of the commerce clause, we would usefully keep in mind the broader objectives of our great experiment."
Amen, Or, we need to value context over clauses. To be fair, Dionne's main focus is the problem with "originalism," but he makes some great points about keeping our eye on the big picture vice agonizing over a portion of a statement.
Go, E.J. By way of disclosure, I'm happy with the SC's recent decision, but not pleased with the parody of reasoning that allegedly led to it.
Lee
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