Tag Archives: Supreme Court

Government, Politics

Breaking: Obama To Nominate Himself To U.S. Supreme Court

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imageWASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – It has been widely rumored that if elected next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders will nominate Barack Obama to the first vacancy that will occur on the Supreme Court.

Well, that time has come with the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia.

The problem is, neither Clinton nor Sanders is president yet.

So today, The White House announced that President Obama will nominate himself to the highest court of the land, potentially assuring that the balance between conservative and liberals on the bench will tip towards the latter.

As expected, Republicans  will vigorously oppose the nomination.  They will spend all of their time doing so which means they will focus their attention away from the current presidential campaign. This will all but ensure that Hillary or Bernie will be elected president, who will, in turn re-nominate Obama if the GOP Senate rejects the self-nomination.

From POTUS to SCOTUS.

 

 

Government, Law Enforcement, Politics

Philippine Elections Commissioners Resign En Banc

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – In Japan, elected political leaders –prime ministers  included — step down when they cause an embarrassment to their country. In the Philippines, appointed government officials resign en banc.

Minutes  after the Supreme Court  issued temporary restraining orders (TRO)  on two Commission on Elections (COMELEC) rulings disqualifying Senator Grace Poe from next year’s presidential election, the commissioners tendered their simultaneous resignations. They could not bear the embarrassment handed to them by the highest court of the land.

As a result of the TROs, Poe’s name would remain in the 2016 ballot.

Last week, the COMELEC, sitting en banc, issued a ruling disqualifying Poe on citizenship and residency grounds. Earlier, two divisions of the electoral body issued similar rulings.

The COMELEC was widely criticized for issung the ruling at a time when the Supreme Court was on holiday recess, making it almost impossible for Poe to file a petition for TRO before  the 5-day period within which the senator could do so before the order becomes final and executable.

COMELEC was also accused of partisanship by favoring the Aquino administration’s anointed presidential candidate, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Because of the mass resignations of the commissioners, the 2016 presidential elections in May could be postponed indefinitely, virtually extending the current term of President Aquino.

Brilliant planning by the Aquino administration that should warrant a Japanese-style resignation?

Stay tuned!

 

Government, Politics

PHILIPPINES : ‘BUTTERFLY LADIES’ WILL HEAD ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

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L-R: Poe, Robredo, Sereno, Defensor-Santiago, Marcos

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – For centuries, the Philippines has been a society known for its deeply-ingrained machismo, where men rule and women are relegated to the sidelines.

Not any more.

The Philippines is among the few countries where women are, or have been, heads of state.  In fact, there had been two women Philippine presidents — the late Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (who remains in hospital arrest).

Fast forward to 2016.

It is predicted that a woman will be elected president,  as well as vice president!

The Philippines’ unique electoral process allows voters to vote across party lines.  This means they could vote for the presidential candidate of one party and for the vice presidential bet of another.

In fact, incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay are from opposing political parties.

One woman candidate, Senator Grace Poe, has so far declared her candidacy for president while another, Leni Robredo, is about to named vice presidential candidate for an opposing party.  Both are popular and have done extremely well in national polls.

The Philippine Supreme Court is already headed by a woman chief justice – Maria Lourdes Sereno.

It is further predicted that the next Senate president and next Speaker of the House will both be women.  Among the candidates are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos, respectively.

So the possibility of all three branches of government being ruled by women is just around the corner.  When it happens, the Philippines will be known not for the Iron Lady, but its Butterfly (sleeves) ladies!

Meanwhile, male politicians are gearing up to be part of Gilas, the Philippines’ national basketball team — either as players or members of the coaching team, their best chance of maintaining some semblance of machismo.