Rick Santorum Gets Schooled By Rachel Maddow On American Civics
When I sat down to watch “The Rachel Maddow Show” last night and saw that 2016 GOP Presidential candidate Rick Santorum was one of her guests, I knew this was going to be an episode I would never forget, and was I ever right.
Santorum told Maddow that he had missed a U2 concert in New York City that evening so he could appear on her show, and when it was all over with, I’m betting he wished he had been rocking out to the boys from Ireland instead of attempting to debate American civics with someone as astute as Rachel Maddow.
The conversation turned to the recent Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, and that’s where Santorum showed his ignorance of how our system of government works under the Constitution. Congress, Santorum insisted, can override anything the Supreme Court rules:
… the Congress has a right to say what’s Constitutional, the President has a right to say what’s Constitutional… and that’s part of the dynamic. It’s called ‘checks and balances….READ MORE at LiberalAmerica.org
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Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Andrew Bradford
Andrew Bradford is an author, academic, and political activist who lives in Atlanta. He is a Senior Writer for Liberal America and also has his own blog at deepleftfield.info
59 responses to Rick Santorum Gets Schooled By Rachel Maddow On American Civics
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Larry Schmitt July 23rd, 2015 at 13:38
Wow, it’s bad enough there’s a senator who doesn’t know the basics of how the government works, but he wants to be president? And he doesn’t know what checks and balances means? It boggles the mind.
Roctuna July 23rd, 2015 at 14:04
Rachel said “If there is a question as to the constitutionality of a law, it gets adjudicated. And the second syllable of that word means that it is decided in the judiciary. The Supreme Court decides whether or not a law is constitutional. So you could not now pass a law that bans same-sex marriage.”
That bit about the second syllable boggled Rick’s mind.
Larry Schmitt July 23rd, 2015 at 14:06
Probably doesn’t know what a syllable is.
whatthe46 July 23rd, 2015 at 14:24
well we do know that syllables get on jeb’s nerves.
Suzanne McFly July 23rd, 2015 at 15:32
And Jebs big brother can’t pronounce words with more than 2 syllables.
whatthe46 July 23rd, 2015 at 15:41
lol.
Robert Kennedy July 23rd, 2015 at 19:22
Oh, he pronounces them, remember Nuke-you-ler? Never said he does it right.
rg9rts July 23rd, 2015 at 20:07
Isn’t that the course outline??
whatthe46 July 23rd, 2015 at 20:42
wait, what? LOL. i had to google to make sure i spelled it right. lol. i’m going wth. silly you messing with me.
rg9rts July 24th, 2015 at 04:08
GOTCHA
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:43
Anything over two of them. But then IDIOT has three syllables.
whatthe46 July 24th, 2015 at 02:05
i am so tired and so needing sleep, yet still, i had to answer… LMFAOSHIH. (laughing my fuckin’ ass off so hard it hurts!)
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:42
Again, What Mind ?
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:41
Sorry , but it can not boggle his mind. He doesn’t have one.
FatRat July 23rd, 2015 at 14:01
I think Rick is confusing The Three Branches of Govt. with The Three Wise Monkeys.
“see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”
http://13thdimension.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pota4.png
If you don’t like something, like Unelected Judges, just pretend they don’t exist.
Larry Schmitt July 23rd, 2015 at 14:09
Pretty soon we can pretend Mr. Frothy Byproduct doesn’t exist. He will officially not be a candidate anymore.
FatRat July 23rd, 2015 at 14:15
Maybe, maybe not. Santorum has a tendency to gush up when you least suspect it. lol
Larry Schmitt July 23rd, 2015 at 14:23
And there will be plenty of odoriferous stuff yet to come from this campaign. Hard to believe there’s still a year and a half to go. We’ll all be watching much less TV, just to avoid all the campaign ads. So maybe some good will come from it after all.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:40
Laughter is a good way to lose weight. It makes you pull your belly in and push it out rapidly. Election years, especially this one, is going to be great for weight control. EAT ON !
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:37
Kind of like Gastric Distress.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:36
Or, they do not have any power.
Bunya July 23rd, 2015 at 14:12
Santorum wants to be president? I thought one had to have at least a working knowledge as to how the government works before throwing his/her hat into the ring.
Roctuna July 23rd, 2015 at 14:41
Miss Lindsey may have an idea of how government works. The rest of ’em, not a clue.
Bunya July 23rd, 2015 at 15:11
Yes, but does the well-knows southern belle have a degree in political science? I know President Obama does. Even if Lindsey only has a working knowledge of how the government operates, he’d be way ahead of the game.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:35
Knowledge and intelligence are not the exclusive rights of Colleges and Universities. Many of our highly respected leaders in all fields of endeavors never even finished High School.
Larry Schmitt July 23rd, 2015 at 14:52
He figured he’s been senator without knowing anything, how hard can it be to be president?
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:30
A Senator has people giving them money. The President has to rely on a smart staff to give him knowledge.
tracey marie July 23rd, 2015 at 16:26
He is no better then palin, I remember her answer to school children about the duties of the VP…that was a leg slapping mess she spewed.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:29
No better than Palin. WOW, you set the bar pretty low. Have a Laugh.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:28
No, you just need to have a working understanding of how GREED works to be in any politics.
allison1050 July 23rd, 2015 at 15:05
Who did his daddy pay to sit in his place and take the bar exam?
rg9rts July 23rd, 2015 at 20:05
Clarabelle
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:27
He is smart. He Googled the answers instead of writing them on Sarah’s palm.
allison1050 July 24th, 2015 at 07:50
lol
anothertoothpick July 23rd, 2015 at 15:39
Foster Friess just called. He wants to know why you didn’t go to the U2 concert.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:24
For one you pay. For the other you get paid. Guess which one the Republican chose.
labman57 July 23rd, 2015 at 15:43
The sad and somewhat scary aspect of this story is that Santorum is not unique in his twisted perception of the role of the SCOTUS in our society.
To paraphrase a famous line from “Pirates of the Caribbean”, a number of socially-conservative politicos regard the rulings of the SCOTUS as not so much rulings as “guidelines”.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:23
In the proper perspective, the Ten Commandments are only guide Lines.
bpollen July 23rd, 2015 at 15:56
In one respect, Ol’ Frothy is correct. Congess CAN pass any stupid piece of shite bill they want. But he is flat-out wrong on the Constitutionality question. The SC is the final arbiter; the Black Robe 9 decide what is Constitutional.
rg9rts July 23rd, 2015 at 20:05
POTUS can veto it too
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:19
I think I’ll have to study that.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:18
At that point in time, but time can change anything.
John Tarter July 24th, 2015 at 00:16
You liberals do realize of course that the Congress does indeed have the power to eliminate the Supreme Court entirely, right? Or that the several states gathered together in a convention can do the same? Or to change a ruling of the Supreme Court through the Amendment process? So in a sense, Santorum is right and Maddow is wrong. All this might take awhile, but it can be done, per Article V of the US Constitution. And in Article II Section 4 the Supreme Court Justices can also be impeached.
Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear July 24th, 2015 at 00:22
Rabbit, hula hoop, etch-a-sketch, rodeo ?
whatthe46 July 24th, 2015 at 00:29
cracking up laughing.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:16
Yes, it might take a thousand years but the Idiots could, may, possibly, get their way. But then again, Climate change will probably wipe us out before that ever happens. eat the truth Idiot. Still got that Joseph Goebbels Worship Hole in your basement ?
John Tarter July 24th, 2015 at 09:10
Climate change? You mean that crazy idea thought up by the left to bring about ever more controlling governments around the world? Still got that altar to Karl Marx in your basement?
arc99 July 24th, 2015 at 14:23
Meanwhile right wingers propagate the crazy idea that somehow we are better off with ever more controlling corporations like Monsanto suing people when the wind blows.
Robert Kennedy July 24th, 2015 at 16:27
Climate change is real, supported by acts, something stupid people either don’t understand or don’t give a damn whether they’re destroying the world. Denying climate change is proving you are more intelligence challenged than an idiot.
Robert Kennedy July 24th, 2015 at 16:25
They can’t pass a law that would do so, they would have to propose an amendment and since the SCOTUS is very much conservative they won’t try that until a majority of sane justices are seated. If you want to discuss unconstitutional, start with Hobby Lobby and Citizen’s United. They didn’t even rule on the case as presented, but changed the whole thing to enable them to allow the crookedest people in the country to buy the politicians.
Tommie July 24th, 2015 at 00:51
For those who say she never has anyone on her show with opposing views, here is your proof haters, she always invite them but they do not want to show up! Now when fox news invite you, decline since you will not get a word in at all!
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:11
What you say is very true. On a left leaning or Neutral show, you get a real back and forth discussion. On any Conservative Show all you get to hear is Over Speak. The Host absolutely does not want any guest getting the chance to spread the truth.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:06
Half of these Right Wing’s Nuts don’t even understand our form of government or even what a government is. The other half is just Plain Stupid. I really don’t know how anyone can listen these the Blatantly Stupid Morons and think they could possibly run a Country.
John Tarter July 24th, 2015 at 09:12
And somehow the left does? You look at the Constitution and say it says things that it does not, and ignore what it actually says. Those Supreme Court wahoo’s are not some Deity that all humanity must obey and bow down to. Bet you liked the “Dred Scott” decision too.
Roctuna July 24th, 2015 at 10:16
You’re on a roll today JT! The wahoos may not be gods but they do have the last word on Constitutionality, not the Congress. No, Congress cannot pass a law eliminating the SCOTUS, although you’re right that constitutional convention could, assuming such a crazy amendment was ratified. The Founders made that hurdle exceedingly high for a reason. Whether you agree or not, such as with Dred Scott, their rulings are the law of the land until overturned by another SCOTUS.
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 13:48
No, I read the Constitution and go by what it actually says. I do not try to interpret, twist, and construe it to say what I want it to say, like you and your Buddies. You’re like a Preacher and his Bible of Convenience.
tracey marie July 24th, 2015 at 15:39
anything on your frothy one and what he actually said or will you continue to deflect?
Tommie July 24th, 2015 at 01:28
Yep, can’t have any audience members thinking on their own and have a change of heart, that is bad for business!
The Original Just Me July 24th, 2015 at 01:58
It isn’t a change of heart. It is what the money people want heard.