Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 1. No, I can't think of a precendent for the NYT anon op-ed. Only thing close is maybe Kissinger conducting foreign policy while Nixon was in a gin-induced blackout.
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 2. Not invoking the 25th amendment to avoid a constitutional crisis is in itself a constitutional crisis, yes.
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 3. Sure, there were worse nominees than Kavanaugh-worse justices, too (looking at you, Roger Taney!) But not that many, and when you're in this territory, it's BAD.
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 4. Yes, this is what political crises look like: elites strive to appear like everything is normal and standard procedures are still in place. But it's a losing game
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 5. No, I don't think we'll have another civil war. But if you look at the rampant inequality and suppression of democracy we're experiencing...
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 6. What historical lessons are applicable to today? It's all fearmongering, hyperbole, and doomsaying...until the day it's not.
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 7. No, norms are not enough. Customs and laws are not self-enforcing. In other words, democracy is work. And struggle.
Historian Answer Time. I've gotten these questions a bunch, so here's a #twitterstorian explainer (a brief thread) 8. No, I guess we historians aren't very fun at parties.
Nor can we spell "precedent" correctly, but maybe that's just me. Sorry.
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1. Some background: the 3/5 Compromise is in Art. 1, sec. 2 of the Constitution, in the section on how representation would be apportioned among the states in the new House of Representatives, the seats in which wld be alloted by population.
2. The language reads as follows. Note the avoidance of the word "slave"--the Constitution scrupulously avoids that word throughout. Some people argue that means the Constitution didn't really protect slavery. Those people are wrong.
For a historian, when present-day news events touch on something you've researched, the reaction is usually "Hey! Cool! I know some stuff about this!" followed immediately by "Holy crap, I can't believe this is still a thing. AAAARRRGGG." Anyhoo....impeachment.
(Thread incomng)
1. Lots of people, based on this week's shitshow, have asked "can a Supreme Court Justice be impeached?" And the answer is YES; the Constitution says any officer of the federal government who commits "high crimes and misdemeanors" can be impeached (indicted) & tried by the Senate
2. Not only CAN a SC Justice be impeached, but one has, actually. Samuel Chase, a Maryland Federalist (and by all accounts, a supreme jerkface), was impeached and tried in 1804-early 1805. He was acquitted, but there's more to the story. I WROTE ABOUT THIS THING ONCE WOO HOO 😁
So, if you didn't know, I'm a recovering alcoholic. When I was still actively drinking, I went to the bar during the day *all the time* but had to hide it from my wife and co-workers. This is when smoking was still allowed in bars, so covering it up was...difficult (1/9)
So what I would do is keep a spare shirt in my office and change into it when I went back to work. You know, because my pants certainly didn't smell like smoke...just my shirt (alcoholic logic). Or, if I went home, I'd throw my clothes in the wash and change into new ones. (2/9)
Then I would wash my hair *in the sink* with hand soap from the dispenser (I know, right?), and VOILA I WAS NEVER AT THE BAR BC I SMELLED CLEAN .QED.
Of course, I still smelled like smoke, bc I was at the bar for hours. Plus, my breath was like a brewery. Bc, you know. (3/9)