A Return to Normalcy?

This week will be my first in-person talk to a student Federalist Society chapter in over 18 months.

One of the highlights of my job is the opportunity has been to speak about current legal topics with student groups around the country. Many of these talks are sponsored by Federalist Society student chapters at various schools. These opportunities are but one of the many things that were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This Wednesday I will be giving my first in-person talk to a Federalist Society student group in over 18 months at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Appropriately enough, we will be talking about Covid-19 legal measures, such as the eviction moratorium and the proposed OSHA vaccine mandate. Professor Bradford Mank will be offering comments on my remarks.

In the past year-and-a-half I spoke with quite a few student groups over Zoom, WebEx, and other platforms, but it's simply not the same. I may have to wear a mask this time, but it will nonetheless be good to be with a student group in person.

Comments

[Libertymike]

Why would you don a diaper?

Why accommodate the sickness psychosis?

Why impede communication?

[David Nieporent]

Why are you pro-disease?

Why do you pretend to care about "liberty" but then complain about what someone else is doing that doesn't affect you?

[Sarcastr0]

The dude can't tell his ass from his mouth. Based on that symptom, he's got bigger issues than Covid.

[Michael P]

Which came first, anti-maskers calling masks "face diapers" or pro-maskers calling improperly worn masks "chin diapers"?

I am not quite sure whether "chin diaper" is meant to refer to an uncovered nose, or to a mask that is fully beneath the chin (and thus covering neither mouth nor nose), but I have seen and heard it used to criticize people for suboptimal mask use.

[Queen Amalthea]

Wow, an argument from anecdote and 'they did it first' all in one post.

[James Pollock]

Which came first, stupid people or people that are stupid?

[Michael P]

Which came first, anti-maskers calling masks "face diapers" or pro-maskers calling improperly worn masks "chin diapers"?

I am not quite sure whether "chin diaper" is meant to refer to an uncovered nose, or to a mask that is fully beneath the chin (and thus covering neither mouth nor nose), but I have seen and heard it used to criticize people for suboptimal mask use.

[Sarcastr0]

Hey guess what, I never heard whatever whattaboutism you're trying to gin up.

OTOH, you can read the post I'm replying to.

[Libertymike]

Those who care about liberty are not precluded from asking another why he is participating in sickness kabuki theatre.

Note that I am not advocating that he be proscribed from masking himself, much less that coercion be employed to enforce such a prohibition.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

"Those who care about liberty"

Libertarians For Statist Womb Management?

Libertarians For ABC (Authoritarian, Bigoted, Cruel) Immigration Policies and Practices?

Libertarians For Endless Detention Without Trial?

Libertarians For Big-Government Micromanagement Of Ladyparts Clinics?

Libertarians For "Under God" In The Pledge Of Allegiance?

Libertarians For The Death Penalty?

Libertarians For Massive Military Spending?

Libertarians For Torture?

Libertarians For Government Gay-Bashing?

Libertarians For Affirmative Action For Conservatives?

Libertarians For Government Censorship (Twitter and Facebook, Especially)?

[Libertymike]

Arty, do you practice making non-sequiturs or does it come naturally?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Of which of those faux libertarian groups are you not a member?

[Libertymike]

Arty, why would you think that I would join any group, much less any faux libertarian groups?

[James Pollock]

I give up, why would anyone assume that any group would let you in?

[Queen Amalthea]

Oh, there's theater going on, the long running 'See, They're Not My Dad So They Can't Tell Me What To Do, I'm A Big Boy!' Quite the production.

[James Pollock]

"Those who care about liberty are not precluded from asking another why he is participating in sickness kabuki theatre."

The answer involves not wanting other people to get sick, which is why you just can't fathom it. Just admit to being pro-virus.

[DaivdBehar]

I would like Adler to tell us how a Zoom lecture is not the same. Travel is totally stupid, expensive, dangerous, wasteful.

[James Pollock]

So, travel is not unlike yourself, then?

[Life of Brian]

'Tis indeed a strange usage of "normalcy":

"Well, we all have to wrap up our faces, and all we're going to talk about is COVID-related stuff. But hey -- I get to stand close to people!"

[Queen Amalthea]

Mask wearing has actually been common in the East where nations have felt the brunt of more respiratory pandemics for a while. 'Normal' gets started somewhere.

[James Pollock]

Historically, in the United States, mask wearing has been closely associated with handgun possession.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Prof. Adler: Did you expect different comments?

You, unlike most of the Conspirators, deserve better than to be associated with a White, male, stale blog that mostly attracts poorly educated, roundly bigoted, obsolete right-wingers.

When you are ready to change your party registration and join the winning side of the culture war, on the right side of history, I am prepared to deliver the form personally. You could improve the Democratic Party. I would welcome to opportunity to make introductions.

Until then, why wallow in political decline with this blog's meticulously cultivated collection of bigoted, backward commenters? I sense you are not a clinger; why tie yourself to their doomed political cause?

[buckleup]

Ah Artie the bigot once again proves the point of his own post.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Artie Ray Lee Wayne Jim-Bob Kirkland was cancelled by Prof. Volokh (and, perhaps, the Volokh Conspiracy Board of Censors) for making fun of conservatives a bit too deftly for right-wing taste.

I am Arthur.

[DaivdBehar]

Artie, you are losing it. There has been no blocking since the Conspiracy moved to Reason. In addition to equity, you should be replaced by a diverse because your functioning is deteriorating.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

If Prof. Volokh wishes to announce a change in policy and practice, and assert he no longer imposes viewpoint-driven censorship at this blog, he should have at it. Otherwise, his record as a partisan hypocrite with respect to censorship stands.

[James Pollock]

OTOH, he HAS left your many, MANY complaints of censorship remain up.

[ah....Clem]

While you're there, can you ask if John Eastman is still chair of the Federalism & Separation of Powers practice group?

It's seems unclear whether the Federalist Society is still harboring a traitor. They're not telling outsiders about his current status, but they might tell you. Worth asking.

[David Nieporent]

He has already posted repeatedly that Eastman is not the chair of anything.

[David Nieporent]

See, e.g., https://twitter.com/jadler1969/status/1442183346663137286?s=20

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

It appears the Federalist Society dumped Eastman a couple of months ago. For which, I suppose, the clingers figure they deserve a cupcake rather than the scorn of better Americans.

[ah....Clem]

Thanks. I'm a light twitter user so I didn't see that.

Kudos to the Federalist Society for showing him the door.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Do we know he did not quit?

Is Jeffrey Bossert Clark still a Federalist Society member and speaker?

I see no reason to nominate the Federalist Society for any good conduct awards just yet. Plenty of Trump-class, authoritarian, anti-American right-wingers still enjoying the shrimp and spirits at those cocktail parties.

[Noscitur a sociis]

According to their website, Clark's last Federalist Scoiety speaking engagement was in March 2020.

[David Nieporent]

And the "member" thing is a red herring. Becoming a member of the Federalist Society is like becoming a member of Amazon Prime: you fill out the online form and give them your credit card. There's no application process or vetting. The only thing membership signifies is that the VISA charge went through.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Being a practice group leader, or presenter at events, or chapter officer, or the like means quite more, but membership means something.

[James Pollock]

" The only thing membership signifies is that the VISA charge went through."

It means you applied.

[David Nieporent]

There is no application process.

[James Pollock]

Fine. It means you WANTED to be a member. It means you tried to get in.

[Longtobefree]

"I may have to wear a mask this time,"

So, not normal - - - - - -

[Nick Gillespie's Jacket]

I’m with Bryan Garner: let’s ditch “normalcy” and return to the proper “normality.” https://mobile.twitter.com/bryanagarner/status/1249369001525993472?lang=en

[Sarcastr0]

I continue to be unsure whether the FedSoc can weather Trump.
Originalism is no longer aligned with conservativism as it once was.

Conservative donors demand they deliver conservative judicial results, while less partisan academics demand they stop giving cover to Trumpian embarrassingly hackish anti-democratic hot takes.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

The Federalist Society will continue. Where else could the clingers go?

The Federalist Society will become increasingly untethered from the American mainstream, however.

[James Pollock]

"Where else could the clingers go?"

into the light.

[James Pollock]

"Normalcy" wasn't a word when FDR made it up, and it still isn't a word today. You'll just have to settle for normality.

[James Pollock]

if you can.

[David Nieporent]

Normalcy is a word, appeared in dictionaries as early as the 19th century, and it was popularized by Warren Harding, not FDR. Other than that, your post was right.

[James Pollock]

I got the timeframe right, at least.