ATL Field Trip: Hohensee, J., Dissenting
Meet Richard Hohensee. He's a homeless man here in Washington, who has been living on the D.C. streets for some two years -- which has been "very convenient," since he's running for president (see here). We met him yesterday outside the Supreme Court, during our recent field trip.
Rick Hohensee is highly intelligent and articulate, with detailed views on the Second Amendment and the proper disposition of the Heller case, which is being argued before the Supreme Court as we post this. In case you can't read it in the video, this is the text of his sign:
Silberman erred. DC exists so that the Second Amendment does not apply here. http://www.myspace.com/presidentbyamendment
Could this be the first time in human history that the name of a D.C. Circuit judge has appeared on the sign of a homeless man? (D.C. Circuit judges who get nominated to the Court, and protested as SCOTUS nominees, don't count.)
In this short video clip, Mr. Hohensee explains why he believes Judge Silberman erred:
Two more videos featuring Rick Hohensee, in which he explains his support for Obama and his own presidential bid, after the jump.
In these two videos, he talks about voting in the recent D.C. primary -- he's got a crush on Obama -- and his effort to become president "by amendment":
Rick Hohensee: President By Amendment [MySpace]
Homeless man outside Heller argument 1 [YouTube]
Homeless man outside Heller argument 2 [YouTube]
Homeless man outside Heller argument 3 [YouTube]
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Pretty impressive.
he should tackle FIRST amendment issues too
Awesome.
has to be a hoax
smart man
When did we start allowing homeless people to discuss political and legal issues? Or form congregations of one on a street corner?
That's DC for you. Even the homeless people are policy wonks.
This guy is classic. His Constitutional Amendment is pure genius.
The first amendment has been obseleted....classic.
His sign, "DC exists so that the Second Amendment does not apply here."
WTF?
Meet my new hiring coup.
Lat can spot a Yale man just about anywhere, it seems. Nice get.
"Rick Hohensee is highly intelligent and articulate, with detailed views on the Second Amendment . . ."
Did he just call him "articulate"??!! Don't you know how offensive that is? Like, "oh, how newsworthy, this guy is homeless, but he can still speak English."
Whats next, making fun of cavemen?
Kashmir, your readers demand an immediate apology. Also, fire that Lat guy, and give a speech explaining that you strongly disagree with him.
Sad day when a homeless person is more articulate than the president.
Wow, 11:36, that homeless guy is smarter than you.
His argument - DC exists so that congress can have a place to convene outside of any state and its influence/laws. The Second Amendment applies to states. Therefore, the very purpose of DC is so that there can be a location where, inter alia, the Second Amendment does not apply.
Hohensee to 190!
Mr. Hohensee’s erudite analysis reminds me of a run-in I once had with another denizen of the Streets of DC.
Several years ago, when I first moved to DC after law school and was studying for the bar exam, I was riding home on the Metro after BAR/BRI class. I was talking with a classmate about which bar exams people from our class were planning to take. Out of Nowhere, some homeless guy pipes up and says rather matter-of-factly “Just take Maryland and waive into DC, that’s what I did…” A number of riders did a double-take at this rather unkempt guy. I think he was just parroting something he overheard once, but I initially thought to myself “Jesus Christ, even the homeless people are lawyers in DC.”
The irony is that the two Justices most likely to agree with the argument that the Founders did not intend for the Second Amendment to apply to non-states are Thomas and Scalia. Only a strict constructionist could buy the argument that "state" means state and nothing else.
Watch out NRA memebrs of Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islans and American Samoa -- the Second Amendment may not apply to you either.
"Only a strict constructionist could buy the argument that "state" means state and nothing else. "
So DC should get 2 senators and a House rep with voting rights, just like a "state" does? Because "state" means something else in the Constitution?
^^ oh snap!
Just listening to the arguments on C-Span... Kennedy was hammering D.C.'s attorney... that's 5-4 minimum... we're done here gents.
11:49: Awesome. Made my day.
12:12 pm... Weakest retort ever.
Whoops, I meant 12:22...
Well, if the market crashes and we have a second great depression, at least we'll be in good company on the streets.
Thanks peoples.
Is America ready to grade on content?
I have a President available immediately that's a bit rough around the edges, but generally gets stuff like more dollars equals inflation, war is not peace, and so on.
;o)
Rick Hohensee
Hey, this Rick Hohensee again. I've heard my Amendment called "the anti-nepotism Amendment". I'm flattered it's being talked about, but here's some naming suggestions....
A guy that saw me on abovethelaw.com called me "the guy promoting the anti-nepotism Amendment". I am of course thrilled to be getting publicity with a select group like abovethelaw.com participants, but "The Right Thing Amendment", let's call it, is only half anti-nepotism. Here's how I would break it out...\
The Right Thing Amendment
The Unitary Hobo Clause
At noon on the day after this Amendment is ratified the occupants of the offices of President and Vice President shall be removed, and replaced for the remainder of the current Presidential term of office by Richard Allen Hohensee, President, and Senator Russell Feingold, Vice President.
The no Holocaust Do-Overs Clause
All persons who, as Senators or Representatives, voted in favor of Public Law 107-243 allowing the invasion of Iraq are hereby disqualified for life from the offices of President and Vice President, and shall be disqualified for life from holding office in the Congress, which disqualification shall begin at the end of their current term of office if they are still holding office in Congress when this Amendment is ratified, and they shall further have no Impeachment vote during their final terms, nor shall they be in the chain of succession to the Presidency.
The Total Bushendectomy Clause
All biological descendants of Prescott Bush, President George Herbert Walker Bush's father, shall be disqualified from any office in Congress, the Supreme Court, the Presidency or any of the first eight offices in the statutory chain of succession to the Presidency until the year 2200.
The Bury 'Em ALL With Pharoah Clause
Biological siblings, half-siblings and children of Presidents shall be disqualified from the office of President. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren and subsequent issue are not disqualified.
RH