I titled it to the Promised Land because even though we may not get there in our lifetimes and we experience hardship and disappointment along the way, i still have faith we can create a more perfect union. Good morning and welcome to a very special edition of Washington Post live. Im opening and columnist for the Washington Post and founding director of the race card project. For the special conversation to see morning im joined by my dear friend elizabeth alexander, poet, scholar and president of the Andrew W Mellon foundation. Good morning, elizabeth. Good morning. Its wonderful to be together. And together with we both welcome our guest for the conversation, the 44th president of the United States, barack obama. Good morning, sir. Washington post brought out the big guns for this one. We are so excited to see you. Im three grateful that you guys took the time. We are so excited to talk to you about your book but this is a News Organization so we do have to begin with a bit of news.
Bakers. I am not sure whether it is good or bad but there are plenty of people smarter than me who did think it was bad for health. To as a judge, it is my job defer to the political process and not impose my own sense of whether or not it is bad for health on america. You can see the opposite presumption where judges are empowered to do what you want, to decide which are arbitrary in which are not. You honestly and candidly say not want tothey did construe it the way you want is because it would call into question a lot of regulation and can see since the new deal, much of what the government now says helps with safety regulation, maximum our prolonged law laws. Maximum per hour laws go into effect. That is why they say it is a recipe for mass judicial activism. I do not think any of the embraced it. Ices ity explicitly rejected because they think the judicial preferences the way to go. In the face of uncertainty, there should be deference. Thatre jews so confident judges are equipped
Charlie we conclude this evening with lynne cheney. Her new biography of James Madison is called James Madison a life reconsidered. Washington is calledni the indispensable man. Without madison, there would have been no constitution, i think you can make that case, certainly no bill of rights. He was absolutely essential getting the new government under the constitution underway and became the first president to take the nation to war under the constitution, setting a precedent there as well. Kkf i think of all the founders, hes probably most left the impression of his mind on our lives. Charlie sister rosemary and lynne cheney next. Theres a saying around here you stand behind what you say. Around here, we dont make excuses, we make commitments. And when you cant live up to them, you own up and make it right. Some people think the kind of accountability that thrives on so many streets in this country has gone missing in the places where its needed most. But i know youll still find it,
Charlie we conclude this evening with lynne cheney. Her new biography of James Madison is called James Madison a life reconsidered. Washington is calledni the indispensable man. Without madison, there would have been no constitution, i think you can make that case, certainly no bill of rights. He was absolutely essential getting the new government under the constitution underway and became the first president to take the nation to war under the constitution, setting a precedent there as well. Kkf i think of all the founders, hes probably most left the impression of his mind on our lives. Charlie sister rosemary and lynne cheney next. Theres a saying around here you stand behind what you say. Around here, we dont make excuses, we make commitments. And when you cant live up to them, you own up and make it right. Some people think the kind of accountability that thrives on so many streets in this country has gone missing in the places where its needed most. But i know youll still find it,