I have only listened to the following so far, lectures 24, 25, and as much of 26 that would work for me.
I like the work of both Dr. Gutzman and Dr. McLanahan, and I agree with most of their conclusions & characterizations, so I hope this critique will be taken in the positive sense in which it is intended, but so far I am a bit disapoint. In general the classes on this site have been good but I think here there has, in the lectures I have heard, been a bit too much interpretation and not enough direct quotation.
For example, don’t *tell* people progressive policies were/are crazy (which they are), quote the fellows and let people react “that’s crazy.” Indeed, that is part of what the purpose of this site’s courses are; it’s so that we can go beyond saying such-and-such is crazy, or so-and-so-says-such-and-such is crazy, but have the facts to support that conclusion.
The words of early Progressives (for example) are an absolute gold mine, I was disappointed there were not more direct quotations.
In New Deal I West Coast Hotel is mentioned, but the most important aspect of that case was left out. The most important aspect was not the case itself or the perfectly reasonable (remarkable enough for the Court, I must concede) decision, but it’s famous Footnote 4. This Footnote was not mentioned in the lecture at all (unless Dr. Gutzman goes back to it at the end of the lecture; again, that part was damaged for me): this Footnote is critical because it marks the full shift to the “Fourth Constitution,” or, if you prefer, the full theoretical elaboration & incorporation into Constitutional Jurisprudence of the “Hamiltonian” theory of the Federal Government & Constitution; – it makes explicit the transformation from a Constitution of limited, enumerated Federal powers and expansive liberty to a constitution (small-c) of expansive Federal powers and limited, enumerated liberties (the government has wide latitude of action – plenary presumption of constitutionality – except for things specifically listed in the Footnote that the Court will devote stricter scrutiny towards).
Perhaps this is explained in a later lecture I haven’t had the chance to listen to, in which case I apologize for my haste. But if it isn’t, and if that file needs to be re-recorded because of the damage, hopefully this aspect of West Coast Hotel will be given the attention IMO it deserves.
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