Why do we punish criminals?

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Well Daniel five Justices agree with you and only four with me so that settles it. But the 5 that agree with you are still wrong in how they misused the Constitution to overturn a law they didn't like.

... not to belabor the point... buuut....


there isnt a day in the year when I want my name associated with 4 of the 5 justices that agree with Dan... 3 of those 5 are less American than the average illegal alien living among us....


well, thats a bit much but you get what I mean..

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Then who will decide what cruel and unusual punishment means ... as part of their job to see if a law is Constitutional or not ....isn't this their job to try to also interpret what phrases like "cruel and unusual" means?

I think a guiding principle in this capital punishment debate is


are we seeking justice ... a life for a life ....

or

in the case of non-homicidal reasons ...

VENGEANCE.

m not so sure that Vengeance isnt a valid recourse to seek. in certain cases...

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

The guiding principle should be the Constitution not the every evolving nonsense. The Court came to its decision not on what the Constitution said but on what they wanted it to say.

But let me say this, if a grown man raped my 10 year old, he wouldn’t have to worry about what state he was in.

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Me and you too ... I'd repent later.

amen.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Ferd

... not to belabor the point... buuut....


there isnt a day in the year when I want my name associated with 4 of the 5 justices that agree with Dan... 3 of those 5 are less American than the average illegal alien living among us....


well, thats a bit much but you get what I mean..

And yet 2 of the one's voting consistently "liberal" were appointed by George Herbert ...

I'm all for overturning Roe v. Wade ... and making sure gay marriage is not constitutionalized ....

but for the most part I want my Court moderate ...

Just right in the middle.

Balance in the judiciary is important, I think.

I don't know if a poll-driven McCain would help tilt the court anyway.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Ferd

m not so sure that Vengeance isnt a valid recourse to seek. in certain cases...

Of course ... I mean when codifying punishment.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Of course ... I mean when codifying punishment.

I mean vengence is proper when codifying punishment in certain cases.


and GHWB appointed 1 idiot lib. Justice Kennedy was appointed by Uncle Ronnie and he is truely a moderate. neither an idiot lib nor a conservitive.


I dont want my justices to be liberal nor concervitive except to say it has become vogue for conservitives to want strict constructionists while liberals want activists who see the constitution as "living and breathing"

I want all justices to see their job as constructionist. that is to say, they should stick to insuring that law is constitutional based on what the constitution says. leave legislation to the legislators.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I mean vengence is proper when codifying punishment in certain cases.


and GHWB appointed 1 idiot lib. Justice Kennedy was appointed by Uncle Ronnie and he is truely a moderate. neither an idiot lib nor a conservitive.


I dont want my justices to be liberal nor concervitive except to say it has become vogue for conservitives to want strict constructionists while liberals want activists who see the constitution as "living and breathing"

I want all justices to see their job as constructionist. that is to say, they should stick to insuring that law is constitutional based on what the constitution says. leave legislation to the legislators.

You forget Souter ... appointed by GHWB... who ...

In the past few years in 5-4 cases, almost if not always sides with the more liberal judges.

Ford who appointed Stevens.

that's 3 judges ( a third) appointed by "conservative" Presidents .... that are not what they were cracked up to be for some ...

That's why I can't just vote for McCain or Obama ... on this notion that the future of our nation is at "stake" because of the judicial appointments.... or apocalypse now.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

You forget Souter ... appointed by GHWB... who ...

In the past few years in 5-4 cases, almost if not always sides with the more liberal judges.

Ford who appointed Stevens.

that's 3 judges ( a third) appointed by "conservative" Presidents .... that are not what they were cracked up to be for some ...

That's why I can't just vote for McCain or Obama ... on this notion that the future of our nation is at "stake" because of the judicial appointments.... or apocalypse now.

no sir I didnt forget souter. you said 2 voting consistantly liberal appionted by Herbert.

Hebert appointed souter (the big mistake) and thomas (the great success)

Uncle Ronnie appointed Kennedy who has been the swing vote. and yes ford appointed Stevens.

BUT FORDs appointment was BEFORE the republicans became the party of the strict constructionist. I dont think that Ford in that time considered Kennedy to be a dissapointment.


I just want a court that sticks to the actual Constitution and doesnt legislate.