tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post6494787560583541632..comments2024-02-17T03:35:22.796-05:00Comments on Innocents and Accidents, Hints and Allegations: Yes, Torture Is Still Wrong, Even If They Told You To.8http://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-91541866003568341512009-04-22T22:54:00.000-04:002009-04-22T22:54:00.000-04:00Oh. Regulations are fine, as per the amendment. As...Oh. Regulations are fine, as per the amendment. As long as they don't infringe in the "right". The DC law that was overturned was regulation that wiped out the right. There is already a large number of "regulations". Check any law code of any state, and you will see many laws against gun crimes (use of guns, threatening people with them, transporting loaded firearms, and many others). Regulationsdmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-9457403445811872132009-04-22T21:47:00.000-04:002009-04-22T21:47:00.000-04:00The second amendment is one sentence-Vonnegut's qu...The second amendment is one sentence-Vonnegut's question points out that, if you oppose any firearms restrictions, you are ignoring the FIRST half of the second amendment. Surely that is just as bad as ignoring the second half?8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-82281708246333895712009-04-22T21:10:00.000-04:002009-04-22T21:10:00.000-04:00McCain-Feingold outlawed certain people from airin...McCain-Feingold outlawed certain people from airing political ads at a certain period of days before a political election. Violations of McCain-Feingold are/were a crime with penalties (hence, criminalization).<br /><br />The "money = speech" ruling is indeed wise. Especially considering that the goal of proponents of McCain-Feingold and other related efforts is to silence unwanted speech by dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-11714940629082293512009-04-21T22:39:00.000-04:002009-04-21T22:39:00.000-04:00DMarks: I couldn't disagree more about GWB and the...DMarks: I couldn't disagree more about GWB and the Constitution. The constitution says that treaties signed by the US and approved by Congress have the force of US law, for one thing. The fourth amendment, for another thing. <br /><br />I really don't think anyone is seriously pursuing the fairness doctrine idea. People talk about it, but then again people talk about a lot of things. If a bill 8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-2268242877025382902009-04-21T22:35:00.000-04:002009-04-21T22:35:00.000-04:00First of all, the 2nd amendment does not guarantee...First of all, the 2nd amendment does not guarantee the right for everyone to bear every type of weaponry. Second, the Obama administration has made NO moves to limit the existing laws on guns. It is just a bunch of hype -- no actual motions, no actual bills, nothing.<br /><br />I guess it doesn't matter to you that all of the Due Process amendments and the Freedom of Press amendments as long asLapishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15858384824974210569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-77314891428121907392009-04-21T21:19:00.000-04:002009-04-21T21:19:00.000-04:00dmarks, I have to disagree with you on the 2nd ame...dmarks, I have to disagree with you on the 2nd amendment. Based on this week's Newsweek, the left is pretty enraged that the Obama administration has back-burnered any attempt to reign in semi-authomatic weapons. I understand some right-wing 2nd amendment folks are concerned about the current government chipping away at their rights, but I am not aware of any actual attempts to do so.Jeannehttp://www.massperspectives.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-62636541821327689572009-04-21T15:06:00.000-04:002009-04-21T15:06:00.000-04:00Lapis: The only real blow GWB took against the bil...Lapis: The only real blow GWB took against the bill of rights was when he signed McCain-Feingold, which criminalizes speaking out against government leaders. However, I didn't see many of his opponents disagreeing with him on this.<br /><br />Freedom of speech is further threatened now as several Democrats in Congress propose censoring the airwaves of what they deem to be "unfair" political viewsdmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-58219472092956466892009-04-21T13:32:00.000-04:002009-04-21T13:32:00.000-04:00Both you and Jeanne are right-at the end of the da...Both you and Jeanne are right-at the end of the day, the foot soldiers should not have to pay for this. While they are not robots, they are also not qualified to, nor do they have the luxury to, examine every order for legitimacy. <br /><br />How sad will it be if the Ghraib crew are the only ones who pay a price for this?8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-25412544830549490952009-04-21T09:55:00.000-04:002009-04-21T09:55:00.000-04:00The more I think about this, the more despairing I...The more I think about this, the more despairing I feel. <br /><br />Going back to bed is probably the right move.8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-298910148835452032009-04-21T09:33:00.000-04:002009-04-21T09:33:00.000-04:00I feel the need to point out here that the Preside...I feel the need to point out here that the Presidential Oath of Office does not say anything about defending the people of the US but it does say that they will "uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic". In our time, the single biggest threat to the Constitution has been George W. Bush. If anyone takes the time to read the USA Patriot Lapishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15858384824974210569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-13554518476208946642009-04-20T20:47:00.000-04:002009-04-20T20:47:00.000-04:00DMarks: You're dramatically understating. And many...DMarks: You're dramatically understating. And many of them were not terrorists. <br /><br />Jeanne: It's true, it's not fair. But that's what trials and judges and juries are for. <br /><br />It's a moot point: it doesn't appear anyone is ever going to pay for anything.8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-85721002205147806052009-04-20T20:21:00.000-04:002009-04-20T20:21:00.000-04:00And what is a greatest danger to the Constitution?...And what is a greatest danger to the Constitution? Bill Clinton and others calling for censorship of anything in the free press that the government considers "unfair"? Or a few actual terrorists getting wet and scared?dmarkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07269773990064736457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-11242836635408529032009-04-20T19:38:00.000-04:002009-04-20T19:38:00.000-04:00I think you're oversimplifying. Imagine a soldier ...I think you're oversimplifying. Imagine a soldier right out of high school. He/she is told to do something that feels wrong. Maybe even raises a concern. He/she is told, "This is per an executive order of the President of the United States. Here it is if you want to read it. You got a problem with that, you're looking at a court martial." Now, said soldier has a dilemna. This feels wrong Jeannehttp://www.massperspectives.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-82091629997207900312009-04-20T16:43:00.000-04:002009-04-20T16:43:00.000-04:00With all due respect, you're wrong.
Every milita...With all due respect, you're wrong. <br /><br />Every military member has a positive duty to refuse an illegal order. Military people are not robots that we wind up and point at the enemy-they are adult human beings with reason and judgement. If they refuse an order, they have to have good reason to do so-and they will be punished if they don't. But they're not children.8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00897636875216996092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6014331.post-77940189083410039832009-04-20T14:36:00.000-04:002009-04-20T14:36:00.000-04:00You are right; no American should defend torture u...You are right; no American should defend torture under any circumstances. If we hold our Constitution dear, than we must defend it, even when it is hardest to. <br /><br />That being said, the effectiveness of our military depends on following orders. Hold those who issued the orders fully accountable; don't go after those who followed them or who asked, "is this legal?" are were told "Yes, doJeannehttp://www.massperspectives.comnoreply@blogger.com