Politics: Onward from New Hampshire

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Sure, they're different. But in my mind not sufficiently different to justify executing child killers but not killers of innocent adults as well. Just our own moral line drawing though.

its all moral line drawing. to tie the threads, why can't an adult marry a 13 year old? Its different, that's why.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
its all moral line drawing. to tie the threads, why can't an adult marry a 13 year old? Its different, that's why.

Well, in Germany you can consent to murder. But I don't think that rule has been adopted here. Even for folks over 18.

And maybe I'll bother to elaborate. Yes, everything is moral line drawing. One line is that crimes short of murder aren't eligible for the death penalty. Next question is whether there are lines within the types of murders to segregate death eligibles from those who are not. And juries are asked that all the time: was the murder particularly heinous. My point was solely that, if on such a jury, I would find the murder of any innocent person (that is, not another criminal that represented competition or betrayal) was sufficiently heinous to warrant death (of course, assuming sufficient evidence of guilt and intentionality--we're not talking about vehicular homicide). Sebby's view, it appears, is that he'd draw the line only at child murderers. And maybe damsels in distress (but I infer).

Now, how does that get to marriage age? Well, I see it, but barely. And that's determining what the age of consent for marraige should be. But that's not really moral line drawing. If you could demonstrate that a 13 yo is capable of knowing what it means to be married, then I have no problem allowing the marriage. But I don't think you can. Or, probably, even a 16 yo. It's a different calculus, though. Not one of what we think is "morally' right (other than in the loosest sense)--it's a question of whether we believe teh capability of informed consent exists in a 13 yo.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by andViolins
My initial reaction when I heard the news while driving in this morning was, "I hope they fry that fucker!"

And then I thought, "If they really do have the right guy."

aV

Exactly.

[sgtclub]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040206/D80HQ19G0.html

[jobs report: +113k]

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
FYI, having Googled, I am NOT a boomer.

So there.

I am honored to be in the virtual presence of a member of America's Greatest Generation.

S_A_M

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
This is the rationale behind Democratism - groupthink.

This from the party that is the proud wellspring of the Young Americans for Freedom.

Fuck you.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Not Me
You fail to understand why I am here. I could literally care less whether anyone takes me seriously or not here.

I think you need a "not" in there somewhere -- a common error.

BTW -- Good to know you reached your lofty position entirely on your own merit. Hard to believe you're a "feminist", though.

S_A_M

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Not Me
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/02/...irl/index.html

Can someone please explain to me why the death penalty is a bad thing? Just curious.

Because sometimes we kill innocent people, which I believe is far worse than allowing guilty people to live in jail for life.

[Leaving aside entirely serious issues of systemic fairness in application of the death penalty.]

There are many criminals who I think "need to die' -- "the world would be a better place . . .", etc. That is a whole different issue than whether our criminal justice system should have a death penalty.

You should know that -- don't you pretend to be a Catholic here on the Boards?

S_A_m

[Sparky_Stonecroft]

AG Ashcroft having recused himself at the end of December from the investigation, it appears a grand jury has been meeting since at least mid-January to hear testimony. (See this January 22 Time Magazine article)

And now, word yesterday from some right-leaning online magazine (where the hell is the mainstream press on this? I suspect they won't be able to continue to ignore the story for long...) that the noose is tightening around Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and an underling, John Hannah. Moreover, the article suggests the FBI is pressuring Hannah to cooperate with the investigation and "name superiors" (does this mean they think it goes all the up to Cheney, who is really Scooter's only immediate superior?).

Looks like this story could finally break wide open.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Sparky_Stonecroft
some right-leaning online magazine

I like their About Us description:

Insight on the News is a national biweekly newsmagazine published in Washington by the Washington Times Corp. As Newsweek is the sister publication of the Washington Post, Insight is the sister publication of the Washington Times.

[Watchtower]

Originally posted by Not Me
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/02/...irl/index.html

Can someone please explain to me why the death penalty is a bad thing? Just curious.

"Thou shalt not kill."

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
its all moral line drawing. to tie the threads, why can't an adult marry a 13 year old? Its different, that's why.

I bet the first year of law school was really rough on you. Professor Kingsfield got all medieval on your ass.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by sgtclub
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040206/D80HQ19G0.html

[jobs report: +113k]

Club, I missed your monthly jobs bulletin last month. Maybe you can remind us what happened? Or do you only do this every other month?

Have you compared this 113K number to the number of jobs that need to be created to keep up with population growth?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Sparky_Stonecroft
And now, word yesterday from some right-leaning online magazine (where the hell is the mainstream press on this? I suspect they won't be able to continue to ignore the story for long...) that the noose is tightening around Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and an underling, John Hannah.

UPI reported this yesterday.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
. . . to keep up with population growth?

Stop making fun of my weight.