We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:56:21 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I'm not a fan of the death penalty, which makes me a minority around here among the people who have expressed an opinion one way or another on the subject, but Justice Scalia's shot at Justice Stevens in the recent decision regarding Kentucky's Death Penalty methods was, well, interesting. But actually none of this really matters. As JUSTICE STEVENS explains, " 'objective evidence, though of great importance, [does] not wholly determine the controversy, for the Constitution contemplates that in the end our own judgment will be brought to bear on the question of the acceptability of the death penalty under... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:01:42 -0600 See? And I didn't ban ya or nuthin'! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72208 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72208 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:56:50 -0600 I promise no f-bombs. But I disagree with you completely on the issue of the death penalty. In fact, I don't think it's employed nearly enough. To each, their own. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72204 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72204 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:08:33 -0600 While I respect and wish your riposte was correct I believe the Supremes and the courts in general are an oligarchy. The Supremes of Kansas uphold courts ordering the leveeing of taxes and the taxes are leveed seems to me to obviate the need for the legislature. Courts taking over the administration of school systems and leveeing taxes for that system in Missouri would also seem to make my point. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72200 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72200 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:22:41 -0600 Kat - as long as the F-Bomber wing of the commentariat will stick to nerf-weapons, certainly. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72199 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72199 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:56:48 -0600 No, I said we in danger of dropping into an oligarchy, and many politicians of both parties have strong incentives to push it that way - and always have. Hence, we've got to be... vigilant. And at times, that means we've got to suck up our side not being in power. Because, in the longer run, I believe the greater good of all of us is served by that. Keep 'em tied up in knots, it reduces the mischief they can cause. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72196 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72196 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:54:49 -0600 John, you realize you just intimated that this country has essentially devolved into an oligarchy. I, of course, have thought so for some time but it is nice to have confirmation. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72194 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72194 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:51:51 -0600 Ooh! Ooh! Can we start a fight over the death penalty? Apparently, yesterday's flag controversy wasn't deadly enough for ya'. ;) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72192 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/why_vigilance_m.html#comment-72192 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:34:25 -0600