Well, it was new to John Kerry as of yesterday according to his speech trying to "pin it on the prez."
Posts: 1533 | Registered: Sep 2004
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My prediction? On Thursday the Bush team will reveal that when John Kerry said "Hope is on the way" what he really meant was that he intends to give control of the military jointly to France and Michael Moore. Posts: 2432 | Registered: Feb 2001
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They don't know when it was looted, but the US govt only found out two weeks ago, and the general public only found out yesterday.
Posts: 1261 | Registered: Apr 2004
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The Iraqi govt told the IAEA on Oct 10th and the US govt on Oct 15th. The public (thee and me) found out yesterday (or today).
Posts: 1261 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I was going to make a whole new thread for this news, but that's just too much responsibility (not really). I just thought this fit the topic.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist hospitalized for Thyroid Cancer today. They are running a report on this on CNN right now. Apparently, he just had a tracheotomy. This is certainly interesting news that could be a deciding factor in how some undecideds vote. Although thyroid cancer is one that can be treated fairly well, this may mean that he might retire. Not only might the next sitting president have to choose a new Justice of the Supreme Court, he might have to choose a new Chief Justice. That is a huge deal that could affect a lot of change in the policies of United States law.
How will this news effect your voting? Will it? Who do you think will be up to the task for Chief Justice. They are mentioning Justice Scalia and Thomas as possible candidates? Right now, I am not sure who I am leading toward. How far fetched is it to think that if Kerry wins, he would nominate Bill Clinton as a Justice. There is a precedent in appointing a former president after all.
On a lighter note, who is your favorite Justice? Mine has always been John Jay, for being the first Chief Justice, and John Marshall for setting some great precedents in US History.
quote:How far fetched is it to think that if Kerry wins, he would nominate Bill Clinton as a Justice
Very far-fetched. Very, very, very. He's got nothing to advocate him - he's practiced very little, hasn't been a judge, and has had his licensed suspended.
Given the automatic polarization this would cause, I don't see the up side for Kerrey in doing this. There's plenty of viable candidates on the bench now for either side of the aisle, and many more in academia.
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How does the chief justice's role differ from the other 8 justice's? It's one of those 8th grade civics type things that I know I knew at one time, but have forgotten.
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"How does the chief justice's role differ from the other 8 justice's?"
He's the only one with the power to shut up Scalia when he goes on a bender. So giving the post to Scalia would remove an essential check and balance from the court. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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quote: How far fetched is it to think that if Kerry wins, he would nominate Bill Clinton as a Justice. There is a precedent in appointing a former president after all.
I wish it would happen just because it would be the biggest media circus ever.
Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:He's the only one with the power to shut up Scalia when he goes on a bender. So giving the post to Scalia would remove an essential check and balance from the court.
The Chief justice assigns who writes the majority opinion when he's on the majority side, gives the oath at presidential inaugurations, and presides at presidential trials in the Senate. I think that's it.
And liberals should fear Rehnquist far more than Scalia, especially on social issues. The complaints about Scalia are generally the most misinformed of any I hear about the Court.
Oh, and my favorite justice is probably Anthony Kennedy.
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By the way, I'm not sure if it's the Republican 'October suprise', but I just saw the sappiest,jaw droppingly sacharrine, most tear jerkingiest political commercial for Bush ever. Basic outline is little girl of 9/11 tower victim hasn't really spoken since attack or something. Bush comes to town. (Pictures of Bush embracing girl with tears in eyes,etc.) Girl can speak again and does so with expected adoration of Bush jr.
. . .
It's just..words fail me.... God, man. Like, a degree of cheese and bathos rolled up into one the likes of which mortal man was not meant to be exposed to. It's the condensed matter of a million hallmark cards, precious moments figurines and Norman Rockwell paintings in the form of a political commercial. *shudder*
It's right up there with the Bush hugging man and praying for him shite that Ron posted a few weeks a go.
Why can't Dems have the nuts to make these kinds of adds? You know, shots of Kerry walking across a desert with a trail of orphans and firemen and soldiers, plants blooming in his wake leading all the victims of 9/11 to the American promised land?
Sigh.
This political season is just so slimey.
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So really it's kind of an honorary thing, and not particularly important? Who cares, then, if the president has the opportunity to replace a *chief* justice (any more than any justice, of course--I recognize that appointing Supreme Court justices is one of the most lasting ways that a president can shape the country).
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Doesn't the chief justice have duties similar to the speaker of the house, setting the agenda for example? (That's a question as much as a statement.)
Posts: 3446 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Dagonee, I call well done cheesy political propoganda 'shite'. I don't fault the Bush campaign for using it. Like I said, I wish the Dems would grow a pair and match it.
edit: Actually, I call anything with large amounts of 'cheese' in it 'shite'.
quote:Doesn't the chief justice have duties similar to the speaker of the house, setting the agenda for example? (That's a question as much as a statement.)
Nope. Certiorari is granted whenever any four justices agree to hear a case. When justices are particularly put out abou trefusal of cert, they can publish an opinion as to why cert should be granted.
I suppose the Chief probably has more say than the others about the format of oral arguments and such, but I don't think it amounts to much practically.
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Chad, the native American ad wasn't for a political party, but I would classify that as powerful because it was understated--the exact opposite of the Bush ad I'm desribing.
And, no, I haven't seen the Dem 'soaring eagle' ad. What's it like?
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quote:Compared to Bush's ad, the DNC commercial is uplifting -- even comical.
To the strains of piano music, an eagle spreads its wings in a bright sky and perches on a branch at sunset while an ostrich stands with its head buried in sand.
"The eagle soars high above the earth. The ostrich buries its head in the sand. The eagle can see everything for miles around. The ostrich? Can't see at all. The eagle knows when it's time to change course. The ostrich stands in one place," the ad says. "Given the choice, in these challenging times, shouldn't we be the eagle again?"
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Heh,heh. I'll have to keep an eye out for the eagle ad.
I've seen the pack of wolves ad and I have to say that I find it silly rather than cheesy or anything. I mean, look at those wolves. They've the most well fed, least aggressive wolves on the face of the planet. When they start leisurely trotting towards the camera, I don't think 'they're coming to attack me'. I think 'I wonder who did those wolves coats? They're really smooth. What nice looking wolves.' Maybe I just know that the likelihood of wolves attacking me or anyone else, even when they're really hungry, is about zero.
Oh, well. Maybe people who don't know anything about wolves are impressed.
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Don't underestimate the power of being able to decide who writes the opinions. It's not the yes/no of a decision that makes history and sets the precedents so much as the written arguments. Even minority opinions can have weight (though not officially).
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quote:By the way, I'm not sure if it's the Republican 'October suprise', but I just saw the sappiest,jaw droppingly sacharrine, most tear jerkingiest political commercial for Bush ever. Basic outline is little girl of 9/11 tower victim hasn't really spoken since attack or something. Bush comes to town. (Pictures of Bush embracing girl with tears in eyes,etc.) Girl can speak again and does so with expected adoration of Bush jr.
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