News and Current Events - 2012

[Marge_Innavera]

from the GOP Kneeslappers Department:

Em-ceeing for state Rep. Randy Vulakovich's election night party in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Allegheny County Republican chairman Jim Roddey told a joke that brought down the house:

There was a disappointment tonight. I was very embarrassed. I was in this parking lot and there was a man looking for a space to park, and I found a space for him. And I felt badly -- he looked like he was sort of in distress. And I said, 'Sir, here's a place.' And he said, 'That's a handicapped space.' I said, 'Oh I'm so sorry, I saw that Obama sticker and I thought you were mentally retarded.

After enjoying enthusiastic applause, Roddey apologized the next day:   "I have a long record of supporting people with disabilities and should have remembered that before I spoke. My remarks were inappropriate and I apologize."

 Roddey also called his remarks "regrettable"; however, Allegheny County Democratic chair Nancy Mills had stated that he should resign, and Roddey called that remark "regrettable" as well.

http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/4636-gop-chair-roddey-obama-supporter-qretardedq

 http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-local/gop-leader-roddey-sorry-for-retarded-remark-648151/#ixzz233akywee

[Lyle (Mooska)]

That might work for California. But in places like Texas and Virginia, the states with the highest rate of capital punishment, the proponents are so in love with the procedure that they would be willing to spend extra (though not wealthy people's tax money, presumably  ) to ensure it being carried out.

Seems a tough go here, too. 

Obiously, justice does not apply to victims.

With the number of cases of people being wrongly imprisoned, how can you not justify
making sure, at the very least, that execution is warranted?  Are you willing to have mistakes
made in the name of justice?  As long as it doesn't involve you, of course. Stan's reasoning
is accurate, the issue is "more about the fallibility of the state and about the morality of state
sanctioned killing."  Do drunk drivers or inattentive texters who senselessly murder people deserve
execution? Victims families often disagree on justice for their murdered loved ones.  Some feel the
perpetrator's should be executed.  Others feel a long life behind bars is worse punishment.

So, of course, justice can also be in the eye of the beholder:

Differing Definitions of Justice
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/problem/defjust.htm

Have you noticed that the most vehement of those against abortion, "Pro-Life" as they
like to describe themselves, are the exact opposite when capital punishment is an issue.
And what is most disturbing is that they can justify diametrically opposed positions.

[doodler]

With the number of cases of people being wrongly imprisoned, how can you not justify
making sure, at the very least, that execution is warranted?  Are you willing to have mistakes
made in the name of justice?  As long as it doesn't involve you, of course. Stan's reasoning
is accurate, the issue is "more about the fallibility of the state and about the morality of state
sanctioned killing."  Do drunk drivers or inattentive texters who senselessly murder people deserve
execution? Victims families often disagree on justice for their murdered loved ones.  Some feel the
perpetrator's should be executed.  Others feel a long life behind bars is worse punishment.

One more time, Lyle, I am not suggesting an immediate execution for anything other than cut and dry, no doubt in anyone's mind mass murderers. Continuing to suggest otherwise is disingenuous at best. I'm not talking about texters or drunk drivers or drvie-by shooters or target-practicing-target-missing-accidental-death-causers or even some person yelling "fire" in a crowded nightclub. I think most people are smart enough to see the difference.

AND I have never said that the ENTIRE judicial system does not need to be overhauled. There is no consistency across the country on anything... except NOT executing the condemned in a timely fashion. Even fingerprinting criteria is left to individual states and often, local jurisdictions. Laws , rules of evidence, etc. are applied differently around the country.

A good many of the cases of "wrongful imprisonment" that are over turned are not on appeal but because DNA testing was not available/used in the original trial.

Somewhere along the line we have forgotten this is a country of "majority rule"... even when we are wrong. Until the majority changes its collective mind, what's wrong is right. If the majority of a jury... or the entire jury, if that is the requirement... says a person is guilty of a death penalty crime, that should be the end of it. Yep, some innocent, in the wrong place at the wrong time person is going to die once in a while. People die from safe vaccines once in a while. People die having safe surgeries once in a while. People die mixing legally prescribed drugs once in a while. Shit happens. Even in court.

[doodler]

And, Lyle, the only views on abortion that matter in my opinion, are women's.

[Tony_]

....Somewhere along the line we have forgotten this is a country of "majority rule"... even when we are wrong.

  Ouch.  Big ouch.  I was taught in grade school and in college political science classes that the formula was : Majority rules; minority rights. I.e., there are limits to what the majority can decide.  This has nothing to do with the topic you guys are discussing, but everything to do with our system of government.

[Tony_]

 Well, one area where I will not disagree with Doodler, is her stated belief that I am a worrywort.  Too many others, of profound common sense have called me out on this for it not to have a whiff of possibility.
 My latest w.worting:  CNN is warning of a terrible virus that locks your computer, and then there's a pop-up from the FBI, saying, of course, send money.  This one is gotten just by going to sites, not by downloading, or by e-mails.
 Thing is, am hearing and reading of an exponential growth in viruses, that can get past our anti-virus programs.  It is a serious problem, and, if this keeps up, the internet is going to become as safe as a dark alley in a high crime neighborhood.  It's like, we'll all have to cough up hundreds of dollars a year, every year, to stay on line.  Sheesh.

Oh, yeah.  Avoid petting the pigs at state fairs.  Swine flu is back, in a new variation.  Also, avoid cruise ships off the coast of Italy that are ten stories high.  And don't believe all the tv ads about vacationing in Cartegena.  Something dubious, there.

[doodler]

Tony, Tony, Tony. I have NEVER had an anti-virus program on any computer I've owned. Knock on wood, I've never gotten a virus. I have my own strict rules about opening email... if I don't know you, and the subject line isn't something about dogs... I don't open it. And I don't go wandering around the internet looking for trouble. (Don't visit bad areas of town, either, following the same princilpe.) As I've said a number of times, I seldom follow links, even those posted on this forum and almost never ones that people send me. Maintain good hygiene with your computer just as with your body and the FBI be damned.

[doodler]

  Ouch.  Big ouch.  I was taught in grade school and in college political science classes that the formula was : Majority rules; minority rights. I.e., there are limits to what the majority can decide.  This has nothing to do with the topic you guys are discussing, but everything to do with our system of government.

They don't become minority rights UNTIL the majority rules.

[Tony_]

  It's early still, of course, but the polls have recently had a strong bump for Obama.  Today's CNN:  Obama- 52%, Romney - 45%.  Same poll,, 63% believe Obama will win, 33%, Romney. That is a net neutral maybe, on motivating turn-out.
  Only bad news is that Colorado, from another poll, is now leaning Romney.

 Romney will be here in Norfolk, tomorrow.  He might name our governor, McDonald, as his v-p, but I doubt it.

[killersmom]

I suspect Romney will go his own way in picking his VP, despite the suggestions of his "advisers".
I can't imagine he has followed much of what they have suggested considering the problems he has gotten himself into with his mouth and his actions.

He is so used to only considering his own counsel, I do not see that changing under any circumstances. This can only spell disaster for us as a country if he becomes President.

[doodler]

There are a few more checks and balances controlling a President than a candidate.

[bubba]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2186102/A-peek-inside-Michelle-Obamas-Olympics-photo-diary.html


Are they the most touchy - feely, president and his wife, ever??  I love it!

[doodler]

Well, John and Missy Adams might have had them beat.

[AZ.bbm]

And, Lyle, the only views on abortion that matter in my opinion, are women's.

IDK, I find that the male perspective on women's issues can often be cogent and interesting.

And I particularly enjoy the views of women with regard to men... 

But what significant opinion on abortion can a woman entertain that a man cannot??

[AZ.bbm]

...Somewhere along the line we have forgotten this is a country of "majority rule"... even when we are wrong. Until the majority changes its collective mind, what's wrong is right. If the majority of a jury... or the entire jury, if that is the requirement... says a person is guilty of a death penalty crime, that should be the end of it. Yep, some innocent, in the wrong place at the wrong time person is going to die once in a while. People die from safe vaccines once in a while. People die having safe surgeries once in a while. People die mixing legally prescribed drugs once in a while. Shit happens. Even in court.

Recall that one of the major faults of 'democracy' that the founding fathers worried their heads over was the distinct possibility that 'majority rule' would eventually lead to a "tyranny of the majority."