CHIEF JUSTICE O'Connor?

[RyanH]

According to the NY Times a few weeks ago, speculation is that when Chief Justice William Rhenquist retires, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will step in as Chief Justice.

Democrats have already publicly implied that if Bush appoints Justice Antonin Scalia as Chief Justice, they will vote it down in the Judiciary Committee.

Today's newspaper, printed the Voting Record for this year's Supreme Court, and O'Connor voted with the majority more than any other Justice.

It seems that the power of the this country all lies in Sandra Day O'Connor's hands........a Republican who voted for Bush in the Case of Bush v. Gore. But, nevertheless----a moderate......It could be much worse, now couldn't it?

 

[TxCollegeguy]

Interesting points made....I wouldn't want Scalia to lead the pack so to speak. No legit reason in my mind for not supporting Scalia, He just comes accross as to conservative even for me.

I think O'connor would do a nice job...

 

[RyanH]

I actually like O'Connor also. She is very independent, and went against the other conservatives on such issues as abortion.

Scalia is a frightening prospect........a very strict constructionist of the constitution....He believes that if the right isn't spelled out in the Constitution.....Then it doesn't exist.....that's why he doesn't support abortion rights, for instance. He interprets the Constitution very literally which doesn't make sense when you consider that societal issues today are very different than they were 200 years ago.

Many people don't realize just how much power the Supreme Court has,,,,,,really more power than the president in my opinion......

The Supreme Court is a fascinating institution, but the Case of Bush v. Gore has really damaged opinions of the court now led by Rehnquist.....

 

[TxCollegeguy]

well though I'm not really dissapointed in the Gore/Bush ending I will say that I believe it could have been avoided with better voting tools


What are you opinions on removing paper ballots and stepping into a voting booth to vote by computer? possibly having the computer printing out a ballot for you? or something else?

 

[RyanH]

I think its a great idea....The U.S. is actually very archaic in its voting equipment....

A Couple of states already have mail scantron ballots, such as Oregon, which I think is also a good idea..

 

[RyanH]

What troubles me by the Bush v. Gore decision is not just that Gore lost, but that there was really no precedent for the Supreme Court to have taken that case.

There was really no federal issue, voting rights is an issue that has typically left to the states, and yet that same court changed its mind when the case of Bush v. Gore rolled around...........

 

[TxCollegeguy]

I'm in favor of new voting tools. I dont understand why we haven't changed them yet...I don't know what the costs would be, but I can't think of anymore of a reason then the past election to change now

 

[thefantom1]

Ryan...that is a great sig pic.... now if only some convicted of murder was strapped to it..........

 

[Warik]

Ryan...that is a great sig pic.... now if only some convicted of murder was strapped to it..........

RyanH's sig pic makes me oppose the death penalty because it's so painless. All that money spent to execute someone and we can't even make him suffer as much as his victims suffered? What a shame.

-Warik

 

[thefantom1]

RyanH's sig pic makes me oppose the death penalty because it's so painless. All that money spent to execute someone and we can't even make him suffer as much as his victims suffered? What a shame.

-Warik

Damn..your right again Warik....Hey Ryan....how about posting an electric chair as your sig pic??