The history of Capital Punishment here and here. The process of death qualifying a jury here. The bias created by death qualifying a jury here and here. The State of Massachusetts Report of the Governor’s Council here. The problem with the Council’s recommendation, absent a shadow jury, is that if the first jury finds the defendant guilty, then the second jury basically… Continue reading
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Pregnancy After Rape is God’s Will
Another member of the GOP is at it again. Republican Senate candidate from Indiana Richard Mourdock said in a debate that “when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something God intended to happen.” I certainly don’t expect reasonable and logical thoughts to come from a man who defines bipartisanship as “Democrats… Continue reading
Does Anyone Care About Newspaper Endorsements?
There may have been a time in history when newspaper endorsements mattered. Maybe because news travelled slowly and people relied on a trusted source. Maybe newspaper endorsements were more useful in a time when newspapers were more partisan. This world we live in now has 24 hour news channels and the internet. So, you know,… Continue reading
Abortion not Needed to Protect Mother’s Life
What in the world is going on with Republican Congressmen? Congressman Joe Walsh of Illinois said recently that medical advances made it unnecessary to ever perform an abortion to save the life of the mother. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up! “With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance.” Representative Walsh is, of course,… Continue reading
Capital Punishment VI
The history of Capital Punishment here and here. The process of death qualifying a jury here. The bias created by death qualifying a jury here and here. The State of Massachusetts tackled the issue of death qualification. According to the Report of the Governor’s Council, Governor Romney stressed two main issues: first, “capital punishment should be limited to a narrowly… Continue reading
Ben Stein: Taxes are too low!
Conservative Economist Ben Stein appeared on Fox News yesterday and said something which made him fear for his life: “I hate to say this on Fox, I hope I’ll be allowed to leave here alive. But, I don’t think there’s any way we can cut spending enough to make a meaningful difference. We’re going to… Continue reading
The Second Presidential Debate
“What Governor Romney said just isn’t true.” Finally! The President came out in the second debate in much better form than the first. The President was more engaged and more assertive. Governor Romney was also engaging but it was the President who had a hill to climb because of his lackluster performance in the first… Continue reading
Do We Still Need the Electoral College?
This question has been posed for quite some time and roars its head during close elections and when a President loses the popular vote but still wins the Electoral College. This is an in depth discussion that could fill (and has filled) entire books. Let’s just look to see what the original intent was, why… Continue reading
Capital Punishment V
The history of Capital Punishment here and here. The process of death qualifying a jury here. The bias created by death qualifying a jury here. Regardless of how a juror is excused, the fact still remains, at least in theory, no individual will ever sit on a capital jury while being honest about his or her conviction against… Continue reading
The Vice Presidential Debate
Well, well, well. President Obama should have been taking notes from Vice President Biden. Right out of the gate, he was on the offensive. Did he come off a little arrogant? You bet. But, it worked. It reminded me of when my parents and I argue. They get a look on their face like Vice… Continue reading