Speaking of perverse discordance on the same day the Pope was serenaded with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the White House (where Bush told him he gave an “awesome speech!”), the Supreme Court found that state-sponsored executions by lethal injection were just fine and dandy, as far as the U.S. Constitution was concerned.
…
“Simply because an execution method may result in pain, either by accident or as an inescapable consequence of death, does not establish the sort of ‘objectively intolerable risk of harm’ that qualifies as cruel and unusual,” wrote Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
Roberts, of course, is Catholic. As are a total of 5 of the 9 justices now on the bench, 7 of whom gave the thumbs up to the continued use of a three-drug cocktail in order to kill citizens convicted of capital crimes. That, despite plaintiffs arguments that “if the first drug does not work, the second induces a ‘terrifying, conscious paralysis’ and the third causes an ‘excruciating burning pain as it courses through the veins.'”
Of course, the Catholic Church strongly opposes all such state-sponsored executions. Yet all 5 of the Catholic justices joined the majority decision to end a temporary national moratorium on state-sponsored killing of criminals. All on the very same day the Pope came to D.C.
You’ll forgive us then, if we see something — yes — perversely discordant in that. Again.
UPDATE 4/17/08: This morning, Democracy Now covered the Supremes’ end to the de facto Death Penality Moratorium, noting that “the decision came one day after Amnesty International named the United States one of the top five executioners in the world, along with China, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.”
Couldn’t be prouder to be in such fine company. Good luck finding that AI stat — reporting that of the 1200 people executed by governments last year, 88% of them occurred in those five countries alone — in the American corporate media today.
No doubt, George W. Bush feels equally proud, even if we’re not yet #1 in that area. And even though he said yesterday to the Pope, during the WH ceremony, as our own Alan Breslauer notes in the perversely discordant :38 second video at right: “In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred.”
Bush was, of course, just kidding.
You wouldn’t be saying the Justices should make their decisions based on their religious beliefs, would you? Just checking.
As for the Pope, I have my questions about whether his election was rigged. Seriously. Wish someone would look into it. Who counted those few secret votes? It was a surprise win for the NeoConPope, as I recall.
hy·poc·ri·sy (hÄ-pÅk’rÄ-sÄ“)
n. pl. hy·poc·ri·sies
1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
2. An act or instance of such falseness.
All the intellectualism in the world can not escape “Thou shall not kill.”
The perfect case for intellectualism missing the moral boat:
http://www.opednews.com/article...se_secreta.htm
and these same catholics will hardly be objective about their faith when attempting to overturn roe v. wade.
this pope’s position on the death penalty, as well as this godforsaken war, not to mention torture, are certainly inconsistent with his appalling protection of the pedophiliac priests. hypocrisies abound.
the only consistencies to be found throw them all in together with authoritarians. i suppose that’s how bush can justify claiming he and the pope ‘understand’ each other.
Ancient
intellectualism?
I think most Christians, like all Right Wing Nuts in this country, gave it up for lent and never started again if they had any to begin with.
Like my Dad used to say, ‘If they had a brain they would have it out playin’ with it’ 😉
Floridiot # 6, my comments are in reference to all the flap about his holiness being an intellectually complex man and his hypocrisy and that of our intellectual catholic supremees on the basic tenet of Christian faith. But, your point is well taken! 🙂
Touche, Dr Elsewhere, touche! Although, I don’t consider you an opponent. I guess right here is a good place to say, damn good writin!
Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens released an opinion today saying the death penalty represents ‘the pointless and needless extinction of life with only marginal contributions to any discernible social or public purposes.’
However he still voted against the defendants in the Kentucky Trial saying: he will respect court precedents in favor of capital punishment
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24163745/
More hypocrisy!
We are the grog, resistance is freedom.
Welcome to Bullshitistan, just south of America in the Distict of Con (DC for short).
Now Hear This, one of the national anthems a bit north of that holeyness.
North of where luddites wave the Amurkan flag but waive the American flag.
BTW tell your Amurkan high priests to stop butt fucking and mass murdering children.
Even if the bushies get off on it.
Brad sedd:
That sounds to me like
Be that as it may:
(Dylan).
Comment #1: No, we don’t expect the “Supremes” to vote like the “Supreme” Pope, and vote for LIFE! You know, “pro-LIFE”, right???
Is it just me, or did I get funned on?
http://www.thedailyshow.com/vid...le=uma-thurman
Either way, here’s my clarification. I have nothing against intellectuals just so long as they don’t get so puffed up with themselves that they forget, your suppose to connect all the mental gymnastics with your heart to remain a balanced sane human being. Seems to me, that’s a problem with those who justify preemptive war or the death penalty on a bad precedent. Gee whiz, I don’t think we’d have the civil rights amendment if we stuck to that argument, or possibly have a war with Iran. And please, I hope people understand not everybody here in Latrobe’s a biggot.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/vid...ocratic-debate
Luv ya Jon!
possibly have a war with Iran????????????
If this administration gets its way we WILL have a war with Iran!!!!!!!!!
Ancient #15
There is an old song about those who “philosiphize disgrace“, meaning those who can say mass killings are to “purtek thuh peeple” … e.g. Nixon, Hitler, McCain, and preznit blush.
Big Dan #14
You seem to be in reference to the 5 Supreme Delegates of the Big Brother party, who voted preznit blush in over the votes of the people … and they have reaped the whirlwind for the people and fucked their nation, their minds, and decency.
No biggie, their priests fuck children.
Yeah Bluebear2, that’s why I wrote that, so peeple don’t get forgetful during the dog and pony show. It’s just the set up blow-your-face-off likes!
Hey Dredd, sorry to hear about your friend. I know I’ll be Gratefully Dead, but until then, got my heels firmly dug in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...eature=related
And the link above says no longer available. Happy trails. 🙂
Hey Dredd, that is, your above link is saying no longer available. I’m curious what it was.
After a heck of a lot of hunting around I think I fixed Dredd’s link, Ancient…. Hyar tiz.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, thanks for that Dredd and 99 your something else again! And for your trouble…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...eature=related
More Steve Allen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1CVoXTCDdU
Excuse me, but didn’t anyone else find it rather indicative of Mr. Bush’s comprehension of Christianity that he would greet the leader of the oldest religion theoretically worshipping the Prince of Peace with. . .
A TWENTY-ONE GUN SALUTE!!!
Oh Bluebear2, after working 18 hours in the polls then going straight in to studying my skinny white ass off for finals, that really hit the spot. Thanks. He use live on a farm around here for a while, way back. A girlfriend used to hang out with him. The good ole days!
Can you say bunker busters?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/w...l?hpid=topnews
Looks like olmert may very well get his wet dream!
On an other note, although I’m glad to see this happening, someone should tell this judge about Sibel Edmonds!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/...n/03aipac.html