Who will be McCain's running mate

45degreeN · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:33 am Post subject: Who will be McCain's running mate

He has in fact mentioned that since he is so old that this choice is very important and for more than one reason since he might just not live through the term, but also he might just pack the supreme court with only conservative judges so there will be no one to fight for the people.

Anyone care to guess who he might choose?

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6844 Location: USA

P1234567890 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:04 am Post subject:

Regardless of whether or not he said it, it is much more likely that Obama would choose liberal judges than McCain.

Pondering · Lion King Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 1307

the fact that a judge is identified as either Liberal or Conservative is part of the problem....their job is to determine if a lower courts ruling is in accordance with the Constitution...not ideology, not political party...

We have a legislature to make laws, an Executive to enforce them and a judicial system to administer them....the fact that we have bench decided laws is a HUGE problem in my book.

Pondering · Lion King Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 1307

45degreeN · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject:

A conservative judge rules based upon original intent and tries not to interpret it in modern terms. As though they can go back in time and re-interview the writers of the constitution. Sure there are massive amounts of material from the founding fathers but it doesn't usually deal with modern issues and these judges still must apply their own interpretation of what they think the founding fathers would think based upon that limited material.

A liberal judge will apply all their common sense and base their judgment on how things have changed and how the rules need to be relevant to modern interpretations. Frequently adding items from their own case histories when deciding a case.

It is not so much a politically conservative vs politically liberal issue. Still the terms conservative and liberal apply to their styles.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6844 Location: USA

So you are saying that a 'conservative' judge has no common sense or judgment?

45degreeN · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

No just doesn't rely on it at all.

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6844 Location: USA

P1234567890 · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

P1234567890 · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:11 am Post subject:

Pondering · Lion King Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 1307

P1234567890 · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

45degreeN · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:29 am Post subject:

Pondering must be confusing fiscal conservatives with social conservatives. They are not necessarily the same people. Conservatism is hardly monolithic it shatters when people like McCain are the nominee for the republicans.

Fiscal conservatism---liberal or conservative in their social attitudes and/or religion
Socially conservative- liberal or conservative in their finances and/or their religion
Religious conservatives- may be liberal or conservative in their politics and/or financial dealings

We can probably cite examples of each form of conservative and how it may or may not interact with other expressions of conservatism within their life. As I wrote earlier in another thread the conservative movement prior to WWII was scattered into many different groups all who failed to share the same agenda. Iit has only been since then that they more or less have been together. Bush certainly offered a carrot to those religious conservatives and then beat them over the head with a stick so that connection will not fly this election cycle.

P1234567890 · Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:26 am Post subject:

I agree that fiscal conservatives can be socially liberal. For example, there are rich people who are fiscally conservative because they just don't want to pay taxes, but they still support gay rights and abortion.

I also agree that there are fiscal liberals who spend taxpayer money like drunken sailors and yet are socially conservative. This is the worst of both worlds. The current administration is a good example.

But I don't think that there is much of a distinction between religious views and social views. People who are religiously conservative tend to be socially conservative, and vice versa.

You don't see many atheists at anti-abortion rallies, and you don't see many fundamentalist Christians cheering for gay rights.