Posted on 04/04/2005 8:06:29 AM PDT by tessalu
Vice President Cheney says he opposes revenge against judges for their refusal to prolong the life of the late Terri Schiavo, although he did not criticize House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) for declaring that they will "answer for their behavior."
Cheney was asked about the issue on Friday by the editorial board of the New York Post. He said twice that he had not seen DeLay's remarks, but the vice president said he would "have problems" with the idea of retribution against the courts. "I don't think that's appropriate," he said. "I may disagree with decisions made by judges in any one particular case. But I don't think there would be much support for the proposition that because a judge hands down a decision we don't like, that somehow we ought to go out -- there's a reason why judges get lifetime appointments."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
well, ought not judges be accountable?
They are in coverup mode. I'm with Rep. Delay. He is putting his career on the line.
It's not their decisions in a case that matter, it's their decision not to follow the law as is their duty that matters.
Yes, Mr. Vice President. However, the reason why they were given lifetime appointments was so that they DIDN'T inject themselves into the polictics of the thing.
That has clearly gone by the wayside.
The people's voice --laws dutifully and rightfully enacted by the people's representatives-- were completely ignored.
The judiciary has taken over the direction of this country. They are dictating what we can and can't say. They are dictating what we can and can't do. They are dictating exactly what we are and aren't to approve of (as a society).
They have become dictators within our own borders.
Judges are no longer men (or women) of sound reasoning and intepretation of the law. They are no longer men (or women) of principle.
Now, judges are men and women of sentiment. And, sentiment, Mr. Vice President doesn't last.
And, if the Executive and Legislative let this go on too much longer, neither will our Republic.
Why was only one man, Judge Greer, the determinant of the facts in Terri's case?
In most other cases, it is a jury that determines the facts. Certainly the facts in all capital cases are determined by a jury, although the defendant could select trial by a judge if he were so inclined.
Qualified individuals can make wise judgments. An individual can also make horrific judgments. Our society has determined that groups of individuals are more likely to be wise. That is why we have city councils, company boards of directors, and jury trials. Groups of people tend to be "less imperfect" than single individuals.
Setting aside personalities, as distasteful as they appear to be, having only one person determine the facts seems to be the central failing of the judicial system in Terri's case. For the future, that failing could be solved by legislative action.
Judge Greer DOES NOT HAVE A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT. He is elected. He is accountable to his electorate. Of course, he is not accountable to me; I am not in Florida.
Let the people in Florida take care of this -- if they dare. The country is watching Florida.
I pray that they use the power of the people to correct this injustice and put a STOP to this movement to devalue life and to legalize euthanasia. If we hope to stop the murder of unborn children, we must ensure that we are not killing off our elderly because of inconvenience.
That's what social liberals do-- bow to the judiciary.
...can't say he's a fiscal conservative either, given his support of GWB's spending largess.
...exactly what kind of conservative is he, again?
Yes he is. And his constituents don't like his continued foray against judges one bit, according to the latest polls in Sugarland.
Cheney's right. The problem is not the judges in the Schiavo case; it's the Florida law.
But he is no moral philosopher, and this statement makes that painfully obvious. Skill does not equal wisdom.
Compassionate? I mean that is the mantra isn't it?
Which ones? Could you give citations? Does "not applied in the way I agree with" qualify as "completely ignored"?
They are no longer men (or women) of principle. Now, judges are men and women of sentiment.
It is odd that the same people who were accusing Judge Greer and the appellate judges of being cold monsters are now claiming that they are being ruled by sentiment instead.
Why was only one man, Judge Greer, the determinant of the facts in Terri's case?
Because that's the way Florida wrote its statute. Different proceedings will or will not involve a jury, depending upon what the law says.
Many other judges looked at this over the years. I wish things could have been different here, but the bad guy in this is Michael Schiavo.
The judges followed the law. If I want my feeding tube pulled, I don't want a judge to forbid my husband to do it. There is that right in the US.
Unfortunately, MS makes a mockery of spousal rights.
So sorry, VP Cheney, I cannot agree with you on this. Even the latest decision by Judge Greer (forgetting the 89 DCF investigations into abuse) smacks of lawlessness, brutal judicial dictatorship.
He was re-elected in Nov. 2004 with 65% of the county vote. This was after his opponent outspent him 421 to 1 and campaigned against him primarily on the Schaivo case. The voters here sided with Greer.
The people of Pinellas County may be perfectly comfortable with the corruption there, or have no defense against it. Even if he is elected he is bounded in what he can and cannot do, and there are state and federal checks against turning a county into a oligarchical fiefdom.
Standard Republican response, NOT A NUT ON THEM!
I've always liked Cheney, and rational, logical statements like this just serve to make me like him more.
It really is too bad that he won't run in 2008. He'd make a great President.
There is no Constitutional right to a jury trial in a State civil case.
That was a funny way to vote for a community of people that are a little closer to the feeding tube than other places. I bet this guy doesn't come up for another vote for 6 years. And I bet he'll be elected again.
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