Unfiltered Opinion

Justice Scalia - Unplugged

The most controversial member of the Supreme Court, Justice Antonin Scalia gave a rare, insightful and entertaining  interview to 60 Minutes.  The interview is located below in two parts.

Part One

Part Two

In a surprisingly candid interview, Scalia commented on his judicial philosophy and his opinion on the still controversial Gore v. Bush decision that allowed George W. Bush to become president.  He also made some interesting comments regarding the issue of abortion that some people may find interesting.  I also found it interesting that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one the most liberal justices on the court is one of his best friends.  This revelation may disappoint people who like to think that the justices are throwing darts at each other in the hallways of the Supreme Court.

People either like Scalia or hate Scalia.  I do not agree with many of his court opinions, but I have always enjoyed reading them.  It could be argued that his written opinions have always been, by far, the best on the bench.  When he eventually leaves the Supreme Court, a lot of people will be dancing in the streets.  No matter what people think of Scalia, there is no doubt that he will have left an indelible mark on the Court.

Al Sharpton - You Disgust Me

Al Sharpton ( I refuse to call him Reverend) is at it again.  This time he and the local branch of the NAACP is trying to defend the black teenagers in Florida who committed one of the most horrendous crimes I had ever read about.  Sharpton is trying to compare their case to that of another rape case in Boca Raton which was committed by white teens.  Sharpton says the black and white teens committed the same crime, but law enforcement are not treating them in the same way.  He points out that the white teens were released on bail, whereas the black teens remain in jail.  Sharpton also said, ""To have different reactions to the same set of circumstances is a crime in itself." 

What were the circumstances of the crimes?  Please read the following:

"In the Dunbar Village case, four teens are charged with armed sexual battery for the June crime where they allegedly forced the woman at gunpoint to have sex multiple times, including with her son. Police say the teens then used cleaning agents on the victims afterwards in an attempt to cover their crimes, including stuffing a bar of soap inside the woman. They face possible life in prison."

"In the Boca case, five teens are charged with sexual battery on a helpless person because the then 13- and 14-year-old female victims had downed repeated shots of vodka . According to the teenage boys, at least one of the girls asked in her drunkeness to have sex. Prosecutors recently amended charges so the teens cannot argue consent as a defense. The teens face of a maximum of 30 years in prison."

I don't know how these crimes are similar except that both groups of teens committed rape.  Sharpton has a habit of picking people to defend who do not need defending.  The white and black teens both raped innocent victims and they should be punished appropriately.

However, I have a serious problem with Sharpton and the NAACP standing up for the rights of the accused teens.  The civil rights community should be doing all they can to help the woman and her son who lived through the crime.  The teens who committed this crime are evil people and nothing less.  I do not believe people like this can be rehabilitated.  The mother of one of the accused says her son should not be charged as an adult because he does not have the mind of an adult.  He may not have the mind of an adult, but it's obvious he does not have the mind of a normal decent human being either.

Finally, there are some black women who are not afraid to take on the media created "black leadership".  These ladies have a forum and are effectively using it on a daily basis to criticize Sharpton for his ridiculous grandstanding actions.

I'm also tired of the excuses that parents and other groups make for the criminal behavior exhibited by the black teens in this case.  I already know the excuses - let me see if I can remember some of them:

1) Blame it on slavery - it's always a safe bet to blame it on something that happened over 400 years ago.

2) Blame it on the penal system locking up all of the black males.  The jails have robbed the homes of father figures and role models.  Yeah - right.  I know there are some innocent people in jail, but for the most part these convicts are not role models and not good fathers.

3) Blame the economy and the low paying job.  No excuse - I've been broke before and I have known people without a dime to their name.  None of us tried to rob or kill anyone.

4) Blame the white people.  If this doesn't work, go back to blaming slavery.

5) Blame the media, rap songs and the rap videos.

Forget the excuses.  The problem is people are not raising their children to be productive members of society. If your son is 5 years old and he can recite the lines from the movie, "Menace To Society" and the lyrics to Soulja Boy's, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" you already have a problem. 

There is "right way" to raise a child, but there are ways that are obviously wrong.

Thanks For The Apology, But.......

The Florida state legislature has apologized for its role in slavery.  The Miami Herald article included the following:

'The Legislature expresses its profound regret for Florida's role in sanctioning and perpetuating involuntary servitude upon generations of African slaves,'' said the resolution, sponsored by black lawmakers."

Before, I go on any further, why does the reporter have to write  "black lawmakers"?  Why can't the reporter just say "lawmaker"?  Are there articles that say "white lawmakers"?  Maybe the media should start saying "biracial lawmakers"?  Oops, I forgot the rule - if you have at least one parent that is black, than the child is automatically black, not biracial.  Sorry - I digress - back to the apology.

I know some blacks, especially older blacks, have always felt the need for states, companies, schools, etc. to apologize for the role they played in slavery.  I have never understood why the apology was needed. I could understand if it was the slave master apologizing to the slaves or children of the slaves.  I'm glad the apology makes some blacks feel better, but it doesn't do anything for me.

This is an example of some legislators apologizing for something that they had nothing to do with.  Is it the white person's fault if his family tree includes a relative who owned or profited from the slave trade? I don't think so.  I am definitely not apologizing if someone combed my family tree and found out that I am descended from one of the tribes in Africa who sold slaves to Europeans.  That's what's wrong with this country now. Everyone is apologizing for anything that is said or done that may upset or offend someone.  It's gotten to the point, I don't even know who is sincere when they do apologize.

Now, I hope these "black lawmakers" can pass some legislation that really will help the community - I mean the  "black community".  The last time I checked this resolution is not going to stop the flow of black males joining gangs and going to jail. 

By the way, what is wrong with Republican Governor Charlie Crist?  When asked about reparations, Crist did not shoot the idea down.  As a matter of fact, he seemed open to the idea, when he said, "if we can determine descendancy, certainly.''  Blacks will never receive reparations for the tragedy of slavery.  I would settle for the forty acres and a mule.  However, if Florida decides to get in the reparation business, I will definitely make a move to the Sunshine State.  I do have student loans to pay back.

Is There Something In The Water In Florida?

Everyone on earth knows that if Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton cannot win the democratic nomination before the convention in Denver, there will probably be a brokered convention.  I think it's safe to say that the Democrat's do not want that to happen. What most people would not guess is that there is a possibility that Al Gore, of all people, could be the Democrat to take on John McCain in the general election. 

I know that scenario sounds crazy, but that is what U.S. Representative Tim Mahoney (D-FL) has suggested could happen if there is a brokered convention.  Mahoney said the following:

"If it (the nomination process) goes into the convention, don’t be surprised if someone different is at the top of the ticket,”....."A compromise candidate could be someone such as former vice president Al Gore"......"If either Clinton or Obama suggested to a deadlocked convention a ticket of Gore-Clinton or Gore-Obama, the Democratic Party would accept it."

I can't believe people cannot get over Al Gore.  I like Gore and I think he would have made a good president.  However, Mahoney is crazy if he thinks that Obama and Clinton would step aside for Gore so he could battle McCain for the presidency.  Obama and Clinton have battered each other for months in a bruising nomination process.  I would love to be in the room if someone would suggest to Obama or Clinton that  they should think about serving as Gore's vice-president for eight years and then run for president - again.

Now that's the kind of video I would like to see on You-Tube.

Clinton Would Be A Fool To Accept This Deal

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), frustrated in his attempts to resolve the Florida delegate issue, has developed another proposal for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to consider.  According to this story in the Orlando Sentinel, Nelson is proposing that half of the 186 pledged delegates be accepted at the Democratic Convention.

Clinton would be the loser in this deal because her pledged delegate total would go from 38 to 19.  She needs every delegate she can get if she wants to have any chance to win the nomination. A split of the delegates would be fine with Obama as he would maintain his overall delegate lead.  It seems like Clinton would be better off waiting to see if Nelson can come up with another proposal that would get her closer to the 38 delegates she would have won in the original primary.