[MB.]

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia - one of most conservative members of the high court - has died.

Justice Scalia's death could shift the balance of power on the US high court, allowing President Barack Obama to add a fifth liberal justice to the court.

The court's conservative majority has recently stalled major efforts by the Obama administration on climate change and immigration.

Justice Scalia, 79, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Justice Scalia was one of the most prominent proponents of "originalism" - a conservative legal philosophy that believes the US Constitution has a fixed meaning and does not change with the times.

In 2008, Justice Scalia delivered the opinion on Heller v District of Columbia, a landmark case that affirmed an individual's right to possess a handgun.

Throughout his career, the outspoken justice has been a vocal opponent of abortion and gay rights, often writing scathing dissenting opinions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-35571868

[Smithy]

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Smithy

[Tom4784]

Good riddance.

[lostalex]

Obama must appoint a judge before the election. This could get ugly because the republicans will do everything they can to stall, but it is absolutely necessary that Obama gets to appoint this new Justice. and he better pick someone relatively young! they need to last!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Hahahaaaaaaaaaa....

[Crimson Dynamo]

that witch probably had a family

shame on you and dorothy

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Smithy

A CLASSIC.

[lostalex]

i don't think it's appropriate to mock the dead. he was a good man. i certainly didn't agree with him politically, but to demonize him in his death is just lame and childish.

the more important topic is his replacement.

[billy123]

Originally Posted by lostalex

i don't think it's appropriate.

Oh well thats a shame.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by lostalex

i don't think it's appropriate to mock the dead. he was a good man. i certainly didn't agree with him politically, but to demonize him in his death is just lame and childish.

the more important topic is his replacement.

i agree

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by bobnot

Oh well thats a shame.

stay classy.

bald ugly prince marrying an anorexic tabloid queen but brits wanna talk about staying classy, whatever the ****...keep worshipping kardasians idiots...ANYWAYS....

[billy123]

Originally Posted by lostalex

bald ugly prince marrying an anorexic tabloid queen but brits wanna talk about staying classy, whatever the ****...keep worshipping kardasians idiots...ANYWAYS....

42?
No really i have no idea what on earth you are talking about it is like they are words but not in any order that makes any sense.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by bobnot

42?
No really i have no idea what on earth you are talking about it is like they are words but not in any order that makes any sense.

that's okay, you don't have a say in it anyway. carry on and keep paying taxes.

wtf does 42? mean? seriously i don't know.

[billy123]

Originally Posted by lostalex

that's okay, you don't have a say in it anyway. carry on and keep paying taxes.

wtf does 42? mean?

No No let me have a go.
Twenty four big elbows. Always running in the wind. Forced to kick some wood. wednesday.

Did i do it right Alex?
Im only pulling ya plonker lets get back on topic.

edit: look it up 42 is the answer.

[Kizzy]

Hmmm on a serious note, I too hope Obama gets to choose the next justice too.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by lostalex

i don't think it's appropriate to mock the dead. he was a good man. i certainly didn't agree with him politically, but to demonize him in his death is just lame and childish.

the more important topic is his replacement.

He did everything he could to impede the rights of women and gay people, forgive me if I'm not weeping over his demise.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by bobnot

No No let me have a go.
Twenty four big elbows. Always running in the wind. Forced to kick some wood. wednesday.

Did i do it right Alex?
Im only pulling ya plonker lets get back on topic.

edit: look it up 42 is the answer.

i still have no idea what you are on about.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

He did everything he could to impede the rights of women and gay people, forgive me if I'm not weeping over his demise.

it wasn't his job to focus on the larger issues, gay people or women never came into it. it was his job to interpret the constitution. he was interpreting words that were written over 200 years ago.

I agree with you that he got the interpretation wrong, but that doesn't mean that he was hateful to women or gays just because he interpreted the constitution more traditionally than you or i do.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

He did everything he could to impede the rights of women and gay people, forgive me if I'm not weeping over his demise.

He did everything to interpret the justice system as he saw it. It was because of his outstanding capability at the time of his appointment that he got the job.

The fact that times changed, and that he perhaps didn't move with them is a different issue. I do question the validity of lifetime appointments, I think its very wrong. People are best for specific times in society, they have a shelf life, and its not even related to their age. Right person, right time

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

He did everything to interpret the justice system as he saw it. It was because of his outstanding capability at the time of his appointment that he got the job.

The fact that times changed, and that he perhaps didn't move with them is a different issue. I do question the validity of lifetime appointments, I think its very wrong. People are best for specific times in society, they have a shelf life, and its not even related to their age. Right person, right time

that's right. and that's part of the american system. and that's why there are 9 of them, not just one judge that gets to dictate, 9 different people, all of different ages and histories...

the American system is working. America is by far the most successful country in the history of the world. People can complain all they like, but there is no denying our system works.

The media wants to make drama, but the system works. Can ir improve? absolutely, but it's a slow process, that was also the brilliance of our forefathers, they built so many checks and balances into the system that chance comes slowly. that is the only way to make lasting change is slowly.


The system put in place by the forefathers, the balance of powers, supreme court, presidential leader, and congress has been working for 200 years now, and it's been undeniably successful.

Change must be slow and measured to give people the time to adapt and adjust.