[dmcnash]

The Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

In this postmodern era I interpret this to mean that a punishment could be cruel as long as it was not unusual or unusual as long as it was not cruel.

Crucifixion, for instance, was cruel but not unusual.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I like the way you think. The Constitution clearly says "cruel and unusual" punishment, not "cruel or unusual."