The Constitution is Not a “Living, Breathing Document” (Fred fires back at Huck)

Fred08.com ^ | 18 Jan 2008 | Fred Thompson

[Lancey Howard]

[SuziQ]

Yeah, I know, but I won’t let posts like it go unchallenged.

[MrB]

Nice analysis.

Strict Constructionist is used, in this context, more as the “opposite of Deconstructionist”.

A deconstructionist believes that words have NO MEANING except in the mind of the individual reader. This is a setup for justifying the “living/breathing” “interpretation” by activist judges.

[Lancey Howard]

A strict constructionist takes the literal meaning of the language of the Constitution or statute without viewing it in its context.

I disagree.
Anyway, for purposes of political debate in 2008, "originalist" and "strict constructionist" are generally considered interchangeable ways of desribing a justice who believes that the Constitution should be "interpreted" strictly within the context of the framers' original INTENT.

[I got the rope]

I wonder what version of the Constitution he was reading when he was supporting McCain-Feingold.

Duncan Hunter is the only true conservative in the race.

[Ancesthntr]

Let me ask you: Will the party actually nominate someone most of its members despise as a politician?

McCain, even more than Huck.

That's what happens when you have open primaries. IMHO, someone should have to be both registered to vote and declare which party they belong to 30 days prior to a primary.

[Charles Martel]

The GOP in AR is so weak that no one will run for the Senate there this year. Huckabee left the party in tatters.

Yep, he was worse than Kathleen Blanco.

[the anti-liberal]

"He said something a little iffy yesterday. Something about letting the economy take care of itself."

I take that to mean you would prefer the government "take care" of the economy.

His statement is in line with his stand on smaller government, imo.

Having the government "take care" of the economy is too much like Hillary!'s "take things from you for your own good" (paraphrased?).

It sounds to me (from what you said) like Fred is saying he believes in a free economy. That sounds good to me.

[lonestar]

Always at Huckabee. Never at the leader in SC.

Tells me that Fred is more afraid of the Huckster being POTUS.

I think Huckabee could be more destructive to the GOP than McCain because he is a bigger liar.

I don't like McCain; I can't stand Huckabee!

[isrul]

I thought I made it clear that I didn’t know exactly what he said. And I said nothing about advocating any type of govt. action regarding the economy.

[MrB]

If Fred makes mistakes, it’s in assuming that people understand the common sense of market economies and decentralized control.

The best way for the economy to “recover” IS to leave it alone - after you guarantee businesses that they aren’t going to be taxed or regulated out of their investments, of course.

[AlternateEgo]

[Peet]

FreeBird,

You said “and I don’t trust the man (Romney) that got elected to run one of, if not the most, liberal states in the union.”

Trust me (as a Mass resident who is old enough to remember buying ammo at the local gas station when I was 13, 14 years old):

Mitt Romney is a liberal in conservative’s clothing

1) Mandatory health care - turning into a disaster - expensive - the unintended consequences are gonna be a killer. Reporting is tied to state tax returns (1099HC = admission against interest if you don’t have HC) so tax scofflaws will increase. (Mark my words and check back in July!) You want Hillary Care? Elect her or Mitt.

2) Guns - WILL sign a “assault weapons” ban. Believes it is OK to ban firearms of excessive lethality but did NOT define the term (standard gun-banner ploy). Joined NRA (life member) just before announcing run for republican presidential nomination.

3) Taxes: Used “Dukakis Dodge” - raised fees in Mass (FID raised 300%) and plows excess into general fund (that means “tax” not “user fee”).

That is enough to get you started. Dig around here on FR for more - I sort of remember someone posted his 17 positions on abortion - I won’t go near gay marriage in Mass -

DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN, Romney.

Peet (who can’t wait to get out of Mass)

[Wolfie]

“who understand that our Constitution is a living, breathing document, that it was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the constantly evolving experience of the American people.”

You mean like "Everything changed after 9/11"?

[isrul]

Tat’s why I was a little concerned about what the remark could have possibly been. That assumption that it will be understood in its proper context. Given the current poll numbers, I wonder just how many folks understand anything.

[jonrick46]

The Constitution may not be a “living, breathing document,” but Fred Thompson is a living breathing carrier of the Reagan torch for freedom. The polls give these averages for the South Carolina primary (as found at RealClearPolitics):

RCP Average 01/14 to 01/17:
McCain: 27.9
Huckabee: 23.7
Romney: 16.1
Thompson: 13.7
Paul: 4.3
Giuliani: 3.6

McCain +4.2

I cannot figure out what in the world these Republicans are thinking with these results.

[Owen]

Look, people, there is no avoiding this.

He never attacks McCain’s positions with the same level of vitriol and intensity reserved for others. This goes to the very heart of principle.

If he knew McCain was running and did not feel that his positions and McCain’s positions diffred enough to justify stark, intense contrast at a high level of rhetorical venom, then why run? There would already have been someone in the race with his positions, so why run?

Running when your positions are already represented is an exercise in personal ego and a profound lack of principle. There is no evidence he has anything other than the most mild of differences with McCain about even amnesty. The most heart rate elevating thing ever heard from him about amnesty is “John is probably wrong about that.” He doesn’t ridicule the McCain attack on Cornyn. He doesn’t celebrate the conservative base clotheslining McCain’s sprint for amnesty. He does nothing more confrontational than “My good friend John is wrong about that.”

McCain’s internals must show Huckabee closing. He probably made a call to Thompson and unleashed him as attack dog du jour.

[the anti-liberal]

Perhaps not all of those voting are Republicans?

I would not put it past the Liberal Left to go out and vote for the worst Republican candidate just to muck things up.

[traditional1]

LOL

[the anti-liberal]

I don't buy it.

I think McPain's differences are so painfully clear that pointing them out would be an exercise in pointing out the painfully obvious.