[ravinson]

I have appeared before that court. Judge McKibben is an honorable man and a hard working judge.

He's also a pretty good carpenter. I know because 43 years ago he helped build my parents' house in Illinois and it is still in good shape. His father was the Superintendent of schools in my hometown and the judge was well liked and had/has an impeccable reputation there. I am aware of at least one very high profile case that he handled very well and very fairly from all reports.

Freepers shouldn't blame the judge for the fact that the Constitution is riddled with vagaries and internal inconsistencies. I have some sympathy for the cattle ranchers, but the only solution is to sell all government land to the highest bidder.

[n-tres-ted]

Unfortunately, the feds are not likely to sell any land. In fact, even Repubs are supporting the feds buying billions more land every year. I got irritated with Hugh Hewitt early this year when he was supporting the idea that the new Bush administration should spend even more that Clinton did to take over more acres for federal ownership, pushing out private use of the land.

As to inconsistencies in the Constitution, I think the major problem is the unwillingness of the SCOTUS to stand in the way of government when it wants to take property without paying for it.