Ron Paul - Federal Courts and the Imaginary Constitution

House Web Site ^ | 8-11-2003 | Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

[Bob Mc]

"It’s time for the executive and legislative branches to show some backbone, appoint judges who follow the Constitution, and remove those who do not."

Good luck with that.

[AdamSelene235]

It’s been a tough summer for social conservatives, thanks to our federal courts. From “gay rights” to affirmative action to Boy Scouts to the Ten Commandments, federal courts recently have issued rulings that conflict with both the Constitution and overwhelming public sentiment.

Its been a pretty brutal summer for fiscal conservatives as well.

However, I hear the Republicans are doing Great!!!

[lilylangtree]

Good article.

[CWOJackson]

"Ridiculous as sodomy laws may be, there clearly is no right to privacy nor sodomy found anywhere in the Constitution. There are, however, states’ rights- rights plainly affirmed in the Ninth and Tenth amendments. Under those amendments, the State of Texas has the right to decide for itself how to regulate social matters like sex, using its own local standards."

Get a grip on yourself Ron. I think my Constitutional rights do provide me privacy in my own home, privacy that no state has a right to infringe upon.

[jmc813]

Get a grip on yourself Ron. I think my Constitutional rights do provide me privacy in my own home, privacy that no state has a right to infringe upon.

Privacy to commit any illegal act?

[CWOJackson]

Now this is getting weird. You're the libertarian and you think the state has the right to violate my Constitutional liberties to say what I can and cannot do in the privacy of my own home with another consenting adult?

Note to all: I am happily married to a woman. I don't like me or small furry animals. But none of that is in any way the state's business.

[bc2]

That is an interesting statement indeed. I think what Mr. Paul meant was, if you don't like it, take it to the Texas State Legislature and not the Supreme Court.

[bc2]

are we talking "illegal" or "criminal"?

The act of sodomy is "illegal" because Texas has a law against it. It certainly is not "criminal" if there is no initiation of force or fraud.

[CWOJackson]

"Under those amendments, the State of Texas has the right to decide for itself how to regulate social matters like sex, using its own local standards."

Seems like ron paul was pretty specific in saying the state has the right to regulate what is done in the privacy of my own home.

[jmc813]

Now this is getting weird. You're the libertarian and you think the state has the right to violate my Constitutional liberties to say what I can and cannot do in the privacy of my own home with another consenting adult?

It is weird having to argue for this side, but from a libertarian states-rights standpoint, Lawrence was a terrible decision.

[cinFLA]

Privacy to commit any illegal act?

Like smoking mj?

[bc2]

the State's Rights vs Privacy arguement is weird. I, personally, don't think that Texas should be able to make a law against sodomy for consenting adults. It's a weird issue.

[Abe Froman]

It's unfortunate that the most prescient and principled man in the entire congress is considered a kook. I guess the battle is lost, the Constitution is null and void.

[xzins]

Sorry, chief. You miss the point.

He said that it was a decision for locals to make about how they wished to regulate behaviors that could impact on others.

Do you think the state has the mandate to debate behaviors that could impact on others? If so, then they have the mandate to regulate them.

[xzins]

Sorry, chief. You miss the point.

He said that it was a decision for locals to make about how they wished to regulate behaviors that could impact on others.

Do you think the state has the mandate to debate behaviors that could impact on others? If so, then they have the mandate to regulate them.

[CWOJackson]

Why am I not surprised that paul can't hold true even to his own values. He would kick the feds out of my bedroom but believes state stormer troopers have the right to sit in my bedroom and violate my Constitutional rights.

The voters in Texas are wising up to the hand full of state politicians in exile trying to hijack the state government, hopefully the voters in his district will wise up to mister morality here.

[cinFLA]

It is weird having to argue for this side, but from a libertarian states-rights standpoint, Lawrence was a terrible decision.

I guess that would also include the states' rights to ban smoking mj in the privacy of one's home?

[CWOJackson]

Naw, smoking pot in your own home is okay, having sex with a consenting partner is up to the local thought police to control.

[jmc813]

I guess that would also include the states' rights to ban smoking mj in the privacy of one's home?

Of course.