Posted on 10/26/2003 1:46:38 PM PST by moneyrunner
I don’t want to brag, but I had dinner with Ann Coulter last night.
The event was the gala celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Regent University. To celebrate, we were treated to a debate pitting the lovely and gracious Ann, David Limbaugh and Jay Sekulow against the evil trio of Alan Dershowitz, Barry Lynn (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and Nadine Strossen (head of the ACLU).
The subject of the debate was “Has the Supreme Court Overstepped it Authority.”
There was some excellent back and forth and all had a good time. More on that issue later.
However, my wife and I were excited to find that Ann Coulter would join our table for dinner after the debate. She was charming, gracious with all her fans, and passionate about her views.
She had her ever-present can of Diet Coke, didn’t eat much and needs to put on a few pounds, but hey, she’s Ann. She can do what she likes.
During part of the debate, panel members were allowed to ask each other questions. One that our side could have handled better – I think – was proposed by Alan Deshowitz. He asked about a decision handed down by the Supremes in the 1920s that allowed for the mandatory sterilization of idiots. His question was: do you agree with that decision?
Our side ducked. Modern sensibilities don’t allow us to forcibly sterilize idiots or anyone else for that matter.
We are allowed to kill babies, but that’s another issue.
Based on the debate topic the answer we should have given is: Yes. We agree with the decision.
This is one of those topics in which justice, social policy and the law collide. Today we do not sterilize imbeciles. Many, perhaps most, would make the case that such a policy is morally or ethically wrong. But is it unconstitutional?
Amendments 1 – 13 do not seem to cover this issue. Neither do amendments 15 through 27. We then come to the 14th amendment. A thorough reading of this amendment makes it clear that it is intended to deal with the aftermath of the Civil War. However, just as a person will confess to anything if put to enough torture, the courts have tortured the 14th amendment, section 1, to cover literally any social policy they wish to impose.
The primary evil of a Court system that arrogates to itself the power to right every wrong, to heal every hurt, and to impose it’s view of a just society, is as much of a dictatorship as any that has been seen in history. It undermines the fabric of a healthy republic and is ultimately the cause of the decline of freedom in this country.
Just as long as Ann loves FR, that's all that matters!
Well, it would be nice if Karl Rove liked FR, too.
Ann is on my "Top Five People to Have Lunch With" list.
1. W (and Laura, too) 2. Karl 3. Ann 4. Newt 5. Lynne Cheney
It would be such a JOY to be two blondes having brunch, while bashing Bubba!
We love you Ann!
NordP
I remember the wierd stuff Rivero, Ash, and many others posted and then attacked Drudge. Drudge better grow up and realize there are lots of folks that agree with him and many that don't. This is a forum, somebody is going to hurt someone else's feelings. We sure hurt Bill and Hillary's.
Yea, but you're a keeper.
Riiiiiight. She loves Madonna.
Obviously.
How else do you explain the Democrat voting base?.
I think he has specifically stated that he removed links to FR b/c of (in his view) too many racist posts and comments.
Bite me. (If you can, in any way, arrange for Ann to do the same, you're off the hook...)
I agree. And she had nothing but kind words to say about FR. She loves you.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Well, yes. That I what I was referring to in my earlier response.
First off, I am not sure what the founders thought about imbeciles. We do know what they thought of women – they did not allow them to vote. We do know they had places in which the insane were housed. A case can be made that an insane or imbecilic person is not responsible for his or her actions (like a child) and is therefore incapable of consenting to a sex act. If we are not going to institutionalize the imbecilic, should we then try to prevent the increase in their number by sterilization? Is this such a horrible alternative, especially in view of the fact that the insane or imbecilic becomes a burden on society? One of the famous quotes of (I believe) Justice Holmes in this case was “three generations of imbeciles is enough.”
So much for the merits of the case.
Let’s then refer to a further portion of section 1: “without due process of law.” I have not researched the subject, but I doubt if imbeciles were kidnapped at random and sterilized at whim. In fact, I am fairly confident that there was a process that was followed that led to sterilization. So, unless you can provide evidence to the contrary, I would submit that they were sterilized following the due process of law.
”Wouldn't bearing children be considered a "privilege" of citizens of the United States? It's arguable isn't it?”
Of course it’s arguable. And that’s the problem. Using this section of the constitution the courts have re-arranged American society. Using this section, they have superimposed their sovereign will over us. Remember, the original intent was to have the legislatures of the nation and the various states make the laws. The judges were then to look at the constitution – a very short document – and see if there was an explicit prohibition against that law. If not, it stood. Instead, the judiciary has now decided to see if they like the law, if it’s “fair,” or “just” in an abstract sense. They are seeking cosmic justice (in Thomas Sowell’s terms). And that is dangerous in a “free” society.
So he apparently holds a grudge. Everyone has flaws. Look at Rush Limbaugh. But remember that we are all human. We can learn to live with our own frailties, and with those of others.
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