Since it is getting close to 4th of July.........

[Arnfinn Madsen]

...I will post some of the lines from the Constitution worth celebrating which Bush probably flushed in the toilet:

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment V - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment VI - Right to speedy trial, confrontation of witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Enjoy your celebration, these passages are worth celebrating.

[slamdunkpro]

What's your point? Other than to throw stones at the President

Tell you what - let’s post some liberal favorites:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

(hmmmm don’t see anything in there about separation of Church and State; I also don’t see where it say “except for 30days before an election” - McCain/Feingold)

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

(stop pretending it’s not in there – it is)

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

(well, unless your private property is for someone else and they have a good plan and it’s “for the public good”)

[natedogg]

If you're critiquing Gitmo, bear in mind these rights do not apply to foreigners. I'm no fan of Gitmo but the crime there is not that he is violating anyone's US constitutional rights. He's violating *human* rights, which aren't actually defined. It's like that SCOTUS judge once said about pornography, you know it when you see it.

If you're critiquing PATRIOT act, I'm with you. It's an atrocity.

natedogg

[ QUOTE ]
...I will post some of the lines from the Constitution worth celebrating which Bush probably flushed in the toilet:

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment V - Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings. Ratified 12/15/1791.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment VI - Right to speedy trial, confrontation of witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

[/ QUOTE ]

Enjoy your celebration, these passages are worth celebrating.

[/ QUOTE ]

[andyfox]

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Stop pretending the first clause is not there.

[slamdunkpro]

I know it's there - the last part is the important part. Don't take my word - read the Federalist Papers

[Dynasty]

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Stop pretending the first clause is not there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Andy you are a good reader. Wouldn't you agree that the latter clause is more clear and less ambiguous in intent than the first clause?

The first clause may be a rationale but the latter clause is an edict.

[Zeno]

A somewhat forgotten Amendment (also called Articles) is number III

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Almost seems quaint now doesn't it only because it is so taken for granted. But it was a major beef with many in the colonies.


Amendment IV is still one of the most important and revolutionary of all the amendments in the Bill of Rights (the first ten Amendments) -

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Another good one to remember:



Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

-Zeno

[Zeno]

Thanks for the reminder Andy; I am going to purchase that rifle I've found. A Ruger mini-30 with scope and 30 round magazine. A present to myself and in celebration of the Bill of Rights, American Freedom, and my old friend Thomas Jefferson and his 'pursuit of happiness'.

I have posted this before but it is worth posting again.

[ QUOTE ]
From Thomas Jefferson’s last letter, in which he had to decline being at the 50th celebration of the signing of the declaration of independence. (He died about a week lately, on July 4, 1826)



“May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”


[/ QUOTE ]

.

[andyfox]

I've read 'em. What makes you think the last part is the "important" part?