I must really be getting cynical in my old age. My first reaction to the OBL news was to question its authenticity, especially given the clear boost it should provide to President Obama. We’ll have to see how it plays out.
Secondly, @palin drome, let’s say for a moment that when we have somebody that we “know” is guilty, that we dispense with the trial and go straight to the sentencing and execution. Now what about the ones that we’re just “pretty sure” are guilty? How do we make the distinction between “know” and “pretty sure,” and who makes that decision? As a society, we’ve chosen (or chosen to pretend) that the Rule of Law must apply. If we want to stick with that choice, then we must provide a reasonably fair trial to everybody. It’s one of the prices we must pay.
I must really be getting cynical in my old age. My first reaction to the OBL news was to question its authenticity, especially given the clear boost it should provide to President Obama. We’ll have to see how it plays out.
Secondly, @palin drome, let’s say for a moment that when we have somebody that we “know” is guilty, that we dispense with the trial and go straight to the sentencing and execution. Now what about the ones that we’re just “pretty sure” are guilty? How do we make the distinction between “know” and “pretty sure,” and who makes that decision? As a society, we’ve chosen (or chosen to pretend) that the Rule of Law must apply. If we want to stick with that choice, then we must provide a reasonably fair trial to everybody. It’s one of the prices we must pay.