Is Antonino Scalia insane? Or is he just a "conservative?"

[Cyrano]

I'm not impartial on this issue. I believe that Scalia is nuts.

No, I'm not talking about his "fuck off" gesture in front of cameras last week. I'm talking about the reasoning behind virtually every decision he's made in his official capacity.

The man can't wait to see people executed, lock up juveniles for life (or kill them), prevent gays from committing sodomy, keeping women out of Virginia Military Institute, not recusing himself from cases before the court on which he publicly had stated an opinion, appointing some guy to be president of the United States, ... I'll stop here or this posting will go on forever.

If ever a Supreme Court justice was ever in need of being impeached, good ole' Nino is the one. Unlike other members of BushCo, it would be hard to make a case that he's a criminal. But he's sure as hell an enabler and abettor. IMO this man is a sick, miserable disease in a position to do immense harm to all of us.

(Google Scalia and Opus Dei. Keep a puke bucket handy.)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Insane OR a conservative? How are those two things different?

[Swamp Rat]

2. All of the above

[BlooInBloo]

3. AmericaBlog references the WaPo article on this....

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/04/wash-post-looks-at-scalias-erratic.html

What a jackass he is...

[tabasco]

4. Corrupt and incompetent for sure.

Maybe not legally insane.

[tularetom]

5. Nuttier than squirrel shit

There is a whole series of recent off the wall incidents that indicate to me that this guy is insane, including the fuck you gesture to a reporter in a church, but also the bizarre outburst directed at a DU'er who asked him some questions during a law school class trip to the SCOTUS, and his recent statement that not recusing himself in the Cheney energy task force case was his proudest achievement as a SC justice. I think he expected to be named chief Justice when Renquist croaked, and he went off the deep end when he didn't get the job.

[marmar]

6. He's monstrous...

An extreme right wing idealogue masquerading as a Supreme Court justice.

[sam sarrha]

7. you have to be mentally ill to be a republican.. it is Phanticy land

[Lostnote06]

8. His Yahoo Bravado Demeans His Position......

......I believe that narcism is a job requirement for this administration...

[Donkeykick]

9. It's Okay.

He hangs out with King George--aka Dubya! :sarcasm: :eyes:

[muntrv]

10. Rhenquist sounded saner later in life.

This is the same Scalia who said roughly "mere factual evidence of innocence should not prevent the state from carrying out an execution."

[Cyrano]

14. That sentence alone is sufficient to disqualify him from being considered

a member of the human species.

[xchrom]

11. conservatism is a mental illness

and the more conservative -- the nuttier.

[Berry Cool]

12. If you have never read his dissenting opinion in the 2003 ruling

that struck down state anti-sodomy laws...you really should. You will have no doubt left in your mind...the man's bonkers.

He just goes on and on, railing and ranting in the most purple-faced way about "the homosexual agenda" and so on, that you can almost see his face changing 15 colors as you read it.

For a really interesting experience, read it right after you read up on the landmark case that struck down state laws prohibiting mixed-race marriages (Loving v. Virginia, I think it was). It will drive home even more the parallel between today's illogical ranting and raving about the evils of gay marriage and the illogical ranting and raving in another era about the evils of "miscegenation."

[saltpoint]

13. I think ocelot's real close on this one.

My objection to Scalia is that there is nothing of the pilgrim in him. No trace of the humble servant, the modest, quiet intellect navigating the subtleties of the law's intent of justice.

There's the swagger, the mob-like toughguy bullshit. And that seems about it. It's not much to offer the citizens you purport to serve.

[Justice]

15. He is for sale, pure and simple. Remember Bush v Gore

He proved in that opinion, and in granting injunction to stop counting of ballots that he was not a conservative, not an idealogue. He completely contradicted his stated belief about state's rights. He used equal protection for heaven's sake to protect a rich white man - perverse.

He is simply prepared to issue the opinion that his backers want him to. I could dislike him intensely, but respect his conservative opinion - that is up until 2000. Now I see him as a mere hack, unprincipled, essentially for sale. I have no respect for him whatsoever.

I think his self destruction will continue. He speaks out more erratically now - he is a twisted, tortured soul who knows what sins he has committed. If he was comfortable with his decisions he would not have the need to keep speaking out and trying to convince people.