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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: chalu2 who wrote (145035)	5/13/2001 4:54:27 PM
From: jlallen	Respond to of 769670

I agree with your analysis as well. This is a tough call. Bad facts often make bad law. I have not yet resolved where I come down on this one. In the end your most powerful argument (to me) may be that it is just too much power in the hands of the government. JLA

To: chalu2 who wrote (145035)	5/13/2001 5:41:17 PM
From: RON BL	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

"I think the Court made a grievous error in this case". So do I. This is where the left has a legitimate fear of the right.

To: chalu2 who wrote (145035)	5/13/2001 6:01:43 PM
From: Lazarus_Long	Respond to of 769670

Worse (I believe) than the possibilities you mentioned, police can use this sort of discretionary power to punish political beliefs. That's why such power is dangerous.

To: chalu2 who wrote (145035)	5/13/2001 6:27:49 PM
From: Thomas A Watson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

I don't have any problems with the courts decision. I believe that local authorities should have discretion as to when to arrest. The argument about being front of children has zero merit. If police act like this in a local community and that community does not act to change procedures then it's their business. This is entirely different than targeting a specific group by race or religion or whatever. As to fears that police will use this decision in any bad way I think is silly. The police are going to act whatever way the individuals who are policemen act and the supervisory feedback they get on their actions. Who knows, has anyone else in that town be arrested in the same way for the same kind of seat belt infraction. I suspect that the silliness of the action lead to a talking to. I also don't expect a rash of new arrests on this matter just because the police can. As in all things, there are good police and bad police and dumb police and smart police. I don't want the Supreme Court having to come up with some universal rules of discretion. That to me is just plain dumb. tom watson tosiwmee