Torture Scalia!

From CBC 6.18.2007

Jeebus. Why is this man allowed to sit on the Supreme Court? He is demented.

Cf: Merriam-Webster:

demented
One entry found.
demented


Main Entry:
de·ment·ed
Pronunciation:
\di-ˈmen-təd\
Function:
adjective
Date:
1632
1 : mad, insane
2 : suffering from or exhibiting cognitive dementia
— de·ment·ed·ly adverb
— de·ment·ed·ness noun

Demented in the sense of complete and utter evil, not simply having lost his mind, but using what few wits he has about him to achieve vile and evil purposes.

There was a rather cloying BBC4 radio interview yesterday that was picked up by NPR in which Scalia explained his view of "torture," or what people call torture. Oh, well. That.

Seems that Scalia opines that "torture" -- or what people call torture -- isn't unconstitutional so long as it is performed on suspects for the purpose of extracting information, such as what Jack Bauer would be expected to do to the Great Terrorist in his captivity who knew where the nuclear bomb was that was going to destroy Los Angeles. Surely that's not illegal or unconstitutional, how could it be? On the other hand, posits Nino, "torture" -- or what people call torture, who can say what it really is in these Post Modern Times of War, I ask you? -- used as punishment for convicted criminals (and/or terrorists?) is clearly unconstitutional, illegal, what have you.

So there you have it:

Torture suspects all you want; they have information; you need it; torture is the way to get it.

Don't torture convicts; it's wrong and nasty and icky and illegal. Convicts don't have information you need; let them rot in their dungeons.

The NPR version of the BBC4 interview: Nino Opines on Torture and Other Matters

He shouldn't have been confirmed to the Court in the first place, but once he was there, he should have been impeached.

Of course, that would be rude.

And we can't have that.