US Presidential Politics in 2004: Part I. Democrat Baggage
The problems with these curfews are numerous. They are simply a paper tiger - without nuclear teeth. The curfews cannot be enforced practically, and they cannot solve the problems of the proliferation of guns, violence, and gang activity. Police are often occupied with other duties. The curfews plan was therefore simply a way for the Democrats to say: "Look. We really are tough on crime".
There is no such thing as the perfect crime bill. Crime has always been and unfortunately always will be a major problem. Not all the blame for inconsistent policies should go to the Democrats. Much of the blame also goes to the court system. Two thirds of the California legislature and 70% of the voters of that state approved by referendum a law that imposed mandatory life sentences for anyone convicted three times for feloneous acts. On 17 June 1996 the California Supreme Court found that law unconstitutional because it interferred with separation of powers and judicial discretion in sentencing. The argument was that someone who convicted of minor felonies on three occasions should not be sent to prison for life. The actual case at issue involved a felon who on three separate occasions stole some pizzas. Many Democrats supported the three-strikes-and-you-are-in law. After the California Supreme Court's decision, they rarely mentioned it again.
Things have improved very little for the Democrats as crime fighters since the end of the Clinton era. According to recent polls, crime is not as important to most voters as the economy, defense issues, and terrorism are now. This is probably a very welcome revelation to the Democratic Presidential candidates.
'Abortion - The Problem that Never Ends'
The Democrats traditionally support sex education in the schools and the opportunity to terminate a pregnancy at any time during the process. There is one broad exception to this view. That exception is the partial birth abortion procedure. Mr. Clinton vetoed legislation that would ban that procedure which is used during the ninth month of pregnancy allegedly to save the mother's life. The procedure delivers the baby but leaves the head in the birth canal. The physician then inserts a needle into the baby's head and draws out the brain tissue. As Representative Bill Paxon explained: "If he vetoes this bill, the President is legalizing murder". ("Crossfire, CNN, 14 March 1996).
Abortion has caused divisions in both parties, but the dispute should not be whether the woman has the right
Latest Articles