Comments on: Justice Scalia On The Record

60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl Interviews The Supreme Court Justice About His Public And Private Life

[dushka-2009]

If he''s such an "originalist," then someone kimdly inform jhim that the Constitution originally had no place for a Supreme Court as a third branch of government - precisely tokeep a pompous autocrat like himfrom wielding suchundeserved power.

[shuggie55]

this guy is a real jerk

[moonroxx]

When Leslie Stahl asked Scalia about the Bush-Gore decision, he said: "It''s old. It''s so old. Get over it." Hey, Justice Scalia, about The Constitution: it''s old, Man, it''s so old. Get over it !

[skeezix06]

Was I interested in "knowing" Scalia?-------------No.

Did the interview do anything to inform me or improve my life?------------No.

Has he done anything that has improved my own life?-------------No. Quite the contrary.

If I saw him somewhere would I throw rotten eggs at him?------------No. Unfortunately I''m too old to engage in that behavior. Now a few years earlier.......

[joenikk]

to bhazard2,
Caining on the street by US lawnforcemet pruduces quit a few people with that visual disorder.
The founding fathers left them with the capacity to review the treatment of slaves, but only in the context of prisoners of war. Write him a letter after you look it up. Or better yet, find someone actually capable of the job as desribed by law, and ask him to describe the penmenship.

[joenikk]

To nimrohaast,
We argue only over the qualitys of a disfunction.

[charley1m]

this interview require someone with more gravitas than leslie. to her view, ideas boil down to a slogans like %u2018living Constitution%u2019.she does not understand, that a %u2018living Constitution%u2019 means 5 unelected individuals can redefine the constitution into anything they please at anytime they so wish. (the founders rightly regarded this as tyranny, and Jefferson said so) Jefferson said, "it is a very dangerous doctrine, and one that will lay all things at their feet." Jefferson went on to say that if judges continued to redefine the constitution, americans should raise their voice and if need be, raise an arm%u2026..but that is how jefferson felt about tyranny of the courts...so much for tyranny going by the name of a %u2018living constitution%u2019. If judges were to declare concentration camps constitutional citizens would that be ok with leslie as long as the Constitution was living? I cannot help but wander what was left of Judge Scalia''s ideas on the cbs editing floor... and the 2000 supreme court decision was ''political''? and are we to believe it would have not have been ''political'' if Gore had prevailed? huh? what is her point. she only demonstrates the lack of ideas, thought and gravitas in liberal circles...and proves the point of eastern philosopher Ravi Zacharias when he says that "''pluralism'' leads to a loss of reason''.her entire interview had a political agenda, and scalia simply showed his brilliance and decencey..charley

[musicollector]

Watching tonight''s interview, my whole family was mesmerized by this truly brilliant, self-deprecating, amazing man! It is wonderful to see that a person in such authority is not a long-faced, boring snob. He even has an amazing sense of humor. Here is a man who really loves his job so much that he "works for free"! Could we have more like him on the Supreme Court?

Calgary, Alberta
Canada

[bhazard2]

Leslie asked Justice Scalia about "cruel and unusual punishment" relative to torture. He responded that torture was not punishment, "where''s the punishment?" I am appalled that he would play the word game. I looked up torture in Webster''s Dictionary (two of them) and the definition of torture is "the act of inflicting excruciating pain as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty."

I looked up punishment, and the definition is "to subject to pain, loss, confinement or death as a penalty for some offense or fault. To handle or treat harshly or roughly."

He would not look her in the eye when he answered this question and I hold stock on one looking me in the eye when answering a question.

This man is is an arrogant, self-righteous, spoiled brat who is not understanding the impact he really has, then again, I suppose he is.

No justice should have a life term; people change, life changes and the nation changes.

Brooke Hazard
Dana Point, CA

[charley1m]

leslie could not keep up with scalia''s ideas. the 2000 decision on the florida election was political? what bull. it was political either way it came out, right? the recount after the fact proved that Bush won the election. dont forget the voter fraud in miami where immigrants were forced to vote for gore. or gore''s attempt to block our soldier''s absentee votes....what bunk...why is she retrying the 2000 election....

[mhpacbob]

It will be interesting to see what Scalia has to say about Goldstein v Van De Camp which is on the docket this coming session. In Los Angeles, as in most other major cities, "*** the truth, prosecutors are powerful and you, the little people, don''t deserve any rights...the constitution is our personal piece of toilet tissue and the public defenders are there to serve the prosecutors" should be posted in every courtroomto inform the public on the corruption which permeates the justice system at all levels.

Great interview! I wish reporting was always this neutral. I''m writing this as I''m watching it. I''ve learned a lot about the Justice. Thank you Leslie. You might show some others how it''s done. I was aghast at the visible disdain Charlie Gibson purposely displayed at ABC for an acknowledged corruption reforming Vice Presidential candidate. Even if a reporter disagrees, she shouldn''t let her feelings become part of the story.

[nanomax]

To Leslie Stahl:

I think you are an awesome reporter - smart, well-prepared, respectful, effective. I am so pleased you did this hard hitting interview with Justice Scalia.

I feel a bit bad that Justice Scalia made you appear a bit junior.

I just want you to know that I still really like you as a journalist and look forward to your pieces (Truly...I''m serious here...no sarcasm.) I think you are great.

But, I also want you to know that this piece brouthgt out that I LOVE Justice Scalia. And, I am so happy he is one of our Supreme Court Justices.

What a great country we live in! Thanks for doing this piece. Makes me proud to be an American.

neil anderson
Calabasas, CA

[nimrodhaas]

It''s interesting to see that Justices Scalia and Ginsburg have such a friendly relationship off stage, even with such philosophical differences.

My wife and I had a case before the Supreme Court - we lost 5 -4. Ginsburg for, Scalia against. We had firm hope that Scalia would vote for us, given his philosophy, but it was not to be. They should frequently remind themselves, especially the smug Scalia, that their decisions involve real people, who took a stand on something, and endured sacrifice to see it through.
The 60 Minutes interview reveals Scalia as a "good ''ole boy". I''d give anything to have a friendly dinner discussion with him. After every case, they should have a dinner party at the litigants expense, to hash things out. Scalia looks like he would enjoy a good meal.

[morethinking]

re: Scalia
The founding fathers didn''t even consider allowing woman to vote, so when is Scalia going to have the 19 Amendment repealed, which allowed women the vote?

[morethinking]

re: Scalia
The founding fathers didn''t even consider allowing woman to vote, so when is Scalia going to have the 19 Amendment repealed, which allowed women the vote?

[djshua]

after watching I wondered what Scalia''s take on how felonies are handed out. and what to do about this.
with not only me but a few friend that i know who have suffered greatly from being labeled a felon.
one of which is a M.B.A. in business finance and now cant get a job in that field. all because he was in an apartment Dj,ing for a private party and one of the guests had cocaine on them and police were called and every one in the apartment was charged with possession. in my case i was a bar tender and the bar was raided and well i was pretty much in the same basket not having any drugs in my possession but still charged with possession. not being able to afford a influential attorney served a year in prison and am still labeled a felon. while the other party who was caught with over and ounce of cocaine got off with 3 years probation and a misdemeanor.
now what is wrong with this picture.

[incog-nito]

The more one listens to Scalia the more he sounds like simpleton.

[mikek9999]

Leslie, it sounds like you don''t get it! Your interview was VERY bias and we could see that you had already formed opinions prior to the interview. Your interview had the approach that Scalia''s approach is just wrong. The fact is, there are two different opinions to the Constitution. Neither is wrong nor right. In my opinion, Scalia''s approach protects the minority opinions in America. Rights should be in the form of laws and not in the interpretaion of existing law. Your lack of understanding shows to me your lack of knowlege.

[simpson9929]

it is probably a gross understatement that justice scalia would be invaluable to future generations in deciding issues concerning the constitution. what a wealth of knowledge if in the right hands.