# In my humble opinion, this is the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard of **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827 "2006-12-19T20:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/161 "2006-12-22T06:14:17Z")
Oh, although it\*s difficult to tear myself aware from this fun game of Whack-A-Moron, I found this photo interesting: [http://www.gasupreme.us/justices\_bios.php](http://www.gasupreme.us/justices_bios.php) Maybe those here who have opined that Georgia racism is to blame for what the judicial outcome will reconsider? ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/162 "2006-12-22T06:15:45Z")
Urf. That should have read: …for the judicial outcome here will reconsider? ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/163 "2006-12-22T06:19:06Z")
What an enormous, pompous, lackwit asshole you are. [QUOTE=Random] You\*re just not much of a challenge, are you? [/quote] Not against a pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass, it appears. [QUOTE=Random] You said… [/quote] Let’s ALL play pompous, sanctimonious pedant, boys and girls! How’s this: **I** didn’t say that, the _New York Times_ said that. Boy, what fun you must be having being a pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass, **Random**! You said you doubted “the legislator”, as if it were just some single, arbitrary congresscritter probably ignorant of the State’s Constitution, whereas I replied: > [@ambushed](#): > > It was not “the legislator”, it was the State Congressional Judicial Committee. To which you stupidly and pompously and pedantically replied: [QUOTE=Random] As you said before (but quickly forgot, apparently) congressional committees are made up of legislators. [/quote] Let’s play pompous pedant again in return, okay kiddies? You said “the legislator” (singular), whereas the spokesperson quoted in the _Times_ was speaking for “the legislators [plural] on the judicial committee”. Now, while I’d have been happy to go along with your skepticism if indeed it was just some single, arbitrary congressperson possibly ignorant of the State’s Constitution, when the legislators on the Congressional Judicial Committee of all things speak as one, such an absurd level of skepticism can only be equated with a pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass. QED. Might these attorneys (for surely such are by far the most likely constituents of such a committee) conceivably be wrong about their own constitution? In the extreme abstract case, sure. In the real world? Almost certainly not. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/164 "2006-12-22T06:23:49Z")
[QUOTE=ambushed] Might these attorneys (for surely such are by far the most likely constituents of such a committee) conceivably be wrong about their own constitution? In the extreme abstract case, sure. In the real world? Almost certainly not. [/QUOTE] Ooops. Preview might have saved you from looking foolish here. Or maybe not. Some things are just impossible to hide. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/165 "2006-12-22T06:37:49Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Apparently, the Georgia Supreme Court agrees with me (despite my status as a pedantic, sanctimonious hack who annoyingly keeps on pointing out your various stupidities) and disagrees with the constitutional analysis of your scurrying politicians… [/quote] Your reading comprehension is singularly unimpressive, which comes as no surprise. The very article from the _New York Times_ referenced and quoted that very ruling, followed immediately by this: > [@The New York Times](#): > > The problem with that argument, legislators on the judicial committee said in interviews Monday, is that the State Constitution prohibits retroactive laws. Since I obviously have to break that down even further for your tiny little sanctimonious mind, let’s see if you can follow _this_: Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carol W. Hunstein _merely opines_ that the legislature didn’t make changes to the law in question retroactive. In response, the Judicial Committee replies to that apparently doubtful ruling that the constitution _forbid_ them from making it retroactive, which is the only reason they _couldn’t_ make it retroactive. So your citation to the very decision being challenged is very far from conclusive or even particularly probative on the question at hand. As to your remarks regarding racism, you _are_ aware that I never claimed racism was involved, right? Right? ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/166 "2006-12-22T06:40:56Z")
[QUOTE=ambushed] As to your remarks regarding racism, you _are_ aware that I never claimed racism was involved, right? Right? [/QUOTE] Quit foaming. Show me where I said otherwise. In fact, when making that comment, I prefaced it by saying that I was taking a break from my game of Whack-A-Moron. Apparently, you haven\*t grasped that you are the moron in question. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/167 "2006-12-22T06:40:58Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Ooops. Preview might have saved you from looking foolish here. Or maybe not. Some things are just impossible to hide. [/QUOTE] The only foolishness is yours, you pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass. I stand by what I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/168 "2006-12-22T06:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Quit foaming. [/quote] All the frothing is coming from _your_ pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/169 "2006-12-22T06:55:16Z")
From the Georgia Constituion: > [@](#): > > **Article 42** [Judicial Remedies] > > (5)… The law that neither mitigate nor abrogate responsibility shall have no retroactive force. Perhaps that’s what the committee is referencing. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/170 "2006-12-22T07:02:17Z")
Okay, congratulatins. You_ve caused me to waste some time that I didn_t want to waste. I\*ve actually looked up the Georgia constitutional provision that your scurrying politician was (apparently) relying upon. But I\*ll return to that in a bit. First, do you realize the idiocy of deprecating the Supreme Court\*s ruling by characterizing it as an opinion (or what they “opined”?) That_s what binding, legal determinations of a court are called. Brown v. Board of Education was an opinion. There_s nothing “doubtful” about it. It\*s both conclusive and probative. You remind me of those (other) idiots who argue against evolution by claiming that it\*s only a theory. In doing so, both of you reveal your ignorance of what the term means. Second, you apparently fail to realize the corner that your politicians were in. The Supreme Court opinion had revealed to the world that the legislature had done a stupid thing. They **had** to say something. Their constituents were outraged. (Am I allowed to use that term? I forget) So they came up with this ex post facto bullshit. (By the way, have you decided on your opinion (heh) of the legislature_s legal wisdom yet? I know it_s tough. You_re screwed either way. But I_m not going to let you off the hook – are these guys citable as thoughtful legal scholars, or are they not?) (Continued) ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/171 "2006-12-22T07:02:59Z")
And perhaps not. IANAL, which **Random** has long known and I never claimed. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/172 "2006-12-22T07:18:08Z")
[QUOTE=ambushed] From the Georgia Constituion:Perhaps that’s what the committee is referencing. [/QUOTE] You **are** truly a wonder. Is the barrel comfortable? Are you getting along with the other fish? Yes, you have cited a Georgia constitutional provision. Unfortunately, you have the wrong Georgia. There are two, you know. One is very far away. Not in the United States at all. Although they don\*t speak English there, through the wonders of the web, English translations of its constitution are available. And through your ignorance, you have stumbled across one such translation, similar to this: [http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/gg00t\_\_\_.html](http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/gg00t___.html) Note the article 42 that you cite. Also note where the constitution establishes the state capital at Tblisi, and the state language as Georgian. Yeah, they talk kinda funny down there in the American Georgia, but it still counts as English. Maybe that should have been a clue. But I forgot. You never have a clue. (more follows) ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/173 "2006-12-22T07:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Okay, congratulatins. You_ve caused me to waste some time that I didn_t want to waste. I\*ve actually looked up the Georgia constitutional provision that your scurrying politician was (apparently) relying upon. But I\*ll return to that in a bit. First, do you realize the idiocy of deprecating the Supreme Court\*s ruling by characterizing it as an opinion (or what they “opined”?) [/quote] That’s primarily your poor reading comprehension problem again, but I’ll take a bit of a hit, too, if I wasn’t sufficiently clear. I was in no way suggesting that the justice’s decision was not a “binding, legal determination”, pedant! The take-away point is that the justice merely opined that the legislature didn’t make the law retroactive (i.e., it was merely an observation, not a legal finding). She did **NOT** opine or hold that they _could_ have done so! So it is still doubtful, as I claimed, lackwit. [QUOTE=Random] You remind me of those (other) idiots who argue against evolution by claiming that it\*s only a theory. In doing so, both of you reveal your ignorance of what the term means. [/quote] See [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7992180&postcount=83), in particular the bottom portion. [QUOTE=Random] Second, you apparently fail to realize the corner that your politicians were in. The Supreme Court opinion had revealed to the world that the legislature had done a stupid thing. They **had** to say something. Their constituents were outraged. (Am I allowed to use that term? I forget) So they came up with this ex post facto bullshit. [/quote] Prove it, you pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass. Prove they lied or stop up you’re festering gob. [QUOTE=Random] (By the way, have you decided on your opinion (heh) of the legislature_s legal wisdom yet? I know it_s tough. You_re screwed either way. But I_m not going to let you off the hook – are these guys citable as thoughtful legal scholars, or are they not?) [/quote] It depends on whether my previous citation to the contents of the Georgia constitution are on point or not. I honestly do not know, but I’ll still give them the benefit of the doubt. Unlike you. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/174 "2006-12-22T07:25:58Z")
[QUOTE=Random] You **are** truly a wonder. Is the barrel comfortable? Are you getting along with the other fish? Yes, you have cited a Georgia constitutional provision. Unfortunately, you have the wrong Georgia. There are two, you know. [/quote] Let me explain in little words for you, you pedantic, sanctimonious ass. > [@](#): > > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Unabridged (v 1.1) > > **per·haps** /pərˈhæps/ > –adverb > > maybe; possibly I can try to explain in littler words if you ask politely. But you probably wouldn’t understand even that. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/175 "2006-12-22T07:29:11Z")
Here’s from the U.S. State of Georgia, pedant. > [@](#): > > Par. 2 No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or making irrevo- cable grant of special privileges or immunities, shall be passed. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/176 "2006-12-22T07:31:35Z")
What a pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass you are, **Random**. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/177 "2006-12-22T07:41:16Z")
-interlude- Should I continue? On the one hand, one shouldn\*t torment the handicapped. On the other hand, he\*s been pretty free with the insults, has attacked several people in this thread without any basis, and still seems to think people should believe his nonsense. And arrogant, ignorant blowhards should be revealed for what they are. Especially here. But do I really want to do a dissertation on ex post facto laws, and the related issue of how a legislature may make a law retroactive? It\*s pretty late, and the Georgian diversion, as entertaining as it was, ate up some time. -end interlude- I think what I_m going to do, is link to the correct Georgia_s constitution, point out the provision that the Georgia legislator probably had in mind, and hope that someone else explains the extent and limits of a prohibition on ex post facto laws. (Maybe someone who has the benefit of a two hour time difference? If she does, I_ll buy the beer if we_re ever in the same city.) ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/178 "2006-12-22T08:10:17Z")
Amazingly, even with all my hints, you are still not 100% correct, although you are close. From the 1998 Georgia Constitution, as amended: Article I, Paragraph X. Bill of attainder; ex post facto laws; and retroactive laws. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or laws impairing the obligation of contract or making irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be passed. I look forward to ambushed\*s legal analysis of this provision and his likely conclusion that the Georgia legislature had no power to repeal or otherwise undo the law under which the defendant here was convicted. However, as a famous cartoon character based on a blowhard Southern legislator (appropriate, no?) might say at this point: “Lookit here, son. I say son, you might want to be careful with what you say here.” As for me, ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/179 "2006-12-22T08:11:21Z")
…it\*s time for sleep, so I can justify getting paid for this kind of thing tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827/180 "2006-12-22T08:18:32Z")
See post 175 as well as my statements declaring that I am not a lawyer. What a pedantic, pompous, sanctimonious ass you are, **Random**. The “arguments” you’ve made here against me have been revealed to be shallow, off-base, pedantic, pompous ranting and/or evasions of my actual points, and have been just as full of personal insults, asshat. “cc” me and the board with your pedantic, poorly-reasoned diatribe to the committee proving that they’re complete idiots who don’t even understand their own Constitution. And their replies. It’ll be a hoot! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-my-humble-opinion-this-is-the-biggest-crock-of-shit-ive-ever-heard-of/384827.md?page=10)