I would also appreciate it if you would tell me why they didn't have to swear an oath when they testified?
128666
freetyme813 ... "we have you to pay our taxes" .... such an honest answer from such a typical republican...\n\nLadies and Gentlemen... this is the prime example of your leadership... and I can think of no better reason of why to not vote Republican at the next election...
441635
I doubt there are transcripts like in a modern-day trial, but you can call the Courthouse and ask.  If they have a transcript or any information available about the trial, it should be a matter of public record and available to the public.  The only exception to that would be if the Judge ordered the information sealed, in which case you would need a Court-order to get the information.
574400
After reading these answers, I recomend ALL of you read the Constitution.  None of you have shown much knowledge of the text.  BTW neither the Constitution or the Bill of Rights uses the phrase 'Separation of Church and State' or the word Church for that matter.  "Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"  How many people remember the second part of that sentence?
314481
The United States of America does NOT have an official language. It does bother me that some Senators and representatives could not quote the lines to our National Anthem in English or any other language.
342786
Presumably they did something in writing when they defered?  Even if not, there must have been an agreement done on the phone, which is recorded.  Being threatened like that was probably illegal.
440756
I like grumpy's answer! I figure until the illegals have an impact directly on our government officials, nothing will change. They don't live with illegals in their own back yards, turning their neighbors into pigsty's; they aren't loosing their jobs to illegals; their families aren't being murdered and raped by illegals. Heck, did you know that when a person becomes a citizen of the US, they can say the oath in whatever language they prefer???  They DO NOT have to learn English even for that. That's outrageous! THANKS for letting me vent a little this morning.    ;)
264432
it's not that they aren't trusted exactly, they are just considered more unreliable than other witnesses.  they can be easilly coached by parents or their descriptions of events may not always be based in reality (which in my opinion is a problem most adults have as well)
388304
Excellent point!\nAdults should be able to talk with out swearing.\n\nI am very scared of talking to young adults/children, thanks for the reminder!
85419
We should probably make sure we know the answer to the question of whether it "was illegal" or not. The jury still seems to be out on that one. One camp (the executive branch)holds that Congress's authorization of "any and all necessary force" gave Bush the authority, and another doesn't (the Legislative). Sounds like it's time for the good old Judicial branch to step in and resolve the dispute. Then we can talk about whether or not a censure (different from censor) is appropriate.
377702
I asked a similar question yesterday.  And I think it only makes sense!  The idea is to ensure that the congressperson takes their vows really seriously.  He takes the Koran more seriously than the Bible.  I'd be more concerned about him *breaking* that vow--too many congresspeople have done it egregriously, after swearing on the poor ol' Bible.
360080
Lots of questions here.  Thanks for posting.\n\nFirst of all, it's not mandatory to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  As a teacher, I do make my students stand, but they have the option of saying it if they want to.  The Pledge was originally written in the 1940s or 50s as a way for immigrants to feel more American and to build patriotism.  That was then; this is now.  But as for rights, people can say it if they want to, or not.  Standing, though, shows respect for the flag and what it stands for, whether or not you choose to repeat the words.\n\nAs for the Ten Commandments, I'm a firm believer in the separation of church and state.  The Commandments are appropriate in churches and in people's homes, but have no business in public places.  That's because we live in a multi-cultural society and not everyone is a Christian.  It's not a good thing to impose religion on everyone.\n\nAs for prayers before a graduation service or before a football game, again this calls into question separation of church and state.  Not everyone is a Christian.  Having a moment of silence so that everyone can pray or give thanks or just be quiet in their own way is appropriate.  That way no one has Christianity foisted or imposed on them, and all faiths or lack of religion is respected.\n\nAs for cupcakes, it is better overall to eat fat free.  You're free to bring the cupcakes, and kids and others are free to eat them or not.  But if you want your food to be appreciated and eaten, then you should conform to the social mores of the class, or your workplace, or wherever you're having a get-together.  You wouldn't bring pork to a Jewish or Hindu dinner.  You wouldn't bring moo goo gai pan to an outdoor barbecue most likely.  You just have to know what's expected.\n\nI don't think that people's beliefs count more than others.  I do, though, think that your question is really about social mores.  No one's beliefs should be forced on anyone.  No one wants to be proselytized, preached to or harangued at and told how they are wrong and/or need to change.  Ho hum, so boring.\n\nI think you're right: people do participate as they want to, or they don't participate if they don't want to.  I think a lot depends on how much a part of the group you are.  If you are deeply embedded in a group, you'll observe the social mores and unspoken agreements and do what's expected.  If you're on the outside edges of a group, it's harder to know what's expected.  You have to listen and pay close attention.  It may take a while to be accepted into certain groups, and with some, you're always going to be on the perimeters.\n\nThanks for your question.  I hope this helps.  Cheers, K
56182
To be able to take a legally binding oath, you have to be 18, so the youngest theoretically possible is on someone's 18th birthday. Whether or not this has actually happened is probably unknowable.
607338
If it is the opening speech give a summary of what the case is about:\n\nLadies and Gentleman of the jury today stands before you an innocent man( or woman ),_name here__________, accused of ___________. During the course of these proceedings we will demonstrate that _______________ could not possibly have done ____________________. Why? Because on the day of the incident ___________________ was not at the crime site. Further, ________________ did not own a weapon. And the police didn't ask this one important  question:________________.\nThank you.
563127
I am proud to be an American, I am ashamed of those who in office voilate the very oaths they are under affirmation to uphold, defend and preserve.\nOur founding fathers left their homes and came to America to start a new world, a world where people had the right to choose the religion of their choice without persecution. They also did not believe that a man should be placed in jail because he owed someone money, thus they were against debtor prisons. They believed that all men were created equal and that each person had the right to liberty and the persuit of happiness. That that right was not granted by man but by the creator.\nThe consitution declares itself the supreme law of the land, therefore there is no federal law, no state law or city ordance that can supercede it. It goes on and states that any law that is found in contridiction of it is null and void. We were meant to be a country of the people and for the people. Not a country where one because of his income had more rights than those who did not have the same amount of money. We are each granted equal protection of the law under the consitution, unfortunately we have had leaders in office over the years who did not honour their oaths, they enacted laws that are in direct contridiction of the consitution. They deglated duties that congress was to fullfill to private corporations, which they had no right to do. They are currently taxing the citizens in violation of the consitution because it is tax without approriation, it is a slave tax, and the 13th admendment strictly forbids slavery. Yet our current government believes that it owns the citizens of this nation. It doesn't but acts as if it does. In 1913 on Christmas eve when the majority of congressmen had returned to their homes for the holidays, a group of congressmen stayed behind and enacted what has become known as the Federal Reserve Act. It is this act that Woodrow Wilson claimed on his death bed that he had betrayed his country unaware. It was an act just like it that Andrew Jackson called a den of theives and vipers and by his eternal God he was going to route them out. He refused to renew their charter and was able to keep them out for 77 years. Lincoln during the civil war stated he had two great enemies, the south in frount of him and the international bankers behind him, of the two he feared the bankers the most. Lincoln did not finance the civil war through international bankers that wanted to charge him 29% intrest rate, he instead went to congress and told congress to issue out from the treasury the funds needed to finance the war. They became known as Lincoln greenbacks because they were green on the back side. Then in 1913 we had a private corporation to take control of our monetary system. Ben Franklin stated that if a private corporation ever got a hold of the monetary system that the children of the founding fathers would grow up homeless in the land that their fathers founded. It is intresting to note that the only bill that does not bare the face of a dead president is the 100 dollar bill which has the face of Ben Franklin on it who was never president. It is also intresting to note that the first president is on the 1 dollar bill whereas the man who was not ever president is on the 100 dollar bill. Then we had the great depression after this event of 1913, think that there was really a shortage of money? Not really it was the means in which this private corporation was able to take control of the publishing houses, newspapers, etc. How do you control the masses? Simple you control what they know. Why do you think our government hates the internet so much. They cannot control its content. Then in 1960 we had a very close election, between Richard Nixon and JFK. JFK won. JFK had no intrest in keeping troops in Vietnam and was in the process of withdrawing all troops who were there. He also understood the consitution and realized that congress had made a grave error by deglating their du
476505
I don't know why politicians always find it necessary to answer reporter's questions.   I would have preferred him to deflect the question and not answer rather than lie about it.
204500
I think that one thing that might help them to improve would be to have the witness view the line-up as soon as possible.  Every minute they wait makes it that much harder for a witness to make a positive identification.  They only time I have been asked to view a line-up was 1 1/2 months after the incident.(I didn't do it because I wasn't sure)
308890
Careful there!  Though I do agree that they have tarnished the word severly.\n\nI am a Patriot in the purest sense of the word!  I selflessly served this country for over 21 years.  My service was in defense of The Constitution in accordance with the oath that I took many times.\n\nMost of the current leadership have forgotten the critical phrase in their oaths:  "I will ... preserve, protect and defend The Constitution of the United States."  Those who fail to do that may call themselves Patriots but they are NOT!\n\nDo not tarnish me with the brush of the False Patriots!