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■ 07 February 2012 | 5:00 AM

'Big government' GOP

Columnist Kerry Dougherty ('Those who hate nanny-state should loathe abortion bill,' Feb. 3) carpet-bombed the legislative initiative to require ultrasounds prior to abortions. As she said, no true conservative could support such a governmental invasion of the doctor-patient relationship.

It amuses me greatly that self-professed 'conservatives' argue with equal fervor that no restrictions can be placed on gun ownership, but that any manner of ill-concealed 'safety' impediments to a woman's constitutional right to choose abortion are perfectly OK.

It is intellectual dishonesty and a sad commentary on how far the state GOP has deviated from true conservatism. It no longer has a philosophy, only a doctrine.

Perry Miles

Norfolk

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Where?

Submitted by James King, Chesapeake, VA on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 12:31 pm.

Please state the part of the constitution that specifically says women have a "constitutional right" to abortion. If you can't find it, then each state may regulate abortion. However, you seem so certain that in a matter of mere moments you will probably have it up for us.

"Please state the part of

Submitted by Fred Mason, Norfolk, VA on Wed, 02/08/2012 at 9:18 am.

"Please state the part of the constitution that specifically says ..."

This is the opening clause of the naive literalists playing what they consider their best albeit illusionary trump card. The literalists deny that any change, with which they disagree, has occurred by legislation or adjudication.

that's too many big words

Submitted by Gary K Nelson, Virginia Beach, VA on Wed, 02/08/2012 at 10:55 am.

that's too many big words for a literalist to digest at one time.

I think a literalist may understand this:

THE CONSTITUTION WAS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE.

you're welcome. :)

That part of the constitution is Article 3

Submitted by Lennart A. Rothman, Norfolk, VA on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 4:52 pm.

The judiciary examines federal legislation, state laws and executive branch regulations to determine their constitutionality.

They found that bans on abortion were unconstitutional in 1973.

Moderates, then, would

Submitted by Glen C Bowman Jr, Elizabeth City, NC on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 11:21 am.

Moderates, then, would support very limited and reasonable limitations on both gun ownership and abortion, under the assumption that most citizens are personally responsible enough not to need someone else to tell them what to do with their bodies (in the case of abortion) or why they can't protect themselves and their families from bodily harm (in the case of gun ownership).

In this polarized political environment, we moderates are becoming rarer and rarer in politics; but in the end, we understand the threat posed by both extremists from both the right and the left who want to use government to violate people's fundamental liberties.

Mr. Bowman

Submitted by James King, Chesapeake, VA on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 12:35 pm.

Middle-of-the-roaders stand for nothing. Those who are conservative or liberal are labeled as extremists. Had Jefferson, Washington, Madison, etc., etc., been middle folk, we would still live, or exist, in colonies.