Conservative Legal Group's (Federalist Society) Clout Growing

[UpInArms]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=513&e=9&u=/ap/20050718/ap_on_go_ot/federalist_society

WASHINGTON - At a recent Friday luncheon, former Solicitor General Theodore Olson cast his eyes over a hotel ballroom crammed with lawyers and wryly welcomed "all of you Federalists who seem to have mastered the secret handshake."

"For those of you who just stumbled in off the street, it is my duty to advise you that you have stumbled into a right-wing cabal — you will never be the same again," the government's one-time chief courtroom lawyer deadpanned as chortles erupted from members of the Federalist Society.

The conservative group — which has no secret handshake and opens its forums to anyone — has plenty to be smiling about these days.

Founded by three law students in 1982 as a debating society, it now boasts a membership of more than 25,000 that includes prominent members of the Bush administration, the federal judiciary and Congress. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet members and other top Bush aides take regular turns at the society's podium.

Chances are good that the next Supreme Court justice will be either a member of the society or someone who has addressed the group.

...more...

Gag - Ted Olson on the USCC? :puke:

[Fenris]

1. "debating society"?

Hard to debate when everyone agrees with one another.

[mmonk]

2. Yes, the enemies of our legal precedents

over the 65 years are at hand.

[wli]

3. we are so screwed

The neofascists own the courts, too.

[displacedtexan]

4. I predicted Ted Olson would be the nominee when...

stories started appearing, touting the merits of nominating someone who had no bench experience.

A link to my prediction:

http://tinyurl.com/ahule

[goforit]

5. Let them gather.....that way we can see them.

[Hosnon]

6. What is their platform? Anyone know? nt

[Lefty48197]

9. Filling every single judical bench in the USA with a far right wing nut

.

[TahitiNut]

7. The chances are more than "good" ... it's a certainty ...

... that the Criminal Regime will force a Federalist Society Poster Child onto the SCOTUS, thereby increasing the Fascist control of the courts. This is the way Fascists take over ... militarism, constant War, rabid nationalism, corrupted elections, and load the courts with lockstep sycophants. This was the way it was done in Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and Cuba. This is the way it's being done in the US.

[Zorra]

8. An organized group of fascist lawyers. The Devil's Quorum. n/t

[Angry Girl]

10. But wait, there's more! (nominated)

From the New Yorker:
GOD AND COUNTRY — HANNA ROSIN
A college that trains young Christians to be politicians.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050627fa_fact

Secret and Ties - GOP Leaders' Pledge Loyalty to the Religious Right's Agenda at Secret Meetings with the Family Research Council and the Council for National Policy
http://www.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=59

The Yurica Report
Rise of Dominionism in America articles
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/DirectoryRiseOfDominionismInAmerica.html

Theocracy Watch
http://www.theocracywatch.org/