Talking Points – Op Ed Points – Letter Points: “Justice Sunday”

[realFedUp]

Talking Points – Op Ed Points – Letter Points: “Justice Sunday”
www.ProgressiveChristiansUniting.org

The Christian Right has designated April 24 “Justice Sunday”; it would better be labeled “Just Us” Sunday. Joined by other Christian Right groups, the Family Research Council plans a telecast for this coming Sunday that is designed to generate a backlash against what they allege to be an “activist” federal judiciary—against federal judges who (in the words of the Family Research Council) are engaged in a conspiracy to “rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms.” (The Christian Coalition already held a Washington D.C. rally under the banner “Confronting the Judicial War on Faith.”)

Tom De Lay has led this unprecedented attack on the judiciary branch in an attempt to deflect attention from his own ethical lapses. De Lay says federal judges should serve at the pleasure of legislators—“as long as they are on good behavior.” Now De Lay’s counterpart in the Senate—Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn)—is also joining the fray by taking part in Sunday’s telecast. What this means is that Sen. Frist, who is sworn to protect, uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution, will be trashing another branch of the government whose independence the Constitution guarantees. And Frist, like De Lay, is identifying himself with the agenda of one religious faith at the expense of all others—as if the expression of Christian beliefs were in any real jeopardy in the U.S.!

What’s going on here?

This is all about politics and about winning political advantage. Sen. Frist and his GOP colleagues sense an opportunity to do away with a 200-year-old tradition in the Senate--known as the filibuster—whereby the minority party can demand a three-fifths vote to confirm a president’s nominees. And although President Bush has had relatively more of his judicial nominees approved by the Senate than President Clinton was able to get approved, Republican leaders still aren’t satisfied. They are demanding that every last one of President Bush’s nominees be approved in the Senate without a challenge as to their qualifications and records. They can only do that by ending the filibuster rule, which is why they are now pandering to the Christian Right for support.

Perhaps the filibuster rule should be changed some day, but not in this superheated atmosphere and not with a false and demagogic claim of anti-religious bias being used as the hammer to change the rule.

We have many hundreds of federal judges in this country who are doing a good job of interpreting the law. Many, if not most, who now serve on the federal bench were appointed by Republican presidents. Their private views may be quite conservative; many are deeply religious in private. But sometimes they must protect freedom of religious expression by denying the unwarranted moves by one religion to exercise more power than the law permits. That’s their job! It doesn’t make them anti-Christian or anti-faith any more than a police officer who pulls over a speeding minister can legitimately be called anti-religious.

There is no “judicial war on faith” or conspiracy against Christians in this country. Sadly, there is a war against the judiciary branch of government and against judicial independence. And in this war we all must stand up and be counted on the side of Constitutional government and the separation of powers.

[wtbymark]

1. Here, Here!

i entirely agree, and to add; That yes they do want a theocracy, and they are duping the religious into thinking that there is some assault on their faith so that they may 'rally the troops' in order to get what they want (control of the country).

step 1: take control of the congress and senate (which they've done)
step 2: take control of the White House (which they stole)
step 3: either turn the judiciary into another religious arm or render it ineffective.

step 4: push religious legislation through with no fear of being outvoted, filibustered, vetoed, or ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

It's already started by which everyone can see, but the unseen parts are the most dangerous - how many of you have seen this bill or the wording inside this bill?????

`Sec. 1260. Matters not reviewable

`Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review, by appeal, writ of certiorari, or otherwise, any matter to the extent that relief is sought against an element of Federal, State, or local government, or against an officer of Federal, State, or local government (whether or not acting in official personal capacity), by reason of that element's or officer's acknowledgement of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.'.

IN OTHER WORDS (scenario)
say some goofy religious law maker drafts a bill that outlaws blashemy and pushes it by his buddies on the right side of the isle, forced through the senate without filibuster, certainly not vetoed by an evangelical president, that cannot be reviewed by any federal court and deemed unconstitutional. And BAAAM (as Emeril would say) you have an instant theocracy. And a theocracy would allow the neo-cons to get away with any corperate ravaging it wanted to in gods name.

I'm liking the notion of the United States of Canada vs. Jesusland more and more.

[Tux]

2. IF they get a theocracy

Most of the fools that support them would be considered criminials and either be executed or imprisoned for life.