Saturday, July 23, 2005

Conservatives Call for Caution on Court Confirmation

As mentioned earlier, Ann Coulter has noted that the lack of public knowledge about the Roberts nomination parallels the "stealth" candidacy of the Souter nomination. She addresses some of the supporting arguments made for Roberts and warns that history could be repeated if Roberts were confirmed.

Citing Richard A. Serrano from the Los Angeles Times, Dr. Albert Mohler blogs that John Roberts' position on abortion is "unclear". Serrano showed how "Judge Roberts' public positions on abortion and Roe vs. Wade appear to be inconsistent."

In response, Mohler advises, "Keep a close watch on the maneuvering."

Howard Phillips says, "Let’s be judicious in evaluating President Bush’s choice of John G. Roberts, Jr. to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court."

Phillips shares concerns about other fundamental issues beyond the right to life:

Areas of possible concern include his tenure with the liberal establishment law firm Hogan & Hartson and his work with the left-wing Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. A big red flag for me was the fact that he twice referred to the United States government as a “Constitutional democracy”, whereas the Constitution makes clear that we are a “republic” and that a republican form of government is guaranteed to each state.


Author Daniel J. Flynn echoes the concerns of both Phillips and Coulter in several articles on his blog:

It is reasonable to desire a nominee with a paper trail to give us an indication of where he stands on federalism, property rights, judicial activism, civil liberties, and other important questions of judicial philosophy. Sorry Judge Roberts, you may turn out to be a great Supreme Court justice, but I don't know that from your two years as a judge. The time for a stealthy nominee is not when the opposition party holds just 44 Senate seats.

If the robed ghosts of Supreme Court Justices Robert Bork, Clement Haynesworth, and Harold Carswell counsel silence, the reality of John Paul Stevens, Anthony Kennedy, and David Souter calls conservatives to demand more information.

This is a time to pray for wisdom for our President and Senators, as well as all eligible American voters as we consider their replacements.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

AFB

In the IRC world, we abbreviate "Away From Keyboard" to briefly indicate that we won't be immediately available to respond to anything posted in a chat room or private message.

I will be Away From my Blog for a few days.


As a parting note, here is a message from the Word of God:

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 37:4

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

My Supreme Court Picks

Questions abound from across the spectrum regarding the nature of John Robert's judicial philosophy. Jim Rudd, Ann Coulter (also see "SOUTER IN ROBERTS CLOTHING"), Don Quixote, and others remind us that Republican assurances of conservative loyalties prove to be unreliable as is the case with nomination of David Souter.

There is no law that limits the Supreme Court size to 9 or 10 Justices. If President Bush is earnest about appointing strict constructionists, he should make some additional nominations to restore constitutional fidelity to the third branch.

While, as Cory Burnell puts it, "the jury is still out on John Roberts," here are some strict constructionists who I recommend. All are fine Constitutional scholars, and many have legal experience at varying levels.

Robert Bork (if he is able, even if he only lasts 3 or 4 years)
Darrell Castle (or his wife, Joan)
David Gibbs
Roy Moore
Michael Peroutka
Stephen Peroutka
Phyllis Schlafly
Kenneth Starr
Herb Titus
Walter Williams
John Whitehead

Judicial Doublespeak?

According to recent AP reports, President Bush has nominated John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court.


The President had said that he would appoint "people who will strictly interpret the Constitution" and hailed Roberts as such.


Such rhetoric is encouraging, but Roberts' own rhetoric is contradictory on the matter as he sees Roe v. Wade as "law of the land". Since Article I Section 1 of the Constitution says "All legislative powers" are vested in Congress, a strict interpretation would not accept a court decision as law.


Apparently in President Bush's mind a strict constructionist would not legislate from the bench, but would still accept previous court decisions as legislation. This duplicity is not surprising from a politician who aims to promote a "culture of life" while funding abortion advocacy groups with our tax dollars (along with other unconstitutional spending).


Pray for President Bush.


Hat Tip: Lee Shelton.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Release: News Conference - Roy Moore for U.S. Supreme Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13,
2005


CONTACT:
Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626


Statement of Howard Phillips
Chairman, The Conservative
Caucus
News Conference

Roy Moore for U.S. Supreme Court
University
Club
Wednesday, July 13, 2005


My friends, this is a crucial moment in the history of the American republic. The character and the undaunted courage of one faithful man seated on the U.S. Supreme Court could bring about a turning point in our jurisprudence and in our culture, back to Biblical morality and forward to a restoration of the Constitutional design and system of liberty set forth by American’s founding fathers.

I speak of that great patriot, that exemplary jurist, God’s man for these times, the Honorable Roy Moore.

Roy Moore sacrificed his position as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court rather than submit to an unconstitutional demand by Federal judges to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building.

Judge Moore is a graduate of West Point, a decorated Vietnam vet, a comprehensively knowledgeable student of the Constitution and a dedicated family man.

He is truly a great man whose courage has helped awaken millions of Americans to the assault on our heritage, our beliefs, and our religious liberty, and he has inspired God-fearing, freedom-loving Americans in every part of our nation to join the fight to liberate our Constitutional Republic from judicial tyranny.

After West Point, Judge Roy Moore served our country as a U.S. Army Company Commander in Vietnam before earning a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama Law School.

A highly respected Constitutional scholar, Judge Moore served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama since 2001 until he was suspended for refusing to remove the Ten commandments from his courthouse and insisting that, as Chief Justice, he would continue to acknowledge God.

Judge Moore has been recognized as a “tireless defender of individual liberties”, “Christian statesman of the Year”, “Defender of the Bill of Rights”, and was named “Champion of Liberty” by the U.S. Taxpayers Alliance. Roy Moore was first thrust into the national spotlight in the 1990s when he successfully held his ground against another unconstitutional court order demanding that he remove a tablet of the Ten Commandments, which he had carved by hand and hung on the wall alongside his court bench in Etowah County, Alabama.

Judge Moore has been vilified in the media, betrayed by the Alabama Republican hierarchy (including tax-hiking GOP Governor Bob Riley and Karl Rove’s judicial candidate, Bill Pryor, the Alabama Attorney General).

Through it all, Judge Moore conducted himself with modesty, humility, and courage. And while, sadly, he was removed from his position as the elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court - - - knowledgeable Americans are grateful that Roy Moore took a principled stand against the usurpation of authority by Constitutionally defiant judges. Chief Justice Moore upheld the rule of law against judges and bureaucrats who flagrantly moved to set aside the U.S.
Constitution in favor of their personal prejudices.

Most public figures would have wilted under pressure, but Judge Roy Moore fears God, not man

Roy Moore has conducted himself with courage and integrity, never surrendering, never wavering - - - and his example may prove to be a turning point in American history.

I have been encouraged by the enthusiasm of the many thousands of freedom-loving, God-faring Americans who have rallied behind this great man and his righteous cause.

More and more God-fearing, freedom-loving Americans correctly see Roy Moore as a man of principle standing up for faith, freedom, and the rule of law, as America’s Founding Fathers understood it.

Already more than 85,000 have signed Petitions urging President Bush to appoint him to the U.S. Supreme Court.

What a great victory for God, family, and country it would be if Roy Moore were nominated and confirmed as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court!

As a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Judge Moore would strictly interpret the law according to the U.S. Constitution.

He would defend our right to acknowledge God - - - in public prayer, in the Pledge of Allegiance, and in displays which have the Biblical message of God’s Ten Commandments.

Judge Moore has kept his oath to the Constitution of Alabama and to the Cnstitution of the United States. He has upheld the law. He has obeyed his duty to God, to the people of Alabama and to the citizens of the United States of America. I urge President George W. Bush to nominate the man best qualified in our entire nation to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the laws of God on which that Constitution is premised.

Friday, July 08, 2005

"7/11: A Day of Fasting & Prayer. A Response to 7/7 London Bombings."

The first and best response to national and international crises is to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Followers of Christ should be in a constant attitude of prayer, and sometimes it takes major events to remind us of our need of His healing. I confess that I have often failed in this by setting my affections on the things of the earth, not on things above (Colossians 3:2).

A good way to renew prayer is to support the efforts of those who set aside specific days to call people to prayer. Hal of The Great Separation has just done that:

Go before the throne.- In light of the terror attack on our alley and her innocent people in the city of London, I think we Christian brothers and sisters should make a special effort to hold this situation up before the Lord of Hosts, our Father in Heaven.
I believe it would be an exceptional idea if we were to hold a day of fasting and prayer this coming Monday for all those effected and for those who organized this terrible act.

We know that this terror war is more than a physical battle. It is spiritual warfare and if it is to be overcome, it must be attacked on that level first and foremost.

So spread the word on your blogs. Let's make this coming Monday, 7/11, a day of fasting and prayer.
Hat Tip: Exploring The Mystery

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

GOP vs. Conservatives

The national Republican Party leadership (?) is trying to quiet conservative criticism of Alberto Gonzales as a potential Supreme Court nominee. They apparently want "subjects like abortion, public support for religion and same-sex marriage" off the table.
According to the New York Times, " The White House and the Senate Republican leadership are pushing back against pressure from some of their conservative allies about the coming Supreme Court nomination, urging them to stop attacking."

The "attacking" here is being done by the Bush administration itself. Conservatives have been working for years to undo the usurpations of the Constitution and attacks on religious freedom perpetrated by people like Alberto Gonzales and Sandra Day O'Connor.

This is just one of many examples of how the Republican Party "works with" conservatives to woo their votes with rhetoric during election years and then tries to suppress them afterward.
Some other examples of Republican liberalism include the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform act, numerous deficit spending increases, socialistic funding of Planned Parenthood, and abandonment of border security.

Concerned citizens need to remind the President of his intent to appoint strict constructionists and build a culture of life. Meanwhile, we should learn from history and only support candidates and organizations that promote fidelity to the Constitution and our God-given rights.

Hat Tip: Outside the Beltway

Monday, July 04, 2005

Happy Independence Day

In many of the United States, it still Independence Day.

At our church yesterday, we sang a forgotton stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key, written in the wake of the War of 1812:

O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!

Blest with victry' and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I would love for this to be sung with the more popular premier stanza with sincerity in keeping with America's tradition at major athletic events.

I thank God that I live free by His grace in this land.

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Supreme Court Appointments: Learning from History

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
- George Santayana

The announced retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has prompted court watchers to glean lessons from her tenure.

In two blog articles, Doug Phillips gives synopses of the impact of her "two decade-long reign of terror against unborn babies, the biblical family, and the Constitution of the United States of America" and recommends an approach to restore Constitutional fidelity to the Supreme Court.

Here are some highlights:

O’Connor should be best remembered for her opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992) in which she offered Supreme Court sanction for the vivisection of precious babies on the grounds that abortion rights are necessary to help women stay in the workforce...
O’Connor will also be remembered for her decision undermining nearly two thousand years of Western legal tradition concerning marriage, by advancing the cause of sodomite marriages in Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003) for her commentaries on the propriety of using international law to interpret the constitution...

Both articles linked above are worth thoughtful review and response.

On the other end of the spectrum, today I heard Hugh Hewitt comment on WFIA that MoveOn.org is campaigning to replace O'Connor with a similar "moderate." There is nothing moderate about killing innocent human life or condoning such behavior.

Hat Tip: Mark Jurries provides further comments and links .