DeLay's Assault on the Courts Is The Beginning

[Hosnon]

of what will bring down these "taliborns."

Alright DU - I'm a pretty reasonable guy and look past a good bit of the wild things said on this board but DeLay's assault on the court system in this country (along with his f*&%^*cking evangelical friends) is getting me a bit worried and extremely pissed off. I haven't felt this much political rage since the build up to the Iraq War.

However, I whole-heartedly believe that the majority of Republicans are sane people. However, it does seem that the party has been hijacked by the religious right. Most everyone in my family who voted for Bush has admitted to being a bit creeped out by what has been happening since the Terry Shiavo case.

As Bill Maher said, let those assholes on the right be the party of the Bible...that leaves us ONE option - to be the party of the Constitution. And you know what? That is one battle that the right will most definitely lose.

If you give most Americans the option of stripping the Constitution to fit the Bible or ignoring some things in the Bible to uphold the Constitution, they will choose the latter. If they don't - kindly remind them that too many guys (and girls) my age have died to uphold that piece of paper and I'll be damned if they let some so called political genius (Rove) turn this country inside out just to get W re-elected.

We have a history in this country and giving the finger to religious authoritarians cuts to the core of that history.

The Moral Majority of the 80's has finally won and I want to ask every single person I know who voted for Bush - which is better: The Clinton era where religion did not define a man and the government stayed out of our lives or the Bush era where something is now wrong with you if don't believe the first woman came from the rib of the first man?

I have news for the Moral Majority - there is a majority that has existed since the beginning of this country and it has been extremely quiet for the past couple years. That majority is so large that I can actually feel it beginning to breathe and stir as it looks at what is going on around it with a curiosity laced with disgust.

This government is a secular government and the true majority in this country understands that.

Mess with the courts and, by implication, with the foundation of this government and you are messing with that majority.

[calimary]

1. And astoundingly enough, jesus w. bush swore to preserve, protect

and defend the Constitution of the United States.

He's done none of those things. Perjured himself on his oath of office. He's done everything possible to trash, shred and up-end the Constitution ever since he "took" office.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. He should've been impeached

And isn't it unconstiutional of them getting rid of the filibuster or is that not mentioned and came later?

[AuntiBush]

11. Again, Couldn't agree w/you more FreedomAngel82!

You can say that again! He demeaned, derailed and is single-handedly destroying our Constitution and to think that he can "smirk" about it.

A disgrace. The WORST PREZ EVER, is right!

It's UN-PATRIOTIC to support him!

:patriot::patriot::patriot:

[meow2u3]

20. The only reason Bush hasn't been impeached

The short answer, in two words: Republican Congress

The slightly longer answer: Republican leaders are going out of their way to protect Bush from the consequences of his illegal and anti-constitutional actions, partly because if they move to impeach Bush and Cheney, the skeletons in their own closets will come flying out and they'd be pressured either to resign in disgrace or face their own criminal indictments, convictions, expulsions from Congress, and maybe imprisonment in the nearest Club Fed.
In other words, Bush/Cheney, Inc. and the GOP leadership are running this country like the Mafia runs their rackets, enabling the rule of law to give way to the rule of the lawless.

[LatePeriduct]

22. But some of them are waking up....

The defections are on the rise....They don't really want this curtailed fascism!

http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/CNPMeetsBeforeGOPConventionKirkpatrick.html

The cult can fall and the heart can crumble....It is up to all of us!

[tex-wyo-dem]

2. Here, here!

Well said!

What's going on now is unbelievable and I think once the People fully grasp what's at stake here your going to see the evangelicals running back to the swamp from whence they came with a few congressmen on their tail.

I heard a great line a little while ago (can't remember where): If you want to live in a religious state, move to Iran...

[AuntiBush]

12. Double Here, here!

I'll double that statement, tex-wyo-dem!

They say, "Luv it or leave it..." That's exactly what "the Repuks" should do - leave. Head for Iran, Iraq, where ever your right-wing fruitcake, idiotic, extremists, hate-filled, gun-toting, bigot, hypocritical self should go!

Shew!

[Tux]

3. I agree

Down with Falwell!

[EC]

4. Right,

besides the thought of outright lawlessness, if they want to ignore judges and decide on their own what is right or wrong...I can't help but believe this was the plan to begin with, since I heard DeLay say along time ago that he was working to make this a country of his believe....

and on edit: I'm glad to hear some Republicans are actually paying attention. When I talk to a few I know and ask them if they know about this or that, they say no, and make excuses, but then say so what they all do "it" (whatever it may be) and they will always vote Republican anyway since it doesn't really matter. I ask them if that is how they feel and it doesn't really matter, why not alternate their vote every 4 years or not vote or whatever since it obviously doesn't mean shit to them anyway...

[AuntiBush]

13. And to think, the Judges are Republican Christians!

Nuts, man. Supre-Nuts!

[Lexingtonian]

5. well, no

The franticness of the Religious Right is all about their sensing that they're losing, that the political ice is getting really thin under them. This is the way people who've held power and sway behave as their group meter ticks from 53% to 52% to 51% Hold On Power but the average person hasn't caught on yet.

It's willpower, expressed as anger and energy and ability to mesmerize people (distracting them from seeing the obvious), but in the world the weakness is evident enough for there to be a need to severely cut corners, to violate civility and conventional rules. Will being desire coupled with a disrespect for (and anxiety about) apparent reality, after all.

We're seeing mostly the disrespect and cutting corners parts. The anxiety and fear will become more evident, I think.

Texas is not all of the country, even if it's hard to imagine that other regions would be so different: they are. Where I am- yeah, Massachusetts- the other side, the crumbling of zeal and conviction, the sense of middle or long term doom despite transient victories, is all over our Republicans these days. The local ones have given up on our state, so they watch and assess the national scene very carefully and acutely (and send their money out of state). There's a real despair in them at their side now- they always had rationales (inarticulate, but at bottom bourn out by events) about how and why their own would pull through the last couple of years, passed to them by their Party insider pals at the Elks lodge or country club, but I'd call it a crisis of faith at the moment.

[Hosnon]

6. Good to know the Northeast is shaping up - but for us down South

religion is THE political issue in a way that I've never seen before (albeit only 23 - but my father says the same thing at 57). The pendulum is set to swing back and I'm ready to see it happen.

[AuntiBush]

14. Is that why they're so ANGRY as Winners...

The guy that wrote that book, "Sore Winners" called it before many of us did.

It's on the top of my summer-reading agenda. That and letter writing, and joining Dem Clubs. I'm going pro-active this summer; volunteering any and everywhere I can - as long as I can afford to get there w/gas prices the way they are.

Gas prices! Yeah: "Who benefited on that one?" Sure isn't us.

[peacetalksforall]

7. Excellent post and I'd like to make a suggestion to DU.....

Can we have a place where we can compile and keep some lists going that would document the latest aggressions?

Some examples:

1. Government in your face acts.
2. Religious takeover statements.
3. International treaties broken.
4. Declarations and Acts of the President & Recess Appointments.
5. Disappeared government funds and property.
6. Environmental slaps in the face.
7. Statements and acts that prove MSMs are propaganda sources who deprive of us news that harms the White House.
8. Instances where the Republican Houses pull dirty tricks in legislation.

It would be something like an ALMANAC - something that could be printed out for borderline friends and family. It could also be a quickie check for those of us who are inundated and who have had to limit the 'atrocities' that we can follow.

It would have to contain - name, place, date, forum/context, and source to legitimatizes it - but, condensed, with just enough information so that the action or ideology is clear and would enable a reader to search further for detail.

We desperately need to educate. It is our true weapon. The per cent of people who are able to march is small. Writing our 'leaders' is good. Getting riled up by going out to watch one of the excellent documentaries is a gift. Books are great, but dated given the speed that this stuff is coming toward us. To miss an opportunity to attack or defend with facts when faced with the opportunity is our greatest tool. There is something about organized lists that allow me to 'scope-feel' their impact and then turn around and zero in. I think I'm like others...first the big picture, then the details.

Is it something that could be tied to the Links feature?

As we know, they aim to change reality. Combined with the volume of atrocities and dis-realities, we need to help ourselves because the Constitution and Bill of Rights is coming down as fast as the bodies and going away as fast as job security, jobs, salaries and the integrity of the country.

[Hosnon]

8. Great idea, I'm behind it.

[AuntiBush]

15. Brilliant Idea! Post this on it's own!

Excellent idea. Honestly! I was thinking, some of us should pool our bucks together and create a website that covers all of us from as many states as possible.

Like a Super-Blog, of sorts. But you're idea is brilliant!

[FreedomAngel82]

9. I agree with everything you said

As far as I know we've always been the party of the Constiution thus why we're the people's party. We accept everybody. That's why I love being a democrat because I know nobody will judge me or have this whole "holier then thou" attitude with me. We know how to handle power like when FDR was president he tried to do the same thing the democrats told him no. The republicans don't know how to handle power and we're seeing that. When they have nothing else to talk about they talk about "moral values" and that nonsense. I just noticed they never talk about Jesus or the new testament version of God. Always the old testament vengal God. :shrug: And if you think about it they wouldn't be calling themselves Christians because in the old testament they were Jews.

[AuntiBush]

16. Speaking of FDR, did you know

he was a Wall Street attorney, before becoming President for 16 years straight - that's 4 terms in a row. That's where the REpuks hatred began simmering.

FDR took Prescott Bush off the World Bank; connections to Rove's grand-pappy, too. And there is more.

Right now, I can't turn on 1 Satellite station without seeing repeated commercials reminding people to watch constant re-runs of FDR: How he hid things from the American people and they're going to reveal it.

So, I no longer watch my 1 time beloved History Channel and I'm an Historian. The Learning Channel - forget about it... sickening and you see that Military Channel, right above 2 regular non-paying children's Disney stations. Sickening!

One of the first things I learned in my very 1st American history class was the meaning of "Republican" and "Democrat" parties. The difference is plain and simple:

Republicans: You vote them in - and they do as they please.
Democrats: You vote for them and they have to do as the American people say; and are dutified to stand-by the Constitution for the American people.

I paraphrased, but that sums it up. Anyone differs w/me and I'll yank out my book I carry w/me all of the time.

[Joebert]

17. Do you REALLY think they'll pick the Constitution over the Bible?

I'm sorry, but I don't believe that for a second.

(Disclaimer: I would pick the Constitution, every day.)

BUT, the religious folks who already feel persecuted are not going to choose the Constitution.

This is the group of people that wants the 10 Commandments in schools, courthouses, and other public places.

You're going to ask this group of people, who want "You shall have no God before me" written into the walls, to choose a set of laws from 200 years ago? They believe their laws are from 2000 years ago+, and that they came down from God. Good luck.

With the rhetoric around about how the ACLU is undermining Christiandom, how people are "attacking" the new Pope by asking questions, and with the way that those damn judges won't let their religion into the schools/public buildings, they're ready to go.

I wish it were not this way, but when you ask somebody who truly believes that there is a higher power running their life, or at least watching it so that they can deny access to Heaven, the faithful won't choose against that.

If they were going to listen to reason, and allow everybody to be themselves, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now.

In their opinion:

Abortion? Bad.
Homosexuals? Bad.
Agnostics/Atheists? Bad.
Foreigners? Bad.
Democrat/Independent? The cause of the problems.

This is perfect timing for the radical religious people to push for even harder.

"Those people over there, don't even believe in our God. AND they have the oil we need to keep schools running. THEY are making it more expensive, they are shooting at OUR people when we went there to save them from Saddam! They're ungrateful."

I wish it weren't so bleak, but I can't see any logic right now. Until somebody figures out how to cool off the radicals, we're in for an ugly ride.

Until people from one religion can respect another religion without the fear (and rhetoric) of eternal damnation, we're screwed.

[Blue Topaz]

18. I think most would choose the Constitution

I think the tide is turning away from these theocratic maniacs.

Joebert, the OP questioned what "most" Americans would do. I think that even within the Republican party, most do not align with the far-right fundie platform. Remember, most Americans disagreed with DeLay and Frist's grandstanding in the Terri Schiavo case, and most - even a majority of Republicans - do not agree with the nuclear option being used to strip all power from the minority party.

[Joebert]

19. True, the radicals aren't the most. But they're currently the loudest

My viewpoint may be from living out here in Colorado, but it's pervasive out here. Remember, I have the distinct pleasure of living just two hours away from the hive of scum and villany known as Colorado Springs (home of "Focus on the Family as long as their check clears"...)

How fun is it to have to go talk to your boss and have to ask what Rush Limbaugh said today to get time for the real question? There are churches going up all over town. We're not big enough to support this many churches, but they're getting built.

I think it's all in the framing. If you make it sound like the Bible or the Constitution, I don't see the response we're hoping for.

I will hope that this turns around, that the situation cools, and people with calmer heads prevail.

But I won't hold my breath.

[Daphne08]

21. "Those people over there, don't even believe in our God..."

Those people need to study a bit and stop making ridiculous statements.

The God of Islam (Allah) is the same God worshipped by the Jewish people (Yahweh) and the Christians.

Fundamentalism is dangerous... PERIOD. I don't care whether the religion is Judaism or Christianity or Islam or whatever!

[Joebert]

23. Bingo.

But unfortunately, they since there can't be another God than theirs, the one in the "other" religions (read: not theirs) must be made up, which is against the 1st Commandment.

WHICH, I might add, you'd know if those activist judges wouldn't block the 10 Commandments being put everywhere.

:-)