'Ten Commandments judge' won't rule out challenge to Bush

WorldNetDaily ^ | February 2, 2004 | WorldNetDaily.com

[TBP]

Ousted Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore is focused on trying to get his job back but will not rule out a third-party run for the presidency that could threaten President Bush's re-election chances.

At a recent speaking engagement, the man who became famous for his defense of a Ten Commandments monument was asked during a question-and-answer session whether he would run for president, reported Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund.

"Not right now," Moore said, according to Fund, who noted Moore's friends say he is undecided about whether to run for president or to wait two years and seek Alabama's governorship.

Jessica Atterbury, a spokeswoman for Moore, emphasized yesterday to WorldNetDaily Moore is focused on his appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court but indicated he would not rule out a candidacy for the country's highest office.

"Anything is possible," she told WND. "However, until the appeal process has been run through, he'll make no decision for political office."

Atterbury said Moore believes he has an obligation to the people who elected him to appeal the Alabama Supreme Court's Nov. 13 decision that stripped him of his chief justice position for defiance of a federal judge's order to remove a Ten Commandments monument.

"He is fighting for his job back for the people of Alabama," Atterbury said. "So he feels he needs to take every legal avenue possible to become chief justice again."

Earlier this month, Moore asked the state's high court to restore him to office, calling his expulsion "dangerous."

In legal briefs, he argued the decision sets a "dangerous precedent" that requires judges to deny their oath of office by barring acknowledgement of God, which is stipulated in Alabama's constitution.

A special court has been seated to hear Moore's appeal. A decision is expected in the next month or so.

Fund commented that while third-party campaigns by social conservatives have fizzled in the past, Moore could make a difference in a close race.

He noted last Saturday Moore was a featured speaker at the Christian Coalition's "Family and Freedom" rally in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported he was "treated like a rock star, signing autographs and getting thunderous standing ovations."

One week prior to that event, Moore spoke at a dinner in Lancaster, Pa., sponsored by the Constitution Party, which has the third-largest number of registered voters in the U.S. The party's presidential candidate, Howard Phillips, was on 41 state ballots in 2000, Fund noted.

Richard Winger, an authority on independent candidates, told Fund he believes Moore could rally enough support to sustain a presidential candidacy.

"If he can get on talk shows and stir up conservative voters he could easily get significantly more than the usual third-party vote totals," said Winger, editor of Ballot Access News.

Winger points out the Constitution Party has 320,000 registered voters nationwide and guaranteed ballot access in large states such as California and Pennsylvania.

With its convention scheduled June 22, Moore would have enough time to exhaust his appeal before Alabama courts.

Fund notes reporters who want to see President Bush face a tight race this year will be particularly interested in covering him. That's why Republican strategists are trying to talk Moore into campaigning this year for GOP candidates who agree with his stance.

"He can get a lot of attention this year for his themes," a strategist told Fund. "The question is whether he does it in a way that will help conservatives or whether he tries to do it in a way that could make him the Ralph Nader spoiler of the right in 2004."

[TBP]

That strategist is absolutely right. Moore could well be the "Ralph Nader of the right," to use his term. This guy would attract a lot of conservatives to his banner, especially since so many conservatives are disgruntled with Bush and the Republican Congress right now. Were he to run, his candidacy would get enough votes to put the Constitution Party on the map.

I told somebody that the candidate who could draw me in right away was the one who pledged to put Judge Moore on the Supreme Court. Judge Moore himself would be an even more exciting choice.

[GeronL]

Moore is not strong in the rest of the state.. he should run for Governor

[COEXERJ145]

The idiot would attract just enough of his fellow drinkers to insure the election was thrown to Kerry.

[TBP]

You would be surprised at the strength he has in other states. I recently attended one of his speeches and it was quite well attended. Even one of the Democrat legislators -- a black, at that -- showed up!

[TBP]

It's the Bushies who are the Kool Aid drinkers, blindly supporting a candidate who has given us virtually nothing, but has betrayed us on virtually every issue other than tax cuts and the war.

If not for the war, Bush would have a challenger in the Republican primaries.

[Keyes2000mt]

And you've got a great plan to stop him.

[Coto]

I'd most surly vote for him before ANY of the Seven Dwarfs that the Demos are pushin'....

I'd even think about doing the same over GW.....

[TheEaglehasLanded]

I believe you are correct, it's like Deja Vu all over again. His father had a 90% approval rating in Feb 91 and lost 21 months later, W had a 90% approval rating in Oct 01, 25 months later he is in jeapordy of blowing it.

His father took his base for granted to get along with the Dems and they stabbed him in the back the rest of his administration.

Same old same old, W has given into the DEMS on the Farm Bill, Education, CFR, Prescription Drugs, Illegal Aliens, AIDS for Africa, NEA, Going to the UN over Iraq, and it hasn't bought him any praise from them and they blame him for the deficit as well.

Wake up President before it's too late

[Kudsman]

bttt to see where this one goes.

[longtermmemmory]

What happens if he is RE-elected to the same post? That would be a kick in the pants to the aclu.

[DameAutour]

Hmm, there are a number of things that this Judge could do that could have greater impact than a failed run for the Presidency. He will not win, and at best, can only siphon enough voters for a Democrat to win the election. That's the best he could achieve if he ran for President now. He'd sell the country down the drain for what? To send a message? Here are better ideas:

1. Get his original position back. He's then in line for juicier appointments and at the very least he can be of use to the state of Alabama.

2. A federal court nomination/appointment.

3. A Supreme Court nomination/appointment.

He may be too controversial to get any kind of judicial appointment through Congress. Other ideas:

4. Run for Governor. This would be HUGH.

5. Run for Congress. See my tagline. I'm series about this. Congress is the difference-maker right now.

6. Run for President in 2008. Especially if he has already done either number 4 or 5.

[Arthur McGowan]

I will vote for any candidate who runs on this platform: "The 16th Amendment was legitimately ratified by only 24 states. The certification of its ratification by the Secretary of State in 1912 was fraudulent. Therefore my first act as President will be an Executive Order directing the Secretary of State to de-certify the ratification of the 16th Amendment."

[Texasforever]

Hey Tom Tancredo is the man to beat according to many on FR.

[zook]

"Jethro!! Elly May!! Go out to see Judge Moore at the cee-ment pond!!! He's runnin' for pres-ee-dent!" [Sound of banjo in background]

I'm just getting a bit sick and tired of people willing to abandon American national security during time of war.

[The_Eaglet]

I'm just getting a bit sick and tired of people willing to abandon American national security during time of war.

Me too. President Bush needs to stop giving illegal aliens a free ticket to bypass immigration procedures.

[Ahban]

Roy Moore as a Constitution Party candidate could very well be the next President of the United States. He does not have to win a majority of electoral votes. He only has to win one or two states to insure no candidate gets a majority of electoral votes. It then goes to Congress.

The Dems hate W and the GOP so much they would vote Roy Moore if their guy had no chance. Enough conservative Republicans are fed up that "to break the deadlock" they could go for it too.


If it happens, it will later prove to be a huge mistake for the Democrats, because the Constitition Party will be their philosophical opponents, the GOP right now is merely their philosophical rivals, offering the same ideas at a slightly slower pace.) That may explain the hatred for the GOP, they are both appealing to the same voter-buyoff mindset now.

[commish]

Roy Moore as a Constitution Party candidate could very well be the next President of the United States

ROFL!!!!! Please tell me you don't actually believe this.

I hate to break the bubble of all of you out there, but your great revolution of voters consists of you, a few more people around FR, and another few handfuls of people at other websites. Roy Moore would get at best 3-4% of the vote nationwide, and maybe 5-10% in a few select states (ones where that would be just enough to give the win to the Dems).

All that would do is insure that the party to destroy ALL vestiges of religion is in power.

[lasereye]

It's the Bushies who are the Kool Aid drinkers, blindly supporting a candidate who has given us virtually nothing, but has betrayed us on virtually every issue other than tax cuts and the war.

That's a lie. Bush has signed the partial birth abortion ban and appointed predominantly conservative judges.

[familyofman]

Well, I haven't ruled out my challege to Bush yet either.