'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."

[WhiteGuy]

"the owner of this website has made it clear that this website will not support anyone who would work to get a Democrat in the White House."

Since you speak for Mr. Robinson, please address the position of the website regarding those who will NOT work to put a democrat in the WH, but WILL work to elect a conservative who is not gwb.

[TBP]

No Child Left Behind is Teddy Kennedy's education bill. There is no Federal role in education according to the Constitution, and Federal money brings Federal control. The least they could have done was include some vouchers and tax credits and other school choice provisions, but that got stripped at the request of the Dimmycraps.

Bush went along with the unconstitutional campaign fianace bill that the liberals wanted, which makes it illegal to criticize a Federal candidate 60 days before an election.

He supported a massive, bloated farm bill, then supplemented it with an insurance bill for the farmers.

He supported steel tarrifs.

His amnesty by another name is a liberal plan that will encourage illegal immigration.

He apologized to the Chinese after they shot down our airplane.

On issue after issue, Bush has advanced the liberal cause. That is why we have a bloated $2.4 trillion budget with a deficit of over $500 billion.

[lasereye]

He has advanced or attempted to advance the conservative cause on a slew of issues, like abortion, EPA reforms, expanded domestic energy drilling. The education bill was passed when the Dems controlled the Senate. It was either that or nothing. You might prefer he had chosen nothing, but he made a campaign promise to do more on education and felt he had to get something passed. I'm not crazy about a number of things he's done, but the Senate as presently constituted limits him.

In any event, his judges have been overwhelmingly conservative, which is one of a President's legacies that lives on long after he's no longer in office. That in itself is reason enough to reelect him, unless you want a Supreme Court ruling a few years from now that the constitution mandates allowing gay marriages.

[kegler4]

"I especially like #3. That would show everyone that Bush is serious about getting great judges on the SCOTUS and undoing the damage of earlier Supreme Courts (including the current one)."

Moore is a great judge because he illegally erected a monument and then lost his job when he refused to take it down? What a laugh.

[mabelkitty]

I can't stomach another 8 years of a Dem President, thank you.

I'll stick to voting rebellious in House and Senate races, in addition to local races, but I draw the line at the Presidency - it's too irresponsible.

[mabelkitty]

Kinda like another "revered" Southern Christian Man - Jimmah Carter.

[mabelkitty]

Is your name Todd?

[lioness]

I agree. Personally, I consider Judge Moore to be the only real "hero" I've seen in years. Except for our poor boys dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, of course. Moore has taken a stand that many of us need to - to stand up for right and the laws of the Ten Commandments. Instead of wasting our time trying to fight this government to keep the Ten Commandments posted in our lawmaking houses, why not post them in our private businesses and our yards? Then at least they are visible, unless the anti-Commandments movers want to make that illegal. We could start a movement.

[lioness]

I agree. Moore stood his ground for the right, and was declared a "bad judge?" It's enough to make you sick, ain't it?

[tubavil]

Imagine! A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN!

[TBP]

No; why?

[TBP]

Bush has taken conservative positions on very few issues and liberal positions on most of them. If a Democraat tried to do what Bush is doing, the Republican in Congress would oppose most of it. But when a Republican does it, we have to support our President.

Sorry, it doesn't wash.

[southland]

I am from Alabama and see that RoyMoore has broad support racial lines as well as Rebublicans and Democrats.
It would be extremely interesting if he were to enter the race. I would support him because of his moral stand.

[southland]

I like your viewpoint on our Judge Moore who was removed from office after we strongly elected him. I believe he would get 70- 75% of Alabama votes for anything he chooses to run for.

[The_Eaglet]

How to Achieve Real Campaign Finance Reform-Daily Campaign Finance Reform Thread - Day 55

[Consort]

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.

The Dems stabbed him in the back and too many Conservatives drove a stake through his heart....and we all lost, bigtime. And you're suggesting a repeat?

[lasereye]

Bush has taken conservative positions on very few issues and liberal positions on most of them. If a Democraat tried to do what Bush is doing, the Republican in Congress would oppose most of it. But when a Republican does it, we have to support our President.

Sorry, it doesn't wash.

What doesn't wash, that judicial selections live on long after a President is gone and his nominees have been consevative? Maybe you don't like him personally at this point, but I have yet to see any of the angry anti-Bush people give an intelligent response to my point about the courts. They either pretend that doesn't exist, or make false statements about the situation.

One person on another thread assured me that the Dems actually supported all of his nominees because they were all moderates except the four they fillibustered. The Dems were holding up several dozen of his nominees for over a year in committee before the Republicans won back the Senate in 2002. When I asked him for a few examples of who these non-conservative nominees were he gave one person who made a non-conservative ruling on guns. He also assured me nobody would leave the Supreme Court in the next four years, including the 82 year old Stevens. I guess he has a crystal ball. Maybe you have some kind of equally delusional argument.