Posted on 04/19/2005 8:37:21 PM PDT by kingattax
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay intensified his criticism of the federal courts on Tuesday, singling out Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's work from the bench as "incredibly outrageous" because he has relied on international law and done research on the Internet.
DeLay said he thought there were a "lot of Republican-appointed judges that are judicial activists."
The No. 2 Republican in the House has openly criticized the federal courts since they refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And he pointed to Kennedy as an example of Republican members of the Supreme Court who were activist and isolated.
"Absolutely. We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States? That's just outrageous," DeLay told Fox News Radio. "And not only that, but he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet? That is just incredibly outrageous."
A spokeswoman for the court, Kathy Arberg, said Kennedy could not be reached for comment.
Although Kennedy was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Reagan, a conservative icon, he has aroused conservatives' ire by sometimes agreeing with the court's more liberal members. Nevertheless, it is unusual for a congressional leader to single out a Supreme Court justice for criticism.
Dan Allen, a DeLay spokesman, declined comment on the interview.
DeLay himself has been criticized for his comments following Schiavo's death, which came despite Congress' passage of a law giving the federal courts jurisdiction to review her case. They declined to intervene.
"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior," DeLay said in a statement.
He apologized last week, saying he had spoken in an "inartful" way.
Conservatives have been pushing to get the Senate to confirm President Bush's most conservative judicial nominees, which Senate Democrats are blocking. The House has no power over which judges are given lifetime appointments to the federal bench.
However, DeLay has called repeatedly for the House to find a way to hold the federal judiciary accountable for its decisions. "The judiciary has become so activist and so isolated from the American people that it's our job to do that," DeLay said.
One way would be for the House Judiciary Committee to investigate the clause in the Constitution that says "judges can serve as long as they serve with good behavior," he said. "We want to define what good behavior means. And that's where you have to start."
youre welcome :)
....or who are afraid to take a principled stand or have no core beliefs (like "Mr Nuance", F'n Kerry, for example)
Rounding up votes and money inside the inner sanctum is not the same as influencing public opinion. Delay does influence public opinion, actually. Too bad it is negatively to causes which we both endorse. DeLay should not be seen or heard in public.
Go get them Tom. You are our voice.
Sure. Why not? The Left keeps repeating the same behaviors and expecting different results. Soros' Olde Media production of Get Bush flopped in 2004 as did his most recent production of Get DeLay. Dean continues to tout conservatives as intrinsically evil while Lakoff searches for silver bullet euphemisms. The Left remains in denial.
Done.
actually I'd prefer him at the other end of Penn Ave.
Their plan requires a fire-eater like DeLay. DeLay will thoughtfully give them one, and once again, we'll all learn that no matter how rigid their plan is, the Stupid Party can be counted on to set them up from time to time.
He could damn sure win in the South. He thinks just like we do.
I am very troubled with Bush on some domestic issues.
However his WOT has been not too shabby.
He deserves credit for that....and support.
Unfortunately, I fear his domestic legacy will be mixed at best.
....unless he make some great SCOTUS nominations to offset other missed opportunities.
Done. Thanks for the link.
He may not win his home district in Sugar Land next year.
see # 2 .......thanks
I'm saving that kernel Sink....DeLay loses Sugarland...lol
He could win primaries in Miss., Alabama, or South Carolina.
I take it he's not your cup of tea.
Dear Congressman Delay:
As a rather young Republican (the ripe old age of 24 to be exact) I'm quite honored that you are the Majority Leader. If someone of your caliber were my Representative or Senator I would be honored. In fact, you can tell that to the lecherous, socialist Democrats along the Beltway that I said so. For that matter, tell the feckless memebers of our own party the same.
Thank you for your service to ordinary Americans, sir.
Oh, I like him just fine, except when he decides he needs to turn himself into Newt Gingrich with a campaign against federal judges.
It's a loser of an issue.
LOL...thats a fantastic letter
Thanks. I'm a rather intense fellow. Check out the pic on my profile. :)
dont wear that in Tijuana..lol
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