Stop Making Sense - (Taranto on Al Gore's new interpretation of Founders' original intent)

OPINION JOURNAL.COM ^ | APRIL 29, 2005 | JAMES TARANTO

[CHARLITE]

Stop Making Sense

Earlier this week, a once-prominent American politician weighed in on the questions of judicial appointees, the filibuster and religion in politics, and he made a lot of sense. Here's what he said:

We began as a nation with a clear formulation of the basic relationship between God, our rights as individuals, the government we created to secure those rights, and the prerequisites for any power exercised by our government.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident," our founders declared. "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. . . ."

But while our rights come from God, as our founders added, "governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed."

What's odd about this is that the speaker was Al Gore, and he doesn't actually believe any of this. Even so, it's nice of him to say it.

[CHARLITE]

From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2000, while Al Gore was campaigning for the presidency.

[Txsleuth]

But of course we all know that the Constitution is an evolving document given to twists and turns that just happen to coincide with the desires of certain judges and dems..../s

[Darkwolf]

Yes, but Gore meant it was okay as long as HE was in charge.

Which, let's be honest, shows how misguided some of this stuff is. Those calling for a "return to god" in government or whatever might want to consider someone not of their particular religion being in command of the government and talking that way. I'm not even talking a Muslim, for example, but, say, a Catholic. I'm often surprised at the level of anti-Catholic rhetoric here on FR.

[nothingnew]

Is Opinion Journal on the must excerpt list? Just asking.

FMCDH(BITS)

[votelife]

These are the Senators to call to help President Bush get a vote on his embattled judicial nominees:

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

Washington, DC: (202) 224-2235
Phoenix, AZ: (602) 952-2410

Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Washington, DC: (202) 224-2921
Providence, RI: (401) 453-5294

Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Washington, DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta, ME: (207) 622-8292

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Washington, DC: (202) 224-4224
Omaha, NE: (402) 758-8981

Senator John Warner (R-VA)

Washington, DC: (202) 224-2023
Roanoke, VA: (540) 857-2676

[secretagent]

Gore wants to expand federal welfare programs, laundering the theft through "faith based organizations".

[CHARLITE]

"Is Opinion Journal on the must excerpt list? Just asking."

Yes, it is...........and hello to Mary!