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Former Top Judge Says US Risks Edging Near To Dictatorship
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 3-13-2006 | Julian Borger

Posted on 03/12/2006 6:49:12 PM PST by blam

Former top judge says US risks edging near to dictatorship

· Sandra Day O'Connor warns of rightwing attacks
· Lawyers 'must speak up' to protect judiciary

Julian Borger in Washington
Monday March 13, 2006
The Guardian (UK)

Sandra Day O'Connor, a Republican-appointed judge who retired last month after 24 years on the supreme court, has said the US is in danger of edging towards dictatorship if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary.

In a strongly worded speech at Georgetown University, reported by National Public Radio and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, Ms O'Connor took aim at Republican leaders whose repeated denunciations of the courts for alleged liberal bias could, she said, be contributing to a climate of violence against judges.

Ms O'Connor, nominated by Ronald Reagan as the first woman supreme court justice, declared: "We must be ever-vigilant against those who would strong-arm the judiciary."

She pointed to autocracies in the developing world and former Communist countries as lessons on where interference with the judiciary might lead. "It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship, but we should avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings."

In her address to an audience of corporate lawyers on Thursday, Ms O'Connor singled out a warning to the judiciary issued last year by Tom DeLay, the former Republican leader in the House of Representatives, over a court ruling in a controversial "right to die" case.

After the decision last March that ordered a brain-dead woman in Florida, Terri Schiavo, removed from life support, Mr DeLay said: "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behaviour."

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dictatorship; edging; former; judge; near; oconnor; risks; sandradayoconnor; scotus; top; us
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To: blam

Wow, I believe in treating judges with respect, but she is way out of line with this. She cites a politician talking about impeachment of judges as a threat to the Constitution - she is too thin skinned to recognize that impeachment is a Constitutional action available to the Congress? She can't understand that politicians might talk about removing appointees they view as bad judges?


81 posted on 03/12/2006 7:33:48 PM PST by Williams
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To: blam
"It takes a lot of degeneration before a country falls into dictatorship"

"The Federal government is no longer one of limited and enumerated powers."... Justice Clarence Thomas

I think we've already fallen.
.
82 posted on 03/12/2006 7:34:07 PM PST by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
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To: blam
if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary......if the party's rightwingers continue to attack the judiciary",

You pathetic Liberal mess, the "rightwingers" are RISING UP against the JUDICIARY DICTATORSHIP OF UN-ELECTED ACTIVIST LAW-WRITERS, and you fail to grasp the Constitution being destroyed?

83 posted on 03/12/2006 7:34:39 PM PST by traditional1
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To: dalereed; Extremely Extreme Extremist; blam
There are only two things in the middle of the road, yellow stripes and dead skunks!

Doesn't look like a dead skunk to me.

84 posted on 03/12/2006 7:35:09 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: blam

Buh Bye Sandy, thank God my prayers were answered!!!


85 posted on 03/12/2006 7:36:05 PM PST by Atchafalaya (When you're there, that's the best!!)
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To: MNJohnnie
On Sandra Day O'Connor: ...snip...she is a practitioner of outcome-based jurisprudence.

In other words, she was a politician appointed to the bench (which was precisely the case).

86 posted on 03/12/2006 7:39:08 PM PST by n-tres-ted (Remember November!)
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To: blam
As John Riggins would say, "Loosen up Sandy babes."
87 posted on 03/12/2006 7:40:37 PM PST by Whispering Smith
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To: pollyannaish
How credible is the source's take on what she said?

It's the British liberal rag, The Guardian. It's a political liberal National Enquirer. I'm not going to get upset about it until I find out what she really said. This piece of trash regularly twists everything anyone says.

88 posted on 03/12/2006 7:40:53 PM PST by Elyse
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To: blam

Oh, FGS......I thought she wanted to retire to spend more time with her husband?

Do it already sandy!!!


89 posted on 03/12/2006 7:41:13 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bush-Bot;WaterBucket Brigader;and fan of defconw)
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To: CheyennePress

Thanks


90 posted on 03/12/2006 7:42:18 PM PST by OKIEDOC (There's nothing like hearing someone say thank you for your help.)
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To: n-tres-ted

I've just been told this is a Justic Scalia bon mot from one of his dissents. Was aimed at all the Leftist Justices, not just O'Conner. My respect for Scalia continually grows


91 posted on 03/12/2006 7:42:37 PM PST by MNJohnnie (Are you not entertained? Are you NOT entertained? Is this not what you came here for?)
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To: blam
Sandy why did you lie before you were appointed.I saw you on an interview and you were more impressed with your self and saw a few mis-steps.Tell us everything Sandyraw:)
92 posted on 03/12/2006 7:47:26 PM PST by fatima (Just say it if it is for love-have no regrets.)
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To: msnimje
now she wants to warn us about unbridled power in the Executive Branch?

Huh? Try reading the article.

93 posted on 03/12/2006 7:47:59 PM PST by Sandy
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To: blam

The lil blonde msut be in early stage Alzheimer's. The public reviles lawyers in general and judges in particular.

How she arrived at the inetellectual construct that Conservatives are likely to cause dictatorship is beyond reason.

Sandy! Hello Sandy - get your meds adjusted, STAT!


94 posted on 03/12/2006 7:49:26 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
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To: blam
Judge Says US Risks Edging Near To Dictatorship

Hyperbolic garbage; she said nothing of the sort.

95 posted on 03/12/2006 7:49:32 PM PST by Sandy
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To: Sandy

Uhm, sorry , we didn't mean it, Mrs O'! (May we call you Sandy?)


96 posted on 03/12/2006 7:52:05 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: Sandy

What did she mean Sandy?


97 posted on 03/12/2006 7:55:29 PM PST by fatima (Just say it if it is for love-have no regrets.)
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To: kcvl

Thanks a lot for the background information on Julian Borger.


98 posted on 03/12/2006 7:56:40 PM PST by PGalt
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To: Ursus arctos horribilis

"So much for the old bats centrist and moderate label, she was/is a flaming commie."

She was never bright and I do believe she hasn't the mental capacity to have firm convictions. Her favorite color is "Clear"!


99 posted on 03/12/2006 7:57:15 PM PST by lawdude (2006 Republican bumper sticker : Vote Republican: We are NOT democrats!)
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To: Revolting cat!
Uhm, sorry , we didn't mean it, Mrs O'!

ROFL.

100 posted on 03/12/2006 8:08:52 PM PST by Sandy
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