Mileposts on the road to societal ruin

fort worth star telegram ^ | 8/10/03 | molly ivins

[BerniesFriend]

Posted on Sun, Aug. 10, 2003

Mileposts on the road to societal ruin By Molly Ivins Creators Syndicate

Star-Telegram

Molly Ivins

CAMDEN, Maine - Let us stop to observe a few mileposts on the downward path to the utter degradation of political discourse in this country.

A recent newspaper advertising campaign by "independent" groups supporting President Bush shows a closed courtroom door with the sign "Catholics Need Not Apply" hanging on it. The ad argues that William Pryor Jr., attorney general of Alabama and a right-wing, anti-abortion nominee to the federal appeals court, is under attack for his "deeply held" Catholic beliefs.

Actually, Pryor is under attack because he's a hopeless dipstick. That he also happens to be Catholic and anti-abortion has nothing to do with his unfitness for the federal bench.

The only person I know who believes that one's closely held religious and moral convictions should make one ineligible for the federal bench is Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Scalia argued last year that any judge who is opposed to the death penalty should resign, on account of it is the law.

By that reasoning, any judge who is opposed to abortion out of deep moral conviction should also resign. Even though that would include Scalia's resignation (an eventuation devoutly to be wished, in my opinion), I think he's wrong.

Pryor has said that Roe vs. Wade "ripped the Constitution and ripped out the life of millions of unborn children." Hey, there's objectivity for you.

His record on civil rights, states' rights and gay rights is equally ideological. He has a record of incendiary comments that certainly bring into question his "judicial temperament."

When the Supreme Court delayed an execution in Alabama, Pryor called its members "nine octogenarian lawyers." He once prayed for "no more Souters," a reference to Justice David Souter.

The New York Times observed, "He has turned the Alabama attorney general's office into a taxpayer-financed right-wing law firm." He has argued against a key part of the Voting Rights Act and was the only state attorney general to argue against the Violence Against Women Act.

Who cares if he's Catholic? He'd be a disgrace on the bench if he were a Buddhist.

Moving right on down the road to complete ideological madness, we now have the House Judiciary Committee threatening to investigate the sentencing records of every federal judge in the country for suspected "political" bias. All this stems from the matter of James Rosenbaum, chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Minnesota, who thinks sentencing guidelines for low-level drug dealers are too harsh.

Is there anyone who doesn't think so? Even the Texas Legislature, that model of 19th-century thinking, has decided we should provide treatment for first-time small drug offenders rather than locking them up for years. Locking them up is getting to be a very expensive proposition in our very broke state, but surely that had nothing to do with the decision.

After Rosenbaum's testimony, the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, prepared to subpoena Rosenbaum's records to see if he had imposed any "unlawfully lenient sentences." In fact, he had, giving one guy four years (nine months below the guidelines) and another a month less than the minimum recommended.

The sentencing guidelines are the consequence of a 1984 crime law, passed at the height of the drug hysteria, that took effect in 1987. Victoria Toensing, Rosenbaum's lawyer, said: "I was present at the creation of those guidelines. May God forgive me for ever supporting them." Amen.

Look, these sentencing guidelines are awful. Everybody knows they're awful, so now anyone who stands up and says so gets subpoenaed? Do you realize how banana-republic this is?

Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, one of the many ornaments we have exported to Washington, claims that the seven-member Sentencing Commission is "systematically trying to lessen the drug penalties." I should hope so. If showing evidence of elementary common sense is grounds for a subpoena, stick a fork in us, we're done.

The "Watch on the Rhine" quality of our public life these days deserves serious attention. As one who studies the small, buried stories on the back pages of major newspapers, I am becoming increasingly uneasy.

This is more than just "Boy, do their policies stink." There's a creepy advance of something more menacing than bad policies.

I keep thinking of Benito Mussolini's definition of fascism: "Fascism should more properly be called 'corporatism,' since it is the marriage of government and corporate power." When was the last time we saw this administration do something that involved standing up to some corporate special interest in favor of the great majority of the people?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Molly Ivins writes for Creators Syndicate. 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045

[BerniesFriend]

I searched for this hateful piece..didn't find it..if I am wrong I will apologize..what turned my stomach was the drunk was complaining about hate..while calling the nominee a "dipstick"..can't you feel the love..

[I still care]

"I keep thinking of Benito Mussolini's definition of fascism: "Fascism should more properly be called 'corporatism,' since it is the marriage of government and corporate power." - Mussolini

Earth to Molly Ivans - this is propaganda at work.

When government takes over corporations, this does not empower the corporation. Business LOSES power, and that is a form of socialism.

Facism is just socialism in a uniform.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Ah, Molly Ivins. Not a functioning brain cell in that outsized cranium of hers. Her hardening liver still generates a lot of bile, though.

[WOSG]

Let us stop to observe a few mileposts on the downward path to the utter degradation of political discourse in this country.

Molly, *every* column you write should have this at the top --- as a warning label.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[texasbluebell]

I read an anecdote here on FR a couple of years ago. It seems ol' drunken Molly was cursing up a blue streak (as is her wont apparently) in the presence of GW Bush.

He looked at her and said, Molly, you've come a long way from Smith (her alma mater).

Not surprising that's she's got it in for the Pres.

[BerniesFriend]

Actually molly lost it when President Bush beat her bud and "rising star" ann richards in 94..she had vp and presidential star written all over her..but thankfully President Bush ended her career once and for all..and I really don't think it was because of "Poor George..he was born with a silver foot in his mouth" remark..ann was only elected because her opponent was an incredible boob..and she barely beat him..President Bush..a class act..kicked her you know what..

[Ford Fairlane]

Scalia argued last year that any judge who is opposed to the death penalty should resign, on account of it is the law.

By that reasoning, any judge who is opposed to abortion out of deep moral conviction should also resign

This is a flawed argument - row v wade is not law, it was a flawed decision by an activist court - there is a big difference

[WOSG]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/contact_us/feedback_np1/


I sent my retort to this link!!! Have at 'er!

[UNGN]

"read later"

You are a better man than me. I take the startlegram and can make it through a couple sentences of Ivins ramblings before I roll my eyes, audible "Oh, shut your pie hole" and turn the page.

I still don't know why I take that crappy paper. If I had a bird or a puppy, at least I'd have a good reason.

[Cold Heat]

As long as she is pissed, we are winning!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"He has a record of incendiary..."

Ever heard of freedom of speech?

[The Iguana]

Who cares if he's Catholic? He'd be a disgrace on the bench if he were a Buddhist.

Translation: I really, really disagree with him.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"He has argued against a key part of the Voting Rights Act and was the only state attorney general to argue against the Violence Against Women Act."

That is exactly why he should be lauded and confirmed. He is so devoted to the Constitution and individual rights that he will defend both at the peril of ending his government career. He is absolutely inspiring in his conviction.

After watching his confirmation hearing, during which he took the fight to Chucky and Leahy, I will always respect this man.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"He'd be a disgrace on the bench if he were a Buddhist."

Convenient that she brings up Buddhists, a minute part of the population who would never raise an issue about being used like this.

Why didn't she use another major religious group, or an atheist?

"He'd be a disgrace on the bench if he were a Jew."


"He'd be a disgrace on the bench if he were an atheist."

[John Valentine]

Molly Ivins would be a disgrace to the Human Race even if she wre a woman.

[John Valentine]

And socialisnm is still nothing more than the notion that democracy can justify theft.

[John Valentine]

The point is that isn't any practical difference between the two.

Both are statist monoplies on power that demean human dignaty, suppress religion, demean and denigrate individual autonomy, stifle creativity, destroy initiative, enslave and murder opponents, ruin economies, and create parasitic elites.

It is no accident that the archtypical Facist party was known as "National SOCIALISM" (Nazi).

[Brian Allen]

<< .... Scalia argued last year that any judge who is opposed to the death penalty should resign, on account of it is the law.

By that reasoning, any judge who is opposed to abortion out of deep moral conviction should also resign. >>

Not by "that reasoning," milly ovins.

Only by your lack of any sign of any reasoning ability!

The "right" to deny Life to the scores of millions of Americans murdered by you and the others of evil's manifestation that collectively comprise the Multi-Billion Dollar abortoir industry and its baby-parts-and-other-byproducts packing plants and retail-butcher shops, exists only in the psychopathologically-delusional black holes that serve as "minds" and as the content of character and for "morals" for the likes of you, Milly -- and of the other Harry Blackmun/Josef Mengele-esque morons who first fantasized it.

And within that context it is every mass-murdering pro-abortion "judge" who should resign -- AND be impeached -- on the grounds he has no understanding of America's Founding Law and essential Constitutional Republicanism -- one of whose three legs is enshrined in Our Nation's Declaration of Independence as the God-Given and therefore inalienable Right to Life!

Only bright spot on Our Nation's horizon insofar as you and yours are concerned, Milly, is in the light of the flames that will forever consume you all in Hell!