When will Moore's monument be moved? (Who will replace Judge Moore?)

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[Happy2BMe]

When will Moore's monument be moved?

08/25/03By SALLIE OWEN and BILL BARROW
Capital Bureau

MONTGOMERY -- J. Gorman Houston Jr. will begin his first workday as Alabama's acting chief justice today armed with an attorney general's opinion granting him all the duties and authority given the chief justice.

Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended from office immediately after a judicial ethics panel filed charges against him Friday. Charges stem from Moore's refusal to obey a federal court order and remove his Ten Commandments monument from public areas of the Alabama Judicial Building. The suspension lasts until the case is resolved by the Court of the Judiciary.

Moore is expected to make a public statement on the matter today.

Houston said Sunday that in his new role as acting chief justice, he could individually order the building manager to move the monument, as the eight associate justices did together Thursday morning. He said he might issue a duplicate order but had not made a final decision.

Attorney General Bill Pryor issued the opinion Saturday, answering several questions Houston posed a day earlier to clarify his duties and responsibilities as acting chief justice.

The Alabama constitution states that judges shall be disqualified, or suspended, from "acting as a judge" while charges are pending with the Court of the Judiciary. State law specifies that, if the chief justice is "disabled" from carrying out his duties because of illness or other reason, the senior associate justice will assume those responsibilities.

Houston has served as an associate justice on Alabama's Supreme Court for nearly 18 years.

According to the opinion, Houston will also have hiring and firing authority over the administrative director of courts and all members of the chief justice's staff.

Houston said he would not make any personnel changes until after he meets with the associate justices, saying he wanted it to be a "democratic process."

Meanwhile, protesters covered the front portico of the judicial building and dotted downtown street corners for the fifth consecutive day. Temperatures reached 95 degrees in Montgomery, according to the National Weather Service, with a heat index in the triple digits.

The sermons, prayers and hymns of Moore's supporters carried on throughout the day, with a two-hour worship service in the morning, an afternoon prayer service and an evening rally.

Between 500 and 1,000 demonstrators crowded around the building listening to the evening speeches when someone noticed a young man perched on a third-story ledge of the judicial building. The rally went on as planned as Montgomery police and area rescue officials tried to talk the man, who did not appear to be threatening to jump, into coming down.

Protest organizers said the man, who had been around for a few days, largely had kept to himself throughout the weekend. Some said they only knew him by the name "Greg" and had no other information.

Organizer Troy Newman of Operation Rescue called for additional people to camp out over night at the judicial building because "something very critical could happen to the monument tomorrow morning."

No information on plans to move the monument was available from state officials. Moore supporters are expected to file a counter suit in a Mobile federal court today seeking to prevent anyone from moving the 5,300-pound chunk of granite.

The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, head of the Christian Defense Coalition, said the suit will name Alabama's eight remaining Supreme Court justices as defendants.

Mahoney informally addressed Moore supporters during the late afternoon, explaining to them the group's plan to block symbolically any effort to remove the monument. He told protesters "to kneel side-by-side in Christian love" to block authorities or heavy equipment from entering the building to remove the stone.

"But do not lock arms" or resist arrest, he said, before repeating, "Do not, do not lock arms." Mahoney told the group that protest leaders have discussed their civil disobedience procedures with law enforcement personnel. "When a policeman tells you to get up, get up."

Moore's supporters have attracted counter-protesters of their own. Bob Kunst arrived in Montgomery late last week after a 12-hour trip Miami Beach, Fla. A practicing Jew, Kunst said he opposes government displays of religion and wants to highlight that there are people of faith who disagree with Moore's manner of acknowledging the Almighty.

"God doesn't need symbolism. God is God," Kunst said, standing on the corner of Dexter Avenue and McDonough Street.

Kunst held a sign reading, "Sodomites For The Separation of Church and State," a dig at some Moore supporters who have hurled insults at him in recent days. Most of the protesters, however, have been friendly, Kunst said.

Across from Kunst, a small band of Moore supporters displayed a sign of their own: "The wicked shall be turned into Hell."

Also on Sunday, Larry Darby, director of American Atheists' Alabama chapter, announced plans to hold a rally Monday for supporters of separation of church and state. Darby said the event would take place across the street from the judicial building at 11 a.m.

[sinkspur]

if he is, that ought to ask for their money back. Sinky couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, as we say Downunder. Cheers, By

Byron, it is almost a rule around this place that if you mention someone in a post, you ping them to defend themselves.

Otherwise, the post is an example of gutless cowardice.

Are you a gutless coward, Byron? A RUDE, gutless coward?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Byron, it is almost a rule around this place that if you mention someone in a post, you ping them to defend themselves...

Sorry, Sinky. I figured that you're trolling every Moore thread, excitedly looking for references to yourself.

Isn't that why you picked this up so quickly?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..but Byron, weren't you the one touting Moore's military record, praising him glowingly?...

No. I just said, it fits in with his record of service.

There's a big difference in saying that, and saying 'I knew some people who died in Vietnam, so that gives my argument some credibility.' Wake up to yourself.

[sinkspur]

If you don't ping me, you don't ping others.

It's rude to not ping, Byron, and you know it.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Your effete viewpoint"

My "effete" viewpoint...

I grew up in a country were I could not have a point of view of my own, because of people similar to you...people who would not allow for differences in viewpoints, and who would use tactics just like you use.

Your betters tried to shut me and my family up, and eventually, they had to let us leave. I'm here now, and you don't have what it takes to shut me up, things like what you posted, simply reflect back on you.

Let's discuss your stance on this issue. It's not about Christianity, because you certainly do not behave like a Christian as your post clearly shows, and it's not based on a deeply-seeded belief in what the Ten Commandments mean, because if it was, you would be revolted at the usage of the living Word of God to gain a political advantage.

One last thing, I don't see you away from this computer, on the road to Montgomery to do whatever it takes to stop this monument from being brought down, I see you in this forum, night after night, pounding away on a keyboard, just like I do.

How does that make you part part and parcel of getting anything done any more than me?

[Catspaw]

Well, gee, my high school freshman biology labmate graduated from West Point, but I'll always remember him as the guy with serious zits, had bad breath and was afraid to dissect, much less touch, the frog, so I did it. And my uncle retired after his 20 as a full colonel.

So, see, By, neither his education nor his rank impresses me, and neither does his tour in Nam. Hundreds of thousands of US soldiers did that, some very heroically, and some making the ultimate sacrifice. They don't need to have their shills repeatedly use that as an example of, well, something.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..it's rude to not ping, Byron, and you know it...

What a rogue you are, Sinky.

You sit here hour after hour, day after day. You make thousands of posts, slandering Judge Moore in the vilest manner. You insult FR's Christian community. You undercut and backstab our Freeper compatriots who are demonstrating in support, at the courthouse.

And then you start whimpering about rudeness, and codes of conduct?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...I grew up in a country were I could not have a point of view of my own, because of people similar to you...

...and you are now in a country where the liberals are trying to enact the same censorship.

Don't you think it's time to take the chip off your shoulder, and get on board with our fight? Where are you and yours going to go, when the liberals turn America into the same kind of country you fled from?

[Luis Gonzalez]

That would then make you the Liberal Byron, you are the one trying to brow beat me out of my constitutional right to free speech, and free thought.

I don't get on board with anyone's fight, I make up my own mind. I don't need the socialist collective declaring what side of a fight I must join.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..let's discuss your stance on this issue. It's not about Christianity, because you certainly do not behave like a Christian as your post clearly shows...

Christ was no wimp, Luis. The Christ I love and adore had a temper on him- as the money changers in the Temple would have acknowledged. Nevertheless, I know how much anti-Christians depend on the 'turn the other cheek' factor, from those they want to torment. Maybe it'll work, with someone else in your sights?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...start pinging, as the rest of us do...

Y'know one of the most unpleasant aspects of your online persona, bud?

You can dish it out, but you can't take it.

[185JHP]

Think Roy's familiar with these words: "The flames will not harm thee! I only design, thy dross to remove, and thy gold to refine!"???

[sinkspur]

You can dish it out, but you can't take it.

LOL!!!

We've both been here five years, Byron.

We can BOTH take it, or we would be on LibertyPost or some place else.

You're Ned-in-the-first-reader compared to Arator and some of the old Buchananoids.

Take your best shot, Byron. I've got a pretty thick hide.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...I don't get on board with anyone's fight, I make up my own mind...

I know your kind well, Luis. I've dealt with people like you in countless political endeavours.

You're too up yourself to be part of the team. You're an elitist, who believes there's something peasantish and distasteful, about the hopes and dreams of Joe and Jane Sixpack. But most of all you crave attention, and that craving is antipathetic to anything involving a collective effort. That's why you're always on the outside looking in, as you are with this Moore issue.

Now, I don't care. FR has always been infested with those who are here for no greater reason than to drag the spotlight onto themselves. I don't buy into your little games, I usually just laugh to myself, and move on. But when you and your mates start ripping the motives of good people, like the Freepers who are at the courthouse supporting Judge Moore, that is a whole new ballgame altogether.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...we can BOTH take it, or we would be on LibertyPost or some place else...

Right.

So let's can the pretence about 'rudeness', okay?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"You're too up yourself to be part of the team."

I am part of a team, I am an American, and this country was built on individual rights, not collectivism, I stand as an individual in America's team.

"You're an elitist, who believes there's something peasantish and distasteful, about the hopes and dreams of Joe and Jane Sixpack."

I am Joe Sixpack, and I've taken to the streets with other Joe Sixpacks in suipport of my beliefs...you know, those non-collectivist ideas that I dare have. You see, your definition of an elitist seems to be anyone who does not think exactly as you think.

"But when you and your mates start ripping the motives of good people, like the Freepers who are at the courthouse supporting Judge Moore, that is a whole new ballgame altogether."

Something I've never done, but you are not truly interested in accuracy when dragging someone through the mud, are you Byron?

[Luis Gonzalez]

You think yourself Christ now?

[TheBattman]

You must not have read the ballance of my post.

What does the following tell you about the INTENT and GOALS behind the founding father's addition of the First Amendment regarding religion?

Madison's original proposal for a bill of rights provision concerning religion read: ''The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretence, infringed.'' The language was altered in the House to read: ''Congress shall make no law establishing religion, or to prevent the free exercise thereof, or to infringe the rights of conscience.'' In the Senate, the section adopted read: ''Congress shall make no law establishing articles of faith, or a mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion, . . .'' It was in the conference committee of the two bodies, chaired by Madison, that the present language was written with its some what more indefinite ''respecting'' phraseology. Madison's position, as well as that of Jefferson who influenced him, is fairly clear.

[Torie]

Yikes. Why don't we start a debate about whether Christ was more of an estrogen or testosterone kind of guy? Why not? Maybe I am Christ in a Neocon body and just don't know it. Anything is possible you know.