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9TH CIRCUIT COURT: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Fox News ^

Posted on 06/26/2002 11:25:21 AM PDT by Recovering_Democrat

UNBELIEVABLE. BREAKING ON FOX: SF APPEALS COURT SAYS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ENDORSES RELIGION, AND IS THEREBY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.


TOPICS: Announcements; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Alaska; US: Arizona; US: California; US: Hawaii; US: Idaho; US: Montana; US: Nevada; US: Oregon; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 9thcircuitcourt; michaeldobbs; pledgeofallegiance; unconstitutional
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To: Recovering_Democrat; Phaedrus
The Ninth Circuit must be stacked with ideologues. I mean, what part of the First Amendment's restraint on the federal government -- that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" -- does it not understand?

[Of course, they've got an "out" here: They may wish to believe that the restraint pertains only to Congress, not to the Judiciary. But that would make hash of the entire Bill of Rights....]

Of course, the decision will certainly be appealed. (Well, I hope so at least....) But I'm beginning to wonder what the Supremes would do. In some of their recent decisions, the justices seem to have elucidated a theory that the courts should take into effect changes in public sentiment in making their rulings. As in "increasingly the public dislikes the death penalty." Therefore, the justices must accommodate death-penalty law to "changing popular sentiments" as they interpret them.

But this is nutz. What does a "rule of law" mean under a set of circumstances like that? And doesn't this "legal theory" moot Article V of the Constitution? If the public "doesn't like something," it should seek to amend the Constitution -- vox populi -- not permit judges to substitute their own judgment about "what the people want." Usually all a judge will do is insert what it is he wants into the law, then say he's "speaking for the (hypothetical) people." Hey, we've got legislators to do that for us. But, unlike judges, they are accountable directly to us, and we can remove them from office if we don't like what they do.

The courts -- especially the SCOTUS -- have only one job: To apply existing constitutional law, not make up new constitutional law. What we have here is yet another case of judicial tyranny. JMHO FWIW. Thanks for the "bad news," Recovering_Democrat. best, bb.

621 posted on 06/26/2002 1:01:45 PM PDT by betty boop
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To: apackof2
Just waiting for someone to sue President Bush for saying, 'God bless America'.
622 posted on 06/26/2002 1:01:54 PM PDT by rintense
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To: ppaul
Thanks. My thoughts completely. I was speechless (and therefore went to FR to get it out) when I came across their site and saw that the very logo of this court with it's atheistic ruling, shows the TEN COMMANDMENTS. Someone should as the Judge if they are going to redesign that, too.
623 posted on 06/26/2002 1:01:58 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
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To: RonF
A witness who wishes need not say "So help me, God", if their religious beliefs (or lack therof) forbid them from doing so.

Hell, this moronic doctor would prevent anyone from saying that within a courtroom, if he had his way...

624 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:26 PM PDT by mhking
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To: JulieRNR21
these PC judicial wackos are trying to destroy the very foundations of our nation.

I think you have a firm grasp on their real intentions.

625 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:28 PM PDT by itsahoot
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To: watchin
Also an argument from the consequences, but logical fallacies aren't really important when you're just going on emotion.
626 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:28 PM PDT by Dimensio
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To: da_toolman
See post 609
627 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:30 PM PDT by phasma proeliator
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To: Wild Irish Rogue
You're right. It's like standing against the Boy Scouts and motherhood. Who would do such a thing? LIBERALS HATE MOTHERHOOD AND THE BOYSCOUTS and now, the pledge.
628 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:31 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: iguanaman
Nope.

And it is tradition to lynch hoss theives, cattle rustlers, bank robbers and assorted other bad guys and a**holes.

I think this crowd fits one of the above descriptions. : )
629 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:38 PM PDT by BADJOE
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To: Viva Le Dissention
"I'll take my small view of the world and continue on. I like it a lot better than having my "eyes open," like you."

If you are going to play in this league, better get some padding in your glove.

630 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:45 PM PDT by billhilly
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To: betty boop
Of course, the decision will certainly be appealed. (Well, I hope so at least....) But I'm beginning to wonder what the Supremes would do

It was remanded back to lower court. No appeal. No supremes

631 posted on 06/26/2002 1:02:56 PM PDT by gdani
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To: an amused spectator
So, you're telling me this guy is almost 80 years old?
632 posted on 06/26/2002 1:03:26 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: rwt60
Sean Hannity has been saying for a while that it's only a matter of time before "In God We Trust" is removed from our money.

Carolyn

633 posted on 06/26/2002 1:03:29 PM PDT by CDHart
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To: bonesmccoy; Howlin
Do I have the right number? Was that 415-556-9800 ?

Let me check ...

1-415-556-9800
Judge Goodwin

Yep that would be the phone Number

> Hey Howlin .. what the number for Congress???

634 posted on 06/26/2002 1:03:40 PM PDT by Mo1
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To: PhiKapMom
There is no separation of church and state language in the constitution. That is the big liberal lie when they have a special interest group with deep pockets. "We are endowed by our Creator..." where is that from? That's going to be censored next, after they re-print the money.

I believe religious persecution is why they came over on the Mayflower but they obviously wasted their time.

This is religious persecution and denying rights to all children and their parents. What happened to civics and pride in country? This makes an argument for school choice. Ashamed the guy was from Broward County, FL and moved to San Fran. At least he left Florida. I'd hate for him to take the Pledge away from us, the jerk. I will be phoning all Florida representatives, pubbies and dems. I THINK THAT JUDGE GOODWIN MUST BE ON IN YEARS IF NIXON APPOINTED HIM. Nothing against seniors, I'll be one eventually, but maybe he should retire. J. Goodwin was parsing words faster than Martha Stewart can make a salad.

635 posted on 06/26/2002 1:03:47 PM PDT by floriduh voter
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To: Recovering_Democrat
I can't wait for Senator Hillary Rodham Clintons reaction to this.What do you think of THIS Shrillary?
636 posted on 06/26/2002 1:03:55 PM PDT by Pagey
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To: Recovering_Democrat
This guy Newdow has a serious hair across his ass.

(in case it hasn't been posted before)

From a google search:

link

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/2882530p-3704157c.html

Atheist loses bid to halt Bush's faith references
By Denny Walsh -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Saturday, May 25, 2002
A Sacramento atheist's legal attempt to make President Bush stop mixing politics and his Christian faith has been tossed out of federal court.

U. S. Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows recommended in March that the lawsuit be dismissed, finding that the courts have no authority to restrain a president from acting in a particular fashion. U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton adopted the finding and recommendation this week.

Dr. Michael A. Newdow, an emergency room physician with a law degree who is acting as his own attorney, could not be reached for comment Friday. However, he vowed last year to appeal a related ruling. He built his lawsuit against Bush around a prayer delivered at the 2000 inauguration by the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, that was based on Christian beliefs and referenced "the Lord Jesus Christ." Newdow, 49, complained that permitting any prayer at a presidential inauguration violated the First Amendment's establishment clause. And, he said, Graham's references to Christian figures and concepts "further excluded theistic non-Christians" and "showed a preference for a particular religious belief." The prayer made him feel like an "outsider," he added. He did not seek monetary damages but asked the court to enjoin Bush from drawing Christianity into his duties in the future.

Initially, Hollows found that prayers at inaugurals are historical, commonplace and not constitutionally offensive. At the magistrate's recommendation, Karlton dismissed that part of the complaint. However, Hollows and Karlton reserved judgment on the prayer-specific issue until both sides could fully brief it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Sudhoff Door argued that courts lack authority to meddle in the internal affairs of other government branches. She cited an 1866 U.S. Supreme Court opinion that neither the legislative nor executive branches can be restrained by the judicial branch.

The magistrate agreed with Door. Moreover, he said, Newdow lacks standing "because of the speculative and impractical nature of the relief sought." It is impossible to foresee the identity of future inaugural speakers and the nature of their remarks, Hollows noted. In a last-ditch effort to salvage the suit, Newdow sought to add as a defendant Sen. Mitch McConnell, chairman of the congressional committee in charge of the 2000 inaugural. At a hearing before the magistrate, Newdow suggested the committee could be ordered to ban clergy from the guest list or not let them speak. Hollows nixed that idea as "clearly an invalid order from a First Amendment standpoint."


637 posted on 06/26/2002 1:04:22 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost
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To: CDHart
Sean Hannity has been saying for a while that it's only a matter of time before "In God We Trust" is removed from our money

It's been litigated. It lost.

638 posted on 06/26/2002 1:04:22 PM PDT by gdani
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To: bonesmccoy; Mo1
Do I have the right number? Was that 415-556-9800 ?

I do believe that it indeed was!

415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800
415-556-9800

639 posted on 06/26/2002 1:04:24 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: floriduh voter
I despise these headline seeking/ ego tripping/ atheist trouble makers who seek to demoralize the people of the United States. I hope they go to h**l.

If you are an atheist who does good in life and doesn't attack those who belive in G_D, then I have no beef with you.

640 posted on 06/26/2002 1:04:27 PM PDT by dennisw
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