Gingrich’s anti-judicial tirade is an attack on liberty
As historian Newt Gingrich sees it, the American people are suffering “a fundamental assault on our liberties by the courts.” Unless we fight back against this “grotesquely dictatorial” judiciary, our nation is destined to slide toward “a secular, European sort of bureaucratic socialist society.”
More specifically, Gingrich argues that the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has proved itself to be “anti-American” and thus has forfeited its right to exist. Congress, he says, should simply pass a law to abolish the court altogether, false concerns about “separation of power” be damned.
Gingrich also proposes to haul a series of federal judges before Congress where they can be forced to defend unpopular decisions. As he explained in an appearance on “Face the Nation” Sunday, he would even empower federal marshals to arrest any judges who refused to heed congressional demands for testimony.
According to Gingrich, such steps would have been applauded by our founding fathers, who feared from the beginning that unelected judges would become a tyrannical ruling class. He and his aides lay out that theory, complete with its alleged historical underpinnings, in “Bringing the Courts Back Under the Constitution,” a 28-page white paper available at the Gingrich campaign website.
Those who take the time to read the paper will find that it is less the work of Newt’s inner historian than of Newt’s inner fascist. It represents a profound distortion of our nation’s history, the writings of our Founding Fathers and the basic core of the American philosophy of government. It is dishonest history.
Consider, for example, Gingrich’s underhanded, deceptive attempt to draft Alexander Hamilton as an supporter of his anti-judicial crusade. Using selected quotes from the Federalist Papers, Hamilton is depicted by Gingrich as a supporter of efforts to use the legislative and executive branches to rein in a tyrannical, overbearing judiciary.
That is a 180-degree reversal of Hamilton’s actual position. He saw the courts as vulnerable guarantors of freedom whose independence must be preserved at all costs against the likes of Gingrich.
In Federalist Papers #78, for example, Hamilton writes that the judiciary “is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power; that it can never attack with success either of the other two; and that all possible care is requisite to enable it to defend itself against their attacks.”
In other words, while Gingrich proposes to undermine judicial independence, Hamilton warns us to take “all possible care” to ensure that the judiciary is protected against such attacks.
The debate between Gingrich and Hamilton goes on and on.
Here’s Gingrich:
“A judicial branch that is largely unaccountable and not subject to meaningful checks and balances can — and does — routinely issue constitutional rulings that threaten individual liberties, compromise national security, undermine American culture, and ignore the consent of the governed.”
Here’s Hamilton:
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution…. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void.”
Gingrich denies that “the Constitution empowered the Supreme Court with final decision-making authority about the meaning of the Constitution.” Hamilton, in the excerpt cited above, explicitly says otherwise.
Gingrich proposes that judges must be kept in fear of their jobs through such steps as impeachment and the abolition of courts that offend public opinion. Hamilton warns that “from the natural feebleness of the judiciary, it is in continual jeopardy of being overpowered, awed, or influenced by its co-ordinate branches; and that as nothing can contribute so much to its firmness and independence as permanency in office, this quality may therefore be justly regarded as an indispensable ingredient in its constitution, and, in a great measure, as the citadel of the public justice and the public security.”
But here’s the crux of the issue. It is a commonplace within the conservative movement to point out that “we are not a democracy, we are a republic.” In plain terms, the saying makes no sense; a republic is a type of democracy, just as an orange is a type of fruit.
That said, the phrase does attempt to express a larger and fundamental truth. We are not a democracy in its purest form, in which the majority can outvote the minority on every issue without regard to individual freedom. We exist under a limited government, a government of laws not of men, where the power of the majority is constrained. “A republic, not a democracy” is intended as an endorsement of that principle.
As we’ve seen, however, the majority does not like to feel itself constrained. It gets frustrated when it is told that on matters of fundamental importance, such as religion and free speech, the viewpoint of the majority does not matter because, well, we’re a republic not a democracy and certain things are off limits to the majority. And it is usually the courts that have to deliver that unwelcome message to the majority.
As Hamilton wrote:
“Considerate men of every description ought to prize whatever will tend to beget or fortify that temper in the courts: as no man can be sure that he may not be tomorrow the victim of a spirit of injustice, by which he may be a gainer today. And every man must now feel, that the inevitable tendency of such a spirit is to sap the foundations of public and private confidence, and to introduce in its stead universal distrust and distress.”
That final sentence — ” … the inevitable tendency of such a spirit is to sap the foundations of public and private confidence, and to introduce in its stead universal distrust and distress” — seems directed across the centuries right at Gingrich.
– Jay Bookman
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927 comments Add your comment
Strawman
December 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
“Just letting YOU know that the court does make interpretations of the Constitution…… Just because an interpretation doesn’t meet your or my ideology doesn’t in itself make the ruling incorrect.”
Agreed. But not when new law is being established by the court (which is now the case). Really, do you think any of the founders would have envisioned or condoned the right to abort an unborn child as an inalienable right? Or would have said that the right to free speech meant, in part, the right to disrobe publicly? To call these derivations “interpretations” is less than amusing. Hey, if the majority of people want to be able to have abortions, let Congress create and pass a law to that effect. I will have nothing to say then.
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
Jm – “You liberals should give up because you have nothing of substance to say”
So tell the liberals. Unless 2 votes for Regan, 2 for Bush 1 and 1 for Bush II constitute a “liberal” then you definitely have the wrong guy.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
What’s worse? Biden sleeping during policy speeches or Obama sleeping through the 3am call?
Obama….
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 20th, 2011
3:11 pm
Matti – that’s why we luv ya
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
“Republicans work”
Yep, The GOP controlled house has scheduled themselves to work 109 days in 2012.
Darn near serfdom don’t ya’ know.
TaxPayer
December 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:09 pm
Butch
Seriously. Your lame attacks get worse by the day. You liberals should give up because you have nothing of substance to say
Jm declares as he poses in front of the mirror.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:13 pm
Butch. Who’d you vote for last time?
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:14 pm
Does his image actually appear in a mirror?
I didn’t think that type had a reflection.
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:14 pm
Jm – “Butch. Who’d you vote for last time?”
No one. Faced with a choice between McCain and Obama was like having the choice to be kicked in the face or the balls. I’ve sat out the last 2 elections for that very reason.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 20th, 2011
3:15 pm
Even the Senate repubs. don’t trust the Congress repubs. to keep their word.
How can anyone else?
Great job Boner, although I must admit I NEVER have trusted him after all those jobs suddenly appeared from the heavens after the tax cuts.
where are those jobs again BONER?
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:15 pm
“Obama sleeping thru the tree a.m. call…”
I saw the origins of that lame talking point a few minutes ago.
Good Lord Almighty.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
However it does not say if the phone calls were random nor does it give the party affilitation of those interviewed. So, I will take into account this survey is as relevant as asking everyone at my office if they prefer McDonalds burgers or Burger King burgers.
Quick question: What did their party affiliation matter to the accuracy of the survey?
AmVet
December 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
Jm, who’d you vote for last time?
(Huge guffaw and chortle…)
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:17 pm
Not that I should care much about what a supposed liberal who makes obscene use of tax loopholes says (Butch)
Keep asking for tax increases on everyone else while you hide your money
That’s the American way right butch?
Robber is the right persona for you. And you don’t have Newman’s charm.
Back to the issue at hand. Butch, anything substantive to say?
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:17 pm
So…Do ya’ think In January we will be talking about
Speaker Cantor?
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:18 pm
So a non voter comes to defend Obama. Ah the irony.
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:19 pm
Jm – “Back to the issue at hand. Butch, anything substantive to say?”
Yes, Congress needs to man up and start doing the job they were hired to do. The middle class is disappearing and they should take priority over anything and everything else. Without the middle class, we have no country. Period. As to my finances, I’m surprised at such “wealth envy” from a Rightwinger. What happened, did your bootstraps break?
Talking Head
December 20th, 2011
3:20 pm
“Quick question: What did their party affiliation matter to the accuracy of the survey?”
Seriously? If a majority of those surveyed were Republican, and the results showed favoritism towards the GOP wouldn’t that be a biased survey? Obviously for this survey I am questioning whether or not a majority of those surveyed identify themsleves as Democrats.
Paul
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
Granny Godzilla
HEY!
Stop dissin’ Team Edward, ‘k?
(not that he’s on the team or anything, but still…)(
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
Amvet. I voted for Obama. But given a better choice I won’t be voting for O
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
Jm – “So a non voter comes to defend Obama. Ah the irony.”
There’s a big difference between defending someone and simply not placing blame on someone for every problem under the sun. I typically do the latter when called for and I’m happy to do the former when needed.
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:23 pm
Paul
Team Edward??
They BOTh suck
December 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
Strawman
“Really, do you think any of the founders would have envisioned or condoned the right to abort an unborn child as an inalienable right?”
I have no idea.. they were not perfect. Several of them did own slaves… right? Was that ok just because it was the law of the land?
Some may have been against it while others could have been for it…. no different than all the other compromises they made when this country was in its infancy
Strawman
December 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
“Like I said, I agree with that. I however, DID NOT AGREE with the Supremes taking up the case. They did not HAVE to, they CHOSE to. Citizens United’s stand had already been denied in lower courts.”
DDR, I would agree that the SCOTUS arrogates to itself rights or responsibilities it should not. There are cases it should not rule upon but they are not presently accountable. I think what Gingrich was getting at in his comments was creating some kind of accountability for them. Otherwise, what is to stop them from doing whatever they wish?
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:26 pm
Butch
I agree we need a middle class of course
We differ in how we think we should get there
I don’t have wealth envy. I have disdain for abuse of the tax code. I pay my taxes. I’ve passed on the opportunity to receive unemployment twice. I didn’t buy a Prius with a tax credit.
You’re just another tax dodger. It’s your right. But pretty pathetic. What? Can’t figure out how to make money without dodging taxes? That’s pathetic.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
Jm: Republicans work. Democrats quit
REALLY?!? You REALLY posted that! hahahahahahahaha!!!! Can’t stop laughing….can’t stop laughing…….
The House will be in session less than one out of every three days next year, a slight decline from past years. House Republicans say they are running the place more efficiently and lawmakers need the time to be with constituents in an election year. Democrats say that’s too few days on the job during an economic crisis.
They BOTh suck
December 20th, 2011
3:28 pm
Strawman
Guess you would have been ok with segregation seeing that the majority at the time was for it in many states and the what had to intervene? yes the courts
Was that ok or because some “states rights” had to be overrode was it a bad thing that the COURTS had to force several states to change?
Normal
December 20th, 2011
3:28 pm
http://history.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/12/20/funny-pictures-history-coming-soon-catty-shack/
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:29 pm
Butch I don’t blame Obama for creating the problems
I do think there are better people available for office to ensure government gets out of the way so Americans can solve their problems
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:29 pm
Faced with a choice between McCain and Obama was like having the choice to be kicked in the face or the balls.
Paul
December 20th, 2011
3:31 pm
Granny Godzilla
Twilight. Edward vs Jacob. Vampires vs The Wolves.
Like I said, not that Jm would make the team or anything, but dang, Granny, it’s the whole concept!!
(It all started with your ‘no reflection’ wisecrack – )
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:31 pm
Amvet. I voted for Obama.
Typical lib.
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
3:31 pm
Debbiedoright,
LSwho? Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile. LSwho found theirs earlier. Can’t see us missing 4 field goals twice. Bama rolls and in covincing fashion. Roll Tide Roll!
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:32 pm
Jm – “What? Can’t figure out how to make money without dodging taxes? That’s pathetic.”
Careful, your masters might hear you. As to making money, I did it for 20 years working just like everyone else. If your referring to to the trust fund, I’m not going to apologize for my family. Here, maybe you would like me better if I sounded like this
“End entitlements for the 47% who pay no taxes. Stop being so envious of those who made good choices, all you libs do is promote “class warfare” and “wealth envy”, You need to stop punishing the eeeeeeeeeevil rich and start your own business, instead of wasting your time on welfare, why don’t you go ut and get a job and stop focusing on people who are successful because they work hard”
There, does that make you feel better?
josef
December 20th, 2011
3:33 pm
Since there’s no new thread yet…
Okay, Christian bashers, I got one for you. We had a fire Saturday in one of the complexes where our latino children live. Eight families were burned out. Sunday morning one of the churches in the area, one which none of the affected families attend, “passed the plate.” By Monday morning they had collected $13,000.00 for the families in cash, by Monday afternoon they had worked with the families to find permanent housing in the neighborhood, upping the deposits, first and last month, all that. They had collected furniture, kitchen utensils, clothes, linens, books for the children.
This is why, my friends and foes, I will not join in your bad mouthing of Christians…nobody asked them for a thing, They saw need and went to work. Organized religion? Yep. And look at what that organization did.
So, the next time you’re tempted to take a swipe at “them,” think about it. I know eight families who would put you up a good argument.
Oh, yeah, and Happy Baby Jesus’ Birthday…
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:33 pm
Bro
Nope. A lib still supports Obama, or the rare soul to his left
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
3:34 pm
Faced with a choice between McCain and Obama was like having the choice to be kicked in the face or the balls.
I’ll agree with that. I didn’t know one con who was excited over McCain. And the best probably R candidate this year- Huckabee, sat out.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:36 pm
Seriously? If a majority of those surveyed were Republican, and the results showed favoritism towards the GOP wouldn’t that be a biased survey? Obviously for this survey I am questioning whether or not a majority of those surveyed identify themsleves as Democrats.
It depends on the question asked of course. If they asked “What type of hamburger do you like?” The answer would differ from person to person. If they asked “Do you like McDonald’s or Burger King” THEN you’d have a narrower spectrum of answers.
The question that was asked, from my understanding, was a total ambiguous question. THAT’s why party affiliation would not have mattered to the outcome of the survey.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:37 pm
Butch
Congrats. You’re in the lucky sperm club.
I frankly don’t know that I care much what you say. But if it was thoughtful I’d at least consider it.
Why don’t we contemplate this: why do you think manhattan real estate prices are so expensive relative to the average US price?
Granny Godzilla
December 20th, 2011
3:39 pm
Paul
Oh.
Never got into the new vampires.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
I like McCain plenty though I don’t think he was the right guy for the moment
His VP was a disaster
I love Mccain’s ethics and values
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
3:40 pm
Nice one josef. Always wonderful to hear about good in the world especially when its local.
AmVet
December 20th, 2011
3:42 pm
Bro at 3:31, LOL…
Jm, your vote is the most bizarre thing I have ever read about on these blogs.
Seriously.
Lots of folks, in hindsight, rue their vote.
But you are off of the charts.
And I’m no psychiatrist, but that you voted for him and then have gone absolutely non-stop, ballistic, out of your mind crazy every day since, indicates to me a very, very deep set of issues. Or at least a gargantuan, even epic, inability to accurately gauge the realities of these candidates.
Lemme guess, you voted for George twice, as well!
Talking Head
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
“The question that was asked, from my understanding, was a total ambiguous question. THAT’s why party affiliation would not have mattered to the outcome of the survey.”
Ok. If you read the full survey you will see that 928 responders to the survery WERE REGISTERED VOTERS. They were asked if they prefer Obama, the Democrats, or Republicans on various topics. That is why their party affiliation matters. Obviously if you are a registered Democrat, you prefer Democrats over Republicans. Do you understand this concept?
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
I think what Gingrich was getting at in his comments was creating some kind of accountability for them. Otherwise, what is to stop them from doing whatever they wish?
The Judicial Branch is protected by the Constitution and their duties firmly stipulated. IOW – Gingrich is just blowing smoke up his azz.
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
Jm,
McCain is a good man. But I think he suffers from the same issues as any career politician. Too many years in Washington means you lose touch with the people. And I think he did. During the debates it was extremely disappointing to hear his responses. It looked like a battle of 2 democrats out to offer the most goodies to get elected. I couldn’t tell much of a difference between him and O.
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
3:43 pm
Jm – “why do you think manhattan real estate prices are so expensive relative to the average US price?”
Because of the location and the density of the city. You can’t just buy property in Manhattan like you do a house in a subdivision. It’s no different than Miami, parts of Las Vegas and L.A. excpet that there is very little room for expansion on the island.
Midori
December 20th, 2011
3:46 pm
Post of the year!!
Does his image actually appear in a mirror?
I didn’t think that type had a reflection.
much like his posts, Mrs. G
move along — nothing to see here
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:46 pm
Amvet
I never voted for George (w)
Butch
Height restrictions and rent control have nothing to do with it eh?
Kamchak
December 20th, 2011
3:47 pm
Republicans work. Democrats quit
Sarah Palin is a Democrat?
Who knew?
josef
December 20th, 2011
3:47 pm
BUTCH
“If your referring to to the trust fund, I’m not going to apologize for my family.”
You and I are probably at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but I have to agree with you on that one. Nothing galls me quite so much as someone jumping dead on someone who drew the right cards without ever questioning what they may have done with that luck of the draw…
And the whole matter is a sliding scale of priviledges…that’s why those who start to claim “I did it all on my own…” galls me just about as much…maybe if you’re a left-handed, black lesbian born to a single mother on the Rez…but otherwise? Get real.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:49 pm
Paul: Twilight. Edward vs Jacob. Vampires vs The Wolves.
Hi Paul!!! I tried to read the first installment of that stooooopid book but it was just too dumb and boring. Granted, I know it was written for teens, but do we HAVE to dumb down our teens like that with their choices of reading material? Here’s a typical sentence from the book:
“I know you’re a vampire, but I don’t care! I’ll go off with you and not tell anyone that you’re with me so you won’t get in trouble.”
WTF!!! Are we setting up our teen daughters, (don’t have kids, but I felt my sentence would be more effective if I joined the ranks of parenthood for a sec), to become VICTIMS?!!
“Oh Tom, I know that you are a homcidial brute and maniac; but I will go off with you tonight and not let my parents know — just in case you accidentally kill me.”
The fact that Meyer made (probably) BILLIONS from this book is enough to make Shakespeare rise up out of his grave, go over to her house, and slap her face. HARD.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
Butch I don’t blame Obama for creating the problems
If any of you are within lightning striking distance, I’d run like Jason Voorhees was chasing me.
Jm
December 19th, 2011
6:25 pm
Where’s jay’s outrage about Obama signing a bill that actually takes away liberty? Hmmm
Jm
December 19th, 2011
6:47 pm
Obama should be setting America free instead of binding her in shackles.
One cuff on personal liberty, the other on the right to work.
Jm
December 19th, 2011
6:52 pm
Another lame Obama attempt to raise money by selling lottery access to the president
So lame and pathetic. I thought this guy was above this level of pandering. He’s like a used car salesman.
Jm
December 19th, 2011
7:03 pm
[...] I only think it fair to point out that our ACTUAL AND CURRENT AND DEMOCRATIC president actually just did something that undermines liberty.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
7:31 am
Egypt is totally blowing up
Good job Obummer
Jm
December 20th, 2011
9:25 am
Obama is leaving his successor a foreign policy fiasco
Only a dolt wouldn’t remember the disaster this guy is creating and vote him out
Jm
December 20th, 2011
9:38 am
Exhibit B
European collapse
Wasn’t the miracle worker supposed to fix all these relationships Bush supposedly screwed up? Hmmmm
.Jm
December 20th, 2011
9:51 am
Egyptian museums and artifacts being burned
Manuscripts and artifacts being lost
Good job O
Jm
December 20th, 2011
9:52 am
Egyptian general: protesters should be thrown in Hitler’s ovens
Good job O
Jm
December 20th, 2011
10:20 am
[...] All that said, its more a “transition management” problem. The pooch has already been screwed. Bad Obama calls.
And now that the train is careening off the tracks it may be impossible to stop
Obama let the train get off track
josef
December 20th, 2011
3:50 pm
Thulsa
It certainly reaffirmed my faith in the better nature of humanity…
Talking Head
December 20th, 2011
3:51 pm
“The fact that Meyer made (probably) BILLIONS from this book is enough to make Shakespeare rise up out of his grave, go over to her house, and slap her face. HARD.”
If Shakespeare would have lived in a time of capitalism, he would have made billions.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:52 pm
Kam
Palin is a quitter. But thank heavens.
Amvet
Let me explain. I grew up with conservative democrats. Socially liberal but fiscally responsible ones. Clinton fit that mold.
Obama doesn’t at all.
But Romney fits fine. He’s not a crazy republican. He’s sane and fiscally conservative.
Paul
December 20th, 2011
3:52 pm
Granny
josef 3:33
Dad knew a guy in southern Cal, Calif Highway Patrolman. Moved from LA to north San Diego county to get her out of the drug influence. Did no good – she got heavily involved, moved out, crashed and burned. He said she got involved with one of those evangelical fundamentalist-type churches, turned her life around, been clean for a number of years. Guy said he’d never badmouth those churches again.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
Doom: LSwho? Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile. LSwho found theirs earlier. Can’t see us missing 4 field goals twice. Bama rolls and in covincing fashion. Roll Tide Roll!
Don’t hate Doom. Don’t Hate. Bitterness is NOT sexy.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
AmVet
Glad to see that somebody has a sense of humor here. I couldn’t resist that line, especially since I’ve seen it tossed around like a two bit prostitute here.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
3:54 pm
Bro
I don’t blame Obama for creating any pre 2009 problems silly
He has created a whole new set of problems he is responsible for since being elected
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
3:55 pm
Talking Head – O.k. – I did not read the survey; I was just going by the comments that were posted about it. If you have the link, i can compare — if not, I’ll leave it alone.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
josef
That church is the perfect example of Christian behavior. I’m willing to bet that they didn’t have a huge flatbed truck rolling down the street with loudspeakers blaring their names and what they were about to do. They simply did what had to be done. That is the sign of a true Christian in my opinion. Actions always speak louder than words.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
3:57 pm
jm
Maybe you should specify a time line next time. Your original post didn’t have a set time period. I was just trying to make sure that 100B joules lightning bolt didn’t turn you into instant roasted jm before I could at least buy you one beer.
Midori
December 20th, 2011
3:58 pm
Bro,
my eyes!! my eyes!!
I lost enough brain cells the first time he posted that simpleton sh*t.
Paul
December 20th, 2011
3:59 pm
DDR
That’s okay. Everyone has to have some flaw in them…
See, Edward’s life is all about how he wants to live by the values he has, not what everyone else (other vampires) does. It’s about respecting others and himself.
Was in the store checking out, not long after the first movie came out. Mom, about late 40s early 50s in line with her daughter, must’ve been about 12. Daughter picked up one of those gossip mags with something about the Twilight characters on the cover and the mom said “NO! You are not reading anything about that book!” You know me, I turned to the woman and said ‘do you know anything about the book or the author?” She said just what she’d heard. I said to look at it this way: the author is LDS, graduate of BYU, the two central characters are young and in love, she wants to get real physical, he says ‘no, not until we’re married.’ She looked at her daughter and said ‘well, okay, you can read the book.’ Mom turned away and the daughter looked at me and mouthed a huge “Thank You!!!”
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:00 pm
PAUL
As you know, my hometown is in a very rural district of Mississippi. The nearest Jewish congregation was some 75 miles away. There was only one other Jewish family in the county. My Grandfather, whenever he felt the need to visit a House of G-d, would go to the Church of Christ. When he was asked why, he responded, “I visited every church in the area. They were the only ones who didn’t ask me why I was there.”
I’ve thought about that a lot in my own journey through life and trying my best to thread the territory between the spiritual and the secular. Me? Well, I’ll attend Sunday services at this particular church this Sunday to thank G-d in H-s House for having brought together a congregation that practices what it preaches…
Jm
December 20th, 2011
4:01 pm
Bro
I say my prayers every day prior to posting on here
(kidding)
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
4:02 pm
Debbiedoright,
No hatin on LSU here. Just stating my faith that we win the rematch. LSU takes us much more seriously than we take them. We lead the head to head series by 20 games against them and at one point had a 19 game unbeaten streak in tiger stadium dating to the 60s until Saban finally beat us there in 2004 as LSU’s head coach. You can’t really hate someone you think of as the child of a lesser football god. It would be like hatin on Ole miss.
AmVet
December 20th, 2011
4:03 pm
Jm, I was concerned that some Cadillac-driving, welfare queen slipped you a roofie, dragged you into the polling place and made you vote for BHO. (grin)
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:05 pm
Brosephus
Yep. Very quietly and with no fanfare…just doing the L-rd’s work said the minister. His mouth to G-d’s ears…
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
4:06 pm
If Shakespeare would have lived in a time of capitalism, he would have made billions.
Shakespeare DID live in a time of capitalism, more or less — he got paid for his work, he didn’t work for free.
What I was talking about was the utter lack of anything LITERARY in that dreary, redundant, APOSTASY she scandalously called a “book”. More like a “crock of sh#####seeds”.
I’m a reader. I LOVE to read. I read probably 45 books (novels, masterpieces, autobiographies, biographies, historicals, etc.) a year – and at first i was enthused about the book, (i LOVE sci-fi); but her prose had no symmetry. It was like reading a very, very elementary primer. Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss outshone her crappy book.
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:06 pm
Jm
You better pray! The NSA operative’s got your number!
Jm
December 20th, 2011
4:07 pm
Amvet LOL
Coulda happened. I only vaguely recall it. Could be voting PTSD.
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:07 pm
DDR
Hey! Dr. Seuss is the greatest writer in the English language in the 20th Century!
Paul
December 20th, 2011
4:08 pm
josef
Nice way to spend Sunday. Sounds like that congregation (I initially wrote ‘those people’ but this blog would’ve been off to the races with that) actually reads that part of the New Testament that goes “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress,…”
Jm
December 20th, 2011
4:09 pm
Josef
No doubt. Sooth would back me up on that too. (sadly)
I can’t fathom what’s in sooth’s head.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 20th, 2011
4:11 pm
Josef – By chance was that a Catholic Church?
If it was be careful Sunday as the Nutster and his loverly wife may show up (you know how devout they are).
Seriously as the Irish say Good on them.
Bro – no problem getting Christmas Ale out of Cleveland. Great Lakes Brewery has a gift shop at the freaking airport and will bag it for carry on. I chit you not.
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
4:12 pm
josef,
Speaking of Jews, football, and the rural south I have an interesting tidbit of history for you that you may or may not know. I was reading a book on Bear Bryant and the history of Bama football and it went into a biography of president Mike Denny whose name is alongside Bear Bryant’s on our football stadium Bryant-Denny stadium.
Anyway, Denny was a visionary leader and one of the ways he built U of A in the 20s and 30s was to recruit Jewish students from the northeast. Obviously blacks were out of the question at that time. The reason he recruited so many Jewish students was because many of the prestigious northeastern schools had hard caps of discrimination as to how many Jews they would allow in their schools. And if I remember correctly this even applied to the enlightened ivy league schools.
So Denny heavily recruited Jewish kids and to this day there is a pipeline of Jewish kids from the northeast who attend UA for the simple reason “that’s where a lot of my family members have gone”. At one time the student body was almost 1/3rd Jewish when Denny was there.Case in point although its an embarrassing point Bernie Madoff went to UA but there are several other prominent Jews in NY city and the northeast in general that are UA grads.
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
4:12 pm
Midori: I lost enough brain cells the first time he posted that simpleton sh*t.
you are sooooo bad Midori. So very, very, very bad.
Paul: See, Edward’s life is all about how he wants to live by the values he has,
to me, she, Meyer, is teaching young girls how to be selfless victims. Love a man that’s dangerous — it’s sexy.
PS: Forgive me please. I can take name calling. I can take someone talking about my profession, clothes, car, hubby, and even my family. But I can’t STAND a poorly written book!!! It’s a sin against humanity.
Doom – The name is L.S.U. — remember it! Geaux Tigers!!!
pogo
December 20th, 2011
4:14 pm
Amvet “welfare queen” is a passé term. Maybe a more appropriate term would be “welfare national” as we now have a whole lot of people of all demographics that have figured out how to sit on their ass and let someone else pay their bills.
Midori
December 20th, 2011
4:15 pm
DDR – I’m at my best when I’m bad
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:15 pm
Brosephus
Relative to the good Christian folk. I was talking to one of the families. Not long ago I was talking to one of the kids who wanted to know why the white and black folks hated Latinos and wanted to “send us away.” Today that young lady can see that, no, there are good ones who don’t care who you are or where you came from when tragedy strikes…
And if this had happened in Alabama? Well, we could all be haled in for aiding and abetting illegals since some of those families may well be illegals…but the Church, which no doubt has its fair share of “Repugs..” or what have you didn’t go checking papers…
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
4:16 pm
jm
I got you beat. Every now and then, I stop typing and pray WHILE I’m here.
josef
Indeed!!
NoCom
I’m gonna have to befriend a few Delta flight attendants that fly the Cleveland route.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 20th, 2011
4:16 pm
DDR – But I can’t STAND a poorly written book!!! It’s a sin against humanity.
————————-
How do you feel about the first 200 pages of EVERY Michener novel
Butch Cassidy
December 20th, 2011
4:17 pm
Jm – “Height restrictions and rent control have nothing to do with it eh?”
In some areas yes. Howver you weren’t specific as to what criteria you wanted. Therefore, I just gave you a very general explaination. Why, are you planning to buy here in the city anytime soon?
Kamchak
December 20th, 2011
4:17 pm
I’m at my best when I’m bad
I’ll make a note.
Midori
December 20th, 2011
4:18 pm
LOL!!
Hi Kammy
DebbieDoRight
December 20th, 2011
4:18 pm
hi josef!! Dr. Seuss is the reason I love to read. Well him and those girls who you to give me notes to give to my brothers when I was little. I just HAD to know what was in those notes!
Kamchak
December 20th, 2011
4:18 pm
How do you feel about the first 200 pages of EVERY Michener novel
Or everything that Stephen King ever wrote.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
4:19 pm
Midori
I don’t have my striped shirt on, or I’d have to throw an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on you for that one. Thass just wrong!!
josef
You know that the Attorney General has signed off on the idea that changes need to be made. Maybe they will learn to take their time and craft quality legislation instead of just focusing on quantity. They’re finalists for my Jackassery of the Year Award.
Common Sense isn't very Common
December 20th, 2011
4:19 pm
Bro – true story. A sports bar where we hang out here we were complaining about the beer being hard to find. Long story short the manager had 3 cases and gave us one of them LOL. Merry Christmas to me
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
4:20 pm
Or everything that Stephen King ever wrote.
I wouldn’t talk bad about that dude. I think he knows a few people in a few different parallel worlds. Besides, I like reading his books.
Jm
December 20th, 2011
4:20 pm
Josef
It’s always good to see you defending religion
It comes with it’s bad, but it is often and now more than ever a force for good
And I say this as a churchgoing agnostic
josef
December 20th, 2011
4:20 pm
Thulsa
Yep. Knew that. Several Southern schools did that…
Common
I am purposefully not giving out the denomination…but loved the Newt comment!
Jm
Yeah, I often wonder about Sooth’s inner visions! But, then, we all have our pet conspiracy theories…
Midori
December 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
throw anything you want at me, Bro.
be prepared to receive double in return.
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
NoCom
Just rub it in… I’ll still have my Arrogant B@st@rd to keep me company.
Thulsa Doom
December 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
Debbiedoright,
LSWHO??? Who dat?
Talking Head
December 20th, 2011
4:21 pm
“Shakespeare DID live in a time of capitalism, more or less — he got paid for his work, he didn’t work for free.”
That’s not really the definition of capitalism, and no he did not live in a time of capitalism but instead a type of fuedalism (means of production were run by the crown, and Lords still had rule over land and its workers)
Brosephus
December 20th, 2011
4:22 pm
be prepared to receive double in return.
You promise!!!!!!
Paul
December 20th, 2011
4:22 pm
DDR
Have you thought of it from the standpoint that all male characters are potentially dangerous, and here is one who recognizes what can happen but strives every day to rise above it all ?
And I’m with you on Dr. Seuss. It wasn’t just the construction, it was the illustrations.
HI Midori!!!!