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Friday, September 24
House Passes Court Stripping Measure
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 24 Sep 2004 03:42 PM CDT
 House Passes Court Stripping Measure
American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU Disappointed with House Passage of ‘Court Stripping’ Measure, Calls on Senate to Uphold System of Checks and Balances
WASHINGTON
- The American Civil Liberties Union [yesterday] expressed
disappointment as the House of Representatives approved a controversial
court stripping measure. The legislation would strip jurisdiction from
all federal courts - including the Supreme Court - over any
constitutional claim involving the Pledge of Allegiance or its
recitation, and is the latest of several similar court stripping
measures.
"With
this vote, the House has said that the federal judiciary should not be
a co-equal branch of the government," said Terri Ann Schroeder, an ACLU
Legislative Analyst. "The role of an independent federal judiciary is
crucial in our time-honored system of checks and balances.
"The Senate should reject this unwise measure," Schroeder added.
The
bill, H.R.2028, the "Pledge Protection Act of 2003," bars all federal
courts, including the Supreme Court, from reviewing cases involving the
Pledge of Allegiance. If enacted, the measure would effectively close
federal court house doors to religious minorities, parents,
schoolchildren and others who seek nothing more than to have their
religious and free speech claims heard before the courts most uniquely
suited to entertain such claims. It was adopted by the House on a vote
of 247 to 173.
While
the supporters of the bill pushed it as an appropriate response to
recent court decisions that they dislike concerning the words "under
God" in the Pledge, the ACLU warned that the impact of the bill would
be far-reaching. All federal courts would be barred from considering
ALL constitutional claims related to the pledge. Just last month, the
Third Circuit held that a Pennsylvania law mandating recitation of the
Pledge violated the Constitution because it violated the free speech
rights of the students - such cases could not be heard if H.R.2028 were
to become law.
The ACLU
also pointed to a growing trend by some members of Congress to push
similar court stripping measures. Similar measures under consideration
consider the ability of the courts to review cases considering the
legal definition of marriage, and the ability of courts to review the
public display of the Ten Commandments.
Passage
of any of these measures, the ACLU said, would establish a dangerous
precedent for Congress to respond to court decisions with which they
disagree. Furthermore, the denial of access to the federal courts would
force plaintiffs to raise federal claims and concerns in state courts,
which may lack expertise and independent safeguards provided to federal
judges under Article III of the Constitution
"Court
stripping measures strike at the very purpose the founding fathers
created the federal courts," Schroeder added. "They saw a need for
neutral arbiter that would be the final authority in determining the
constitutionality of the laws that Congress passed. Today the House has
said that the American people do not deserve an independent judiciary."
The ACLU’s letter urging opposition to H.R. 2028 is available here.
A Little Late Night Humor
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 24 Sep 2004 11:54 AM CDT
 A Little Late Night Humor
While I was over visiting the Woodbury County Dems website, I ran into some more late night humor I thought I'd share with you.
* * * * *
“The
White House is scrambling to bolster Bush’s image. They are now saying
that while it is true he didn’t go to Vietnam, he did attend an early
screening of ‘Apocalypse Now.’”
--Jay Leno
“Now the
candidates are arguing over the exact format these debates will take.
Kerry wants to stand behind a podium, while Bush wants to stand behind
Dick Cheney.”
--Jay Leno
“John
Kerry criticized Bush for not renewing the ban on assault weapons.
Well, you can understand why Bush doesn’t want to renew the ban. These
are the first weapons of mass destruction that he’s been able to find.”
--Jay Leno
“Political pundits are saying George W. Bush has made gains in two key states: dazed and confused.”
--David Letterman
“According
to a global poll, if the world could vote for president of the United
States, they would choose John Kerry over George W. Bush. However, when
the poll includes the federation of planets, then Ralph Nader wins.”
--Jay Leno
Oh, that one really cracked me up.
"Dick Cheney said that if John Kerry wins, there will be another attack. Then Cheney said, if Bush wins, I'll call it off."
--Conan O'Brien
* * * * *
"In a
shocking new book by Kitty Kelley, acquaintances of George W. Bush say
that when he was in the National Guard, he liked to sneak out back for
a joint or go in the bathroom and do cocaine. Isn't that unbelievable?
They actually found people who saw Bush in the National Guard."
--Jay Leno
"According
to a new book, when George W. Bush was on National Guard duty he would
sometimes sneak off to smoke marijuana and snort cocaine. When he heard
this, Bush said, 'That's ridiculous. I never showed up for National
Guard duty.'"
--Conan O'Brien
“Bush
said today he has no plans to read that new book that trashes him by
Kitty Kelly. Asked why he wasn’t going to read it, Bush said, well,
because it’s a book.”
--Jay Leno
* * * * *
"According
to the polls taken right after the convention, Bush is way up, way up
in the polls. In fact, they said if the election were held today, the
Supreme Court would re-elect him 7 to 2, which is better than last
time."
--Jay Leno
"Bush
and Kerry both focused on the battleground state of Ohio. See, Bush
knows no Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.
Of course, before Bush, no Republican had ever won the White House
without winning the election."
--Jay Leno
Why It Is Important to Support Our Congressional Candidates NOW
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 24 Sep 2004 07:25 AM CDT
 Why It Is Important to Support Our Congressional Candidates NOW
By Linda Thieman
With just 6 days left before the filing deadline, it is important to make a stand NOW
I’m sure
each one of us has thought about what would happen if the junta manages
to steal another election. But, no matter the outcome of the
presidential election, there are two ways to stop this descent into
madness, and both can be achieved by supporting our Democratic
candidates for Congress.
In the
U.S. Senate, a Democratic majority will prevent any further right-wing
judicial appointments. In the U.S. House of Representatives, a
Democratic majority would hold the junta accountable for their illegal
and traitorous behavior. The system of checks and balances that
was written into the U.S. Constitution would be restored.
No
doubt, most Iowans do not realize the extent to which Chuck Grassley is
responsible for the alarming economic situation this county finds
itself in. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley
championed those outrageous, enormous tax breaks for the wealthy that
have sent the federal deficit plunging to record levels. Grassley
also proudly proclaims that he is the “architect” of that heinous
Medicare bill that was a gigantic windfall for the pharmaceutical
companies – some of Grassley’s biggest contributors.
Most
Iowans are blind to the truth about Grassley, and Art Small, a
wonderful, fiscally-responsible progressive, needs your help NOW to be
able to get the word out.
Support Art Small for U.S. Senate here.
As for
the U.S. House candidates that DFIA supports, we have an excellent
group of progressives to offer up to the voters of Iowa.
According
to Joe Trippi, House races are often won by come-from-behind
candidates, and often they don't come from behind until late in the
game, sometimes even in the last week.
The
Republicans like to take out big ads smearing the Democrats in the last
two weeks of a campaign, so it is important for Dems to have the funds
available to counteract the Republican smear tactics and to jump on any
last-minute surge.
Dave Franker, Iowa Congressional District 2
Dave
Franker's race has been declared one of the closest House races in the
nation by several organizations, including Campaigns & Elections
Magazine. In addition, C-Span has selected the Franker for
Congress campaign as one of only 20 Senate and House races to be
featured in their debate series. (Time and date has yet to be
announced.) With your support, our chance for a pick up improves.
Support Franker for Congress here.
Paul Johnson, Iowa Congressional District 4
Paul
Johnson is known as an Independent Democrat. He is currently
traveling the 28 counties of District 4 for a series of forums. Click here for a listing of events. Paul also appeared last weekend on IPTV with his opponent, incumbent Republican Tom Latham. Click here for the transcript and the streaming audio feed.
Paul limits the amount of money he will accept from any one PAC to
$2,000, the same amount that an individual is allowed to contribute by
law. He will never be beholden to special interests.
Support Paul Johnson for Congress here.
Joyce Schulte, Iowa Congressional District 5
As if
running an effective campaign against the most embarrassing Iowan in
history (blunder-prone neo-con Steve King) weren’t enough, Joyce
Schulte intends to make her mark as the first woman from Iowa elected
to Congress. Joyce, a populist who never pulls punches, is an
education services worker and Vilsack appointee to the Agricultural
Development Authority Board. Joyce Schulte possesses all the
common sense that Steve King lacks.
Support Schulte for Congress here.
Second Annual Central Iowa Activist Awards
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 24 Sep 2004 04:00 AM CDT
 Second Annual Central Iowa Activist Awards
You’re invited!
Second Annual Central Iowa Activist Awards
Presented by Cityview as part of the Cityview Activists Project and Drake University
Tuesday, Oct. 5, Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; Program begins at 5:15 p.m. sharp
Reception following in Levitt Hall
2004 Honorees:
Sally Frank, Civil & Human Rights
Brian Terrell, Peace
Ako Abdul-Samad, Education & Youth Advocacy
Bob Mickle, Neighborhood & Community
LaVon Griffieon, Environment
Student Activist Award announced the evening of the ceremony
Each of the honorees will give a rousing 5-minute speech.
Cameo appearance by Donald Kaul, whose column appears weekly in Cityview.
Questions?
Call Beth Dalbey or Loretta Sieman at 288-3336
bethdalbey@bpcdm.com
lorettasieman@bpcdm.com
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