D.O.M.A. Is Done!

Every once in a while the judicial branch comes through and slaps down a Congress that legislates contrary to the principles set forth in the Constitution. Striking down the Federal Defense of Marriage Act yesterday is one of those times I smile at this particular aspect of the balance of powers.

More from the Rachel Maddow Show:

Limbaugh Can't Tell Difference Between Constitution And Declaration Of Independence

The leader of the Republican party showed off his ignorance at CPAC this weekend when he talked about the Constitution. Not only did he mistake the Declaration of Independence for the Constitution, he completely misunderstood the intent of the framers and what we as a nation are allowed to do with the "living, breathing" document.

From ThinkProgress:

During his speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Rush Limbaugh got some of his loudest applause when he declared that President Obama’s policies represent a “bastardization of the Constitution.” He attempted to prove his devotion to the document by quoting from it:

We love and revere our founding documents, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. [Applause] We believe that the preamble to the Constitution contains an inarguable truth that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. [Applause] Liberty, Freedom. [Applause] And the pursuit of happiness. [Applause] Those of you watching at home may wonder why this is being applauded. We conservatives think all three are under assault. [Applause]

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is a quote from the document 'heard round the world' on July 4th, 1776, not when the Constitution was written more than a decade later. Of course, the principles that our country was founded on don't mean much to Rush, since in his mind, the primacy of the General Will has been replaced by the particular will.

Yeah that's right, I used a little Rousseau on Rush. I'm sure the famous French theorist would have a field day with the likes of Limbaugh and his dittoheads.

Of course, dittoheads, Republicans, especially the types that attend CPAC pride themselves on being ignorant, so that their failed ideology can still live on in their narrow minds. Later on in the speech, Rush said that the Constitution does not need to be redefined, which would make most rational people wonder what he thinks of the twenty-seven amendments to the document. Items such as ending slavery, giving women the right to vote, for the people to be able to elect their Senators are all "redefinitions" of the Constitution.

As incompetent and irrational as he is, Rush is still the de facto leader of the GOP and yes, that is pretty sad.

McCain Needs A Refresher On The Constitution

After eight years of having the moron-in-chief misguide our country and wreaking havoc wherever he goes, you'd think people would want someone with a little lot more intellect going forward. Senator Obama certainly has the smarts, but what about his competitor from Arizona, Mr. McCain? Well, simply put, we are electing someone that must (or should) protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So shouldn't that person know what's in it?

From DailyKos:

I smirked but didn't get too excited when he said he was glad to be at "West Virginia," rather than Wake Forest, when he pronounced the word "relevance" as though it was spelled "revelance," when he talked about the people in "Warshington," or even when he laid this little gem on the Wake Forest students:

I'm the living proof that an undistinguished academic record can be overcome in life -- or at least that's the hope that has long, long sustained me.

But then he started getting into the substance of his speech -- basically that judges have become too activist. A few minutes into his discussion of this topic, this is what I thought I heard:

The year 2005 also brought the case of Susette Kelo before the Supreme Court. Here was a woman whose home was taken from her because the local government and a few big corporations had designs of their own on the land, and she was getting in the way. There is hardly a clearer principle in all the Constitution than the right of private property. There is a very clear standard in the Constitution requiring not only just compensation in the use of eminent domain, but also that private property may NOT be taken for "public use." But apparently that standard has been "evolving" too.

My head whipped around, and I thought, "HUH?????" Granted, it's been 25 years since my Constitutional Law class, but . . . isn't the whole point of eminent domain that the government CAN take private property for public use, as long as the owner is fairly compensated for the taking?

The diarist is correct, McCain got that one wrong. His handlers knew it too, thats why they scrubbed the transcript of the speech, even though the video proves the type wrong. How sad is it that McCain doesn't even know what is in the Constitution while he wants the job to protect it? Well he probably doesn't give two shits about what is in it, because he's running for Bush's third term, a mere continuation of the assault on the document neither Bush or McCain cares about.

What Did You Get George Bush For Christmas?

The holidays are fast approaching, people are going gift-crazy. What to get mom, dad, sister, brother, etc etc. It can be so much that we forget to about that poor guy in the White House. What, me get a gift for the worst President in history? What would a crazy left wing, commenting from left field want to get George for Christmas? Hint, it is something he and the country desperately need to look at.

From The Center for Constitutional Rights:

The President needs to be reminded that he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States-his administration has been systematically destroying the Constitution since he took office.

With your help, CCR will flood the Oval Office with copies of the Constitution this holiday season. If you sign this letter, CCR will send it along with a copy of the Constitution to the White House as a seasonal reminder that the Constitution needs to be upheld ; not destroyed.

We have already met our first goal of 25,000 signatures, let's try to send President Bush more than 50,000 copies of the Constitution by January 2008.

So come on and help out, cross George off your list for this year's gifting extravaganza, do your country a favor in the process.

Whats This? Bipartisan Legislation To Endorse The Constitution?

Hold the presses! Something good might come out of the Congress concerning our Constitution. Not only that, the main sponsor of a bill to curtail the 1973 War Powers Act is a.....Republican (gasp!). Not just any Republican of course, we are talking about Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) who was made famous by changing French Fries to Freedom Fries in the Congressional lunchroom. Of course now he is one of the few Republicans on the Hill that wants to end the war, so it isn't too surprising. Nevertheless, his statements on the bipartisan bill are music to my ears.

From The Sun Journal:

Jones submitted the bill Sept. 25 and announced it Thursday at a press conference with three of five co-sponsors. One of them, Rep. Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, a Democrat, is a member of the House subcommittee on foreign affairs which will first hear the bill. Also present were Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, both Republicans. The other co-sponsors are Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and and Rep. Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, both Democrats.

The bill would prevent U.S. involvement in another long war without congressional approval. But Jones said it was not drafted in response to last week’s “World War III” comment by President George Bush or to new numbers released this week by the Congressional Budget Office putting the cost of the Iraq War through 2008 at $610 billion and predicting a cost through 2017 of as much as $2.4 trillion.

“This has nothing to do with Iraq,” said Jones, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee and was one of the first Republican congressmen to oppose the war in Iraq.

Well, it does and it doesn't Mr. Jones. The reason it is being brought up has a lot to do with Iraq, and how the President took us to war over there. Also true, it does have to deal with the Constitution and how the Congress gave away much of their war powers with that 1973 legislation. It is about time that Congress become a co-equal branch in this government as the Founding Fathers had set it to be originally.

For Corruption's Sake, Vitter Defies Separation Of Church And State

Senator Vitter is in the news again today. This isn't about his relationship with prostitutes in Washington or New Orleans, but it certainly ties into the story. See, Vitter has no problem violating one of the ten commandments (adultery that is). That doesn't mean that he isn't willing to defy the constitutional decree of the separation of church and state. Vitter personally earmarked $100,000 for his creationist friends in Louisiana.

From The Times-Picayune:

The nonprofit Louisiana Family Forum, launched in Baton Rouge in 1999 by former state Rep. Tony Perkins, has in recent years taken the lead in promoting "origins science," which includes the possibility of divine intervention in the creation of the universe.

The group's stated mission is to "persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking." Until recently, its Web site contained a "battle plan to combat evolution," which called the theory a "dangerous" concept that "has no place in the classroom." The document was removed after a reporter's inquiry.

The group's tax-exempt status prohibits the Louisiana Family Forum from political activity, but Vitter has close ties to the group. Dan Richey, the group's grass-roots coordinator, was paid $17,250 as a consultant in Vitter's 2004 Senate race. Records also show that Vitter's campaign employed Beryl Amedee, the education resource council chairwoman for the Louisiana Family Forum.

The hypocrisy of it all is amazing. The money is absolutely sickening. Creationism can be hyped up all it wants in the church, but keep it far, far away from our government. Our founding fathers are turning in the graves from this news.

LMFAO At Karl Rove

Oh Karl, how you make me laugh (and cry sometimes to because of your record of destroying our Constitution). The terrible attempt at dancing on the stage at the White House Correspondents Dinner was one thing, but the interview on Fox News (of all places) with Chris Wallace yesterday was just too much.

From RawStory:

"Why not appear under oath or at least allow a transcript?" asked Wallace.

"Because of the Constitution of the United States," replied Rove, citing the separation of powers and suggesting there would be a public outcry if either Congressional aides or Supreme Court clerks were called to testify by one of the other branches.

"The Constitution does not prevent you from speaking to me, so in fact I'll ask you some questions," responded Wallace. "Why did you push to fire some US Attorneys in the president's second term?"

"Nice try," Rove came back. "The president has prerogatives that stand up not only to Congress but also to you. ... What I advised the president is protected by that prerogative. Nice try, Chris." Rove then spelled out the doctrine of executive privilege, saying, "You don't understand you're being an agent of Congress when you ask me that question, but you are."

An agent of Congress? Caring about the Constitution? If I had more floor space here I'd be rolling on the ground with laughter. So I'll just chuckle and smirk instead. Karl cares as much about the Constitution as Hitler had fondness for the Jews. The "brain" pathetically tried to defend himself with executive privilege, but he forgets that the Congress represents the American people. Even though Wallace works at Fox News, I give him some credit for asking a tough question even if he couldn't get a good answer.

The thing is, Rove won't give him or Congress an answer because he knows he is guilty of oh so many crimes against our nation. He really isn't as bright as many people think he is, but there is enough intellect to know when not to fess up to your criminal conduct. Even a low-life like him can try to save his ass on national television.

Jon Stewart Examines The Non-Executive Dick

Cheney that is. If you thought these guys disregarded the Constitution before, the latest stunt is beyond anything we've seen before.

Olbermann Takes On Cheney's Latest Constitutional Attack

Dana Perino Is Clueless About The Constitution

Dana Perino, stooge press secretary for the President clearly does not know what is written about the Vice-President's office in the U.S. Constitution. Reporters tried to ask her about Cheney's declaration that his office is not part of the Executive branch, but as any dutiful aide inside the White House, she couldn't give a straight answer.

Romney And The White Horse Prophecy

According to Mormon lore, there is an old tale that predicted the U.S. Constitution would be battered until it hung on only by a thread and a metaphorical white horse will come and save it. Romney repudiates any notion that he is that white horse and states that the Church of Latter-Day Saints has officially denied the legend. Nevertheless, it is an interesting topic since our constitution is being torn apart at the moment by the Bush Administration.

From The Salt Lake Tribune:

The disputed prophecy was recorded in a diary entry of a Mormon who had heard the tale from two men who were with Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Ill. when he supposedly declared the prophecy.

"You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed," the diary entry quotes Smith as saying. "It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber."

Not only will the Mormons save the Constitution, under the prediction, but the prophecy goes further, insinuating that Mormons will control the government.

It is probably a good thing for Romney to stay as far away from this as possible. The last candidate that proclaimed the theory and ran for President was Joseph Smith in 1844. He was subsequently murdered by a mob.

Romney won't have to worry about a mob either way, but part of the prophecy might tell us something about how his Presidential aspirations will go. It is a fact that our Constitution is being ripped to shreds since Bush took office. Due to that, the war and the way Republicans have set our country back to the Stone Age, Romney and the rest of the Republicans shouldn't stand a chance against the Democratic nominee next fall. As long as the Democrat in question retains sufficient backbone and stands up for what the people want, the prophecy will ultimately be proved false.