Supreme Court Gives Green Light to Westboro Baptist

MoonHowler

 

In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court has upheld the right of Westboro Baptist Church to demonstrate at the funerals of fallen heroes. According to CNN:

A Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional limits of free speech and privacy.

The justices by a 8-1 vote on Wednesday said members of the Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars.

The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress.

“Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and– as it did here– inflict great pain,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. “On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker.”

Roberts explanation was that the real criticism was of the government and military and not the individual. Tell that to the families who are grieving. The Roberts Court has been very disappointing.

Will Bill O’Reilly pay the father’s judgement?  He did say he would.

The ‘what ifs’ of 2012

MoonHowler

Richmond Times Dispatch:

New polling pegs a potential U.S. Senate contest between former Govs. George Allen and Timothy M. Kaine as a dead heat.

The first survey by Public Policy Polling since Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., announced that he won’t seek re-election shows Allen, a Republican, and Kaine, a Democrat, tied at 47 percent with 6 percent undecided.

Kaine, who has said he will make a decision on whether to run for the seat early this month, registers a higher favorability rating than Allen, with 46 percent to Allen’s 39 percent.

46-39 doesn’t quite seem like a dead heat to me, but you know those polls.  Yea/Nay depending on who you like.  Let’s take a look at some other variables.  Kaine might not want to run. He was sitting back minding his own business being DNC chair, when Webb announced he was retiring after one term.  What other Democrats could step up to the plate?  There is always former Rep. Rich Boucher.  How about former Rep. Tom Perriello?  Both of these men were knocked out of office at midterms.

…[T]he poll showed Allen beating two other Democrats mentioned as a possibility. Allen bests former Rep. Rick Boucher, 47-42, and former Rep. Tom Perriello, 48-41, in the survey. Boucher and Perriello were casualties of a Republican surge in the November midterms.

How about Republican contenders who might oust Allen in a primary or convention?  Both Jaime Radthke and Delegate Bob Marshall’s names have been mentioned.

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2 Week Reprieve from Government Shutdown

MoonHowler

We aren’t out of the woods yet…but the government won’t be shutting down at the end of the week.  House and Senate leaders  have bought 2 more weeks and there are $4 billion in spending cuts.  That’s a start.

A Washington Post poll released earlier in the week showed that both parties would share the blame if government services shut down.  Additionally from the Washington Post:

 Both sides also recognize that they are not on particularly strong political footing.

Republicans, who only recently returned to power in the House, understand that their mandate is fragile – and that it is not to bring the roof down.

“The American people’s priorities are clear,” said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel. “They want to keep the government open, and they want to cut spending.”

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