Debate, and discuss, just dont Bore me.
And a little hypocrisy for the court itself
Published on June 27, 2005 By Dr Guy In Politics

The Supreme court ruled on 2 displays of the 10 commandments.  In one, they ruled that they could not be displayed in courthouses, except their own (as there is one on the Supreme Court).  In the other, they ruled the 10 commandments can be displayed on Government property.

For most rational thinking people, this clearly is a set of decisions that cannot easily be explained.   And it goes to show how some just cant make up their mind on the legality of religious symbols in government.  The only reason that one was upheld and the other was struck down was due to Breyer as he was the swing vote on both apparently.

But more so than giving a partial victory to the advocates of the 10 commandments, this split decision just opens a can or worms that I am sure will be tested over the coming years.  And where the new rulings will fall is anyone's guess.

Personally, I wish they had been consistent so we could say goodbye to the issue once and for all.  But in switching his Vote, Justice Breyer has guaranteed that nuances are going to percolate up through the courts for the foreseeable future.

If congress had any Cahones, they would pass a Constitutional Amendment either supporting the display, or outright banning it so that lawyers would not be feasting for years to come on the carcass of this days rulings.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Jun 27, 2005
If congress had any Cahones


all yall's weeping, gnashing of teeth and angry rants about activist judges provides the distraction legislators count on to keep everyone from noticing their dereliction of duty. obviously they feel they have a better chance of keeping their jobs by not doin them.

not that this merits an amendment (jeez what happened to the conservatives who used to be opposed to amending the constitution unless the founders showed up to help...and then they woulda only done it as a personal favor to tom & the boys?)

btw, next time youre around back of the supreme court building, look closely at mcneil's 'justice the guardian of liberty' sculpture and you'll see solon and confucius are on either side of moses inin keeping with the concept that what's being celebrated there is (as mcneil put it):

"Law as an element of civilization was normally and naturally derived or inherited in this country from former civilizations. The "Eastern Pediment" of the Supreme Court Building suggests therefore the treatment of such fundamental laws and precepts as are derived from the East. Moses, Confucius and Solon are chosen as representing three great civilizations and form the central group of this Pediment. "

check out the tablets moses is holding. notta commandment on either of em.
on Jun 27, 2005

all yall's weeping, gnashing of teeth and angry rants about activist judges provides the distraction legislators count on to keep everyone from noticing their dereliction of duty. obviously they feel they have a better chance of keeping their jobs by not doin them.

If they would truly not do their job, that would be one thing.  instead they just pass useless laws and raise taxes.  That seems to be their job now, and I forgot what article that is in the Constitution.

on Jun 27, 2005

check out the tablets moses is holding. notta commandment on either of em.

Better get your glasses fixed.  Check again:

However, the Biblical laws could be displayed in an historical context, as they are in a frieze in the Supreme Court building. Notably, the first four commandments, which have to do with honoring God and the Sabbath, were obscured by the artist who designed the frieze.

on Jun 27, 2005
I guess the coin toss just came out differently for each case.
on Jun 27, 2005
Better get your glasses fixed. Check again


for some reason i thought they were referring to the exterior sculpture. the tablets carried by moses as he's portrayed on the south wall--in the company of menes, hammurabi, solomon, lycurgus, solon, draco, confucius and octavian--deliberately depict only commandments 6 thru 10. unlike the first 5 which demand worship and devotion to the god of the jews, christians and muslims, commandments 6 thru 10 prohibit amurder, adultery, perjury, theft and covetousness. combined with the matching frieze on the north wall, a total of 18 lawgivers are celebrated.

the curator of the office of the supreme court of the us explains adolph weinmann intended the two pieces, working in tandem, as a parade of the world's great lawmakers portraying the development of secular law.
on Jun 27, 2005
If they would truly not do their job, that would be one thing


why should they take the risk of passing laws that could get em kicked outta office when they can sit back and hope the courts will do their work for them...especially when it provides them with a great target they can hold up to voters.
on Jun 27, 2005
I guess the coin toss just came out differently for each case.


not really a coin toss (altho the 5-4 rulings give that impression i guess). i really gotta wonder how scalia (and roy moore) made it thru law school and passed the bar believing the 10 commandments are the basis for our system of laws.
on Jun 28, 2005

I guess the coin toss just came out differently for each case.

I guess Breyer got a 2 headed coin this time!  Oops for the liberals!

on Jun 28, 2005
It means it should stay where it belongs.. . Local community standards (except local community courthouses apparently)!

If the locals want the 10 Commandments, Dave's Top 10 Lists, or Anton LeVay's 10 Satanic Statements, so be it. The Constitution doesn't speak to religious symbols on government land, so neither should the US Supreme Court.
on Jun 29, 2005
I guess Breyer got a 2 headed coin this time


he's been on the court long enuff to know when you ask clarence thomas if he can break a dollar on days when he's gone to the adult book store for lunch, you gotta make sure clarence don't try to pass off leftover peep show tokens as quarters.
on Jun 29, 2005

the curator of the office of the supreme court of the us explains adolph weinmann intended the two pieces, working in tandem, as a parade of the world's great lawmakers portraying the development of secular law.

And by Cleaving that bugs bunny, they have left themselves the out.  Too bad they could not do that with the emminent domain ruling. Not.

on Jun 29, 2005

why should they take the risk of passing laws that could get em kicked outta office when they can sit back and hope the courts will do their work for them...especially when it provides them with a great target they can hold up to voters.

You do define the liberals very well.  No one ever accused them of having principals or backbone.

on Jun 29, 2005

not really a coin toss (altho the 5-4 rulings give that impression i guess). i really gotta wonder how scalia (and roy moore) made it thru law school and passed the bar believing the 10 commandments are the basis for our system of laws.

They are the basis.  That does not mean they should be displayed, but where the hell do you think they came from?  The ether?

on Jun 29, 2005

If the locals want the 10 Commandments, Dave's Top 10 Lists, or Anton LeVay's 10 Satanic Statements, so be it. The Constitution doesn't speak to religious symbols on government land, so neither should the US Supreme Court.

No, the supremes think they are the champions of the minority, and in that they are partially correct.  However, they have turned into the hounds from hell for the minority.

on Jun 29, 2005

he's been on the court long enuff to know when you ask clarence thomas if he can break a dollar on days when he's gone to the adult book store for lunch, you gotta make sure clarence don't try to pass off leftover peep show tokens as quarters

Clarence has more integrity than you.  I dont see him taking cheap shots at you and the other liberals, even tho you smear him as a sex fiend and uncle tom.

And for those that think he is the dumbest member on the court, I think Breyer just proved them wrong.

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