Les, that chruch deinvitation thing is fascinating if true.  Got a link?

Rather than listen to either side about judicial nominations, look to the ABA recommendations on the nominee.  If the ABA deems the nominee worthy, there is no real grounds for not appointing the man or woman to the bench.

I’ve read news accounts of Judge Greer’s “de-invitation,” too (no links offhand, though).

Frankly, that’s their prerogative.  I think it’s both short-sighted and un-Christian of them to do so, of course—not because of ideology, but because Christ opened his table to all *regardless* of ideology.

That said, if a church wants to dissociate themselves from someone who they feel has seriously violated one of their tenets, even if the law required them to do so, that’s between them and their members.  Sad, but true (and I say that as someone who thinks Judge Greer’s decision was the right one).

I have to wonder, though.  There’s been a long theme of “OMG, the Next President is going to pack half the Supreme Court with his party lackeys, OMG!” for, like, multiple presidents now (folks issued dire prophecies about it in Clinton’s time, too, as well as Bush’s first term).  Hasn’t happened. Granted, our current Chief Justice looks to be retiring from the bench soon—but I suspect that most of the folks up there on the bench are none too happy with the current President over various judicial shenanigans (this case, as well as various efforts to remove certain laws from judicial oversight), and will not be as inclined to retire in the next 3 years as folks expected.

Judge Greer parts ways with his church on pastor’s advice

By Times Staff
Published March 22, 2005

CLEARWATER - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting “it might be easier for all of us” if he leave.

Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.

Though he had other unrelated problems with the church, Greer’s attendance faltered after a Baptist publication the church supported criticized his decisions in the Schiavo case. He stopped his donations to the church, but remained a member. He briefly discussed his relationship with the church in a March 6 St. Petersburg Times article.

Four days later, Calvary Pastor William Rice wrote Greer a letter: “I am not asking you to do this, but since you have taken the initiative of withdrawal, and since your connection with Calvary continues to be a point of concern, it would seem the logical and, I would say, biblical course.”

Rice’s letter became public when he sent a copy to the Clearwater courthouse. Rice also said the church supports keeping Schiavo alive, though he said he was “truly saddened and embarrassed by the level of harassment and vitriolic nature of so many comments that purportedly come from people of faith.”

Rice, who has been pastor at the church for five months, added: “But you must know that in all likelihood it is this case which will define your career and this case that you will remember in the waning days of life. I hope you can find a way to side with the angels and become an answer to the prayers of thousands.”

Greer responded with a letter severing his relationship with the church.

None Will Be Turned Away!  Bullshit!

Yes this is actually the final nail in the coffin of the USA, WHEN these lunatics accomplish this.
I say WHEN because apparently there is no stopping them at this point.
We are currently 2 Supreme Court Justices & 1 hail Mary from a Christian Theocracy right now, sad thing is, once we step over to the “Dark Side” and 2+ more Fundy Nutjobs get seated on the SCOTUS they will hold a majority, and will do so for many many years to come long after the Lunatic in Chief leaves office.
On the very day that happens the wheels will start spinning in the Christian Coalition camp to completely re-write the Constitution with carte blanche, all but running the original through the shredder.

These lunatics have fought for this moment for over 25 years, they have placed Fundy Nutjobs in as many positions of power as possible, from Dog catcher, to school board, to Governor, to Senator, to Congress, to President and everything in between, making decisions based solely on Biblical Bullshit.
They dont even try to hide it anymore, they are blatant and bold, even proud & boisterous about it.
The Wall between Church & State has been dismantled brick by brick to the point now where there are so many gaps & low spots in it that breaching it is common place and expected.
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/TheDespoilingOfAmerica.htm

I personally dont have much confidence in the American Public to stand up and revolt against this insanity, because that is exactly what it is going to take at this point, a full blown revolution.

These nuts will destroy this country from the inside out, they have already divided the country to the point where only the Civil War surpasses it. The USA could easily sink to a mere shell of its former self in under a decade of Theocratic rule.
Once Fundamentalist Christians (which BTW are a MINORITY in this country) gain so much power in every section of Government we lose the checks & balances to control the insanity, they will push every button, pull every lever, & LIE LIE LIE when they see they have reached the point where there is no opposition they WILL take total Dominion over this country.
Basically they will have completed a semi-bloodless coup where 60-70 Million religious zealots have successfully taken over the country, what can you say other than good job.

He outlined a long-range program to gain nothing short of control of the government of the United States. The goal was to control the country by the year 2000. (Done)
Robertson’s plan to take over every office in the United States was not as hair-brained as one would imagine. According to Tim LaHaye (co-author of the Left Behind series of novels) who appeared on Robertson’s show and outlined the plan, there were 110,000 fundamentalist churches in America. If each church sponsored one candidate for office, the Robertson faction would control every elective office in the U.S. since there were only 97,000 offices.

Before total power could be accomplished, however, the Robertson faction had to gain control of the Republican Party. (DONE) Once the Republican Party was conquered, and it would be, Robertson would and did use millions of dollars donated to the cause by Robertson’s 700 Club viewers, to pour funds into congressional campaigns.(Done)

First, Americans must be ruled by “godly� men in the legislative branch—not by laws. (Virtually complete)

Secondly, Congress should limit the power of the courts. (Virtually complete)

Twelve years after Robertson first posted his revolutionary plans on the air waves, Tom DeLay was actively proposing that judges be impeached for “liberal activist� decisions and for making “bad law.�DeLay not only advocated impeachment as a means to control and intimidate, he named judges he targeted as “examples�

Social Security is in fact one of Pat Robertson’s favorite targets, and typically his rhetoric ran hot and vivid. What he did not tell his audience was that his proposals for privatization could destroy the system. To gain consensus, he resorts to a tactic we have seen him use in the last four chapters. It apparently comes easy for him. On May 21, 1985 he told his worried audience: (Robertson’s puppet Dubya Christ is trying his best on this right now)

“The government is running—they’re not telling anybody—they’re running very scared....There is going to be an awful crash. There’s going to be a repudiation of debt. There’s going to be a wipe-out of Social Security. Many people who are figuring on getting Social Security are not going to get any Social Security. People who are anticipating Medicare—there’s not going to be enough money to pay the bill. And you either have runaway inflation where you absolutely wipe out the middle class of the country or you’re going to have a revolution because that’s what this means.�

http://www.yuricareport.com/Art Essays/The New Messiahs Excerpts.htm#anchor843836

http://img.slate.msn.com/media/28/031206_Excerpt.wma

While Democrats were careful to include the Republican minority party in conference committee meetings when they were in control of Congress, the Republican faction has now resorted to excluding virtually all Democrats, including the Minority leader of the Senate, Tom Daschle, from even attending conference committee meetings. This is a violation of the Constitution,

When Democrats attempted to attend the conference meeting on the Medicare Bill chaired by Thomas, he stopped the meeting until they left.  Thomas also summoned Capitol police to actually evict or exclude the Democrats from the meeting room. But the police officers refused to evict the Democrats—no doubt because they were aware that such an act was unconstitutional and that the officers could in fact be sued and held personally liable for such a deed.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.� Edmund Burke

http://www.yuricareport.com/Corruption/RogueRepublicanBillsUnconstitutional.htm

Fundy Nutjobs infiltrating the Senate.

http://www.harpers.org/JesusPlusNothing.html

Fundy Nutjobs infiltrating Congress.

http://www.apostoliccongress.com/about.html

Religious Reich grip on the balls of Government.

http://www.cc.org/staff.cfm

Totally destroying the Environment by the Religious Wrong.

http://www.emagazine.com/view/?757

Destroying education and proselytizing children.

http://www.theocracywatch.org/schools2.htm

And here we all sit, doing nothing.

A Conference set on April 29th-30th examining just how seriously fucked up these Psychotics are and what if anything can be done. http://www.opencenter.org/Trainings/Religious_Right_Agenda.html

Here are a couple videos you can view showing the extent of this insanity, pull up a trashcan so you can just lean over and puke at will while watching.

http://www.theocracywatch.org/av/liberty.ram

http://www.theocracywatch.org/av/video_dominion.ram

http://www.theocracywatch.org/audio-video.htm

If it calms any fears my US History professor believes the liberals will have the government back in 20 years because apparently popular political belief in this country runs in 50 year cycles.  I personally think you all don’t have that much to worry about.  Liberal professors are rampant in the education system and you all have an equally, if not more so, strong grip on the media.  It’s only a matter of time, about 20 years coincidentally I would say.  Also coincidentally by then I will be out of seminary and will have established myself as a voice of practical reason in the faith encouraging political apathy and scriptural obedience.  Which would you rather deal with, my post on Theocracy or a religious tyranny?

This country could be in complete ruins in 20 years of pure insanity like we are dealing with currently, IF we survive it could take at least 20 more years to recover from it.

and NO liberals/Democrats do NOT have any hold on the Media.
The so called “Liberal Media” went out back in the 50s.

There are 5 people that completely OWN all media outlets in this country, and every one of them are staunch far Reich wing republicans.
Can you even imagine what the press would be doing to say Clinton if he had pulled even 1/2 of the bullshit Dubya Christ has?  LOL paahhleease, the man would have been up for impeachment continuously then topped off with War Crime tribunal all detailed 24/7 in the news, every station every mag every paper.

Dubya?  Nuttin to see here move along now.

Liberal professors are rampant in the education system and you all have an equally, if not more so, strong grip on the media.

Theo, I can’t speak for “the education system” but I can assure you that there’s a pretty good mix of liberal/conservative professors at the state university where I work.  As a computer support guy I frequent their offices and, let’s just say, one’s choice of office decoration makes it plain where sympathies lie.  This is a good thing because it would bother me if students weren’t exposed to differing points of view.

As for the press, there are media outlets for every taste and unfortunately most people don’t make a practice of reading outside their preferences. 

Conservatism means fiscal responsibility and general resistance to extremism or rapid change - both of which equal “stability.” Being a Republican means those things plus a federalist point of view - again, a stable arrangement.  (Did anyone save any of Dwight Eisenhower’s DNA?  We could sure use it now, or its functional equivalent.)

Unfortunately the Republican party today has been hijacked by alien brain slugs or something.  The explanation might lie in the philosophy of Leo Strauss, who seems to be known as “the father of conservatism” but is more like the father of neo-conservatism.  What a world of difference…

Did anyone save any of Dwight Eisenhower’s DNA?  We could sure use it now, or its functional equivalent.

DoF, you’re not the only one nostalgic for the days when the Republicans, if perhaps not as enlightened about social issues as the Democrats, at least had personal integrity and hadn’t sold out to the military-industrial complex (something DDE warned us about, which doesn’t bother Republicans nowadays).

Although I campaigned for Adlai Stevenson (okay- I was six and just tagging along), I would take Eisenhower over any Republican President since then- and over a few of the Democrats too…

zilch:

Could you forward me my check from the military and industrial complex?  I have not received my check at the time of this post.

Nunyabiz wrote:

A Conference set on April 29th-30th examining just how seriously fucked up these Psychotics are and what if anything can be done. http://www.opencenter.org/Trainings/Religious_Right_Agenda.html

I am planning to attend that conference myself. It should be very interesting.

Yeah, I blogged the Greer ouster a couple weeks ago. The more you look into it, the uglier it is.