Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sully- who wrote (26580)	8/27/2003 7:15:45 PM
From: laura_bush	Respond to of 89467

Ten Commandments monument moved Complying with federal court order, granite marker rolled to more private place in Ala. judicial building; Protesters remain calm The Associated Press Originally published August 27, 2003, 11:12 AM EDT MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A moving crew rolled a massive Ten Commandments [sic re upper case] monument out of the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building today to comply with a federal court order, as anguished protesters prayed at the building's steps. It took about an hour and a half to lift the 5,280-pound granite marker and roll it from its public site to a private place in the building. About 100 pro-monument supporters who have been on a weeklong vigil on the building's front plaza were urged to remain calm and not rush the glass doors. Some yelled, but the crowd was restrained. Two dozen city police were stationed around the perimeter of the building and others patrolled the surrounding block on motorcycles. A federal judge ruled last year that the monument, which Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore installed two years ago, violates the constitution's ban on government promotion of religion and ordered its removal by Aug. 20. The U.S. Supreme Court last week declined to hear Moore's appeal. Moore had refused to comply. Eight associate justices voted Aug. 21 to remove the monument, and Moore was suspended the next day on charges of violating canons of judicial ethics. There was no immediate comment on the removal from Moore. His spokeswoman, Jessica Atteberry, said he was not available but that his legal team would have a statement later. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, a group fighting the move, said building manager Graham George told him he would be allowed inside to see the monument later. Mahoney said he didn't know if the monument's new location will be accessible to the public. The federal court had said the monument could be in a private place in the building but not the highly visible spot in the rotunda directly across from the building's entrance. People seeking removal of the monument from its public site had said they were grateful that it was finally being moved, a week after the deadline set by a federal judge. "This is a tremendous victory for the rule of law and respect for religious diversity," the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said before the monument was rolled out of the rotunda. "Perhaps Roy Moore will soon leave the bench and move into the pulpit, which he seems better suited for." Lynne's organization was among groups suing to remove Moore's monument, which he installed without telling the other eight Supreme Court justices. Demonstrators promised to keep up their protests of the removal. "If it takes 75 years to reclaim this land for righteousness, God find us and our children and our children's children ready," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the national clergy council. An afternoon hearing had been scheduled in federal court in Mobile on a lawsuit seeking to keep the monument in the rotunda, but it was canceled. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a Christian radio talk show host and a pastor, had argued that forced removal of the monument would violate the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion. Attorney General Bill Pryor, defending the associate justices, had argued that the Mobile court lacked jurisdiction and the complaint lacked merit. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the lawsuit relied on "outlandish legal arguments to defend the justice's blatant promotion of religion." About 150 monument supporters marched on Pryor's office Tuesday, demanding he resign for supporting the associate justices' decision. Seven representatives were allowed inside to meet with Pryor's chief deputy for about 20 minutes. The rest remained outside, chanting "Resign now! Resign now!" Mahoney has accused Pryor of political grandstanding to aid his nomination to a federal appeals court. The nomination has been stalled by Senate Democrats who attacked the Republican Pryor for stands against abortion and in favor of states' rights. Pryor has said it is his duty to uphold a federal court order to remove the monument. Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press sunspot.net.

To: Sully- who wrote (26580)	8/27/2003 11:07:49 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

According to a recent poll in the German newspaper Die Zeit, one in five Germans believes that the U.S. government may have sponsored the 9-11 attacks. Among those under 30, the proportion is one in three. Conspiracy theories as insane as that one, or worse, currently corrupt the political thinking of the great majority of people in the world, including a substantial and influential minority in the West. Up until a month ago, over 60% of Americans thought we had found WMD in Iraq.