Supreme Court hands victory to Bush on faith-based initiative:

[Tellurian]

On a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a group of taxpayers did not have standing to sue the US government for its funding of faith-based initiatives with federal money. The decision, Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, was written by Samuel Alito, the second Supreme Court Justice appointed by President George W. Bush, according to the website SCOTUSBlog.

The group People for the American Way slammed the decision as threatening the First Amendment.

"It’s a bad day for the First Amendment. The Supreme Court just put a big dent in the wall of separation between church and state, and a big smile on Pat Robertson’s face," said Ralph Ness, the group's president, in a statement. "Today’s ruling will make it more difficult for citizens whose tax dollars are being unlawfully spent to subsidize religion to bring a complaint in court. It is also consistent with a broader strategy by right-wing judges and activists to restrict standing for average Americans to challenge powerful government and business interests."

But in Alito's decision, the Justice was dismissive of the worries of the plaintiffs in the case.

"None of the parade of horribles respondents claim could occur...has happened," the Court's newest Justice wrote. "In the unlikely event any do take place, Congress can quickly step in."

In a second 5-4 ruling, the Court ruled that schools could censor student expression outside of school grounds. The case was prompted by Juneau, Alaska, students who were punished after they held up a 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' poster while attending a field trip to see the running of the Olympic Torch, according to CNN. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision.

In a third 5-4 ruling, the Court decided that a Wisconsin-based anti-abortion group should have been allowed to run so-called 'issue ads' in the two months leading up to the 2004 Election. The decision opens the way for interest groups, business, and union to make a greater effort to sway federal elections. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion in the case.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Supreme_Court_hands_victory_to_Bush_0625.html

...someone had better file paperwork in the World Court against B&C for War Crimes before they shut us down completely. NO ELECTIONS, MARSHALL LAW!

[AX10]

1. That Alito sure is whopper!

Alito, Roberts, Scalia, Thomas,and Kennedy should be sent back to the old world where he came from!
They have no place in this country!

[terisan]

2. No new SC Judges until Bush-Cheney are out. Impeach the Justices who put Bush in office in 2000 nt

[KansDem]

3. It wasn't the first time the Supremes handed Bush a victory...(nt)

[Tellurian]

4. Yes, and theres` something about this decision that doesn't pass the "sniff" test..

"It is also consistent with a broader strategy by right-wing judges and activists to restrict standing for average Americans to challenge powerful government and business interests."

This strategy seems to be the basis (as a precedent) for future suits hamstringing average Americans speaking Truth to Power!

[KansDem]

5. Didn't the GOP with the President pass legislation denying citizens the right to sue HMOs?

There's the "challenging powerful business interests" example.

I never thought I'd live to see the day when specific branches of government and certain industries are completely immune from public oversight!

[Tellurian]

6. Last night,, I was looking out my window at the view of Red Square..

thinking, hmmm, how far we have regressed in the last seven yrs.

It doesn't feel good to be an American anymore...

[DemSoccerMom]

7. When I was a little kid

back in the 80s, I used to think how lucky I was to be born in the United States and not some far off, bass ackwards country where people weren't free to do what they wanted.

Back then, someone could criticize the government/president without fear of retribution. Back then, I "knew" that the United States was fair, and would never do anything so heinous as spy on its own citizens. Back then, I was glad we had a free press and I didn't have to sneak a paper and pencil to write things down b/c I MIGHT write something bad about the government. Back then, I knew the U.S. could NEVER become like England, with a state-sponsored religion.

Back then, I was pretty gullible, huh?

[Tellurian]

10. gullible? So, weren't we all! nm

[sampsonblk]

8. Well, at least our powder's dry... (sarc)

We held our punches so we could win a majority. OK so now what? What did that get us? Immigration reform? Min wage increase?

We just basically got screwed in public.

[Tellurian]

9. Math is still a relevant subject in politics.

[sampsonblk]

11. Filibuster is a relevant subject also

It wasn't about the math, it was about strategy. In retrospect, we shoulda filibustered that MF. It wouldn't have cost us a thing.

[Tellurian]

13. Math is relevant when you do not have the number of votes necessary to Filibuster..

and to over ride a presidential veto.

[sampsonblk]

14. That's a shell game, friend

We've always had enough members of our party to filibuster. If everyone put their shoulder to the wheel, this ship could be righted pretty quickly.

[Tellurian]

15. yeah, it the "IF" thats the problem..eh?

[churchofreality]

12. Can I start an Atheist charity and get funds from this program?

Government funding of any religious institution should be unconstitutional. This court is a joke.