Couldn’t Help But Notice (073007)

This blog, RAB’s Matt Naugle, and former Lincoln Logs blogger Matt Dole were interviewed by Ryan Kelley of Campaigns & Elections. The result is here, and is well-done by Mr. Kelley.

I do want to elaborate on this quote of yours truly:

“I think both parties are really not in touch with what’s on the mind of the rank-and-file voters and rank-and-file non-voters.”

I specifically cited illegal immigration; it wasn’t directly germane to what Mr. Kelley was covering, so I don’t mind that he didn’t use my example. The average Democrat voter and left-leaning non-voter is NOT for open borders, which for all practical purposes is the position of the Congressional Democratic leadership. The average GOP voter and right-leaning non-voter wants the border secured first, and the guest-worker and other problems solved second; the president and too many squishy Republicans in Washington insist on a “comprehensive solution.” How about a “comprehensive” fence first?

I also take issue with Matt Dole’s contention — “I don’t think blogs are a persuasive tool.” A logical reaction would be, “OK, then why bother?” I think a few people were persuaded for the first time that CBS reporters are not heroic investigators, and that the network’s “60 Minutes” is an agenda-driven operation, when the phony Bush-National Guard documents were exposed. I also believe that at least a few people overcame a knee-jerk (and, it turns out, largely indefensible) dislike for incumbent Jean Schmidt, and were persuaded not to vote for her challenger in Ohio’s Second District GOP Congressional Primary last year, when that challenger’s residency, illegal voting, questionable lobbying, and the nature of those backing him were exposed.

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Someone should ask the ACLU why they didn’t help this aggrieved student:

Emily Brooker, a student in Missouri State’s (MSU) School of Social Work, had religious objections to an assignment made by professor Frank Kaufman. Little did she know how much trouble her objections would cause.

According to the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), which wound up helping Brooker, Kaufman told all his students to write a letter to the Missouri legislature expressing support for homosexual adoption, and for each individual student to sign his or her name to it. As an evangelical Christian, Brooker refused to do so, and the full weight of the school’s power fell on her. She was charged with violating three of the school’s “Standards of Essential Functioning” — diversity, interpersonal skills and professional behavior.

Furthermore, ADF said, Brooker was forced to undergo a two-and-a-half hour grilling from an “ethics” committee, which asked her questions pertaining to personally-held religious beliefs such as “Do you think gays and lesbians are sinners?”

Brooker’s treatment shows that this is not just a case of one out-of-control professor. From all appearances, this is an out-of-control university where academic freedom is a one-way street. There’s no need for radical private universities like going-defunct Antioch when taxpayer-subsidized schools like MSU imitate Antioch, at about half the price.

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Speaking of the AWOL ACLU, it should also have been front-and-center on this one:

Public school district reverses decision, guarantees student’s right to read Bible

Ann Arbor, Jul 24, 2007 / 10:30 am (CNA).- A public school district has given written assurance that a third-grade student is permitted to read his Bible in his classroom.

Elementary School District 159, located outside of Chicago, sent the written assurance after receiving a letter from the Thomas More Law Center. School officials had previously denied the third-grade student, Rhajheem Haymon, this right.

The law center, which is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, wrote the letter on behalf of the Haymon family.

Rhajheem’s father, Leslie Haymon, contacted the law center after being informed that school officials had denied his son the right to read his Bible during “reading time,” a time during the day when students may read a book of their choosing.

What possible defense was there for the school’s position?

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TVOH is R-I-G-H-T about this (underlying story is here):

U.S. District Judge James Munley, believes he can over ride the will of the people. He struck down as “unconstitutional” a local law (in Hazelton, PA — Ed.) designed to crack down on illegal immigration, dealing a blow to similar laws passed by dozens of towns and cities across the United States.

He wrote a 206 page opinion trying to prove his illegitimate point. I believe that this is ground (sic) for impeachment. Under the tenth amendment, any power not given to the Federal government by the states is reserved to the states and the people. The people passed a law that is not listed in the constitution, and a federal judge thinks he can override it. No he can not.

Being a judge doesn’t give you an unlimited right to make stuff up. When you do, you deserve impeachment.

Meanwhile, Clueless Chuckie Schumer saying that “We should reverse the presumption of confirmation,” reinvents advise and consent (HT Instapundit). Note that media commentary on “threats to judicial independence,” which would surely accompany any attempt to impeach Judge Munley for his objectively indefensible ruling, is notably lacking in regards to Schumer’s statement, which is as grave a threat to judicial independence as I’ve ever seen.