Sen Cornyn has a history of attaching the Judiciary

[rodeodance]

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/pp.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=493723


Right Wing Justifies Violence Against Judges

On the heels of House Leader Tom DeLay's irresponsible threat against the judges involved in the Terri Schiavo case, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee has now made equally reprehensible comments. Yesterday, on the Senate floor, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) callously attempted to explain away the recent violence against judges and their families by suggesting that the murders may be a "cause-and-effect" result of an inability to hold the judges accountable in any other way. In a society that prides itself on law and order, it is disturbing that any individual – let alone an elected official – would try to pardon the killings as understandable revenge or deserved accountability. In response to Cornyn's words, Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) wrote, "here is no excuse, no excuse, for a Member of Congress to take our discourse to this ugly and dangerous extreme … ou are playing with fire, you are playing with lives, and you must stop."

CORNYN LASHES OUT: Ironically, Cornyn was in the middle of attacking the Supreme Court for its recent decision abolishing juvenile executions when he turned his wrath on the judiciary as a whole. In a rather winding statement Cornyn said, "e have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country.… And I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters, on some occasions, where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in, engage in violence." Similar to DeLay, Cornyn has declined to further clarify – and has yet to disavow – the violent subtext of his comments.

HISTORY OF ATTACKING THE JUDICIARY: As a vehement opponent of gay marriage, Cornyn has a history of attacking the judiciary. In a CNN interview last year, Cornyn expressed his concern over "a handful of activist judges who are radically redefining our society's most famous institution." Days later, at a news conference with fellow radical conservatives, Cornyn stepped up the rhetoric: "I believe we've done our job by highlighting the threat to the rights of the American people by activist judges." During the committee hearings on one of President Bush's judicial nominees, Cornyn exposed that the real purpose behind the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was to circumvent the judiciary: "he only way that the people of this country can respond when a handful of judges rewrite the Constitution…is through a constitutional amendment process."

BIPARTISAN CONDEMNATION: Remarks – like DeLay's and Cornyn's – that attempt to rationalize or call for revenge on judges if displeased with their decisions are receiving condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Senate Democratic spokesman Phil Singer stated, "Cornyn's statement 'shows a remarkable lack of sensitivity to the people involved and the families of these judges, who, by all accounts, were serving their communities in their capacities as judges. He owes these people an apology." And in response to a question about DeLay's ominous statement concerning judges from the Schiavo case, Vice President Cheney responded that he had not seen the comments but "would 'have problems' with the idea of retribution against the courts." He continued on to say, "I don't think that's appropriate. may disagree with decisions made by judges in any one particular case. But I don't think there would be much support for the proposition that because a judge hands down a decision we don't like, that somehow we ought to go out – there's a reason why judges get lifetime appointments."

[saltpoint]

1. I'd love to see a debate between Fascist John Cornyn --

-- and Columnist and Author Molly Ivins.

There's at least two Texas stories and they aren't the same and I like Molly's best.