From Americans United for Separation of Church and State:

Americans United Says Decision Reminds Officials Of Their Duty To Uphold Separation Of Church And State

A federal district court ruled today that a special Christian license plate mandated by the South Carolina legislature violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie held that the plate, which was to feature a large yellow cross, a stained-glass window and the words “I Believe,” clearly gives favored government treatment to one faith. In a summary judgment ruling, she ordered state officials not to issue the plate.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which served as counsel in the case, praised the decision.

“This is great news,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Government must never be allowed to express favored treatment for one faith over others. That’s unconstitutional and un-American.

“Some officials seem to want to use religion as a political football,” Lynn said. “That’s an appalling misuse of governmental authority, and I am thrilled that the judge put a stop to it.”

Americans United brought the Summers v. Adams legal challenge in June 2008 on behalf of four local clergy — the Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Summers, Rabbi Sanford T. Marcus, the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Knight and the Rev. Dr. Neal Jones as well as the Hindu American Foundation and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

In legal briefs, AU asserted that the “I Believe” license plate was unlike other specialty tags offered by the state. The measure authorizing the special plates was passed unanimously by both houses of the legislature, with the active support of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

Americans United also pointed out that some legislators openly admitted that they would not vote for similar plates for minority faiths.

In finding the sectarian plate unconstitutional, Judge Currie held, “Such a law amounts to state endorsement not only of religion in general, but of a specific sect in particular.”

The judge noted that legislators and other state officials have unnecessarily drawn the state into an expensive lawsuit.

“Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same,” Currie wrote. “The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation.” (Read the full decision here: http://www.scd.uscourts.gov/)

Americans United Legal Counsel Ayesha N. Khan was pleased with the court’s decision.

“Government must never be allowed to play favorites when it comes to religion,” said Khan. “That’s a fundamental constitutional rule, and I am delighted that the judge has reminded South Carolina officials of that fact.”

Khan argued the case in Columbia before Judge Currie, assisted by AU Madison Fellow Elizabeth J. Stevens. Aaron J. Kozloski of Capitol Counsel, a Columbia, S.C. law firm, served as local counsel.

From Andrew Sullivan at the Daily Dish.  This is a must read.  Brilliant…

Unruly Republicans Disrupt Health Care Debate

From yesterday on the House Floor.  We may have won this battle but the War ain’t over and if the Republicans have anything to say about it, the South will rise again and try to enslave us all….. Damn despicable bastards.

God help us all,  because if we keep this shit up we are all gonna go to hell.  I am so ashamed to be an American after seeing this.  What the fuck is wrong with these people?  Have they totally lost their minds?  I grew up with too many people around me that carried both the physical and mental scars of the Holocaust.  How dare these people use this as an example.   I would bet my last dollar on the fact that the asshole that made this sign has probably never even been within ten feet of a Jew.  I am so beside myself with anger and contempt right now, that if I were anywhere near that person I would have spit on them.

I blame this on all those narrow minded misanthropic pinheads out there that plant the seeds inside the heads of these crazy hate filled people.  Being against Healthcare is one thing and having the right to protest it is your right as an American, but for God’s sake, why make your point into one so vile as this.

I LOVE NEW YORK !!!

SING IT FRANKIE !!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

How cool is this !

I can just imagine what the likes of Glenn, I am out of my f**cing mind, Beck and Rush, where’s my oxycodin, Limbaugh and Sean, the Manatee, Hannity are going to pull out of their asses about this.

I am so happy that the adults have finally taken back the White House.

Set your DVR’s!

By The People: The Election of Barack Obama

Tagged: Barack Obama, By The People: The Election of Barack Obama, HBO, President Barack Obama ]]> http://willpen.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/by-the-people-the-election-of-barack-obama/feed/ 1 willpen bythepeople http://willpen.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/let-cspan-be-your-friend/ http://willpen.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/let-cspan-be-your-friend/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:02:08 +0000 willpen http://willpen.wordpress.com/?p=3962 ]]>

I have decided to stop watching network and cable news.  I have had my fill of important stories being reported in 5 minute sound bites after some editor has conveniently edited the life out of any particular piece of news on any given day.  So I have taken up a romance with cspan.org.  Yes, cspan.  The roving vacant ever present eye of the cspan camera that just sits there quietly recording history, never giving it’s opinion and never editing out anything.  Just there, taking it all in, in its natural glory.

I have just finished watching the following video of John Kerry, speaking today about his take on Afghanistan in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations.  The video is long, and yes at times boring, but the beauty lies in the fact that I could sit here casually listening to it, in the background, while playing online solitaire.  I could sit here and take it all in by myself, forming my own educated opinion,  without any bloviating, assinine, over paid and under qualified pundit adding their less than 2 cents worth of opinion.

Kerry’s speech is brilliant and it is well worth the time it takes to watch it, if you are so inclined to do so.  If you are not so inclined at the moment, then do yourself a favor and start checking out cspan everyday just to see what is really happening in the world.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on U.S. Policy in Afghanistan

(The embedding seems to be a bit messed up so if you wish to watch the video just click on the ‘more info’ on the top)

A letter from Michael Moore on what every American can do right now to make a difference.

“Michael Moore’s Action Plan: 15 Things Every American Can Do Right Now”