THE NEW RIGHT WING SCHEME...STRIP THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY

This is simply scary. Blogwood turned me on to this column from today's Palm Beach Post, which should be on your must read. The idea of Congressmen and Senators stripping the federal judicary from hearing cases which they are against their wishes is not only a serious attack on the seperation of the balance of powers among the branches of government, but is potentially a serious threat to our civil liberties.

In reviewing further, the group Americans United for Seperation of Church and State Website shows SIX BILLS PENDING that would prevent any federal court, including the Supreme Court of the United States, from ruling on the constitutionality of many church-state issues, including the Defense of Marriage Act.

The judiciary is there to serve as an arbiter, and it's independence is paramount to the prevention of one of the other branches overstepping it's boundries as written in the Constitution, and as a protector of the freedoms which we too often take for granted.

I would, therefore, respectfully ask all of you who are as concerned as I about this threat to let our senators and congressman know where you stand. I realize that our 12th District representative will likely support these measures, but it is important that we let him (as well as our new Senator-elect) know that Floridians care, and that this infringement on the judiciary is simply unacceptable. On the Americans United site (see link above) there is a means for you to send such a message.