Newt Gingrich on Sunday hammered at the nation’s judiciary system, saying that if a court’s decision was out of step with American popular opinion, it should be ignored.
There’s “no reason the American people need to tolerate a judge that out of touch with American culture,” Gingrich said on CBS’ Face the Nation, referring to a case where a judge ruled that explicit references to religion were barred from a high school graduation ceremony. And Gingrich recently has said judges should have to explain some of their decisions before Congress.
Host Bob Schieffer asked Gingrich how he planned to enforce that. Would you call in the Capitol Police to apprehend a federal judge, he asked.
“If you had to,” Gingrich said. “Or you’d instruct the Justice Department to send the U.S. Marshall in.”
A judge should have to explain his or her radical decisions, Gingrich emphasized again. Gingrich’s tough words against the judiciary branch have drawn fire from even conservatives. Former attorney general under President George W. Bush, Michael Mukasey, told Fox News that Gingrich’s proposals were “dangerous” and “totally irresponsible.”
Gingrich claims his tough stance is part of a key question going into the 2012 elections: “Do you want to move towards American exceptionalism, reassert the Constitution, reassert the nature of America, or do you, in fact, want to become a secular, European, sort of bureaucratic socialist society?”
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David Taintor
David Taintor is the Front Page Editor at TPM, where he contributes to TPM's Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
acupunk62 Tools actually have a function and are useful. Gingrich not so much.
Actually I think a growing number of Americans would actually quite like the "secular, European, sort of bureaucratic socialist society” that he seems to despise. Strange that.
So when can we frog walk Uncle Thomas and the Italian Weasel out of their chambers
Yea right Newt! .. lets start with John Roberts and his "corporate people" ruling.
Do people familiar with civil war history believe Abraham Lincoln respected the law as "historian" Gingrich contends? Was Franklin D. Roosevelt's treatment of the supreme court anything short of an abuse of executive power? Is the separation of church and state inherent in the U.S. constitution? Would it be grossly fallacious to give more power to the branch of government which has enjoyed a drastically higher status since the days of Harry S. Truman? I hope somebody better versed in history can answer these questions, unlike our presidential contender, I am not a historian.
eric.spokas Actually you are pretty foolish. Please enlighten us on Lincoln, troll. If you are talking about the Merryman decision, Lincoln was under no obligation to follow the ruling of a circuit rider and if you are referring to the arrest Taney strawman, you are dumber than you first appeared. Learn your history before blathering on about some nonsense you read at Lew Rockwell.
I cannot stand these self-righteous religious individuals complaining about how persecuted they are. They are only upset about the notion of theocracy when it is anything but Christian.
No one has ever said that your child cannot pray in a school. They are saying that the school (a public institution funded by taxpayer money) cannot endorse any particular religion. I'm not sure why we're concerned about the ability, or perceived lack thereof, to pray in school. School is a place to learn mathematics, reading, writing, science (things that have a proven track record of doing some notable and consistent good).
If you're so worried about your child learning about whatever religious ideology you happen to subscribe to and making sure they give praise to the correct supernatural being then take them to a church, temple, mosque, etc on your own time. But please keep your concern (in this matter) where it belongs...to yourself.
Somewhere a cave is missing ALL of its bat shit.
Holy frackking shite. Apparently, Mr. Tiffany's wants to ignore 200 years of legal precedent. John Marshall is gonna rise out of his grave and kick your *ss, Newtie Boy...
Lies, lies, and more .lies there is no war on religion. Religious leaders are running scared because
the culture is becoming more inclusive. The adulterous relationship between the right wing and religion is
thus exposed.
OK, Newt. Let's start the inquisition with the Citizens United decision.
Newt is about to have some extra time on his hands as he won't the the Republican nominee.
Maybe Herman Cain can get this gas bag a date because honestly Calista looks as the shes on
a strike.
Newt's self destruction has begun. And it is intentional. This is a money gig for him. he wants no part of the actual office of the Presidency.
"The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself", and of course Newt becoming the Republican nominee. The more you seditious progressive democrats go MAD about Newt the more Republicans will support him.
dugfmjamul If you're goosing yourself with the fantasy that Democrats fear Newt Gingrich as a candidate, that would be par for your course.
bluestatedon One only tackles the one that has the ball, and Newt has been carrying the ball for weeks now...seditious progressive democrats worst fears would be Lincoln Douglas style debates with Obama. Democrats have been misrepresenting Obama as just a very liberal democrat, wait until the debates when Newt demonstrates to the whole world Obama's love for socialism and disrespect, even vile contempt for the constitution.
@dugfmjamul bluestatedon
Korean Guy, please let Mr. Newtron get the nomination. Oh please, please, please.
vile contempt for the constitution... is that not what claiming that mob rule should be able to override the judicial system is showing? And it would be lovely to believe even for a second that the president of the USA was a socialist, rather than someone frankly on the far end of the right from the view of everyone not in the USA. dugfmjamul bluestatedon
dugfmjamulbluestatedon It would seem to me that the one who makes up new law so he can arrest judges is the one with contempt for the constitution.
The great thing about the right is that they spend so much time listening to themselves on Rush and Fox, they have no idea how looney they sound to everyone not inside their cone of ignorance.
@dugfmjamul PLEASE MAKE IT NEWT!! That would be the best happening ever.
"A judge should have to explain his or her radical decisions, Gingrich emphasized again."
Newt, here is hint: THEY DO YOU FRICKING MORON IT IS CALLED THEIR "RULING!"
Hey Newt, if you are interested in running for Dictator, they have an opening over in North Korea.
coneyislandbaby67
LOL
Replace the judiciary with an American Idol style TV show. Just call the 1-800 number on the bottom of the screen to determine guilt. Why should a judge or only 12 citizens get to decide? Everyone should get to decide everything...look at how well it works in California.
I wish they would arrest him for being a complete fucking asshole.
Why not?
If he wants to circumvent the Constitution, lets do it to him
And what could "reassert the constitution" better than utterly stomping all over its most important principal (separation of powers)?
The thing (Newton) is a dbag in good standing. He understands squat in regards to what decade this is and his place in this decade. Delusional? Fer sure. Criminally insane? Without a doubt.
Newt is a piece of living pond scum!!!
With such statements, it is obvious that Newt is not serious about become President; it's all about his "brand," and selling his merchandise in the future.
This asswipe knows he is not fit to govern and will spew BS until the teahadist figure it out.
Unfortunately, they are too stupid to get his grifter actmarshduck1
marshduck1 You're right. I don't think he was ever in it to win it.
Newt will get the votes of the red meat voters, whose knowledge of the constitutional separation of powers was provided by some neanderthal televangelist. Can those bubbas carry him to the nomination? Let's hope. Independents will be repulsed by Newt's suggestion that Capitol Police should drag liberal Ninth Circuit judges into congressional interrogations. Let's hope that Newt wins the battle (Republican nomination) so that he can lose the war (General election).
laffingby Unfortunately all polls show him in steep decline today. So much for an Obama landslide.
Still could happen. Gingrich won't drop out until the Convention. That way, he gets to write off all his book-signing tours as "campaign stops."
Gingrich is also actually delusional enough to believe that he will be the dark horse compromise candidate - the James K. Polk of 2012.vote4progress laffingby
Well, following the example set by others here, I've just bought my 17 year old daughter her final Christmas present, a membership in the ACLU. Thanks Newt!
1972gd
THE ACLU is a WAR WITH CHRISTMAS, LIBTARD!!!!
Mr.Banana Hammock In all honesty, a totally rockin' web site. Best fundraising/membership pages I've seen for a non-profit (not a single offer for some totally useless piece of merchandise; and they have gift membership), and lots of info on how to affect issues other than giving them money.
Do it for Mrs. Banana Hammock!
1972gd
It would make more sense to give Mrs. Banana Hammock the money directly if you get my drift.
Mr.Banana Hammock1972gd I think you accidentally hit the caps lock key. Be a dear and check your messages for spelling and grammar before you post. Thank you. And let me correct a slight factual error: the ACLU works to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens by working within the legal system —they have no army and no powers to declare war. Just thought you should know.
tonygilchMr.Banana Hammock1972gd Mr Banana Hammock writes that way on purpose, so that you'll recognize the position he is coming from. I wonder who he really is, since "Mr Hammock" is actually a parody of guys like our resident RW troll, dug.
Hammock does a great job, too. The author must visit Red State of Free Republic to pick up the latest catch phrases and devices used to avoid having original thoughts.
1972gd Tony is right; Banana Hammock is a brilliant Poe. Take a look at that avatar! And thank God he is willing to immerse himself in the filth of Red State and consort with the Freepers to bring us the latest and greatest right-wing talking points. Better him than me.
"There is no reason the American people need to tolerate a judge who is that out of synch with our ENTIRE CULTURE" HELLO WE ARE NOT ALL CHRISTIANS AND YOU ARE THE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A DICTATOR!!!!
Congress SHOULD go after THESE LIBTARD radical judges who LEGISLATE FROM the bench, GO against the FABRIC of traditional AMERICA IN an attempt to SECULARIZE A christian NATION! It's REQUIRED IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT Republican CONGRESSES must go STOP THE ISLAMIZATION OF THE USA on pushed BY IMAM Soetoro and his gang of libtard SHARIA JUDGES!!!!!!!!
Wow! you are crazy Doll! Mr.Banana Hammock
Mr.Banana Hammock What a fookin' eejit.
kevinmcallenMr.Banana Hammock THANK YOU FOR USING SO MANY CAPS!!!!!! I CAN TELL YOU ARE SERIOUS!!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXTRA EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!! NOT LIKE THESE OTHER LIBTARDS WHO OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE ALL CAPS LOCK!!!!!! OR PROPER PUNCTUATION!!!!!?
Mr.Banana Hammock
you are funny!!!!!!!!!!
Get help. You really need it.
Maybe a good mental health care program would be good for you because you are insane.Mr.Banana Hammock
@Mr.Banana Hammock You are full of irrational hatred. Please follow the advice of mpclark12. I'm saying this as a caring person.
Mr.Banana Hammock Your nurse is calling. Time for your meds.
Newt is a tool. Nuff said...
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