Posted on 04/10/2005 7:35:11 PM PDT by FairOpinion
Freshman Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, delivered a lengthy Senate speech criticizing judges who he claims make political decisions but are unaccountable to the public. It was part of a sometimes-bitter reaction to decisions by federal and state judges in the Terri Schiavo case.
Cornyn suggested that the publics perception of judges being unaccountable to the public builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in violence.
His speech had followed statements by a fellow Texan, House Republican leader Tom DeLay, warning that judges in the Schiavo case will answer for their behavior.
Cornyn seemed to have thought better about his speech the next day, when he regretted the overheated rhetoric about judges.
(Excerpt) Read more at nashuatelegraph.com ...
Terri PING
If Frist is distancing himself from Cornyn, it isn't because of that one paragraph in a long speech, that had a lot of very important points like the Supremes using foreign law; he is distancing himself because Cornyn makes him look like a schlub...
Cornyn is a freshman, but has the presence, intellect, speaking talent etc., that is much more "presidential" than Frist---you put their floor speeches back to back, and you can definitely wonder which is the more elder statesman!
And Delay is a forceful personality that doesn't ask permission to be the "majority leader of the House"--he actually ACTS like a majority leader, which really rubs the dems the wrong way, and obviously offends Frist's delicate sensibilities...lol
Cornyn and the others are right to say the courts are abominable. But he made a mistake by seeming to link it to the whacko violence. So he needlessly shot himself in the foot.
But, still, Cornyn is great. And he is right, the courts are acting abominably.
Why is it we aren't afraid to call these judges the a@@es they are. Maybe we have elected our representatives that have no guts. Damn, there must be someone like Delay out there, willing to stand up for us.
"...Cornyn makes him look like a schlub..."
I take it a schlub means a wuss? If so, I agree. We need MORE OF THE CORNYNS AND LESS OF THE FRISTS!!!!
Bill Frist is NOT A GOOD LEADER in times of war..in Congress!
Oops!! Didn't see the part about Cornyn taking back some of his rhetoric...just damn! I should've known. I tell you what...the whole slew of Republicans need to get kicked out on their butts next election!
I was watching C-span 2 when Cornyn originally gave the speech in question---I am a big fan of his, so if I see him speaking on the TV, I always listen/watch....
When he was giving his speech, I was mentally giving him the thumbs up as usual, but when he got to the part about violence directed toward the judges, a ? appeared over my head because it seemed a non-sequiter with the rest of his speech---out of left field.
To be fair, the last line of the paragraph about that subject is a qualifier something like--"this would be my fear as we go on with a problematic judiciary"--( a truly awkward paraphrase on my part)---that let the true listener know that this is not occuring at this point but is feared by an ex-judge and current Senator responsible for helping put judges in their positions----
Well, the next day, I was watching C-span and 3-4 dems stood up and lambasted Tom Delay for his harsh words for the Florida case's federal judiciary for not following what the congress asked of them re: the Terri Schiavo case. They also included this one relatively small part of Cornyn's speech the day before and linked it with Delay's rhetoric, trying to make it seem like Delay was threatening the judges and Cornyn was, in a way condoning it---
The media gets involved when these dems senators start talking about it over and over and by that evening, even Brit Hume's show was practically accusing Cornyn of linking the murders in Chicago and the murders in Atlanta to judges and their co-workers/relatives to judicial activism.
To make a long story, longer, I regret that he veered off into that territory mainly because it gave the dems some new "talking points" when added to Tom Delay's remarks and doing what they do so well, which is twisting them to fit a "crime" that they want to accuse the Republican of.
Having said all of that, I still am a hugh Cornyn fan, I am disappointed that after he apologizes on the Senate floor, the dems ignored the apology and just revved up the hype machine which is EXACTLY WHY BUSH WILL NEVER EVER ADMIT HE HAS MADE A MISTAKE ABOUT ANYTHING---it doesn't do any good and it makes you look weak.
"It doesn't do any good and makes you look weak."
Absolutely!! Our Republican Reps and Sens need to grow more backbone and we will have it made. The Dems are so good at "politics of personal destruction" while most of the Republicans react rather than act. We have needed for so long to target Pelosi's questionable travel arrangements. If we would attack more, the Dem attackers would be more wary of these personal assaults. They have nothing to worry about cause they know the Reps will roll over....i.e. Trent Lott!!
Ping
I don't think Frist is doing it for that reason .. I think Frist is dealing with the President's nominees and he's working with Bill Nelson (D) to try to work something out - but even Bill is reportedly upset over the attitude of the dems.
When the dems start whining about this .. there will be Bill Nelson telling the media that he tried to work with the dems but they wouldn't cooperate. Sounds good to me.
Remember, it's the House that has to bring the impeachment charges .. not the senate. Cornyn is just there as support to show the dems there is going to be a coordinated effort to reign in these judges.
Could everybody just cool their jets and stop calling people names. I thought we were supposed to be grownups here?
Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
I knew Delay wasn't alone in that Terri's murder by judicial fiat was an OUTRAGE AND AGAINST THE LAW.
Yay! Did I say today that I love Texas?
Cornyn is a good man. He's a former Texas Supreme Court justice. He's new to ambush journalism from the left, but he's a fast learner.
John Cornyn. Proud to say he's MY Senator. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.