Posted on 04/19/2005 8:37:21 PM PDT by kingattax
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay intensified his criticism of the federal courts on Tuesday, singling out Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's work from the bench as "incredibly outrageous" because he has relied on international law and done research on the Internet.
DeLay said he thought there were a "lot of Republican-appointed judges that are judicial activists."
The No. 2 Republican in the House has openly criticized the federal courts since they refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. And he pointed to Kennedy as an example of Republican members of the Supreme Court who were activist and isolated.
"Absolutely. We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States? That's just outrageous," DeLay told Fox News Radio. "And not only that, but he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet? That is just incredibly outrageous."
A spokeswoman for the court, Kathy Arberg, said Kennedy could not be reached for comment.
Although Kennedy was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Reagan, a conservative icon, he has aroused conservatives' ire by sometimes agreeing with the court's more liberal members. Nevertheless, it is unusual for a congressional leader to single out a Supreme Court justice for criticism.
Dan Allen, a DeLay spokesman, declined comment on the interview.
DeLay himself has been criticized for his comments following Schiavo's death, which came despite Congress' passage of a law giving the federal courts jurisdiction to review her case. They declined to intervene.
"The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior," DeLay said in a statement.
He apologized last week, saying he had spoken in an "inartful" way.
Conservatives have been pushing to get the Senate to confirm President Bush's most conservative judicial nominees, which Senate Democrats are blocking. The House has no power over which judges are given lifetime appointments to the federal bench.
However, DeLay has called repeatedly for the House to find a way to hold the federal judiciary accountable for its decisions. "The judiciary has become so activist and so isolated from the American people that it's our job to do that," DeLay said.
One way would be for the House Judiciary Committee to investigate the clause in the Constitution that says "judges can serve as long as they serve with good behavior," he said. "We want to define what good behavior means. And that's where you have to start."
Let Cong DeLay know he has support :
http://www.majorityleader.gov/CONTACT.ASP?a=form
SUPPORT TOM DELAY!!!
I think Mr. DeLay just gave the media the finger.
Good for him.
DeLay is the wrong vehicle to pose a reasoned critique of judicial overreach. He lacks the depth and credibility. He lacks "nuance." He overstates, and gets out on a limb, that is subject to being cut off.
Man, the Hammer don't play!
This makes me thinks of what that reporter said on MSNBC on Monday.....
"Delay is known as someone who runs straight into a fight, not away from it..."
I SUPPORT TOM DELAY!!!!!
DOWN WITH WEAK KNEED SISSY RINOS!
Done. Thanks for the link.
Can't we all just get along?
:) Denote sarcasm.
youre welcome
Well, Lexis and Westlaw are on the Internet.
What was it when Robert Byrd used a paper-thin rhetorical device to imply that Republicans were ideological kin of the National Socialist German Workers Party (kind of ironic huh?). Oh, I know. He was being plain spoken. Or his rhetoric was a little over the top. Or he was being true to himself. Or feisty.
I wonder of Mary Jo felt anything slam into her. Well, even if she did, she didn't have to feel it for long.
(steely)
>> Nevertheless, it is unusual for a congressional leader to single out a Supreme Court justice for criticism. <<
I find it hard to believe that ANY leftist congressional leader (co-called) has not criticized Thomas or Scalia, at one time or another.
exactly.......thats routine......great point
Sorry, red meat is on the menu today. Circumspection and taking the long view...maybe tomorrow ;)
We need Delay in the Senate.
you know, i've heard several people saying that....interesting idea.
GO DELAY GO!!!!!
The left sees international law and FORCED treaty ratification as a way of bypassing the constitution.
Imagine the senate adopting an UNCONSTITUTIONAL treaty, Kennedy would superceed the constitution with the treaty.
There are very serious times.
I don't want any NUANCED reps...."nuance" gets you a flip-flopping traitor like J F'n Ketchup-Boy who has no core beliefs and will wilt with each passing wind.
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