As much as I hate the out of control Judiciary, Newt’s claim that he would have US Marshal’s go and arrest Federal Judges is the height or dictatorial nonsense!
Only one other President in our history did such a thing — and he WAS a dictator, for all intents and purposes. He swore out a warrant on the Chief Justice of the United States, who had ruled against him (quite correctly in this case) on a Constitutional issue, and ordered Federal Marshals to apprehend him. The Warrant was NEVER executed because no Federal Marshal was ever found that would actually enforce it, or alternatively, those who would have enforced it were met by either military forces or other law enforcement who would have “shot back” if they attempted to take Taney by force.
The Supreme Court Chief Justice — 84 yr old Roger B. Taney. The President — Abraham Lincoln. The case — Ex Parte Merryman, in which Taney excoriated Lincoln for his suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus (protection against false or indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial). Taney said the suspension, if it TRULY was “in the public interest,” MUST be approved by Congress. Congress NEVER approved it. The SCOTUS ruled against it. Lincoln IGNORED BOTH and EXPANDED the suspension of Habeas Corpus, along with other Civil Rights.
This just demonstrates two major truths: (1) Newt Gingrich, for being a History Professor, does NOT understand the Constitution, or if he does, he’s on the WRONG side of it! (2) Abraham Lincoln was the BIGGEST Tyrant who ever sat in the White House — and Newt aspires to be just like him! (Of course, so did Newt’s hero — FDR!)
There are CONSTITUTIONAL ways to REMOVE out-of-control judges from the bench. The State of Iowa did it last year. It’s called IMPEACHMENT. CONGRESS has the power to do it, but exercises that power EXTREMELY rarely. If we CHANGE CONGRESS, and INSIST that they FORCE the Judiciary uphold their CONSTITUTIONAL duties, THEN the Judiciary would move back into line with the Constitution. But ceding the power to arbitrarily arrest Federal Judges to a dictatorially minded President is Dangerous and stupid — it doesn’t matter if his name is Barack Obama, Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul.
Lincoln had legitimate authority acting as Commander in Chief during a time of War. Washington DC was an armed encampment located in the territory of a state in secession from the union. The entire country was a war zone and rights are often forced to be suspended during times of war. Peoples property and even their freedom are taken legally through legitimate governmental acts during war. Marshal Law is often declared and people are pressed into government service, often against their will.
The only thing wrong with your verbose rant is that Newt never said he, or any president, would or should do that.