Congressman Billybob's Speech at Today's March for Justice II

Special to FreeRepublic | 04/07/05 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

I was fascinated by patent law when I was in school. But I got dragged off in the direction of constitutional law, and never got back to anything else.

What is the "hush-hush conservative school" that you are referring to?

As a writer myself, I can assure you that no one learns the ability to write with Ann Coulter's spectacular level of vitriol. That skill is either home grown or doesn't exist at all.

John / Billybob

[TruthNtegrity]

Congressman Billybob ROCKS!!!

[T'wit]

Not really hush-hush, but little-enough known to be a secret weapon for the good guys. It was the National Journalism Center taught by old guard conservative M. Stanton Evans. When Stan retired, the NJC was transferred to Ron Robinson's organization, but I think soon after that it was terminated. Much of the program depended on Stan's depth of experience, lively teaching and libertarian enthusiasm, and they simply weren't able to find anyone to replace him. I don't think there is anyone who could fill his shoes.

John Fund of the Wall Street Journal is another celebrated graduate of the NJC.

[T'wit]

>> As a writer myself, I can assure you that no one learns the ability to write with Ann Coulter's spectacular level of vitriol.

You are right, of course, but as one with a certain reputation for vitriol myself, I can assure you that learning journalism from Stan Evans does increase your body's natural output of venom, vituperation and vitriol.

[Badray]

This morning I'm not so sure why you couldn't start overturning reams of law that were not constitutionally based, with the same vigor with which the leftists instituted them.

From your keyboard to God's ear.

[Ramonchito]

Condemnation is a big problem in politics. Condemnation used to permeate Philippine politics. It also permeates American politics if the issue is very divisive.

The people are the only losers if they cannot get rid of the habit of condemnation. The legislators will be afraid to act on controversial legislation and would conveniently pass the back on the judiciary to do what is the duty of the legislature to do.

In the Terri Schiavo case, the problem is that neither the Federal legislature of the US nor any or its 50 state legislatures has passed any comprehensive euthanasia law. Euthanasia itself is a very divisive and explosive issue that no legislature wants to tackle it. So far the only euthanasia law that exist is the law laid down by the judges -- the common law on euthanasia.

Those who are dissatisfied with the judges' decision on the Terri Schiavo case should approach their state congressman and senators to convince them to pass a comprehensive euthanasia law in their states. Since there is no euthanasia law in any of the 50 states in the US, only one euthanasia law is needed for this problem to be solved. It only requires one euthanasia law to be passed in one state to start the ball rolling. Pretty soon, all the 50 states will have their own euthanasia law. Once the states pass their own euthanasia law, the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Terri Schiavo case will be avoided.

You cannot fault Judge Greer because he applied the judicial law on euthanasia in deciding Terri Schiavo's case. So far the only law on euthanasia is the judicial law since no state or federal legislature has passed any comprehensive euthanasia law.

If you find the common law on euthanasia unsatisfactory, then you have to prod the members of the state legislatures to act to pass a comprehensive euthanasia law that will cover Terri Schiavo's case.

The reason for the hesitancy of both the state and federal legislatures in passing a comprehensive euthanasia law is because the issue itself is very divisive, controversial and explosive. Hence politicians prefer judges to be the one to decide the matter to avoid the political backlash that a law on euthanasia would ensure among the voters.

Many people have blamed the executive and legislative branches of government in the Terri Schiavo's case, but condemnation only makes things worst. If you want a repeat on Terri Schiavo's case, don't stop your habit of blaming and condemning people for holding ideas contrary to your own. For as long as the issue of euthanasia is an explosive and divisive one and for as long as people cannot control their habit of condemnation, so will both the federal and state legislatures fail to pass a comprehensive euthanasia law and we will have a repeat of the Terri Schiavo's case.

Right now it appears that the judiciary is the only hope for a change in our harsh euthanasia laws. The legislature refuses to do its duty because of its fear of the voters so that duty falls on the judiciary. It is only the judiciary that can remedy the defect in the law since the legislature is to afraid to do it for the people.