Posted on 01/20/2006 7:50:52 PM PST by chet_in_ny
CONCORD, N.H. --The U.S. Supreme Court angered many Americans last year when it sided with a Connecticut city that wanted to seize homes and other property for economic development.
In protest, a small group led by a California man has been targeting David Souter, one of the five justices who voted yes in the case, trying to get Souter's hometown of Weare to seize his property for the purpose of building an inn.
They submitted enough petition signatures -- only 25 were needed -- to bring the matter before voters in March. They plan to rally in Weare this weekend to gather more support and bring attention to eminent domain issues.
"This is in the tradition of the Boston Tea Party and the Pine Tree Riot," organizer Logan Darrow Clements said in a telephone interview. The riot took place during the winter of 1771-1772, when colonists in Weare beat up officials appointed by King George III who fined them for logging white pines without approval.
"All we're trying to do is put an end to eminent domain abuse," Clements said, by having those who advocate or facilitate it "live under it, so they understand why it needs to end."
Clements, of Los Angeles, said he's never tried to contact Souter. And it wasn't known if Souter himself would be home for the weekend.
"The justice doesn't have any comment about it," Kathy Arberg, a Supreme Court spokeswoman, said about the protesters' cause.
Bill Quigley, Weare deputy police chief, said if protesters show up, they're going to be told to stay across the street from a dirt road that leads to Souter's farmhouse, which is more than 200 years old.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
As an aside, someone needs to set up a collection for the foremost real estate appraisal expert guy- for use in the supposed 'Lost Liberty Hotel' litigation.
ping!
Since Kelo was 5-4, it only needs 1 guy to flip.
Perhaps because Souter lives in a jurisdiction where it's easy to get something like this on a ballot. I'm guessing there aren't many places where it it only takes 25 signatures to get a proposal on the ballot.
Frankly, I hope they get Souter's property. He deserves a lesson on tyranny.
Of course not. Royalty never perceives a need to address the rabble they lord over.
I suspect Souter is the target for the practical reason that in New England towns, direct democracy can be used to take the decision to condemn his property for economic development.
The other 'Justices' who voted to abolish private property probably live in places where a majority of some body of professional politicians who are thrilled by the new power SCOTUS gave them would have to seize their property to get them to take away the grant of power.
If brought up again, I'm thinking it would be a 6-3 vote going the people's way.
The 4 dissents were O'Conner and Rehnquist though. That doesn't change anything.
I mean, included in the 4 dissents.
And there's always the 4th Estate press carrying the water for the "progressives" (see this http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/60691.htm - NY Times own 500 lb Eminent Domain gorilla- NY Times used Eminent Domain in Manhattan)
My vote is not. Souter prefers the anonymity of public parks at 4:00 in the morning.
I know this is off the subject, but has Robert Mugawe, by any chance, been a guest at Souter's 200 year-old farmhouse???
Right, so he can be among the "law abiding" (and robbing) citizens he pledged to protect. A modern day Robin Hood, if you will.
Being from NH [though he's really from MA] Souter should'a' known better. Souter has been a real disappointment.
Because he was appointed by Bush 41 and therefore thought to at least be a moderate, not Ted Kennedy's butt boy.
"has Robert Mugawe, by any chance, been a guest at Souter's 200 year-old farmhouse???"
EMINENT DOMAIN TOUCHE' of the day!
With any luck, Souter is the first domino. I'd love to have every member of the USSC kicked out of their houses and given away to Wal-Mart or Target.
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