March 24, 2005

Newt Gingrich: There is No Judicial Supremacy

I just got back from hearing Newt Gingrich speak to a group organized by David Horowitz. He was quite brilliant.

The Courts vs. The People
This was a huge eye-opener for me. Newt stated that the struggle for power between the courts and the public has been going on for over 200 years. This reached a peak in 1801-1802. “The level of anger in 1801-1802 about the courts is stunning.” Jefferson re-organized the courts at that time.

The notion of judicial supremacy is false. The courts are not empowered by our Constitution to have the last word. The Constitution calls for a balance of power, not an hierarchy with the court at the top. The government has the authority to reorganize the courts. In the case of the infamous 9th Circuit Court, for example, Newt stated that the government has the power to abolish the jobs of those judges and institute something else in its place.

Congress also has the power to write a law that specifies explicitly that “no court shall review it.” Newt stated that such language is currently used in various pieces of pork-barrel legislation, but can just as easily be used in legislation on issues for which the courts have shown a desire to create law rather than interpret it.

This is powerful strategy for dealing with the courts, which are currently trying to usurp power and position themselves as the final authority on all matters in this country.

On Separation of Church and State
Newt stated that “separation of Church and state doesn’t mean the state is anti-religion. It means there is no state-sponsored religion.”

He provides a walking tour (available on his site) showing recognition and appreciation of God in many historic monuments in Washington D.C. Quoting from his new book, Winning the Future:

One or two days spent visiting the key historic and monumental exhibits will end any questions you might have about America’s indebtedness to and reliance on the Creator from whom all our rights come.

He quoted “one of the founding documents of the United States,” the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

The notion that the Constitution can be quoted by the courts to show that government in the United States is permitted neither to recognize nor appreciate religion, is clearly false.

On the Discription of Americans as Being Politically Divided
He said that the Left is mistaken in discribing America as being almost evenly divided on politics. He’s got a questionnaire (which you can take on his web site) asking about key Conservative subjects, including:

1. We should be allowed to say “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Able-bodied people on welfare should be required to work.

3. Men who assault pregnant women and kill the unborn child should be prosecuted for assault and murder.

4. The United States should put its own interests first and cooperation with international organizations second.

5. Believe in God.

6. Proud to be an American.

He stated that 70% or more of Americans agree with all of the statements on the survey, including all of the above statements. The notion that this country is evenly divided on such issues appears to be incorrect. The percentage of Americans who agree with each statement on the survey is also available at his site.

There was much more. I’ll post later regarding things he discusses in his book.

Here’s a really wild optical illusion.

And here’s another one with a religious theme.