InJustice Sunday

In an effort to demonstrate that there is no limit to how low you can go (Terri Schiavo? Nigga, please.), Presidential Butt Puppet Bill Frist will be pushing to change Senate rules to rob the minority party of the fillibuster, so that Republicans can push through the few judicial nominees that Democrats are dead-set against. How? Through evangelical churches.

As we've mentioned (via Wonkette), most federal judges are Republican appointees. Like so many dollars, this fact has unfortunately not trickled down to some "people of faith," or, more specifically, to the Family Research Council, run by the author of the "nation's first Covenant marriage law," Louisiana's own self-righteous prick Jimmy Swaggart Tony Perkins. The FRC argues on its website that

For years activist courts...have been quietly working under the veil of the judiciary, like thieves in the night, to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms. Federal judges have systematically grabbed power, usurping the constitutional authority that resides in the other two branches of government and, ultimately, in the American people.

We now have a President who is committed to nominate judicial candidates who are not activists, but strict constructionists -- judges who will simply interpret the Constitution as it was written. We now have a majority in the U.S. Senate that will confirm these nominees. However, there is a radical minority that has launched an unprecedented filibuster against these outstanding men and women.

The obvious solution? Television. As the New York Times reports, on Sunday the FRC will hold a nationwide church-based simulcast of a Francis Ford Coppola production of Bram Stoker's Fristula. Featuring: Mullah Dobson! Tony Perkins! Chuck "Watergate" Colson! and, of course, Elmo! Bill Frist! Why? That's...unclear. Presumably Fristula wants to rally the undead to call their senators and demand the Senate rules be changed. According to the FRC's website, "The Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist of Tennessee, is committed to returning Constitutional order to the Senate by requiring an up-or-down vote on these nominees. To do this, he urgently needs the help of every 'values voter.'"

UPDATE: Go here to register for info on hosting the simulcast. When you register, the following text is displayed (they email you the same text):

Here's how your church can take part in the April 24th simulcast:

1. Watch via live webcast

Click this link for more information on how to participate via webcast:

http://www.lightonthehill.tv/justice.html
[This link should take you directly to the webcast. Just click the link for the bandwidth-version you want. -ed.]

2. Watch the live simulcast via SkyAngel (no charge for SkyAngel subscribers)

Angel 2 - Channel 9702
Sunday APRIL 24, 2005, 7PM-8:30PM EST

If you already subscribe to SkyAngel then you are all set. If you have Dish Network equipment, you can subscribe to one month of SkyAngel programming and watch this along with other SkyAngel programming for the month.

Cost: $11.99 (Dish Network equipment not included)

Call 1-888/759-2643 (SkyAngel) to sign up or get more info or visit SkyAngel's website:

http://www.skyangel.com

Please note: your church's participation will be made known to interested attendees in your area. Registering indicates a willingness to host them for this simulcast. You must have access to SkyAngel2 (via satellite dish) or the ability to run a live Webcast between 7:00 and 8:30PM EST on April 24.

QUICK DISCLAIMER: This is not to say that there's no such thing as "judicial activism" or that it shouldn't be debated and perhaps curtailed. But not like this. Never like this. Oh, and if you're interested in the book Men in Black, Slate's Dahlia Lithwick has a withering review.