The World Around You

Roy Moore’s Writ of Certiorari has been denied by the US Supreme Court. The monument will not be coming back and Ol’ Roy has his hearing before the Judicial Inquiry Commission next Wednesday.

The court quietly rejected appeals from suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who had argued that the monument properly acknowledges “God as the source of the community morality so essential to a self-governing society.”

Moore was suspended as chief justice for defying a federal court order to remove the monument. He goes on trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary on Nov. 12 on face judicial ethics charges for his refusal to comply with the order.

“I think he never had a chance in the Supreme Court, and his claiming otherwise was just blowing smoke,” said Richard Cohen, legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the groups that sued to have the monument removed.

The Supreme Court’s action is not a ruling on the thorny question of whether the Ten Commandments may be displayed in government buildings or in the public square. It merely reflects the high court’s unwillingness to hear the appeal.

I do have a bit of the last statement. What it means is there were not at least three justices who felt they needed to hear the appeal. It doesn’t take a majority or unanimity for the case to be heard.

It’s so nice to be right.

UPDATE:

Look out, the morality police are back. I’ve been to this mall in Homewood. I certainly wouldn’t go back again if they move forward with this idiotic initiative by Councilman Steve Chambers.

A draft resolution, handwritten by Chambers, states: “Homewood encourages all of its businesses, located within the City, to adhere to high standards and traditional values in the marketing of their goods and services; and the City of Homewood desires for all of its business leaders to adopt strict marketing practices promoting these values and maintain ‘common decency’ in its advertising, store front displays and other forms of media.”

He noted the display was across the street from an ice cream parlor.

After consulting with City Attorney Michael Kendrick, Chambers said the city can’t legislate morality in advertising under the First Amendment, unless the advertising strays into pornography.

“All we can do is strongly encourage and hope our business leaders, as good corporate citizens, would maintain the values and standards we’ve enjoyed in Homewood,” Chambers said. “Frankly, I think they’ll do it.”

Exactly what does he think they will do? Stop displaying their product in the windows? Put up black sheets so no one can see what is inside? This action by the Councilman supposedly came at the request of a constituent. Shame on Chambers for not simply explaining that a corporate citizen of their community has every right to display its product in the window of its store.

El Presidente is coming to Birmingham today. There are at least a few protests planned according to the Birmingham News,

During Bush’s visit, members of the Alabama Sierra Club and environmental and labor activists will hold a rally in Linn Park. A news release says the event will focus on the risks posed by the Army’s chemical weapons incineration program in Anniston and call on Bush “to protect Alabama’s air, water, health and safety.”

Larry Darby, president of the Atheist Law Center, said a protest against Bush’s “faith-based initiatives” will also be held at Linn Park today from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Speaking of the “faith-based initiatives”, there was an interesting report on NPR’s Weekend Edition about one particular initiative that I would encourage you to check out.