103 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Reading for Anyone Interested in Protecting Democracy, September 15, 2005
This review is from: Contempt: How the Right Is Wronging American Justice (Hardcover)
In the few chapters of this book that I've read since purchasing it, Catherine Crier has done a superb job of explaining what any clear thinking, intelligent person already knows-that the religious right is attempting to thwart democracy by perverting the judicial branch of government. Although Crier seemingly comes across as a bit of an alarmist at times one cannot deny that she has researched the topic well and provided abundant source material.
What I find particularly noteworthy about "Contempt" is how Crier artfully points out the judicial activism that takes place on the far right, and how the term "judicial activism" has been co-opted by social conservatives to serve as a codeword for any sort of court decision that challenges their attempt to turn America into a religious theocracy.
As is the case anytime a book like this is published there will be the usual band of ignorant wingnuts (like Timothy Cornwell) slagging this book and questioning the credentials of the author. The intelligent, objective observer would do well to avoid paying attention to such blather. Crier is not a liberal; she's a moderate Republican with libertarian leanings. She is also a former attorney and judge so I think it's far to say that she has a pretty good idea of what she's talking about.
If you are sincerely concerned about the tone this country has taken under George W. Bush, the religious charlatans who have effectively taken control of the Republican Party, and the hypocritical, corrupt politicians who do their bidding then this book is for you.
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30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book, and a highlighter at the same time., February 23, 2006
This review is from: Contempt: How the Right Is Wronging American Justice (Hardcover)
This former, republican judge from Texas spells out her argument clearly and passionately how the religious right is attempting to change the US Constitution while claiming to support it. According to Crier the religious right takes a hypocritical stand on judicial issues. Any judge who makes a decision they do not like is legislating from the bench i.e. changing the law in their decision rather than interpreting it. She reveals this hypocrisy in the Terry Schiavo case where the evangelical Christian judge followed the law, and ordered life support removal. The Christian right vilified this judge because he failed to change the law in his decision! But, this is only one of many issues for which Crier provides convincing evidence.
The Christian right startegy for taking over our courts include: 1) (Very short) term limits, 2) jurisdictional stripping i.e. remove the courts from hearing challenges to religious-based decisions, 3) impeachment 4) congressional veto of supreme court decisions the congress doesn't like! 5) congressional funding or defunding of courts that are too liberal in their decisions, 6) abolition of courts whose decisions that congress does not like. These strategies are aimed at intimidating judicial decisions.
The Christian movement goes even further. Although fully 80% of the country, Christians are now claiming to be persecuted. They are attempting to revise history claiming that the founders intended the country to be Christian. Serious students of American history already know that Madison, Franklin, Jefferson and Adams and others were actually wary of religion dominating or being a part of politics.
According to Crier, the conressional right-wing and religious zealots are planning daily to bring Christian influence into our courts and our constitution on abortion, marriage, right-to-die, stem-cell research, intelligent design, gun control, statues of the Ten Commandments, etc.
This books present facts that may surprise you:
The republicans charge that their judicial candidates are not given a [fair] chance, yet of the 229 candidates President Bush nominated to the bench, only 10 were blocked, making Bush's approval rate for nominees the highest in years.
Under President Clinton, the republican-controlled senate denied "sixty-three nominees even a hearing, let alone a vote."
In the 20 years prior to 1997, it took 97 days from nomination to confirmation. By 1998, the republicans stretched the nomination to confirmation time to 232 days.
While some critics of this book make a point of her lack of footnotes, or that she described one zealot mistakenly as a psychiatrist rather than a psychologist, the evidence she presents is a matter of public record. This book is too well researched to simply be dismissed.
Only people on the extreme right will discount this book. No one likes their beliefs or opinions challenged by the facts, but this is one you may find yourself reading over and over again.
It also provides a powerful reminder that there is nothing more threatening or dangerous than the self-righteous.
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39 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A timely wake up call, September 15, 2005
This review is from: Contempt: How the Right Is Wronging American Justice (Hardcover)
CONTEMPT is an amazingly timely must-read primer for the Supreme Court confirmation hearings going on right now. It's a fresh, no-nonsense book chock full of really detailed and relevant information that, as ominous and frightening as it is, is told in a really entertaining way. Through well-defined arguments and fascinating examples, Crier details how Bush appointees and Republican lawmakers are handing over the keys to the Federal Judiciary to religious zealots and other right-wing whackos. Crier deftly and conclusively proves that the true "Activist Judges" are the one's being appointed to the federal bench by George Bush and his gang.
I loved the way Crier tells stories in some chapters - the one on The Good News Clubs, a religious cult group that used legal loopholes to recruit kids in public schools, was particularly good. Elsewhere she puts really vivid faces on the people behind the religious right's takeover of the courts using thumbnail descriptions. There's a great piece about the true origins of the Pledge of Allegiance that's worth the cover price alone.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who has stopped believing all the Bush hype, was appalled at the disgusting grandstanding that took place around the Terri Schiavo case, or who wonders why our God given and Constitutionally guaranteed rights to make up our own minds and out own personal choices, is something politicians and TV evangelists need to control.
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