Pledge is unconstitutional

Update: Well, I wrote the below immediately after the decision was announced. I didn't forsee that politicians from both sides of the aisle would be calling for a Constitutional amendment. And, Sen. Daschle has asked lawmakers to get to work early Thursday to recite the pledge. How quaint. And it will all be captured by CNN and beamed back to approving constituents nationwide.

It is clear to see that hundreds of years of church/state jurisprudence is to be wiped out in one fell swoop by people upset that the Pledge of Allegiance eliminate the two words "under God." It's sickening.

I think the best hope is that the Supremes grant cert and reverse. There may still be momentum for the amendment (a la flag burning amendment), but it won't be as dangerous as the current hysteria gripping the Hill.

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The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. At least in the territory covered by the 9th (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, and WA). I will have to read the decision before commenting further, but this is a huge victory for those who believe in the separation of church and state.

Then again, the 9th is the most overturned appeals court in the nation, and easily its most liberal. If the supremes take the case they will likely squash it. And, I get nervous about cases like this before elections. They tend to motivate the GOP's right wing while providing ample fodder for fund-raising appeals. And Bush will get to show once again what a fan of Jesus he is. Ugh.

Posted June 26, 2002 12:20 PM | Comments (1)