Yes! Let's rename this Judicial Activism :-)

Judicial activism?  Lack of Judicial restraint?  With all due respect to your office, Mr. President, how is it that you are overlooking your own executive activism and lack of executive restraint when it comes to your healthcare plan/bill that...
1. I must purchase or else be fined for not purchasing;
2.  that will cover 10 million more folks without adding a single doctor;
3.  that was passed by a congress who did not read it and then exempted themselves from it,
4.  that will be financed by a country that is broke,
5.  and that now seeks to assault the consciences of those who morally object to paying for somebody's birth control?

So, I guess if the Supremes don't straighten up and fly right, the chief exec might find a way to ignore their constitutional rights too.

Is it me, or has the world gone batty?

Republicans slam Obama over warning to 'unelected' Supreme Court
Published April 03, 2012
| FoxNews.com
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Republicans are accusing President Obama of trying to "intimidate" the Supreme Court by wrongly suggesting a ruling against the health care overhaul would be "judicial activism."
Obama, during a joint press conference Monday with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, said he's "confident" the law will be upheld, but cautioned the "unelected" court against reaching any other conclusion. In doing so, Obama invoked what he described as conservative concerns about judicial activism.

But Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, called it a "fantasy" to think "every law you like is constitutional and every Supreme Court decision you don't is 'activist.'"
"Judicial activism or restraint is not measured by which side wins but by whether the Court correctly applied the law," he said.
The president's challenge to the high court drew widespread attention, on the eve of the Republican presidential candidates' next round of primaries -- Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia are voting Tuesday. All the candidates oppose the health care law, though front-runner Mitt Romney has come under fire for his role in passing one with similar provisions while governor of Massachusetts.
Romney, who describes the federal law as an overreach, also slammed Obama for his Supreme Court comments on Tuesday.
Romney, in an interview on Fox News, said an activist court is one that "departs" from the Constitution and legislates from the bench. In this case, he said, the judges simply are weighing whether a law is constitutional.
"That will not be an activist court -- that will be a court following the Constitution," Romney said.
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, agreed.
"Nothing could be more appropriate for the Supreme Court to decide than whether a bill is constitutional or not," he told Fox News Radio.
Smith said he was "disappointed" by the president's remarks.
"It is not unprecedented at all for the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional; they do that on a regular basis so it's not unprecedented at all," he said. "What is unprecedented is for the president of the United States trying to intimidate the Supreme Court."
The Supreme Court spent three days hearing arguments last week in four separate challenges to the health care law, which stands as the president's signature domestic policy accomplishment. A central challenge was over the individual mandate -- the requirement that Americans buy health insurance. Critics say the mandate is unconstitutional, and that the federal government cannot force people into the insurance marketplace.
Obama on Monday said that without such a mandate, the law would not have a mechanism to ensure those with preexisting conditions get health care. He said the law is constitutional.
"I'm confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress," Obama said. "And I'd just remind conservative commentators that for years what we've heard is the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint, that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law. Well, this is a good example. And I'm pretty confident that this court will recognize that and not take that step."


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/03/republicans-slam-obama-over-warning-to-unelected-supreme-court/#ixzz1r04ZrX88

Operation Hot Mic

Ditat Deus

Don't know what that means?  It's our (Latin) state motto.  It means "God enriches" and it's on a huge carpet square on the floor of the Arizona State Senate.  I had a chance to see this today since I went down to see the unfortunate demise of House Bill 2625.  I love our state motto. I love that we still use Latin and Godly sayings that help us to raise our minds and consciences above the mundane to higher ideals.  Because latin is a "dead" language, it has the stability that is lacking in the vernacular.  It can't be slanged into irrelevance.

Slanged into irrelevance...that's also what's happening to our religious liberties.  HB 2625, sponsored by AZ House Majority Whip Debbie Lesko, allows employers to opt-out of certain mandated beneftis based on the business owner's beliefs.  It does not authorize the firing of women, the violation of the HIPAA laws or the deprivation of women from making reproductive health care choices.   But it, too has been slanged into irrelevance....for now, that is. Because it's been complicated by the confused, the fearful and the vengeful, it lost in a narrow margin 17-13.


Senator Barto plans to make a reconsideration motion tomorrow that will hopefully bring it to the floor at a time where we can garner a few more votes.  I am still baffled by the few republicans who did not stand with us this time.  Your phone calls and petitions to our members of the state legislature are really having an impact so I'd like to continue to urge you to ask them to reconsider their position and ask them to vote on the side of their conscience as our religious liberties are being threatened at an unprecedented level. 


But the seal has caught my attention. Back in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Organic Act that recognized the Arizona Territory and allowed it to form a territorial government. To take charge of the new Arizona Territory, President Lincoln appointed John Noble Goodwin, of South Berwick, Maine, Governor and he appointed Richard Cunningham McCormick, of New York, Secretary of the Territory. McCormick was the inspiration behind the seal and motto...it depicts a miner in front of a wheelbarrow with a pick and a short-handled spade. Two mountains rose in the background. 


Did you catch that? A miner with wheelbarrow, pick and spade.  This image spoke to me.  A laborer with his tools.  Our freedoms are treasures that sometimes require a lot of blood, sweat and tears.  They are not free. In order to keep and preserve these freedoms, we sometimes need to roll up our sleeves and defend them by the sweat of our brow. This is what is facing us in our state and in our nation.  Sweat equity freedom.  And those 2 majestic mountains? A representation of faith and freedom.  Pillars upon which this country was founded.  


Do I take these freedoms for granted?  You bet I do.  When I showed up downtown today, those on the side of Debbie Lesko's Bill were few compared to our Pro-Abort counterparts. When I walked into the gallery chamber, I noticed the empty seats around me and recognized that very important decisions are made in this chamber on a weekly basis...decisions that affect me and my family.  But this was my first visit inside this building and I've lived here since 1995.  There's something wrong with that.  I must confess, I've been AWOL from the dynamic political process in my state.  It's time I rejoin the ranks of Jane Q Public.  It's time to get inspired. 


So perhaps that is why I was downtown today.  To recognize my creator-enricher in the words of a motto; To be grateful for men and women who fight the statewide good fights on my behalf: Nancy Barto and Debbie Lesko to name just 2; And to prevent our religious liberties from being slanged into irrelevance. And finally, to remind us all that we have a long battle ahead and we must all roll up our sleeves & sweat a little.  


Not hard to do on a summer Arizona day! 


Ditat Deus. 

What a bunch of Clowns...

Clowns for Life that is! 

Saturday, March 17 was the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Phoenix and many of our SJA parishioners and Preschoolers donned clown attire to show up as Clowns for Life.  Special thanks to Maria Mascorella (bright yellow wig, baby blue/white outfit) and her husband Joe for their tireless effort in this event.  Maria made many of the costumes that you see.  Enjoy the photos sent to me from Patricia Bowen (she's the adorable one in the green baseball cap below).  Who says Pro-lifers are all work and no play? 

Lenten Promises - A study in contrasts

(From Friend X)  Hello dear friends and family,

I wanted to let you know I am attempting to disconnect a bit for Lent.  My smartphone is making my brain melt and I need to be less well-informed and more productive.  This will not be easy! I love checking Catholic news sites and flooding your inboxes with things I think you must have right away.  So some of you may have a more peaceful Lent if I am successful! 

I will only check email in the am and sometimes pm, (rather than every five minutes), so feel free to call or text me if you need me to know something asap.  

I will try to get back to you asap. :-)

God bless you all and may you have a blessed Lent!

 ____________________________________________

(Karen's Version) Dear friends and family.   

I wanted to let you know I am attempting to give up chocolate for lent.  During this time I intend to go into sulfuric brain meltdown and annihilate any shred of sanity that held me together.  Please give a handsome tip to the men coming for me in the white truck and let my children know that I stashed the rest of their sees candies in the bottom of the laundry basket.  This will not be easy! I love eating chocolate all day and in any variety.

Please know that the sooner the truck comes for me the safer you will all be.   

So some of you may have a more peaceful Lent if I am successful!  

Family day is Sunday; feel free to drop in.  Please announce yourself At the visitor center as you will need to b padded down for weapons or Betty Crocker frosting cannisters. 

Please water the plants.  

I will try to get back to you asap. :-) 

God bless you all and may you have a blessed Lent!

 Me, yesterday.