How is it that a failed Senate candidate managed to corral the Senate's majority leader into participating in his weekend judge-bashing fest, which was built around the poisonous arguments that the third branch of government is running rampant, and that those who oppose a handful of extremely conservative judicial nominees are somehow "against people of faith"?
More importantly, why did Bill Frist agree to lend his name and reputation to the "Justice Sunday" telecast, broadcast from a mega-church in Kentucky and beamed to 44 states?
OK, we know the answer to that last question.
Frist wants to be president, and he's decided he'd rather have the noisy, highly organized religious right establishment with him than with somebody else. Hence his threat to change the long-established Senate practice of allowing a substantial minority to avert a vote on the Senate floor, in order to push through President Bush's most controversial nominees.
As for Perkins, a former Louisiana lawmaker who missed the runoff in his attempt to unseat Democrat Mary Landrieu in 2002, Sunday's broadcast is just the latest indication that his voice, and his views, have come to carry inordinate weight in the circles of power.
So what are those views?
...
Perkins and Republican leaders have talked of stripping funding from certain offending courts, according to a recording of a strategy meeting excerpted in the Los Angeles Times. And the American Prospect, a liberal publication, quoted him telling allies this: "The court has become increasingly hostile to Christianity, and it poses a greater threat to representative government -- more than anything, more than budget deficits, more than terrorist groups."
Have a look at the inspiring Family Research Council web page. Chock full of fundagelical delights, to be sure. But take a moment and look at the left column, and pan down to the "Marriage: One Man. One Woman." button. Seems like there's a rather progressive promotion of so-called "interracial" marriage there. Am I wrong, or is there a white groom marrying a bride of color? How interesting, indeed!
I'll have to buy me one of those bumper stickers (though the actual text might have to amended a bit). Remember: it's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.
And it's the "Rock of Ages" not the age of rocks.
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Update: Yatpundit has more on Perkins and David Duke.