# Whitehouse consults Falwell on Judicial Nominess.. WTF?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173 "2005-07-19T18:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/21 "2005-07-19T19:33:49Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Because religious conservatives are an important Republican constituency? But here’s the deal: even religious conservatives will start hemming and hawing when you ask them about Falwell; they’re not going to kick him off the island, but many of them are aware that he takes things a bit far, even by their standards. It’s not like Falwell’s the only spokesperson around for the ‘Christian’ conservatives; there’s Dobson and Pat Robertson and Wildmon and a couple of LaHayes and so forth and so on. When Bush reaches out to Falwell, he’s saying to the religious wingnuts that not only does he embrace them in general, but his love for them extends even unto the nuttiest among them. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/22 "2005-07-19T19:38:11Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > When Bush reaches out to Falwell, he’s saying to the religious wingnuts that not only does he embrace them in general, but his love for them extends even unto the nuttiest among them. And even the nuttiest among them vote. 🙂 And I’d be shocked if Falwell was the only religious conservative leader that Bush reaches out to on this. He’s a uniter, not a divider: he must make sure that _all_ the religious conservatives are united behind his choice. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/23 "2005-07-19T19:41:28Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > And even the nuttiest among them vote. 🙂 And I’d be shocked if Falwell was the only religious conservative leader that Bush reaches out to on this. He’s a uniter, not a divider: he must make sure that _all_ the religious conservatives are united behind his choice. 😃 Remarkable how he’s managed to unite the far right and the radical right aint it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/24 "2005-07-19T19:41:44Z")
Also, Bush cannot run again, Cheney has said repeatedly that he will not run (not that that means anything) so if they do something unpopular with their constituency they’re not going to be out of work. Wolves are already circling over the Rove case which looks worse for Bush all the time (and will look _really_ bad if the Air Force One memo story doesn’t check to the letter)- it might be a good time to think of doing something less partisan if he wants any peace in the rest of his term. Besides which, how can anybody be stupid enough **NOT** to know what type of judicial appointees the far right wants? Anti-abortion/Anti-gay/Religious/Pro-business/the end. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/25 "2005-07-19T19:46:58Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Also, Bush cannot run again, Cheney has said repeatedly that he will not run (not that that means anything) so if they do something unpopular with their constituency they’re not going to be out of work. I don’t think that they would want to piss off the constituency since other Republicans still need to run. George doesn’t want to de-rail Jebs chances does he? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/26 "2005-07-19T19:48:04Z")
> [@RTA](#): > > Some might say that since Christians continue to be marginalized and disempowered in this country, fair’s fair. Am I the only one who read this as “marginalized and disemboweled”? I could tolerate them being broken on the wheel, but disembowelment seems a bit harsh. Not to mention messy. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/27 "2005-07-19T19:50:51Z")
So much for the news reports last week that Bush claimed he was looking for a “mainstream” candidate. Yeah, as if anyone believed that for a second… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/28 "2005-07-19T19:51:47Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > I don’t think that they would want to piss off the constituency since other Republicans still need to run. George doesn’t want to de-rail Jebs chances does he? If we settled this in a Roman way and had Jeb and Hillary each divorce their spouses and marry each other and run on a joint ticket, I wonder what would happen (other than eternal darkness through the land). ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/29 "2005-07-19T19:52:06Z")
Hoooboy! What next? Is the country going to start being called the USJ? The United States of Jesusland. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/30 "2005-07-19T19:56:48Z")
“Look, look. Another pileon of Christianity,” he said, completely unsurprised. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/31 "2005-07-19T20:02:08Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > “Look, look. Another pileon of Christianity,” he said, completely unsurprised. Looks to me like another pile-on of Jerry Falwell. Or are you saying that Jerry Falwell’s views represent mainstream Christianity? ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/32 "2005-07-19T20:06:21Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > “Look, look. Another pileon of Christianity,” he said, completely unsurprised. How is this in any way a pile-on of Christianity? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/33 "2005-07-19T20:07:07Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > “Look, look. Another pileon of Christianity,” he said, completely unsurprised. /raises hand… Sorry, us Sunday school teachers love to pile on them crazy Christians! **Miller** got it. This is about Falwell, not Christians in general. Perhaps you can read the whole thread and join us **Garfield226**. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/34 "2005-07-19T20:09:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If we settled this in a Roman way and had Jeb and Hillary each divorce their spouses and marry each other and run on a joint ticket, I wonder what would happen (other than eternal darkness through the land). And their many headed offspring would start the American Empire. Nice planning. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/35 "2005-07-19T20:11:43Z")
Isn’t it, you know, _possible_ that he was telling Falwell that the nominee would be a mainstream, moderate judge? Don’t even try writing that with a straight face. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/36 "2005-07-19T20:15:31Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Isn’t it, you know, _possible_ that he was telling Falwell that the nominee would be a mainstream, moderate judge? Maybe he was asking Falwell if he wanted to be the next Supreme Court Justice? I think it would be kinda cool if that were so; not because I think he’d make a good justice but because watching the ensuing carnage would be sublime. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/37 "2005-07-19T20:17:24Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > Isn’t it, you know, _possible_ that he was telling Falwell that the nominee would be a mainstream, moderate judge? Hee. 😃 Well, we know that (no cites, just going from memory - please shoot me down if I’m wrong on anything): 1. Before the election he promised the righties a judge they’d like. 2. Recently he mentioned he’d nominate a judge that thinks the way most Americans do (Slacker sez: He’s going to nominate someone who thinks he’s mishandling the war?!? :eek: ). 3. Also recently he mentioned he’s not narrowing search to people who are actually, you know, JUDGES. 4. He’s a liar. So who knows?!? Could be Bruce Willis (credit to the Stephanie Miller show). ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/38 "2005-07-19T20:49:07Z")
Pile on Christina Applegate! D’oh! Am I the only person who thinks that if you saw Karl Rove’s right palm, you would see a negative impresion of the front of the headpiece of the staff of Ra. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/39 "2005-07-19T20:52:39Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Good heavens no. It’s always been a trainwreck to some degree, but this group really knows how to run some shit off the rails. I was pretty careful with how I phrased my comment. I didn’t mean it to be anti-Republican or anti-Christian. I can accept politicians who have different values, or a different premise on the role of government, than I do. I accept that there is rampant hypocrisy, but I want to be smart and honest enough to recognize it no matter where on the political spectrum it is. What drives me nuts are the cases where there is such a comlete lack of any coherent, logical reasoning. It bothers me when people use terms like “flip-flop” (for someone who has learned more about the changing world we live it) and “poll-driven” (for someone who cares about the opinions of the people) as insults _with no effort to explain why_. There was an article a few weeks ago about someone who was all set to start selling bumper stickers and such to raise popular support for Bush’s Supreme Court nominee; all he needed was a name. How can someone be so gung-ho to support someone when they don’t even know who it is? How can someone mount a petition drive against a “consensus nominee” and expect it to be taken seriously? Could someone start making sense, please? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173/40 "2005-07-19T20:53:45Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > I consult people whose opinions I don’t really care about all the time. It makes them feel good. Really? Why do you suppose they feel that way? 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitehouse-consults-falwell-on-judicial-nominess-wtf/313173.md?page=3)