Saturday, March 27, 2004

Touché
Social progress occurs as often as not because an unappealing crank decides to take action about something that is pissing her off.

Just this past week, amateur lawyer Dr. Michael A. Newdow applied a verbal smackdown to Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist.

CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST: Do we know -- do we know what the vote was in Congress apropos of divisiveness to adopt the under God phrase?

MR. NEWDOW: In 1954?

CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST: Yes.

MR. NEWDOW: It was apparently unanimous. There was no objection. There's no count of the vote.

CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST: Well, that doesn't sound divisive.

(Laughter.)

MR. NEWDOW: That's only because no atheist can get elected to public office.

(Applause.)

CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST: The courtroom will be cleared if there's any more clapping. Proceed, Mr. Newdow.

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