The Constitution… What’s That? Part II

Since I wrote part I more articles have come out and this one shows that Louisianan is very vulnerable.

Ten Commandments. Multiple variations. Why the Louisiana law raises preferential treatment concerns
AP News
By  HOLLY MEYER and PETER SMITH
June 29, 2024

Christians and Jews believe in the Ten Commandments — just not necessarily the version that will hang in every public school and state-funded college classroom in Louisiana.

The required text prescribed in the new law and used on many monuments around the United States is a condensed version of the Scripture passage in Exodus containing the commandments. It has ties to “The Ten Commandments” movie from 1956, and it’s a variation of a version commonly associated with Protestants.

That’s one of the issues related to religious freedom and separation of church and state being raised over this mandate, which was swiftly followed by a lawsuit.

“H.B. 71 is not neutral with respect to religion,” according to the legal complaint filed June 24 by Louisiana clergy, public school parents and civil liberties groups. “It requires a specific, state-approved version of that scripture to be posted, taking sides on theological questions regarding the correct content and meaning of the Decalogue.”

Now the First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” besides in itself violating the First Amendment, it actually established a Christian religion and that of specific religion sect. You see the Republicans made a big, big error in not just requiring the Ten Commandments but the includes the version that they have to use.

Louisiana Just Put The Ten Commandments In Every Classroom. Here’s The Other Danger With That Law
I look at K-12 policies and practices from the classroom perspective.
Forbes
By Peter Greene
June 29, 2024

Louisiana just passed a law to require classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, and critics have already raised the alarm about the violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Civil Liberties groups are already challenging the law.

Many critics have pointed out the irony of a legislature that has worked hard to end indoctrination in classroom seems intent on installing some indoctrination of their own.

But there’s another troubling layer to this that highlights the danger of eliminating the wall between church and state.

When you mix religion and politics, the old saw goes, you get politics.

You see...

The Old Testament provides three distinct versions of the commandments. But the law lays out exactly what version of the Ten Commandments is to appear in each classroom.

And by requiring a specific version of the Ten Commandments they chose a specific religion (As if requiring the Ten Commandments wasn’t bad enough.). It is "Déjà vu all over again!"

If you’re thinking that this was already settled, it was. The Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Kentucky in 1980. But this time, proponents may expect a different result, citing a new set of precedents in the law itself.

The Supreme Court has changed since 1980, but so have many of the players in these issues. In addition to the lawsuits, expect other religious groups to insist their own scripture be represented. Expect the Satanic Temple to demand a piece of the action.

And that is what they are actually hoping for, the Supreme Court to overturn 40 years of precedents.

 

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Update 11:15AM

 

BREAKING NEWS...

Supreme Court says presidents have ‘absolute’ immunity for clearly official acts but no immunity for unofficial acts

Washington Post

 The Supreme Court says presidents have “absolute” immunity for clearly official acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts. Former president and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump faces four federal felony counts in D.C. for allegedly trying to undo Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. The high court’s 6-3 ruling sends the case back to the lower court to determine when and whether Trump will go to trial. 

From what I read this verdict was expected.

Fox News take on this...

Trump immunity case: Supreme Court rules ex-presidents have substantial protection from prosecution
The issue before the Supreme Court stemmed from Special Counsel Jack Smith's election interference case against former President Trump

The Supreme Court ruled Monday in Trump v. United States that a former president has substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office, but not for unofficial acts.

In a 6-3 decision, the Court sent the matter back down to a lower court, as the justices did not apply the ruling to whether or not former President Trump is immune from prosecution regarding actions related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

"The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

"The President is not above the law. But Congress may not criminalize the President’s conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitution. And the system of separated powers designed by the Framers has always demanded an energetic, independent Executive," he said.

President Biden responds as reported in the Guardian...

The Biden campaign has responded to the supreme court’s ruling related to the presidential immunity.

In a statement, a senior Biden campaign adviser said:

Today’s ruling doesn’t change the facts, so let’s be very clear about what happened on January 6: Donald Trump snapped after he lost the 2020 election and encouraged a mob to overthrow the results of a free and fair election. Trump is already running for president as a convicted felon for the very same reason he sat idly by while the mob violently attacked the Capitol: he thinks he’s above the law and is willing to do anything to gain and hold onto power for himself.

Since January 6, Trump has only grown more unhinged. He’s promising to be a dictator ‘on day one,’ calling for our Constitution to be ‘terminated’ so he can regain power, and promising a “bloodbath” if he loses. The American people already rejected Donald Trump’s self-obsessed quest for power once – Joe Biden will make sure they reject it for good in November.