Idiot politics, part two

From today's Washington Post editorial page: "FOLLOWING THE Senate's burial last week of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, foes of same-sex marriage are back with another radical proposal. This time they are pushing a bill that would prevent federal courts from hearing challenges to a federal law that limits gay marriage. The bill, scheduled for a vote tomorrow, is an attack on the basic function of the courts in American society. Making this attack all the more ominous is House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's stated intention to promote similar bills to bar court challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance and, potentially, on other social issues. This is as wrong as wrong can be. The House should not strip courts of their authority in order to protect bad policy -- or even good policy -- from constitutional scrutiny."
Well, we are now seeing a new low in the crazy right wing of the Republican party. I hope to God their moderates are cringing at this one. Quite simply, the Constitution prohibits this behavior. The Supreme Court is around to judge the constitutionality of ALL laws passed in the United States. The only way they could not rule on such a change would be if it were ratified as an amendment to the Constitution. The congressional leaders know that they would lose this battle, but they are pandering to extremists in this case. I cannot fathom that the majority of Americans would want their courts to be barred from hearing civil rights cases.
This is power gone mad. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. While this law would not hold up, these ambitions need to be stopped now. They are trying to take away the things that make us a democracy. Our justice system is a model for the world, and a few INSANE people leading the Republican party would like to throw it over a cliff because they are not getting their way.
I never thought I would say this, but this is how democracy turns into dictatorship. When the rule of law is being suborned, or even attempted to be suborned, by the few, the many will lose their rights. Coming off the heels of the Patriot Act, this is something to be scared about. I hope Congress shows some courage and votes this one down.