McGill in 06, 10, 12, . . .

I see via Rob Huddleston that my Chronicles/American Conservative contributing, Reactionary Radical leaning, Empire-opposing member of Congress has a primary opponent. Ralph McGill is running against Duncan on the issues that I support him for -- his staunch opposition to the war in Iraq.

McGill also recalls the term-limits populism of Jack Gargan with his call for a limit of one consecutive term for members of Congress:

Get rid of career, lifetime politicians and completely reform Congress by instituting term limits! My proposal - no one can serve more than a total of 12 years in any combination of House and Senate terms, and no one can be elected to consecutive terms in either the House or the Senate - no re-elections! Do this, and maybe people who serve in the House and Senate will be bold enough to do what's right for the country rather than only what's right for re-election!! . . .

What non-sense. How with such a policy restricting members to non-consecutive terms is anyone ever going to accomplish his other goals such as:

Take measures to mute the power of the Supreme Court! How? We have checks and balances in place - use them! When the Supreme Court does something outrageous like the "eminent domain" decision, pass a Constitutional Amendment that overrules the Supreme Court ruling. Why doesn't that happen now? Because we have timid people in Congress who think they will make somebody mad, and they might not get re-elected. (See the bullet above). I also favor limited terms for Supreme Court justices instead of lifetime appointments. I would propose that we limit them to 10-year terms and no re-appointments.

He also wants to, "get the government off the backs of Christians. It seems we have religious freedom and tolerance for Muslims, atheists, and everyone else, but not for Christians. Quit the demonization of Christianity!" Now is this remotely the case? I'm aware that the occasional public school bureaucrat goes berserk at the sight of a sixth-grader with a Bible and that snooty Hollywood types sneer at Presbyterians in flyover country; but is this synonymous with saying that Christians don't have freedom of religion?

I don't know where McGill lives, but it can't be in the second district of Tennessee, where everywhere you look you see churches. And they aren't hiding. They tend to have steeples, signs and Crosses designating what they are. In addition, you see Christian bookstores and schools operating openly and notoriously. It is a tribute to Christianity's central importance in American life today that a politician like Howard Dean, who doesn't seem to have a Christian bone in his body, feels the need to ineptly pander to Christian voters.