Page 515 - Observer News Today

>> bret: there has been no specific response from the obama administration to a federal judge ruling that the national day of prayer is unconstitutional, other than to say its being studistudied. correspondent caroline shively looks at the decision and what it could mean down the line. >> if a federal judges ruling is allowed to stand, this years national day of prayer could be the countrys last. both sides say it could have a larger effect on government and religion. u.s. district judge reports...

>> bret: there has been no specific response from the obama administration to a federal judge ruling that the national day of prayer is unconstitutional, other than to say its being studistudied. correspondent caroline shively looks at the decision and what it could mean down the line. >> if a federal judges ruling is allowed to stand, this years national day of prayer could be the countrys last. both sides say it could have a larger effect on government and religion. u.s. district judge reports...

Says -- cragg. she says its difficult for a reasonable observer to see the statute as anything other than a religious endorsement. she also says this, quote, its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer and inherently religious exercise that starts no secular function. conservative groups were pushing the white house to appeal this and the ranking member on the house judiciary committee, republican lamar smith, he asked this, quote, whats next the glaring holiday of christma...

Leah ward sears, jennifer granholm, janet napolitano and harvard law school dean martha minow hatch warned which would not include justice stevens, but warned that republicans might filibuster any supreme court nominee who is too activist. maybe theyd like judge tawny. committee chairman pat leahy promptly reminded senator hatch that the current court has been dramatically activist, legislating from the bench for the right, but as legal observer point out the nomination battle could get interest...

The right, but as legal observer point out the nomination battle could get interesting because for the first time in this majority protestant nation, we might not have a protestant justice. lets turn to ezra klein. good evening.

Martha minow. hat hatch warned republicans might filibuster any supreme court nominee who is too activist. maybe theyd like judge tawny. pat leahy promptly reminded hatch that the court has been legislating from the bench for the right, but as legal observer point out the nomination battle could get interesting because for the first time in this majori majority protestant nation, we might not have a protestant justice. lets turn to ezra klein. good evening. >> good evening. >> what happened with...

And when theres a mismatch between intentions and outcomes we can figure out the role between intentions and outcomes and how we judge the behavior. >> and some people say she should not have been texting and fair enough, but she certainly was not intending for people to have lost their lives and we have some sympathy for her. >> exactly. whether we judge her as a bad person with malicious intentions depends on whether or not she meant to do it and this part of the brain helps us figure out that...

Misuse of its work and abuse of its name. >> during his interview with "today," president obama invoked the group as an example of how he says republican ideas are in the health care reform law. take a listen. >> when you actually look at the bill itself, it incorporates all sorts of republican ideas. a lot of the ideas in terms of the exchange just being able to pool and improve the purchasing power of individuals in the insurance market that, originated from the heritage foundation. any object...

And i think thats unfortunate because when you actually look at the bill itself, it incorporates all sorts of republican ideas. a lot of commentators said this is similar to the bill that mitt romney, the republican governor and now presidential candidate passed in massachusetts. a lot of the ideas in terms of the exchange, just being able to pool and improve the purchasing power of individuals in the insurance market. that originated from the heritage foundation. >> you are saying it is all pol...

Is similar to the bill that mitt romney, the republican governor and now presidential candidate passed in massachusetts. a lot of the ideas in terms of the exchange, just being able to pool and improve the purchasing power of individuals in the insurance market. that originated from the heritage foundation. >> you are saying it is all politics? it is not about the inner workings about the bill? it is all politics? >> i will say that any objective observer looking at this bill would say that this...