C'mon Bowser...

Semantics is no way to win a debate or change someone's opinion.

Let's see... you said Ashcroft was shoving his view's down the electorate's throat. - than you make a whole post fending off Larry's assertion that you had said Ashcroft is forcing his religion down everyone's throat.

That's semantic arguing.

I'm not religious. I don't care if Ashcroft rubs prayer beads five times a day, so long as he can get the job done.

Ashcroft is not abusing his office any more than Clinton was forcing immorality on people or Janet Reno was forcing the ostrich syndrome. If he is ticked that the photographers keep trying to make an as- out of him, so that he calls for the blue curtains - big whoop. Money expenditures for press conferences are well within his jurisdiction.

The fundamental christian principles and the law have cross-over points. The ten commandments have comparable components in Federal, State and local legislation. So it is very hard to single out some belief of his which is exclusive to Christianity which he is foisting upon the electorate. Ashcroft like all public servants are free to practice freedom of religion. If he wants to pray before a meeting or read passages from the bible to like-minded co-workers before work - he has that right. The other co-workers who think he is a bit of a fanatic - can think that too - as it is a free country.

One can't expect all people to be free of bias in judgement. Judging, by it's very definition, means you take a position.

Christians will stand in one position. Muslims in another. Jehovah's Witnessses in yet another, as well as atheists, Mormons and Buddhists.

So there is no such thing as impartial, universal justice as expressed by man. The Justice Department will always be molded by the laws and simultaneously by those who interpret and enforce the laws.

Until he affixes a cross to the top of the Department of Justice...I don't see any religious coercion of the electorate. The Justice Department does not legislate, but rather they only prosecute those who break them.

But please...if you have some secret inside knowledge of the hidden Ashcroft Christian Justice agenda...let us know!

We await with bated breath! ;-)

SDAI-Tech1