February 1, 2005
THE DIVINE RIGHT OF LAWYERS
MP poll shows same-sex vote still in doubt (Gloria Galloway and Brian Laghi, Globe and Mail, February 1st, 2005)
The outcome of landmark legislation on same-sex marriage to be introduced in the House of Commons today remains far from certain and the battle it will launch threatens to divide all parties — particularly the LiberalsJust 139 members of Parliament surveyed by The Globe and Mail said they would vote in favour of legislation to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
Another 118 MPs said they would vote against the legislation, while 49 are undecided or would not state a position. To pass into law, the bill needs the support of 154 MPs.
Over the next few months, the Liberals will try to persuade those on the fence to rally to their cause.
"The courts have spoken clearly," Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said yesterday. "We are undertaking our responsibility as a Parliament to give expression and protection to minority rights, equality rights, protection against discrimination, all of which are in the Charter."
Has any democratically elected politician ever so openly celebrated his subservience and fealty to the imperial judiciary?
Posted by Peter Burnet at February 1, 2005 6:53 AMCome on, Peter. You know that in Canada, our politicians hide beneath the skirts of the supreme court jesters.
Posted by: Randall Voth at February 1, 2005 8:46 AMYou name the Democratic politician (or a disturbing number of Republicans, including John Ashcroft) and we can find you the quote explaining why unlimited abortion license is the settled and unchangeable law of the land down here.
Some mornings, it just doesn't pay a lawyer to get out of bed. On the way to work, they announced on the radio that Ford has bought off a bunch of plaintiff's lawyers by agreeing to buy an ad campaign warning young male SUV drivers not to drive like morons. I heard this right as a young man in a Jeep Grand Cherokee made a u-turn from the right-hand oncoming lane and spun on the uncleared ice in the median right in front of me. The folks on the radio said the ad campaign would cost $27 million. I wonder how much the lawyers got.
Some folks memorize dialogue from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, others from Henry VI, Part 2.
Posted by: Random Lawyer at February 1, 2005 10:37 AMAmerican politicians are past masters of using the Flip Wilson defense when it comes to unpopular matters dictated by an imperial and imperious judiciary. 'The Debbil Made Me Do It.'
Posted by: Bart at February 1, 2005 10:42 AM