Robertson: "[B]efore the end of this year there will be another vacancy" on the Supreme Court
SUMMARY: Pat Robertson predicted that there will be another Supreme Court vacancy by "the end of this year."
On the March 7 broadcast of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club, host Pat Robertson pronounced that there will be a new vacancy on the Supreme Court by "the end of this year." Robertson did not say what led him to believe a vacancy would open, why it would open, or which justice would be leaving the high court.
While discussing South Dakota's recently signed legislation banning abortion except when required to save the woman's life, Robertson declared that "with the current makeup of the court, they still don't have as many judges as would be needed to overturn Roe [v. Wade]," the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Continuing, Robertson declared: "They need one more, and I dare say before the end of this year there will be another vacancy on the court."
Media Matters for America previously documented Robertson's comments on the January 3, 2005, broadcast of The 700 Club, when he said that God told him: "I will remove judges from the Supreme Court quickly, and their successors will refuse to sanction the attacks on religious faith." Robertson also said that he "heard it from the Lord" that President Bush will have Social Security and tax reform passed and that Muslims "will be turning ... to Jesus Christ."
From the March 7 broadcast of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club:
ROBERTSON: The way I understand it is that [Gov.] Haley Barbour [R] is going to sign one in Mississippi that would be comparable to South Dakota. And the whole idea there is to get a couple of the circuits ruling on this matter, because if you have a conflict on the circuits, it guarantees going to the Supreme Court. But it does seem that with the current makeup of the court, they still don't have as many judges as would be needed to overturn Roe. They need one more, and I dare say before the end of this year there will be another vacancy on the court. And this case will be percolating up the line to hit the court maybe in a year or so. So, that's what these governors are doing; they're setting up a challenge. But, it does seem pretty extreme. They don't have and rape or incest exception in there; it's just strictly the life of the mother. So, we'll see what happens.
He hears voices.
Damn it will sombody wash this guy's mouth out with soap and send him to his room.
Pat Robertson is 75 years old. I predict that by the end of the year there will be a vacancy on his program.
I have to admit, THAT was funny
Hope is a wondeful thing.
How do we know these "voices" aren't really coming from the influence of Al Cohol and/or his cousin Uncle Fuseloyle?
He was probably inferring that due to John Paul Steven's age, he may retire soon? - isn't he like in his mid 80's?
I don't think Robertson has some red hotline to God, even if he wants people to think he might.
You must have meant "Implying." Implying is to make a reference without coming right out and saying it, Infurring is how a listener takes it. Here's an example-- "Joe implied that I was a dumb liberal, which led me to infur that he was a conservative."
To imply would mean to express indirectly. To infer would mean to derive at a conclusion or guess, and is not exclusive to the listener.
Both terms would be appropriate, but I chose infer.
It certainly is not exclusive to the listener. I only used that as an example. And by the way, You're welcome.
Speaker implies/listener infers
what is this? Vocab Matters for America has it's own dot-org site for you to post on.
Flappy Pat will call for the assassination of Ginsberg.
asassination of one of them, you know, like he did for a foreign head of state {twice} . . . hey Ann Coulter did and got away with it, why not him?
Well, if Robertson is right let's all pray right now that it's Scalia or Thomas who step in front of a bus. The only justice more conservative than those two is Bork and he was already dutifully rejected.
"Well, if Robertson is right let's all pray right now that it's Scalia or Thomas who step in front of a bus."...by Scott "Spin" Johnson
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What an ignorant, boorish thing to write. Though NOT totally unexpected seeing it's you. Double standards there Spin? Wishing [Praying] people dead? Yeah that's real cool.
Funny how SANCTIMONIOUS you get when accusing OTHERS of cruel and heartless remarks...BUT you think nothing of spewing venomous tasteless statements yourself.
Yeah Real Classy...
It's simple. If someone on the court is going to die, I hope it's an ultra-conservative. At least until 2008. It's simple. I'm sure cons feel the same way in reverse. While I'm at it, I also hope that if a kid dies of leukemia, it's not my kid. Basic logic. In a perfect world nobody would die. But that's not the world we live in is it.
"It's simple. If someone on the court is going to die, I hope it's an ultra-conservative."...by Scott "SPIN" Johnson
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And YOU think that makes what you wrote ok? Wow what twisted logic.. Man you're sick.
It's brilliant logic. It's also the truth for almost everyone on the planet. Think of it as an episode of 24. You've got two SCOTUS judges tied to a chair. A terrorist will shoot one of them and you get to choose which one. Of course, I'd choose Scalia over Breyer. If you claim you wouldn't choose the opposite, you're a liar.
Whatever Johnson, I suppose you sit around hoping ALL Republican Presidents get assassinated...you know, ONLY if you had to choose ::wink wink::
Sorry pal PRAYING someone gets HIT BY A BUS [Which Is What YOU Wrote] isn't just some "choice" on an episode of 24 (wow you're really getting kind of desperate here ATTEMPTING to justify your stupid remarks)
But you can go on jabbering if you'd like....(it'll give me something humorous to read later)
"Sorry pal PRAYING someone gets HIT BY A BUS "
Ah. I get it. You can't read. I didn't say that. I said IF Robertson is right (a SCOTUS judge will die) then we should pray that the one who dies is a conservative just as I'm sure that cons breathed a sigh of relief when Wellstone's plane went down and not their candidate. It's human nature.
Ok Spin since you can't seem to understand what YOU read or write-- Let's Read What YOU WROTE together (now pay attention&TRY to follow along) :
**"Well, if Robertson is right let's all pray right now that it's Scalia or Thomas who step in front of a bus." by the one&only Scott 'Spin" Johnson**
Mmmmmm "let's all pray right now that it's Scalia or Thomas who step in front of a bus." sure sounds like PRAYING someone gets HIT BY A BUS. Sorry Johnson not even a Spinmaster like yourself can twist that into something else (though God knows you'll try) So NO you didn't simply say "oh geez IF someone dies I hope it's a conservative"...nah you had them getting hit by a bus. Real nice guy aren't ya?
BTW Robertson NEVER predicted or suggested anyone would DIE---better re-read the ARTICLE smart guy (cough)...don't forget there is ALWAYS retirement--forgot about that-eh?...the "dying" prediction and the [WISH-HOPE-PRAYER] for their DEATH was all YOURS.
You can TRY to Spin this till you get dizzy&fall on your face ;-)
"If Robertson is right"
That's the key phrase. I guess you missed it.
It takes an incredible leap in logic to equate Robertson's comment to mean that one of the SC justices is going to die...after all O'Connor simply retired.
Johnson's jump to pray that one of them step in front of a bus is completely over the top...very poor behavior.
Robertson's predictions are just that...his opinions...and they carry as much weight as a prediction on who will win the World Series. Even if his track record is poor he still has the right to his opinion.
Speaking of poor track records, Johnson predicted a Kerry win and the defeat of the nominations of Roberts and Alito...maybe they should confer and evaluate their handicapping methods.
Yeah I'm well acquainted with Scott Johnson's "work" here. Pure spin. You can ALWAYS tell when you've topped him or caught him in a lie --he starts attempting to change the meaning of "what he really meant"... and blah blah blah.
You're right of course Robertson NEVER said anyone would DIE. That was Scott's SPIN...or perhaps his hopes&dreams.
What Scott wrote was cruel&unnecessary...BUT he'll NEVER admit it. No Class.
It's logical. Cons feel the same way and rightly so.
who cares which SCOTUS justice dies anyway? bad governance suffers consequences eventually. with democratic completely out of power, i say let them cannabalize themselves.
let them go ahead and "outlaw" abortion.
there are many ways to medically induce an abortion, not all of which require going to a doctor. if the gov't starts cracking down on the right to choose, these methods will be quickly and freely disseminated to the public. it's actually quite easy.
There are considerable risks though. maybe when enough women die of sepsis the conservatives will rethink their troglodyte logic.
i know i sound harsh, but this is what will happen and we'll have Bush & co. to thank for it. maybe they'll finally see that as many conservative and republican women get abortions in this country when a few of them die trying it at home.
Think of how over crowded this world would be, and how much worse nat resources would be strained (it's bad enough as it is). Death might be painful, but necessary.
"What an ignorant, boorish thing to write."
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Almost as boorish as wishing someone would poison John Paul Stevens' coffee, I'll bet. And Ann Coulter was paid for saying that.
Sorry BUT evoking the *Coulter writes ignorant boorish statements too* in no way EXCUSES what Spin Johnson wrote. In fact it smacks of that old tired *Well Clinton did it* argument that certain poster use when TRYING to defend any DUMB thing Bush does.
So is THIS going to be the Democrat/Liberal "argument" from here on in? Anytime one of you write something ignorant, mean-spirited, or boorish you'll JUSTIFY it by saying : 'Well Coulter....'
Robertson SHOULD be muzzled. BUT in no way what he uttered deserve what Johnson responded with. Period.
Scott doesn't need an excuse. he said that if someone dies, he hopes it is one of the conservatives.
he didn't say someone should go and actively speed the impending doom of your beloved Scalia or Thomas.
Coulter did, and got paid doing it. Scott is just expressing an opinion for no compensation.
Nice TRY at re-framing what Scott wrote...too bad for YOU that it's in black&white. Go back and read it...no never mind, I'll just copy&paste it for ya:
**"Well, if Robertson is right let's all pray right now that it's Scalia or Thomas who step in front of a bus."**...BY SCOTT JOHNSON
There. Not exactly what you CLAIM he wrote--eh?
Now let's just imagine your reaction IF Coulter had written THIS:
*Well, if Robertson is right let's all pray right now that it's Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Stephen Breyer who step in front of a bus.*
YOU and SCOTT and the rest of the Liberals here would be screaming blue bloody murder!!
I call it SELECTIVE OUTRAGE.
Sadly I don't think you even comprehend what hypocrites you are.
to what she usually says, which would be more along the lines of "actively push them in front of a bus" instead of prays that. So, in fact, it would be a voice of moderation for her.
What else is different? Coulter makes such statements as part of a pattern that is accepted by the right-wing MSM, so, yes -- continuing to say such things merits attention as the right-wing continues to become more oppressive and violent. As for a random blogger saying that here -- that's really not an equivalent.
IF you find Coulter so disgusting then WHY try and emulate her by writing similar garbage?
Sorry, but parsing THIS to "degrees" of disgusting or frequency of use in order to say it somehow doesn't count if random bloggers rattle off the occasional ignorant remark is a VERY weak argument.
And YES it is equivalent. And it is hypocritical.
Coulter: Actively advocating the death of people
Me: Praying to an invisible man that if death does take a SCOTUS justice, that it befall one of the conservatives that have done so much damage to our country.
Likewise, if one of the bloggers on here has to drop dead in the next 24 hours, I pray that it's either Tommy or Jeter and not Solon or Tex.
That's the way the world works, deal with it.
Toward those who, as leaders, an who hold themselves to be more moral than then rest of us, advocate the "elimination" of people.
Infer, imply, whatever.... Roberston -- and many others like him -- advocate death for those who are un-American or un-Godly.
They pussyfoot around the words when they are exposed, but people like Robertson and his followers talk of death to their "foes" all the time.
Did I stick up for Robertson? Nope. And I NEVER have.
Just want you guys to practice what you preach. YOU find Coulter, Robertson etc disgusting...then don't emulate them. Easy.
I hope nobody dies. But if some justice must die, I hope it is one of the conservatives who are actively eroding our liberties. I don't even kill spiders but if given a choice between squashing a Black Widow or Daddy Long Legs, the Black Widow will get the underside of my shoe every time.
Your transcript states:
They don't have and rape or incest exception in there; it's just strictly the life of the mother.
As I hear it the clip Robertson is saying:
They don't have rape and incest exception in there; it's just strictly the life of the mother.
Not an important difference but the right-wing might try to use it.
Tnx, CKR
- He was probably inferring that due to John Paul Steven's age - Tommy
I agree. However, I'm having trouble recoginizing the point of this mmfa thread. But just for the record here are the ages of the SC justices.
The traditional retirement age for most Americans is 65...everyone but the youngsters Alito, Roberts, and Thomas look like candidtates for retirement...but with these folks who can tell.The youngest ones are the Troglodytes. We're screwed. The Dark Ages are upon us.
I believe the point of this MMFA thread is that Pat Robertson has a history of making predictions and interpreting events as though he were speaking for God. For example, he predicted George W. Bush would win a second term in a landslide. In fact, of course, though he did claim a mandate, Mr. Bush apparently won a second term with a smaller margin than Truman achieved in his famous upset defeat of Dewey.
I'm no fan of Robertson...but if he's right or wrong with his prediction...where is the conservative misinformation? Maybe they're hanging their hat on the fact that they are highlighting a source who is not credible.
But in either case I'm struggling to see how this is newsworthy.
We liberals don't always need conservative misinformation even if the MMFA's mission statement says so. Put it in this perspective--Fox news channel's mission is to report news fair and ballanced. Hahahahahaha. Sometime we just like to have a good laugh. When it comes to the repubs, there's plenty to laugh at.
I really enjoy te internets.
"I'm no fan of Robertson..."
is typical of the right-wing trolls.
So are statements like:
"But in either case I'm struggling to see how this is newsworthy."
is typical of the trolls that arrogantly tell MMFA what they should or should not put on their website.
Thanks MMFA for posting this, I love hearing about that conservative wing nut Robertson. Go away trolls.
"The vendetta against religion in America is about to end. ... 'I [God] will remove judges from the Supreme Court quickly and their successors will refuse to sanction the attacks on religious faith.'" Pat Robertson, Jan 3rd.
I am a former Baptist pastor who was fired from two churches because I wanted to open our doors to blacks. I am white and the churches were white. Also these churches did not like my ministry to gang kids. I was "removed" from the office of pastor. If any of you have been "removed" from a job I am probably correct in assuming that you didn't retire. Nelson blaine
I only wish that the general run of mankind here in the U.S., when they hear the word "Christian," would think of people like you instead of people like Robertson.
That, more than anything the Supreme Court could ever do, would result in great gains for His church.
If the extreme right gets their heavenly majority on the court, and RvW is completely overturned, I predict it will be a very, very long time before Republicans get elected dogcatcher! Maybe this is what it will take to get women and minorities out to vote in DROVES! So much so that even Diebold cant change the vote!
So, dubyah will never see another radical right-wing Justice get appointed.
Robertson had really better hope his prediction comes true, otherwise:
If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. Deut. 18:22
And the Bible goes on to say some really nasty stuff about false prophets and what will become of them.
Gee-hoe-see-fat…See-foe-wee-gat…no-no, it’s “Gee, oh see Pat” BLUBBER. Blubber… Blubber… Blubber…bluh…blah…bla….ah!
This is just as confusing as trying to make sense out of where that false prophet’s coming from*…and he ain’t in no biblical proportions either, based on his original soothsaying and the other murky divinations he done conjured up. Then again it’s his very own, personal bible–as he edited it–and nobody else’s.
*The readership knows where’s he’s going—better sooner than later— heaven willing. The eternal smite infernal Pat.
Jeter,
With all due respect, you're a dope.
Unforutunately, Roberston is probably accidentally right on his prediction of another vacancy this year. Not that it has any effect, but do you doubt that millions of "Good Christians" in this country are praying daily for the death of liberal justices? As with those representatives of the Religious Right, the Westboro Baptists who disrupt military funerals screaming that the dead soldiers died because of American support of homesexuality, people who believe the way Robertson does are generally the least Christian people around. I have no doubt that as restrictions on abortion in America increase, a backlash against the Right will grow until it washes the theocrats completely out of Congress, the White House, and judiciary. It's easy to march around and scream and yell about abortion being murder, but when it sinks in that women have lost their most basic rights, you're going to have the vast majority of women unleashing an awful wrath against these so-called "Christians". It's horrible that it will require that women suffer for America to wake up, but that's what inevitably will happen. I've looked into the mongoloid faces of the fat men and women who make up the anti-choice movement. Their children hate them. Their lives are miserable. They will destroy themselves. The beauty of America is that although it sometimes takes a while for us to wake up, when we do, it doesn't take us long to put out the garbage.