Judging al-Qaeda

Once again, from Atrios:

Federal judges are a more serious threat to America than Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorists, the Rev. Pat Robertson claimed yesterday.

"Over 100 years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings," Robertson said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

"I think we have controlled Al Qaeda," the 700 Club host said, but warned of "erosion at home" and said judges were creating a "tyranny of oligarchy."

Confronted by Stephanopoulos on his claims that an out-of-control liberal judiciary is the worst threat America has faced in 400 years - worse than Nazi Germany, Japan and the Civil War - Robertson didn't back down.

"Yes, I really believe that," he said. "I think they are destroying the fabric that holds our nation together."

We at the AntiCentenarian are going to do something unfounded: we are going to grant Mr. Robertson this point, but not in the way that he expects. Rather, the potential threat of an extremist sect of Federal Judges (such as those that the Democrats must filibuster) is a much, much more dangerous prospect for America than is in common consideration. While Atrios is right, that simply uttering this statement should be an alarming and dismaying point of conversation and critcism. But, in fact, it's become a moronic problem: Anybody who invokes 9/11 at all opens themselves up to criticism, much of it undue.

Let's be clear: I want to douse Robertson in creamy ranch as much as the next guy. But the Federal Judiciary recommendation that he's making, the one he thinks will "Save America," is exactly that which will do the opposite. He wants to remove the bedrock of conversation, debate, and compromise from the judging bench and install a religious (er... 700 Club branded Christian, rather) mandate in the judicial branch.

This is the true threat in the judiciary. But strangely, ironically, Robertson is right. It potentially is much more dangerous than OBL.