Assault on courts/'Out of control' is misdirected

The Terri Schiavo case is morphing into a case against the federal judiciary, a frightening proposition that makes the Republican Party seem a wholly owned subsidiary of right-wing religious radicalism.

From conservative members of Congress and right-wing Christian activists has come a string of angry condemnations for the federal courts. They've been accused of murdering Schiavo or ordering her "cold-blooded" execution. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who threatened retribution against the courts over Schiavo, has now asked the House Judiciary Committee to review the entire case and "look at an arrogant, out-of-control judiciary that thumbed their nose at Congress and the president."

So just who are these "out-of-control" judges? The group would appear to include the entire U.S. Supreme Court, including conservative icons Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and William Rehnquist. None wanted to get involved with Schiavo. It would also include the entire bench of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.