PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL; REPUBLICAN LATINOS ANGRY WITH GOVERNOR?; THE FUTURE OF THE L.A.TIMES’ EDITORIAL AND OPINION PAGES; JOHN ROBERTS’ CONFIRMATION HEARINGS – THE WITNESSES; WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL
A federal judge in Sacramento ruled Wednesday that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public school is unconstitutional because it contains the words “under God.'' Larry talks about with Mike Newdow, who is representing the plaintiffs in this case, and Eugene Volokh, Professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA.
REPUBLICAN LATINOS ANGRY WITH GOVERNOR?
As the Governor prepares to launch his race for reelection, a small group of Latino Republicans, in an open letter released today, are condemning Arnold Schwarzeneggar and the Republican Party for “systematically excluding Latinos from any kind of role in the state party or state government.” Is this a sign of more widespread dissatisfaction with the Governor by the Latino Republican community? Larry Mantle talks with State Senator Abel Maldonado, political strategist Arnold Steinberg and Jim Lopez, Chairman of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly.
THE FUTURE OF THE L.A.TIMES’ EDITORIAL AND OPINION PAGES
Los Angeles Times editorial page editor, Michael Kinsley, has left the paper after a little more than a year. Andrés Martinez, will now head the paper's editorial and opinion pages. Larry talks with Martinez about the direction he will be taking with the Editorial pages.
JOHN ROBERTS’ CONFIRMATION HEARINGS – THE WITNESSES
The Senate Judiciary Committee wrapped up its public questioning of Chief Justice nominee, John Roberts, this morning (THURS). The witness testimony phases now begins. Larry reviews the end of Roberts’s testimony and talks with William Watkins, of the Independent Institute, about who the witnesses are and the influence of their testimony.
WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC
The 2005 World Festival of Sacred Music is the largest citywide Festival in Los Angeles with forty-three events over sixteen days in venues across the region. The Festival is founded on the belief that sacred music has the ability to bring forth the shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for all living things. Larry talks with representatives of the Festival which runs from Sept. 17 through Oct. 2nd.