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14 NOV 03: (SPECIAL EARLY EDITION)

MOORE SHOWN THE DOOR

Roy Moore learned his punishment Thursday - and Alabama's Court of the Judiciary removed him as the state's Chief Justice. He now has several choices:

+ Does he sign a big contract for a show on Fox News Channel?

+ Does he go to Trinity Broadcasting, and start a religious version of "Judge Judy?"

+ Or does he go to Washington - and help Senate Democrats defeat Attorney General Bill Pryor's nomination to the federal appeals court?

The Alabama Court of the Judiciary was unanimous, in deciding Roy Moore "willfully and publicly" defied a federal court order. Before you point fingers at him, stop and think a second. If you've ever driven 80 miles per hour on the Interstate, you've done pretty much the same thing.

Alabama's Court of the Judiciary declared Roy Moore "placed himself above the law" by refusing to remove the Ten Commandments monument from the state Judicial Building in Montgomery. Well, that's a bit misleading. If Justice Moore had sprawled himself on top of the monument last August, THEN he would have been above the Law.

The Court of the Judiciary decided it was NOT its duty to consider whether or not federal court rulings on the Ten Commandments monument were proper. After all, if the panel did that, all nine members would have to vote themselves out of office - and before long Bill Pryor might be the only politician left.

Alabama's Court of the Judiciary ruled Roy Moore "maintained his defiance" during Wednesday's trial, by not taking back statements he made in August. Justice Moore says all he did was acknowledge God. For some people, wearing a cross around your neck simply is not enough....

Some people inside the Court of the Judiciary stood and applauded, as Roy Moore walked out after the hearing. Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor received no applause at all -- perhaps because Republican Senators were busy holding a 30-hour filibuster on his court nomination.

The Court of the Judiciary and Roy Moore agreed on one thing - the Chief Justice showed no contrition during Wednesday's trial. Mr. Moore told reporters later, "You can only be unrepentant to God, not to man." Some supporters were disappointed when he stopped short of giving journalists an altar call.

Roy Moore accused Attorney General Bill Pryor of making a "drastic change" from 1997. Back then Mr. Pryor wrote an opinion praising then-Judge Moore for trying to "save our country" from the American Civil Liberties Union. This raises a good point - why don't ACLU leaders run for political office, and see if the people agree with their stands?

Roy Moore dared to suggest the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution required him as a justice to acknowledge God. That amendment speaks of freedom of religion - as well as freedom of the press. Yet for some reason, Justice Moore hasn't felt required to publish a daily newspaper.

Roy Moore told reporters he's been found guilty of acknowledging God. Yet he also noted every session of the Alabama Supreme Court begins with the words: "God save the state and this honorable court." That seems like a good enough acknowledgement for the other eight justices....

Roy Moore again complained about the Court of the Judiciary reaching a decision on his fate "in secret." Now hold on a minute! Didn't he move the Ten Commandments monument inside the judicial building late on a Sunday night - with only an invited church from out-of-state present to tape it?

Roy Moore said his dismissal as Alabama Chief Justice boils down to a "basic philosophical difference in this country over what law is." Excuse us a minute - but isn't that why people have gone to court against each other for thousands of years?

Roy Moore joked in the coming days he'll "just look for a job," as he cleans out his Chief Justice office in Montgomery. He didn't mention the fact that his wife won a six-figure court judgment earlier this year, for a pedestrian-car crash which left her injured. This isn't "pennies from heaven" - it's dollars from jurors.

Do an online search for "Roy Moore," and you'll quickly find he's more than a court judge. He also writes patriotic poems. So maybe all the former Chief Justice has to do is send some of his writings to Toby Keith....

Roy Moore can appeal his dismissal as Alabama Chief Justice, and he says he'll talk with his attorneys about it. He suggested the Court of the Judiciary's decision violates Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, by imposing a "religious test" on public officials. Most officials probably are happy with that rule - since they can't even pass a geography test.

Roy Moore says he has "absolutely no regrets" about his actions - and he promises to keep touring the country, speaking about the Ten Commandments at rallies and churches. Justice Moore could write a book about the Commandments, but Dr. Laura Schlessinger might sue for stealing her idea.

Several reporters asked Roy Moore if he plans to run for Alabama Governor in 2006. He said at this point, he doesn't know -- which means when it comes to the Bible, he's more into Law than prophecy.

(There's even a rumor floating around Montgomery than Roy Moore might challenge U.S. Senator Richard Shelby next year. This WOULD be an interesting race - since Mr. Shelby had his own "conversion experience" years ago, went he turned Republican.)

The way the Court of Judiciary rules are written, Roy Moore actually could run again for Alabama Chief Justice in 2006. And we all know how his supporters long to see a "second coming...."

Roy Moore told reporters in Montgomery he'll have an announcement to make next week which "could alter the course of this country and this state." He didn't say what it was - but Alabama football coach Mike Shula might want to keep some packing boxes ready.

So what will happen to the two-ton Ten Commandments monument, which still sits in a closet at the Alabama Judicial Building? Roy Moore says he's asked the U.S. Congress to display it at the Capitol, to "restore the balance of power." Huh - you mean that monument is a Democrat?!

Later in the day, Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor told reporters he "will not lose any sleep" over his prosecution of Roy Moore. Since Pryor is a Roman Catholic, he can settle things at confessional this weekend....

Bill Pryor maintains the removal of Roy Moore is "NOT about the Ten Commandments, or about states' rights." Ohhhh - so maybe it's about one person going all the way with his convictions, while another hides behind a law book?!

(So who should receive the John F. Kennedy "Profiles in Courage Award" for what's happened in Montgomery? Bill Pryor for standing by the law? Roy Moore for not backing down? Then again, maybe neither one - because they're both Republicans.)

Larry Darby of the Alabama chapter of American Atheists was satisfied with Roy Moore's removal. He says the former Chief Justice "made a mockery of the judicial system." Darby should know - since atheists tend to mock religious systems all the time.

Network newscasts reported Thursday night opponents of Roy Moore don't plan to stop with his dismissal as Alabama Chief Justice. Now they want him disbarred, too! Well, at least you could trust what Mr. Moore says as a used car salesman.

Some Columbus ministers would rather not discuss Roy Moore's trials. Your blog has learned new Georgia Baptist Convention Tony Dickerson did NOT want the topic brought up, during interviews this week! Now if Disney remade the "Ten Commandments" movie with Richard Simmons playing Moses, that might be different....

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama praised President Bush Thursday for nominating federal judges "opposed to the secularization of our society." So when does the President plan to withdraw Bill Pryor's nomination?

BLOG UPDATE: Nancy Boren with the Muscogee County Election Board admitted Thursday there WAS a report of poll problems during last week's school sales tax vote. A touch-screen machine at Spencer High School registered a vote the wrong way, so it was removed from use. Maybe a Fort Benning missile firing went off course to cause this....

Nancy Boren's admission opens the door for the possibility that many school sales tax votes might have been inaccurate. But keep something in mind -- this report comes from a part of town where many students get test questions wrong, too.

COMING THIS WEEKEND: Bright lights, big city, a bit early....