To update an item from last week, I wanted to mention that Phillip Jauregui, the attorney representing Roy Moore’s ongoing legal appeals, announced that he will challenge six-term incumbent Rep. Spencer Bachus (R) in the 6th district GOP primary.
Does Jauregui have a shot? Well, no, of course not. But his candidacy may suggest a more important development.
As regular readers know, I’ve been fascinated by the prospects of Moore running for president as the far-right Constitution Party’s candidate. It’s not that I support Moore in any way; it’s that I see him as the ideal counterweight to a certain consumer advocate who shall remain nameless.
What does Jauregui’s quixotic congressional campaign have to do with Moore running for president? Perhaps nothing, but it could suggest that Moore’s schedule will be clear this summer should he want to swing by the Constitution Party’s national convention in Valley Forge, Penn., in late-June to pick up its nomination.
Tim Noah’s Chatterbox column in Slate explains:
Moore is waiting for the Alabama Supreme Court to rule on his appeal; the decision could come any time. Indeed, it was supposed to arrive weeks ago. Moore will surely lose. Should that occur, Moore told Chatterbox last month, he will consider an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. But Moore would surely lose that, too. Better to get the Decalogue dialogue before the American public by running for president, no?
But, wait. Jauregui is handling the appeal. If this case were headed for the Rehnquist Court, would an ambitious young lawyer bail now? Of course not! If Jauregui’s making other plans, might not that be a sign that Moore is making other plans, too? And just doesn’t want to make it official until the Alabama Supreme Court hands down its decision?
Better yet, a group of his supporters have created something of a “Draft Moore” effort, establishing a website and hoping to lure the former Alabama Chief Justice onto the Constitution Party’s slot on the ballot in 41 states.
I received a very nice note from a gentleman, C.C, who is helping with this effort. To be sure, as a Moore supporter, C.C. is looking at his possible campaign from a different perspective than I am. But why quibble? C.C. wants Moore to run and I want Moore to run; we can talk about motivations some other time.
For what it’s worth, the “For Moore” movement has already articulated a clear purpose.
We endorse Roy Moore because he has the decency, integrity and strength to lead America back to its traditional roots. George W. Bush, on the other hand, has betrayed the Republican Party’s Christian base, with half-hearted, insincere devotion to God in his public policies. Bush has lost our faith. Roy Moore is the man to bring faith back to America!
The same site has a 15-point explanation as to why Bush “broke his promises” to “traditional Christians.” These are disappointed folks who want a religious right alternative. They’d never consider Kerry, but they don’t want Bush.
Run, Roy, run.