Logic University

Well, this is pretty interesting. (Thanks to CO for the tip.)

Regent University School of Law, founded by televangelist Pat Robertson to provide "Christian leadership to change the world," has worked hard in its two-decade history to upgrade its reputation, fighting past years when a majority of its graduates couldn't pass the bar exam and leading up to recent victories over Ivy League teams in national law student competitions.

But even in its darker days, Regent has had no better friend than the Bush administration. Graduates of the law school have been among the most influential of the more than 150 Regent University alumni hired to federal government positions since President Bush took office in 2001, according to a university website. ...

"It used to be that high-level DOJ jobs were generally reserved for the best of the legal profession," wrote a contributor to The New Republic website . ". . . That a recent graduate of one of the very worst (and sketchiest) law schools with virtually no relevant experience could ascend to this position is a sure sign that there is something seriously wrong at the DOJ." ....

In a recent Regent law school newsletter, a 2004 graduate described being interviewed for a job as a trial attorney at the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in October 2003. Asked to name the Supreme Court decision from the past 20 years with which he most disagreed, he cited Lawrence v. Texas, the ruling striking down a law against sodomy because it violated gay people's civil rights.

"When one of the interviewers agreed and said that decision in Lawrence was 'maddening,' I knew I correctly answered the question," wrote the Regent graduate . The administration hired him for the Civil Rights Division's housing section -- the only employment offer he received after graduation, he said.

First of all, Pat Robertson has a university? He started a university? Pat Robertson? I could see him opening a trade school in ripping off religious little old ladies, but an actual four-year degree university? Fascinating.

Once I get some money (I don't know how I'd do this since I am not down with taking money from old people to line my own pockets) I am going to start my own university, Logic University. In this school, it will be required that each class open with the ceremonial shotgunning of beer, followed by a cleansing belch. Logic U will teach students to apply logic to tricky moral and political issues so that everyone feels included in America, not just white conservative Christian males. Graduates of Logic U will work for the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and various political campaigns.

Because if a "sketchy" law school has graduates working in the upper echelons of the Department of Justice, why shouldn't Logic University work its connections as well? All I need is one prominently placed alum of Logic U to change the laws on hiring to get my students into powerful positions in the government. Maybe Logic U will grant Barack Obama an honorary degree to curry his favor.

I know that a certain degree of favoring is going to happen in any administration, Democratic or Republican. Of course if Hillary or Barack become President (God, please) they're not going to staff their cabinets with Pat Robertson's graduates. It's the fact that the Bush administration is choosing less qualified candidates only because of their fundamentalist views that creeps me out. These people get hired because they disapprove of antiquated sodomy laws being struck down, not because they're well-versed in law.

We live in dark, dark times, people. Sanjaya is the least of our problems.