One nation, reading blogs...

Hey, that's how I'd like it to read, but for now, the pledge we learned during the Eisenhower administration will have to do, as the Supremes punt the issue.

The court said atheist Michael Newdow could not sue to ban the pledge from his daughter's school and others because he did not have legal authority to speak for her.

Newdow is in a protracted custody fight with the girl's mother. He does not have sufficient custody of the child to qualify as her legal representative, the court said. Eight justices voted to reverse a lower court ruling in Newdow's favor.

Newdow modestly defers from their judgement.

"I may be the best father in the world," Newdow said shortly after the ruling was announced. "She spends 10 days a month with me.

I'm not sure that hanging with the kid on the weekends is enough to afford 'best father in the world' status, but for all I know, he may be. Unfortunately for Dr. Newdow, the mother she spends the other 20 days or so with is just fine with the pledge, and the court isn't interested in refereeing the family feud.

Personally, I'm fine with the pledge, too, but I happen to believe in a god, though it may or may not be the god that Congress had in mind 50 years ago when they folded theirs into our civic prayer to the colorful idol of the nation. Mainly, I just think divisive fights over this kind of symbolism are incredibly destructive to real progress for real progressives, playing right into the hands of those who would equate liberal with libertine.

When we have national healthcare, full employment, the restoration of a progressive tax system, environmental policies based on science rather than profit, sustainable engergy independence, etc., etc., etc., then I'll entertain this issue as having enough import to drag through another round of headlines and court battles.