Michael Newdow loses....

....again.

Two U.S. Supreme Court members separately rejected on Wednesday an emergency request from a California atheist who sought to stop the recital of prayers at President Bush's inauguration.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist and then Justice John Paul Stevens turned down atheist Michael Newdow. He is best known for trying unsuccessfully to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance that millions of U.S. schoolchildren recite every day.

I mentioned that Newdow had asked for Rehnquist to recuse himself.

Newdow also had suggested that Rehnquist, who plans to administer the oath of office to Bush at the inauguration, remove himself from considering his request.

He said Rehnquist took part in the 2001 inauguration when prayers were included. In seeking Rehnquist's recusal, Newdow said the chief justice would feel "awkward" at the ceremony if he rules in Newdow's favor.

So....

After Rehnquist denied Newdow's request for an injunction, Newdow refiled it with Stevens, who also rejected it.

This won't stop Mr. Newdow. He'll be back.