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Federal Issues:
Of Fences and Felonies and Political Suicide

Legal_Update Two current Washington controversies highlight, to the extent that most rational citizens require, the bizarre disconnect between many in Congress and the American people.

First is the Senate version of an illegal immigration bill, the amnesty bill that dare not speak its name. From its principal provisions to details which are still being analyzed and unintended consequences that cannot be accurately predicted, it is a new low in legislative garbage, seriously responsive or responsible in almost no aspect, compounded deception in the extreme.

Read more now.


Freedom Line:
Nature Magazine Provides Latest "Inconvenient Truth" for Globetrotter Al Gore: Climate Change is a Natural Occurrence

Legal Al Gore continues to be the comedic gift that keeps on giving. First, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) revealed on May 24, 2006, that Gore has used enough hydrocarbons to circle the globe to present over 1,000 Power Point presentations on climate change. CEI also revealed that he recently used five large SUVs to haul his movie entourage a mere 500 yards at the Cannes Film Festival in France, all the while admonishing others to curtail their own energy use. Gore's "Saturday Night Live" appearance can't top that kind of comedy.

On the heels of these embarrassing revelations, Nature magazine now obliterates the core assertion of Gore's new movie and globetrotting global warming crusade -- that climate change is an unnatural and irrevocable phenomenon.

Read more now.

View a hilarious short cartoon spoof on Al Gore's new movie crusade now.


Your Turn -- Meeting Nonsense With Commonsense:
Government Spending and Congress' Obsession With 'Pork'

Legal_Update During the Congressional "Memorial Day District Work Period," Members of Congress, back in their home districts, had to answer to constituents about their voting records and positions on issues of importance to most Americans, such as immigration, energy and the War in Iraq, to name a few. Surely, another issue that was widely discussed was rampant government spending and Congress' obsession with "pork."

Recently, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) published its annual Congressional Pig Book, highlighting the most egregious pork barrel spending projects approved by Congress. Tom Schatz, President of the CAGW, joined CFIF Corporate Counsel & Senior Vice President Renee Giachino on "Your Turn -- Meeting Nonsense With Common Sense" on WEBY 1330AM, Northwest Florida's Talk Radio, to discuss the 2006 Congressional Pig Book Summary. What follows are excerpts from the interview.

Read more now.


U.N. Monitor:
U.N. Attacks Freedom of the Press

Legal_Update Just in case you ever had any doubt that the United Nations will only be happy once it has rolled back our freedoms one at a time, news came last week that the world body has now turned its attention to the freedom of the press.

A U.N.-authored report, ostensibly penned with the fanciful notion of fighting terrorism, includes restricting press freedom worldwide as one of its primary recommendations. Indeed, in the report, the U.N. endorses "voluntary" codes to restrict journalists' ability to do any number of things including, of course, interviewing terrorists.

Read more now.


Legal Reform:
CFIF Praises Senators Specter and Leahy for New and Improved FAIR Act for Asbestos Victims

Legal_Update The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF) this week praised Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for introducing a new and improved Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act. The Senators introduced this latest version of the FAIR Act on Friday, May 26.

"We applaud Senators Specter and Leahy for reintroducing the FAIR Act," said CFIF President Jeffrey Mazzella. "This vital legislation will ensure that real victims of asbestos exposure are fairly compensated. Just as important, it will put an end the baseless claims that have inundated our nation's civil justice system."

Read more now.


Editorial Cartoons:
The Cartoons of Michael Ramirez

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View more of Michael Ramirez's latest cartoons on CFIF's website now.


CFIF History & Civics Quiz:
Question of the Week
Freedom Line
When was the federal telephone excise tax repealed for the first time?

(a) 1901
(b) 1917
(c) 1924
(d) 1959

Get the correct answer now.


Jester's Courtroom: Tales Stranger Than Fiction
Featuring bizarre and sometimes humorous real life stories from the courtroom.
Take Me Out to the Ballpark

Jester's Courtroom The Altoona Curve, a Double-A baseball team in Pennsylvania, is hosting a "Salute to Frivolous Lawsuit Night" on July 2, 2006. The team, which has become widely recognized for these fun, themed nights, including an annual "Awful Night," was inspired to host its salute to frivolous lawsuits after learning of separate lawsuits filed against the Oakland A's and the Los Angeles Angels for sex discrimination related to promotions. In each of those cases, giveaways were given to women only as part of the major league clubs' Mother's Day promotions. Male patrons sued the clubs.

According to the Curve's website, its July salute to all ridiculous lawsuits ever filed will include the following:
There will be a grand prize drawing as well in which one fan will receive a "clue" and their own frivolous lawsuit. Curve President and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg declined to comment on the promotion out of concern that his comments could give rise to a lawsuit. Mr. Greenberg is a practicing corporate and sports attorney.

"We realize that these giveaways as part of our Salute to Frivolous Lawsuit Night are fairly stupid and serve no real purpose," said Curve General Manager Todd Parnell. "But if our fans don't like them, then they can sue us!"

Source: San Jose Mercury News (California) and Altoonacurve.com

Read more now.

Since many of these gems do not attain national attention, the Jester welcomes you to share with us your favorite wacky stories from a courtroom near you! Please be sure to provide the source. You may e-mail us at info@cfif.org.


Notable Quotes:
Quote of the Week

Notable Quotes Author and Syndicated Columnist David Limbaugh, on the Senate Immigration Bill:

"I don't remember a time when Beltway politicians, including way too many Republicans, have been so tone deaf on an issue and so complicit on a matter that could severely damage the long-term interests of this nation."

Get more Notable Quotes.

Do you have a notable quote you'd like to share with the Center, e-mail it to info@cfif.org. Be sure to provide us the source of the quote.


As a non-profit, 501(c)(4) corporation, the Center for Individual Freedom relies upon the generous private financial support of individuals, associations, foundations and corporations. Please consider becoming a proud supporter of the Center today. Donate online now.
 


Center for Individual Freedom
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info@cfif.org
http://www.cfif.org

The Center for Individual Freedom is a nonpartisan constitutional advocacy organization with the mission to protect and defend individual freedoms and individual rights in the legal, legislative and educational arenas.