Category: Constitutional Law

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Justice, Media, Politics, Society

A Decade of Misplaced Patriotism

Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty (rafflaw)-Guest Blogger

A milestone passed by most of us this past week.  It seems that the Patriot Act birthday cake added a 10th candle this week and there was no party!  The infamous Patriot Act turned 10 this week and a decade of attacks on our personal liberties went unnoticed by our Main Stream media.  You can probably remember that the act passed with little opposition in the House and with only 1 member of the Senate in opposition. Continue reading “A Decade of Misplaced Patriotism” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Richmond, VA Photographer Arrested For Trespass on Public Street

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Richmond, Va photographer, Ian Graham, must be wondering where he was this past Monday as he was arrested by local police for trespassing on a city street. Graham, who was photographing police arresting demonstrators in the Occupy Richmond protest, was told by police he was trespassing as he politely stood near a public crosswalk  recording the goings on with his camera. Police claim they told Graham he could take photos but only in the designated “media area,” which was, of course, far from the scene of the arrests.

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Religion, Society

Is “In God We Trust” The Only Thing Standing Between Us and Anarchy?

We have previously discussed how leaders in both the United States and Europe have focused on atheists and secularists as one of the greatest threats facing the free world. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) seemed to take this to a new level in arguing this week that if the nation did not reaffirm “In God We Trust” as our national motto, we are inviting anarchy and accepting that we are nothing but “worm food.”

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion

Extremists Firebomb French Newspaper After Publication of Mohammad Cartoon

The French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, in Paris was firebombed this week by what are believed to be Muslim extremists for printing a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in a four-page supplement with other cartoons as part of its “freedom to poke fun” series.
Continue reading “Extremists Firebomb French Newspaper After Publication of Mohammad Cartoon” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Lawyering, Society

Who Are These People? Foreclosure Firm Staff Mock Homeless People At Halloween Party

These pictures sent to columnist Joe Nocera from a Halloween party last year show affluent people mocking homeless people with signs like this reading “3rd Party Squatter. I Lost My Home & Was Never Served!!” Under any circumstances in a devastating recession, such costumes would show callous and tasteless senses of humor. However, this was a party of lawyer with the law firm of Steven J. Baum, a “foreclosure mill” representing banks and mortgage servicers.
Continue reading “Who Are These People? Foreclosure Firm Staff Mock Homeless People At Halloween Party” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International

Saudi Arabi Beheads “Sorcerer”

In another example of primitivism dressed up as law, a Sharia sentence was carried out in Saudi Arabia to cut off the head of a man accused of being a “sorcerer.” Abdul Hamid Bin Hussain Bin Moustafa al-Fakki was executed in a car park Medina as citizens looked on to support punishment for immoral conduct.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, International, Military, Politics, Religion, Society

Separation Anxiety: Is the Obama Administration Teaching Foreign Soldiers A Distorted View of Constitutional Law and History?

A writer for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has published a startling blog entry that, if true, should be a major story on the government’s indoctrination of flawed historical and constitutional accounts in training foreign military personnel. The article below discussed material used in International Military Student Officer (IMSO) program run by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. It is run by the military but is under the supervision and direction of the Secretary of State. The author from MRFF, Chris Rodda, quotes from the material used in the training and it is pretty shocking.
Continue reading “Separation Anxiety: Is the Obama Administration Teaching Foreign Soldiers A Distorted View of Constitutional Law and History?” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Religion, Society

Shorter Means Straighter: University Requires Faculty To Sign Lifestyle Statement Denouncing Homosexuality

Shorter University President Donald Dowless has notified the faculty and staff that they will now be required to sign mandatory pledges that affirm their rejection of homosexuality and other unChristian acts. The pledge, Dowless, insists, is necessary as an “affirmation of our Christ-centered mission.” It has caused a considerable controversy, though the countervailing religious practice rights should be considered.

Continue reading “Shorter Means Straighter: University Requires Faculty To Sign Lifestyle Statement Denouncing Homosexuality” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

The Obama Tuition Stimulus: Will Students Get A Sawbuck While The Constitution Get The Shaft?

The newly announced stimulus effort to help students has been denounced as an election year ploy that, as discussed in the below article, would result in less than $10 a month in savings for the average student. The question is whether such a use of executive power is constitutional given the conflict with prior legislation.
Continue reading “The Obama Tuition Stimulus: Will Students Get A Sawbuck While The Constitution Get The Shaft?” →

Constitutional Law, Religion, Society

Court Under Fire For Upholding Application of Islamic Law in Florida Court

The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland, Florida is under fire after upholding the use of Islamic law by Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Richard A. Nielsen. The uproar has reignited the national controversy over the perceived threat of Sharia law to the United States.

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Pro-Life or Pro-Libel: Former Dem Congressman Sues Susan B. Anthony List For “Loss of Livelihood” After Defeat

When former Rep. Steven Driehaus lost his seat in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, he prepared more than a concession speech. He prepared a lawsuit. Driehaus blames his defeat on what he says were misrepresentations by the Susan B. Anthony List, a group that supports pro-life candidates for Congress. Continue reading “Pro-Life or Pro-Libel: Former Dem Congressman Sues Susan B. Anthony List For “Loss of Livelihood” After Defeat” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Egyptian Party Leader: “I Am the Enemy of Democracy”

With Libya now moving to a Sharia-based system that will impose religious values on the population, Egypt is also rapidly moving toward an extreme Sharia based system. Indeed, Hesham al Ashry (the leader of the Salafists) announced this week that “I am the enemy of democracy.”

Continue reading “Egyptian Party Leader: “I Am the Enemy of Democracy”” →

Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

CBS: Gadhafi May Have Been Sodomized After Capture

I received a fair amount of criticism after my post following the death of Maummar Gadhafi objecting to the apparent execution of the deposed leader and the abuse of his body. One rebel has now come forward to take credit in executing the unarmed dictator and there is now a report that a Libyan rebel may have sodomized the dictator as part of the abuse after his capture.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Society

ICE Balls: Federal Agents Announce “We Don’t Need a Warrant, We’re ICE”

Over the last few decades, the courts and Congress have gradually made the warrant clause of the Fourth Amendment superfluous. Now the majority of searches in the United States are done without searches and private companies are now conducting searches for copyright and trademark infringements with the pleasing of Congress (and the lobbyists that shape the laws). Now, government agents have been offering a type of inverse Miranda warning — explaining that we don’t need stinking warrants in raiding homes. In a recent raid, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent were asked if they had a warrant, one agent reportedly said, “We don’t need a warrant, we’re ICE,” and, gesturing to his genitals, “the warrant is coming out of my balls.”
Continue reading “ICE Balls: Federal Agents Announce “We Don’t Need a Warrant, We’re ICE”” →

Constitutional Law, Politics

Rubio’s Not So Compelling Family History

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

It’s time once again for a history lesson, coming to you courtesy of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida). The questions are: when did Fidel Castro come to power and when did Rubio’s parents come to America? According to Rubio’s official bio, his parents “came to America following Fidel Castro’s takeover” of Cuba. Rubio used that compelling story to shape his political persona. Rubio would tell audiences that he was the “son of exiles” who fled their beloved homeland after “a thug” took power.

Continue reading “Rubio’s Not So Compelling Family History” →