Category: Politics

Bizarre, Media, Politics

Illinois Woman Files For Trademark Protection On Phrase “I Can’t Breathe”

The ScreamWe have previously seen how people attempt to cash in on political and social expressions under the increasingly absurd copyright and trademark laws in this country. Now joining this ignoble group is Catherine Crump, 57, of Waukegan, Illinois, who has applied for the trademark on “I Can’t Breathe.” In doing so, Crump not only is attempting to cash in on the words of the deceased Eric Garner, but a nationwide protest movement. So, while tens of thousands have been trying to find ways to protest what they view as police brutality, Crump has been trying to find a way to make money out of the tragedy and the movement.

Continue reading “Illinois Woman Files For Trademark Protection On Phrase “I Can’t Breathe”” →

International, Media, Politics, Society

Immigration Action By Obama Administration Raises Serious Questions Of Special Dealing For Democratic Donors

220px-Robert_Menendez,_official_Senate_photo225px-Hillary_Clinton_official_Secretary_of_State_portrait_cropThe New York Times has been investigating a controversial immigration case that could present another challenge for Hillary Clinton as she prepares for her presidential run. At the center of the controversy is a rather disreputable character named Estefanía Isaías. A wealthy, well-connected Ecuadorean television executive, she was barred from coming to the United States after being caught fraudulently obtaining visas for her maids. However, the New York Times reports that the Clinton State Department intervened to get her into the country “so that Ms. Isaías could work for an Obama fund-raiser with close ties to the administration.” The newspaper also notes that her fortunes changed after “her family gave tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns.” Her family is accused of fraud costing the poor country $400 million. There are also serious questions being raised about the efforts of Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey in leading the intensive efforts to countermand the decisions of career officials in Washington and Ecuador in the case.

Continue reading “Immigration Action By Obama Administration Raises Serious Questions Of Special Dealing For Democratic Donors” →

Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Indiana Police Officer Asked To Stop Selling “Divisive” T-Shirts Saying “Breathe Easy, Don’t Break The Law.”

Screen Shot 2014-12-22 at 8.52.11 AMMishawaka Police officer Jason Barthel has been told to stop selling T-Shirt in his spare time. There is nothing illegal about the Indiana officer selling shirts, but these t-shirts say “Breathe easy, don’t break the law.” They are in direct response to t-shirts being worn in protest over the decision of a New York grand jury not to indict officers in the death of Eric Garner who died in Staten Island from a chokehold while saying that he could not breathe. “I Can’t Breathe” has become a rallying cry for those protesting police abuse of minorities. However, Barthel wants to sell a counter message that supports police. While there has been vandalism of stores selling the t-shirts, they reportedly remain high selling items.

Continue reading “Indiana Police Officer Asked To Stop Selling “Divisive” T-Shirts Saying “Breathe Easy, Don’t Break The Law.”” →

Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Police In Philadelphia and New York In Uproar Over Anti-Police Postings and Shootings

242A6AC700000578-2880647-image-m-2_1419001158648

A Philadelphia Fire Department paramedic is under fire for posting this picture with the caption: “Our real enemy.” The caption also said “Need 2 stop pointing guns at each other & at the ones that’s legally killing innocents.” Marcell Salters has also published highly antagonistic language toward police officers. He has since apologized but some have called for his punishment or termination. In the meantime, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is under attack after Ismaaiyl Brinsley effectively executed two police officers over his anger with the recent decisions by grand juries in Missouri and New York. police have been protesting what they view as de Blasio’s unfair portrayals of police after the decision, including turning their backs on the mayor when he came to give a press conference on the murders.

Continue reading “Police In Philadelphia and New York In Uproar Over Anti-Police Postings and Shootings” →

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

Turkey Imposes Heavy Fine On Television Show . . . For Showing Married Men Dancing With Other Women

still-of-fred-astaire-and-ginger-rogers-in-top-hat-(1935)-1220px-Erdogan_croppedTurkey was long viewed as a symbol of secularism in the Islamic world — an alternative to the rigid Islamic governments imposing medieval Sharia laws to their populations. Then came the election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has steadily broken down secular tradition and introduced more and more Islamic influences in government. (You may recall Erdogan recently declaring that Muslims discovered America and that there was proof of a Mosque in Cuba when Columbus arrived) The fines imposed this week by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) have reaffirmed those concerns. RTUK officials imposed as fine of 410,000 Turkish lira ($177,000, 145,000 euros) against The game show, “I Don’t Know, My Spouse Knows.” The episode in question showed wives pictures of their husbands dancing with foreign women. That was deemed “contrary to public morality and the Turkish family structure.”

Continue reading “Turkey Imposes Heavy Fine On Television Show . . . For Showing Married Men Dancing With Other Women” →

Environment, International, Politics, Society

Prime Minister Tony Abbott Is Asked For His Major Contribution To Women . . . He Cites The Repeal Of The Carbon Tax

200px-Tony_Abbott_-_2010220px-Feminist_Suffrage_Parade_in_New_York_City,_1912Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been widely criticized (including by the author) for his comprehensive attack on environmental protections in Australia from stripping pristine areas of protection to his selection of pro-development environmental officials to his endangering of the Great Barrier Reef. However, even when others change the subject, Abbott returns to one of his most controversial measures. When asked on the country’s leading morning show what he thought was his biggest achievement as Australia’s Minister for Women, Abbott said . . . repealing the carbon tax.

Continue reading “Prime Minister Tony Abbott Is Asked For His Major Contribution To Women . . . He Cites The Repeal Of The Carbon Tax” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

Hacker Group Anonymous Reportedly Seeks To Release Film “The Interview” If Sony Declines To Do So

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Anonymous_at_Scientology_in_Los_AngelesHacktivism seems to be taking place in the aftermath of Sony declining to release The Interview. The Interview portrays a comic plot to assassinate North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. The decision follows a security breach where afterward extortionists attempted to induce Sony to halt distribution of the film. Many regarded this decision to be a surrender of free speech rights.

Continue reading “Hacker Group Anonymous Reportedly Seeks To Release Film “The Interview” If Sony Declines To Do So” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society, Uncategorized

Just How Much of Big Bank Fines Are Actually Paid and Who Profits?

US-DeptOfJustice-Seal_svg

Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)- Weekend Contributor

It should not surprise any of the regular visitors to this blog that I have written many articles detailing the abuses of many of the Big Banks and the resulting fines that they have paid on multiple occasions.  When a taxpayer reads about Billion dollar settlements being paid by Banks and financial companies as a result of a Justice Department investigation, they probably assume that the entire amount of the fine is being paid.

Those very same taxpayers may be surprised to learn that in many cases, the Banks are able to deduct from their taxes up to 75% of the fines and settlements made with the Justice Department. Continue reading “Just How Much of Big Bank Fines Are Actually Paid and Who Profits?” →

Free Speech, International, Politics, Society

Turkish Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Dissident Under “Terrorism” Accusations

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Flag of TurkeyWe recently reported HERE arrests made around Turkey of journalists, police, and opposition critical of President Erdogan. Now, an arrest warrant has been issued against Cleric Fethulla Gülen who is presently residing in the United States as an exile.

The Turkish government accuses Gülen of orchestrating a terrorist plot to seize power in Turkey. He has been an outspoken critic of the president and that certainly appears to be a motivator in another campaign to eradicate political opponents of the leadership of our NATO ally.

Continue reading “Turkish Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Dissident Under “Terrorism” Accusations” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

“I Hate Republicans”: Michigan Professor Under Fire For Provocative Column

16596269-smallUniversity of Michigan Communications Professor Susan Douglas is at the center of a controversy over a column that she wrote for In These Times entitled “It’s Okay To Hate Republicans.” The title was changed after Douglas complained that it did not represent the content of her column which began with the line “I hate Republicans.”

Continue reading ““I Hate Republicans”: Michigan Professor Under Fire For Provocative Column” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Missouri Legislation Would Require Women To Get Consent Of Man For An Abortion

RickBrattinMissouri Republican Floor Leader Rick Brattin has introduced a bill that would allow a man to stop a woman from getting an abortion by withholding written permission. Brattin is under fire not only over the bill but his description of the condition of confirmation of a “legitimate rape” to secure and exception under the law — a decryption that reminded many of the controversy over the use of the same term by former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.).

Continue reading “Missouri Legislation Would Require Women To Get Consent Of Man For An Abortion” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Media, Military, Politics, Uncategorized

Cheney Offers Tortured View of History In Defending Waterboarding

250px-46_Dick_Cheney_3x4I have long argued in my column as well as numerous blog postings that our country is legally bound to prosecute people responsible for ordering torture during the Bush Administration. There is no question that water boarding is torture as recognized by President Obama, Attorney General Holder, the United Nations and virtually every expert in this field. However, while you may want to try to rewrite legal precedent (as did John Yoo and Jay Bybee in their infamous Torture Memos), you should not try to rewrite history. That is what former Vice President Dick Cheney appears to be doing this month. He told Chuck Todd on Sunday that we never prosecuted anyone for water boarding — an assertion that I and others have repeatedly raised over the years. The statement is simply false and adds historical revisionism to legal revisionism in our sordid foray into torture.

Continue reading “Cheney Offers Tortured View of History In Defending Waterboarding” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society, Torts

Long Shot Litigation: Sandy Hook Families Sue Manufacturer and Distributor of Lanza’s Bushmaster AR-15

Adam_lanza_sandy_hook_shooter220px-Police_at_Sandy_HookThe families of nine of the 26 people killed two years ago at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor and seller of the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle used in the shooting. The lawsuit names Bushmaster, Camfour, a firearm distributor, and Riverview Gun Sales, the East Windsor store where Adam Lanza’s mother purchased the Bushmaster rifle in 2010. The plaintiffs include Sherlach and the families of Vicki Soto, Dylan Hockley, Noah Pozner, Lauren Rousseau, Benjamin Wheeler, Jesse Lewis, Daniel Barden, Rachel D’Avino and teacher Natalie Hammond (who was injured in the shooting). Despite great sympathy for these families and this teacher, the lawsuit has little merit in my view in seeking liability against the sale of a lawful weapon.

Continue reading “Long Shot Litigation: Sandy Hook Families Sue Manufacturer and Distributor of Lanza’s Bushmaster AR-15” →

Academia, Environment, International, Politics, Society

New Studies: Global Warming To Cause Much Faster Melting In Antarctica With Possible Rise of 23 Feet In Sea Levels

earth-screensaver_largeThe news continues to grow worse over global warming. The Peru meeting revealed new research showing that time is running out for humanity to act on climate change. Now to new reports indicate that we may have underestimate the rate of loss on the huge ice sheet of West Antarctica — new calculations under global warming could mean a rise in global sea levels of as much as 23 feet. That would create massive changes in the coasts of the world.

Continue reading “New Studies: Global Warming To Cause Much Faster Melting In Antarctica With Possible Rise of 23 Feet In Sea Levels” →