Constitutional Law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Second Circuit Rejects Obama Administration’s Effort to Block Privacy Lawsuit

In a significant victory for civil libertarians and a loss for the Obama Administration, the Second Circuit has reinstated a lawsuit based on the unlawful warrantless surveillance programs launched by former President George W. Bush. The Obama Administration has been aggressively fighting to kill this privacy lawsuit as it has dozens of other lawsuits seeking judicial review of the unlawful program. The case is Amnesty v. Blair.

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Bizarre, Courts, Politics, Society

Wisconsin Supreme Court Erupts Into Name Calling and Finger Pointing

Wisconsin voters are experiencing a different judicial campaign in the bid of Justice David Prosser to remain on the state Supreme Court. The issue? Prosser calling Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson a “total bitch.” Prosser has gone public to say that he did in fact call Abrahamson the name, but he stressed that he meant it. He also promised to “destroy” her. The controversy has now pulled other justices into the fray on both sides.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

The Coronation of the One-Eyed Men: Two Former Bush Officials Are Reportedly Leading Contenders For Next FBI Director

Civil libertarians have long objected to the continuation (and in some cases the expansion) of Bush policies in the national security areas by President Barack Obama. Obama has blocked the investigation and prosecution of Bush officials for torture, renewed the military tribunal system, extinguished dozens of public interest lawsuits against telecommunication companies and agencies as well as other controversial moves. Now, two former Bush officials are considered leading contenders to take over the FBI despite their involvement in some of the worst abuses during the Bush Administration. They are James Comey and Kenneth Wainstein. As discussed below, they are a case of the coronation of the one-eyed man as King of the land of the blind.

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Bizarre, Politics, Science, Society

Too Popular To Sell? FDA Committee Calls For Ban on Menthol-Flavored Cigarettes

FDA advisory group called the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee has asked the Administration to bar the sale of menthol cigarettes as a danger to human health. The reason? They are too popular. I do not smoke and I do not like smoking. However, I find it increasingly bizarre to ban products because people like them too much. If the Administration wants to seek a prohibition of tobacco, there are good faith reasons to do so. However, most Americans continue to believe that adults have a right to choose to smoke. If tobacco is legal, I do not see why citizens should be barred from buying the type of tobacco that they prefer.
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Bizarre, Criminal law

Mohawk Leads To Brawl in Texas

This is the second mugshot we have seen this month which will also be evidence submitted at trial. Johnathan Washburn’s interesting hair style caught the eye of a man taking pictures of interesting things on the street. Washburn, 23, became irate at being photographed and his friend, Timothy Beard, 19, demanded that the man delete the photo. When he didn’t, they allegedly stole his sunglasses and beat him with a skateboard. By the way, that is called a triple Mohawk.
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Politics, Society

Revenue Addiction: New Hampshire and Other States Move to Cut Tobacco Taxes to Increase Sales

There has long been an ironic relationship between states and tobacco. While insisting that they are raising taxes on tobacco to combat smoking, states have long been addicted to the revenue. Now, some states are lowering taxes to encourage more smoking to generate more revenue to deal with budget shortfalls.
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International, Military, Politics

Arab League Denounces Military Strikes By U.S. and Allies on Libya

Now this sounds familiar. The United States has again launched a military campaign in an Arab nation to help the inhabitants and has unleashed growing criticism from other Arab countries. In the meantime, the United States and its allies have been denounced as crusaders and Nazis by those fighting with Gaddafi.
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Congress, Courts, Justice, Politics

Just How Sunny is Sunshine Week?

 

Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger

I know what you may be thinking. What is that crazy title all about? It wasn’t discussed much in the Corporate Mass Media, but this past week was dubbed, Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week was supposed to celebrate “open Government practices”. I for one, wasn’t convinced that our government had any “open” practices. The Freedom of Information Act was passed in 1966 and it was designed to allow individuals the right to find out exactly what government was doing on our behalf. The Act has been amended on several occasions and it has aged with mixed results. Continue reading “Just How Sunny is Sunshine Week?” →

Animals, Uncategorized

A Jack & Rudy Post: Dog Gone Wild on Saint Patty’s Day!

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

Here’s a picture of my older brother Jack Murphy. It was taken on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Jack is a real party animal. He especially likes to party hearty on the day in March when we commemorate the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. My older sibling likes to dress in green, don his shamrock shades, and go wild! And I mean—WILD!  

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Criminal law, Religion

IRS to Conduct Abortion Audits?

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

If Republicans get their way that’s a distinct possibility. Under a GOP-backed bill the Internal Revenue Service would be required to police how Americans pay for abortions. Under the Republicans’ “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”, known as H.R. 3, IRS agents would also have to determine if the terminated pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.

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