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Confirmation Watch:
Is the 'Constitutional Option'
Viable to Break Partisan Filibusters Against Judicial Nominees?
Never before in our nation's history
has a judicial nomination to a federal appeals court been defeated by a
filibuster, a parliamentary tactic that requires 60 affirmative votes rather
than a simple majority for confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Never, that is,
until now.
Currently, Senate Democrats are using this unprecedented obstructionist tactic
to block confirmation of six of President Bush's appeals court nominees, and it
is possible -- rather, likely -- we will see as many as 40 simultaneous partisan
filibusters against the President's judicial nominations prior to the November
elections. This at a time when our nation's courts are in dire need of judges to
fill longstanding vacancies that have hindered the efficient administration of
justice.
The partisan obstructionism, which threatens the independence of the federal
judiciary, has sparked significant discussion on whether and how to eliminate
filibusters of judicial nominations since they require what many believe to be
an extra-constitutional super-majority in order for a judicial nominee to win
confirmation. In fact, for more than a year, Senate Republicans have
contemplated invoking what's been commonly referred to as the "Constitutional"
or "Nuclear" Option to accomplish that goal.
To read more,
click here.
Federal Issues:
Policing the Food Police
This week, the Center for Science in
the Public Interest (CSPI) unveiled the results of its latest "study." CSPI was
horrified to learn that a large percentage of food products sold in school
vending machines are sodas, chips and candy. And, in a shocking disclosure that
seemed straight from a Dave Barry column, the group also revealed that these
products are not nutritious.
Sound like a sneering appraisal of their work? It is. But given that CSPI has
dubbed itself the "food police" and anointed itself America's dietary overseer
and nutritional nanny, the sneer is more than fair.
To read more,
click here.
Confirmation Watch:
Democrat Memogate: Quiet Waters Run
Quietly
There will be times like this; there
are for any scandal. Nothing seems to be happening. Those who believe that
investigations must move forward with all due speed and diligence become
frustrated, not a unique emotion even for routine expectations of government,
but palpable when wrongs must be righted.
We must also accept that as scandals go, Memogate isn't very sexy. No graphic
photographs. The perps are not walking, they are veritably strutting, without
guards or ankle bracelets. Some of them think they have beat this rap, as they
have beat others before. There is understandable hesitancy to investigate
because one of the principal charges, attempting and possibly succeeding in
fixing a federal court case, involves leaders of the civil rights movement.
Beneath the surface, however, the water, while not yet roiling, is neither
still.
To read more,
click here.
Freedom Line:
Update: U.N. Oil for Food Scandal
Continues to Grow
Last week, the Center for Individual
Freedom outlined the growing scandal surrounding the United Nations' Oil for
Food program. But in the last few days, even more information evidencing the
breadth of the scandal and the possible extent of the cover-up has come to
light.
On May 11, the Wall Street Journal uncovered a third "hush" letter from
the office of U.N. Deputy Secretary General Benon Sevan. Recall that Sevan
managed the Oil for Food program and has been implicated in the scandal. Though
Sevan remains on vacation pending his retirement, the letter from his office is
a clear warning to the recipient, an Oil for Food consultant, that the U.N. will
take legal action should any information be disclosed to Congressional or other
investigators outside of the U.N.
To read more,
click here.
CFIF
History & Civics Quiz:
Question of the Week
Which of the following cities has not been the capital of the United
States of America at some point in history?
(a) Boston, MA
(b) New York, NY
(c) Philadelphia, PA
(d) Washington, DC
For the correct answer,
click here.
Jester's Courtroom: Tales Stranger Than Fiction
Featuring bizarre and sometimes humorous real
life stories from the courtroom.
The Doghouse Dispute
A brutal custody battle is shaping
up in a Pennsylvania county courthouse, and a group of Great Danes are caught in
the middle.
The canines in question were among 105 dogs and other animals seized from the
farm of Avis Brech when the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (SPCA) found them living in allegedly squalid conditions. After Brech
was denied visitation rights to her four Great Danes being held at the SPCA
shelter, Brech sued the SPCA for the return of the pets, two of which are
5-month-old puppies.
But Brech isn't the only person claiming a legal interest to the four-legged
companions. James R. Keiser, the breeder who sold the two Great Dane puppies to
Brech, claims the dogs are rightfully his since Brech never fully paid him for
the pedigreed, purebred puppies. Accordingly, Keiser has also filed suit and is
pressing his case against both Brech and the SPCA for custody of the two
puppies.
Unfortunately, an ill-fated turn of events has denied one dog his day in court
while raising the possibility of breeding yet another lawsuit after one of the
coveted Great Dane puppies died recently at its temporary SPCA-assigned home. A
necropsy is in the works to determine the cause of death, and a decision is
still pending as to whether Keiser will sue over the pup's premature demise.
Source: Associated Press
To read more,
click here.
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
mailto:info@cfif.org
Notable Quotes:
Quote of the Week
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist,
Commenting on a Report That He Might Push to Change Senate Rules In Order to Ban
Filibusters of Judicial Nominations:
"The Senate hasn't been reformed for 25 years, maybe it's time to reform the
Senate."
For more Notable Quotes,
click here.
Do
you have a notable quote you'd like to share with the Center, e-mail it to
mailto:info@cfif.org
Be sure to provide us the source of the quote.
Ray's Cartoon Corner:
Ray's
Cartoon Corner
Visit "Ray's Cartoon Corner,"
the lighter side of CFIF's website. The Corner is a good place for freedom
lovers and free market advocates to go to catch up on the latest social,
economic and political issues affecting individual freedoms and rights through
the humorous medium of editorial cartooning. The cartoons are drawn by Ray
Gardner, a self described free market conservative and thirty-something
cartoonist who lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona.
To view Ray's latest
cartoons,
click here.
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