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From: Center for Individual Freedom [info@cfif.org]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 9:08 AM
To: resa@inventky.com
Subject: Lunchtime Liberty Update
Freedom Line:
CFIF Files FEC Complaint Against
CBS, Kerry Campaign
Punishment for Illegal Coordination Urged
The Center for Individual Freedom
this week filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging that
CBS and Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc., illegally coordinated election communications.
The complaint charges that CBS and the Kerry campaign violated federal campaign
finance laws when they colluded to attack President Bush based on claims and
documents now believed to be fake.
"It's obvious that CBS and the Kerry campaign acted improperly. That much is
clear to anyone with a pulse," said Jeffrey Mazzella, the Center's Executive
Director. "But what's been lost is that CBS and its executives blatantly
violated federal election laws when they overtly ignored basic journalistic
ethical standards and coordinated with the Kerry campaign in order to run an
attack story in an effort to affect the outcome of the November presidential
election. Our complaint makes this very clear," said Mazzella.
To read more,
click here.
U.N.
Monitor:
Annan Plays the Pot
Isn't it great that U.N. Secretary
General Kofi Annan is around to opine on the legitimacy of things?
Just last week, Annan told the BBC that the U.S.-led war in Iraq was "illegal."
This week, he told the U.N. General Assembly that all nations should respect the
rule of law.
In some parts of our country, this is what's known as "the pot calling the
kettle black." In others, it's just called laughable hypocrisy. Annan can't even
get his own staff to follow the rule of law. Remember the Oil for Food scandal?
Annan's chief aide in charge of the Oil for Food program has been accused of
taking bribes and kickbacks. Countless other charges of corruption have plagued
the world body under Annan's leadership.
To read more,
click here.
Freedom Line:
CBS Conduct, Handling of Memo Story
Condemned
Experts on journalism and
journalistic ethics continue to criticize Dan Rather and CBS News for their
handling of apparently fabricated memos used in a "60 Minutes II" story
disparaging President Bush's military record. They are also condemning CBS News
for acting as a "matchmaker" between the source of the phony documents and John
Kerry's Presidential campaign.
To read more,
click here.
Campaign Finance Reform:
CFIF Urges House Administration
Committee to Repeal Free Speech Restrictions in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform
Act of 2002
In a letter to House Administration
Committee Chairman Robert Ney, the Center for Individual Freedom this week urged
the Committee to abandon hearings considering speech regulations on so-called
527 groups, and instead, use the time to discuss ways in which BCRA infringes on
the free speech rights of countless Americans.
The letter further urges the Committee to consider the First Amendment
Restoration Act, which would repeal the BCRA provisions that currently prevent
groups like CFIF from criticizing our government at the time it is most
important to do so -- in the 60 days leading up to federal elections.
To read the letter,
click here.
Fall
Fundraising Drive:
Help
Hold the United Nations Accountable!
Contribute to CFIF's Fall Fundraising Drive today!
In a 25-minute speech this week,
President George W. Bush scolded the United Nations for its failure to confront
former Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein for repeatedly violating U.N.-passed
resolutions. The President also called out the world body for failing to have
any teeth in fulfilling its stated mission of keeping the peace.
"The Security Counsel promised serious consequences for [Saddam Hussein's]
defiance. And the commitments [the U.N.] make[s] must have meaning. When we say
'serious consequences,' for the sake of peace, there must be serious
consequences," the President told the 191 member countries of the United
Nations.
Amen, Mr. President!
The Center, through its U.N. Monitor project, is leading the charge to hold the
U.N. Accountable. Please make a contribution to the Center's Fall Fundraising
Drive today. Your contribution will help to fund our vital programs, including
U.N. Monitor, during the next fiscal year, which begins October 1.
To read more,
click here.
To
make a contribution today,
click here.
CFIF
History & Civics Quiz:
Question of the Week
Who was the last President to not appoint anyone to the U.S. Supreme Court?
(a) George H.W. Bush
(b) Jimmy Carter
(c) Gerald Ford
(d) Richard Nixon
For the correct answer,
click here.
Jester's Courtroom: Tales Stranger Than Fiction
Featuring bizarre and sometimes humorous real
life stories from the courtroom.
Galloping While Intoxicated?
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has
ruled that the state's drunk driving law cannot be enforced against horseback
riders who drink before mounting up and galloping off into the sunset. The Court
addressed the issue on appeal after another judge threw out drunk driving
charges against two men who were involved in an accident with a pickup truck
after leaving a local bar on their horses.
In the decision issued on September 22, the Court concluded that the drunk
driving charges could not be brought against the horseback riders because the
law was too vague about whether it applied to those who ride on animals, as well
as in vehicles. But the court was not unanimous in its opinion. In a lone
dissent, Justice Michael Eakin issued part of his contrary opinion in verse:
"A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
but the Vehicle Code does not divorce
its application from, perforce,
a steed as my colleagues said.
'It's not vague,' I'll say until I'm hoarse,
and whether a car, a truck or horse
this law applies with equal force,
and I'd reverse instead."
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
info@cfif.org.
Notable Quotes:
Quote of the Week
Wall Street Journal
Editorial, Commenting on Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's (D-SD) Perceived
Image as a Rural Populist, and the Reality of His Liberal Ties to Washington
Elites:
"The South Dakotan has been doing a political two-step his entire career. At
home, he presents himself as a cultural conservative, a uniting force in
Congress, and a prairie populist who only does what is good for South Dakota.
Yet back in the Beltway, Mr. Daschle is an iron-fisted partisan who leads (or
follows) his liberal caucus in attacking most of Mr. Bush's agenda."
For more Notable Quotes,
click here.
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.
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.
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. To donate online, please
click here.
You may cancel your subscription at any
time by visiting here.
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