S.Ct. won't revive Chicago's Recording of Police ban

The Supreme Court let the Court of Appeals decision invalidating the law stand. The Court refused to hear Chicago's apeal. This law wasn't even close to being constitutional.  Just a hint at what it might be like to live in a police state.

Another challenge to Obamacare

The U.S. Supreme Court kept alive a challenge to  a portion ofObamacare on First Amendment grounds. 

TIH: 1963,1971, 2010

1963

Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and mortally wounded Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

1971

Hijacker D.B. Cooper parachuted from a Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000 in ransom. His fate remains unknown.

2010

A jury in Austin convicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, on charges he'd illegally funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. (DeLay is appealing a three-year prison sentence.)

 

P.S. I apologize for my low techiness.  Have been unable to post but now it is fixed (hopefully)

 

TIH: 1942, 2009

1942


British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, discussing the recent victory over Rommel at El Alamein, Egypt, said "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."[One of my heroes, great speaker and leader]

2009

John Allen Muhammad, mastermind of the 2002 sniper attacks that killed 10 in the Washington, D.C. region, was executed.

Bipartisan threats to civil liberties.

Some threats to civil liberties will probably not change no matter who is in the White House.  The "War on Terrorism," like the "War on Drugs," has, and will spawn threats to a free society (e.g. NDAA detentions without due process).

Is This a Great Country or What?

I'll try to make this a regular column with the latest "insanity" from American capitlists, public officials, media, wacko individuals, etc.  Just what we need--a breast-feeding baby doll?

Unaccountable Presidents a Huge Risk

Doesn't matter who is in the White House.  President's need to be accountable.

Some Comments on Recent Congressional Elections

Some comments on the recent elections (Bloggers' comments in [])
"Democrats in Illinois controlled the redrawing of congressional districts after the latest Census, and the new lines proved too tough for several Republicans. Conservative tea party freshmen Reps. Joe Walsh and Bobby Schilling lost, as did moderate freshman Robert Dold and seven-term veteran Judy Biggert, a social moderate." [Republicans did the same thing in Texas.  If you think either party is high in integrity, you are sadly mistaken.  This is a shameful practice that goes back many decades if not for two centuries in this country]

"One winner was Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., the Chicago lawmaker who took medical leave from Congress in June and has been at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for treatment of bipolar disorder."  [Is Illinois a great state, and Chicago a great city. or what?}

"Public corruption has been an unfortunate aspect of Illinois politics for a century and a half. Even before Governor Blagojevich tried to sell the vacant senate seat to the highest bidder, the people of the state were exposed continuously to outrageous corruption scandals. The state history of political corruption features Paul Powell, a former secretary of state, who died leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars hoarded in shoeboxes in his closet, 13 judges nabbed in Operation Greylord for fixing court cases, and a state auditor who embezzled more than $1.5 million in state funds and bought two planes, four cars, and two homes with the money.


Since 1972 there have been three governors before Governor Blagojevich, state legislators, two congressmen, 19 Cook County judges, 30 Aldermen, and other statewide officials convicted of corruption.1 Altogether there have been 1,000 public officials and businessmen convicted of public corruption since 1970."
Source

Voters in 3 states endorse gay marriage

Voters in 3 states have endorsed legal gay marriages.  This could be a turning point on this issue in this country.  Look for more states to follow suit.  This cautious libertarian endorses the trend.  Equal protection means equal protection, and the Supreme Court has recognized that there are constitutionally protected rights involved.

Congrats to Obama & Biden

Congrats to Pres. Obama and VP Biden.  I wish I had bought some gun company (e.g. S&W, Glock, etc.) stock before the election.

Colo. & Wash. Legalize Pot

The states of Colorado and Washington approved ballot initiatives to legalize pot.  The topic was also on the ballot in a few other states.  Seems to be a trend here.  Perhaps Obama will deliver on his 2008 campaign promise to stop enforcding federal pot laws against medical marijuana.  He may go farther than than an "legalize" recreational pot use and possession under federal law. Stay tuned.

Freedom of Religion and Equal Protection Challenges to Obamacare

Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Commerce Clause and Taxing Power challenges to Obamacare, (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA) other significant issues remain outstanding.  The 4th Circuit will hear a challenge by a religious college that the requirement that they provide abortion coverage for their employees violates First Amendment freedom of religion.  They are also arguing that Equal Protection is violated because some religious organizations are allowed to opt out of the PPACA.  Stay tuned.

Chicago "violence" gun tax becomes law.

It seemed like just a looney idea when proposed, but now it's law in Chicago.  Left-wing political correctness goes amuck and becomes law.  Is this a great contry or what?  I wonder if re-elected, if Obama will carry this idea over from his old hometown and political stomping grounds?

Some good Second Amendment and gun law sites:

David T. Hardy
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2012/10/now_this_is_int.php

Michel and Associates, Firearms rights litigators
http://michellawyers.com/practice-areas/firearms-law-group/

TIH: Various

[parentheticals added by blogger]

1783


Gen. George Washington issued his farewell address to the Army near Princeton, N.J.

1917

British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour expressed support for a national home for the Jews of Palestine in what became known as the Balfour Declaration.  [We know how this ultimately ended-up]

1959

Charles Van Doren admitted to a House subcommittee that he had the questions and answers in advance of his appearances on the TV game show "Twenty-One."

1963

South Vietnamese President Ngo Dihn Diem was assassinated in a military coup.  [ The Kennedy administration was complicit in this assassination]                             

1976

Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter defeated Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford, becoming the first U.S. president from the Deep South since the Civil War.  [Good intentions, but largely a uninspiring and ultimately failed Presidency]

1983

President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing a federal holiday on the third Monday of January in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

2010

Californians rejected a ballot measure that would have made their state the first to [formally] legalize marijuana for recreational use.

TIH: 1765, 1991

1765


The Stamp Act went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists.

1991

Clarence Thomas took his place as a justice on the Supreme Court.

Blogger's comment:  Thomas is the most conervative member of the Supreme Court.  He is frequently way out in right field.  He is too far out for me. I don't think he gives enough respect to the rights of criminal suspects, defendants and convicts.

Freedom of Speech on Calif. Univ. Campuses

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ California Advisory Committee, has called on Calif. Universities to revise the "speech codes," to conform to the First Amendment.  "Each of the 32 universities in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems maintains at least one speech code that restricts student expression. Eighteen institutions (56 percent)—including nearly two-thirds of CSU schools—enforce policies that clearly and substantially violate the First Amendment."  All of these speech codes lean to the Left.

Latest report on BATF's Operation Fast and Furious

The latest House committee report on BATF's infamous Operation Fast and Furious is out. It slams DOJ for its handling of the problem.  More disinfecting sunlight.

New Okla Open-Carry law

A new law will take effect in Okla. shortly that allows licensed concealed carriers to carry openly.  It's not hard to tell which jurisidictions trust their own law-abiding citizens (e.g. Okla.) and those than don't (Ill.).  A victory for those who love liberty and don't buy into the fantasy that more guns, and more licensed carriers mean more crime.

P.S. If you're like me, you're burned out on politics.  I'm trimming the blog.  We need to get back to CL&J more directly.

TIH: 2005

2005:   Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks became the first woman to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. 

Liberal media on BATF's Fast and Furious results in lawsuit

The liberal-dominated media has ignored or attempted to spin BATF's outrageous operation Fast and Furious to favor Obama.  This lawsuit was brought by a whistle-blower.  Hopefully a little disinfecting sunlight will be the result of this case. Yes, I know the Bush administration had a similar outrageous plan, but unfortunately, they were never exposed.  I don't care which party's Prez gets exposed.  This kind out outrageous stupidity should never be tolerated.

2nd Amend Litigation Update

The 5th Circuit ruled in favor of the federal law that bans people under 21 from purchasing handguns. In the abstract I can live with that.  As the article suggests, what bothers me is that 18-20 year olds are good enought to become potential military cannon fodder and carry all sorts of weapons more dangerous than handguns, but we don't trust them to buy a handgun.  If Heller and McDonald are overruled we will see how many jurisdictions don't trust ordinary, law-abiding, competent adults to buy one.  Two other important cases working their way up are also discussed. I hope one of these two eventually gets to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Embarrassing Congressman

How do these people get elected?  The quality (intelligence, knowledge, concern for civil liberties, etc.) of representatives of both parties in the House is pathetic.  Here's an example.

S.Ct. Grants Prisoner's Handwritten Petition

I don't imagine this happens very often, but the Supreme Court granted this prisoner's handwritten petition for certiorari.  I applaud the Court for giving opportunities to those who can't afford attorneys.

" Violence Tax" on Guns and Ammo

The latest craziness from the gun-controllers. If re-elected, I wonder if Obama will pick up on this idea from his home base (Chicago).

TIH: 1956, 1973, 1987, 2006

OCT. 23


1956


An anti-Stalinist revolt began in Hungary.

1973

President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn White House tape recordings requested by the Watergate special prosecutor over to Judge John J. Sirica.

1987

The U.S. Senate rejected the Supreme Court nomination of Robert H. Bork, 58-42.

2006

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for his role in the company's collapse.

Great Quote on Media Bias

Daily Email - October 19, 2012





Romney Jokes about Media Bias as Reporters Protect Obama

By Cliff Kincaid
October 19, 2012

"Speaking at the Al Smith dinner, which benefits Catholic humanitarian causes, Mitt Romney took on the press in a joking manner that struck many as truthful. “Now I never suggest that the press is biased,” he said. “I recognize that they have their job to do, and I have my job to do. My job is to lay out a positive vision for the future of the country, and their job is to make sure no one else finds out about it.”

The quip is funny, but the lack of ethics in the media, on  most of both the left and right is not. Romney not only has to beat Obama, but most of the mainstream media. This is a very formidable task.

Mayor Bloomberg Unhappy

NannyYork City Mayor  Bloomberg is unhappy about the Presidential debaters not repudiating the Second Amendment.  Welcome to the "City of the free, and the home of the brave." 

TIH: 1765, 2011

Today in history

1765


The Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York, drew up a declaration of rights and liberties.

2011

In Greece, hundreds of youths smashed and looted stores in central Athens and clashed with riot police during a massive anti-government rally against painful new austerity measures.

Interesting Study on Libertarians

This interesting study misses the point that there are at least 2 types of libertarians:
(1) natural law and rights libertarians (this blogger), and
(2) Ayn Rand libertarians (objectivism).
Type 1 theoretically deals only with the relationship between persons and their governments. Type 2 also covers interpersonal relationships.   Personal altruism has nothing to do with 1.  Being puretype 1. does not influence personal characterisitics such as altruism. I consider myself a pure type 1 who is also altruistic. Other type 1's I know seem altruistic to me.  Altruism comes into play only in interpersonal relationships.  The findings on altruism apply only to Rand libertarians.  I suspect that there are more "libertarians" of type 2 than 1. Of course there may be libertarians who are both 1's and 2's and perhaps other  categories.  An interesting, but flawed study that mixes 2 distinct groups together and misses important points.  Any libertarians out there who care to comment?