[StBernard] Liberty Update

[Westley Annis]

Health Care: 
________________________________

Government-Run Health Care Plan Worse Than Anyone Imagined 

 Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/newleg.jpg> Democrats
in the House of the Representatives this week introduced their
long-anticipated plan to reform the nation's health care system. Simply put,
it is worse than anyone could have imagined.

Euphemistically titled "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,"
the 1,018-page bill is filled with massive tax hikes to be levied against
individuals and small businesses. It expands on and creates brand new
federal bureaucracies empowered with overseeing your family's health care
decisions - if not charged with making those decisions for you. And,
according to Investor Business Daily, "[r]ight there on Page 16 is a
provision making individual private medical insurance illegal" if you leave
your current plan and wish to buy private individual insurance for yourself
and your family.

That's before factoring in that nearly 120 million people will be forced off
their private insurance and into a government-run plan while still leaving
34 million Americans uninsured. Or the fact that the legislation comes with
a $1 trillion to $2 trillion price tag. 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/Government-Ru
n-Health-Care-Plan-Worse-Than-Anyone-Imagined.html>  


Confirmation Watch: 
________________________________

Like President, Like Nominee: Obama and Sotomayor Render Language
Increasingly Meaningless 

 Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/hammer.jpg> In his
brief political prime, Barack Obama has already established new lows in the
art of dishonesty.

While mesmerizing audiences with soothing teleprompted speeches and a
hypnotic cadence, the disconnect between his words and his actions is
already well-established. And now, in her first week of Senate confirmation
testimony, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has demonstrated that the fruit doesn't
fall far from the proverbial tree. 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/Like-Presiden
t-Like-Nominee-Obama-and-Sotomayor-Render-Language-Increasingly-Meaningless.
html>  


Freedom Line: 
________________________________

Obama Gets it Right in Ghana ... Wrong in America 

 Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/freedomline.jpg> In
the spirit of American meritocracy, even those of us who usually line up in
opposition to President Obama owe it to the man to point out when he's done
something right. The President's speech in Accra, Ghana, last week was just
such a success.

What's most notable about Obama's July 11 remarks before the Ghanaian
Parliament is how sharply they diverged from the usual products of the
paint-by-numbers Obama speechwriting kit. That formula is usually as
follows: 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/Obama-Gets-it
-Right-in-Ghana-Wrong-in-America.html>  


National Security: 
________________________________

"Dick Cheney Did It" 

 Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/fireworks1.jpg> "Dick
Cheney did it."

No matter who says that, where, when or how, the liberal reaction is always
the same. The crowd goes wild.

But what is it exactly that Dick Cheney did this time?

To understand what Dick Cheney allegedly did this time, one must first
confront what Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi assuredly did several months
ago. She got her political witching britches tied in a hard knot when she
tried, in several progressive iterations, to deny being briefed by the CIA
way back when on enhanced interrogation techniques, or "torture" if you
believe Dick Cheney did it with former President George W. Bush pouring the
water and tipping the board. 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/Dick-Cheney-d
id-it.html>  


Federal Issues: 
________________________________

If at First You Don't Succeed, Spend and Spend Some More 

 Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/dollar.jpg> Potomac
Fever: some would define it as a determination to share in the power and
prestige of the federal government. Others might characterize it with words
like obstinance, incorrigibility and simple pig-headedness.

Undoubtedly, Washington loves power. But when it comes to admitting the
error of its ways, ignorance is bliss in the nation's capital.

For example, recent rumblings have indicated that some members of President
Obama's economic team might be pushing for yet another taxpayer-funded
stimulus package. 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/in_our_opinion/If-at-First-Y
ou-Dont-Succeed-Spend-and-Spend-Some-More.html>  


FreedomCast: 
________________________________

A Billion Here, a Trillion There: Washington's Misguided Economic Policy 

 Legal<http://www.cfif.org/podcasts/02.jpg> Recently, Center for Individual
Freedom Director of Public Policy Sam Batkins joined CFIF's Renee Giachino
to discuss the state of the economy, unemployment and the Obama
Administration's economic policy.

Read more and listen to the interview now.
<http://www.cfif.org/podcasts/07/Sam-Batkins.html>  


Editorial Cartoons: 
________________________________

The Cartoons of Michael Ramirez

 
Legal_Update<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/cartoon-corner/UnlessEmp
athyDictatesOtherwise-big.jpg> 



















View more of Michael Ramirez's latest cartoons on CFIF's website now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/cartoon-corner/index.htm> 


CFIF History & Civics Quiz: 
________________________________

Question of the Week 
 Freedom Line<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/icons/feather1.jpg> 
Which President's Supreme Court nominee was the first to fail Senate
confirmation?

(a) George W. Bush
(b) George Washington
(c) Franklin D. Roosevelt
(d) Ronald Reagan 

Get the correct answer now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/index.htm#quiz> 


Jester's Courtroom: Tales Stranger Than Fiction
Featuring bizarre and sometimes humorous real life stories from the
courtroom. 
________________________________

OMG: We R Suing 

 Jester's
Courtroom<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/update_icons/jesters_courtroom.j
pg> Walking and texting may be hazardous to your health. So hazardous that
you may just have to sue. And that's exactly what the parents of 15-year-old
Alexa Longueira have done.

According to news reports, Alexa was so busy tapping out a text message on
her cell phone while walking along Victory Boulevard in Staten Island that
she didn't see the open manhole ahead of her.

You guessed it. She fell in.

The Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") said its workers had
turned away briefly to grab some warning cones. "We regret that this
happened and wish the young woman a speedy recovery," DEP spokeswoman
Mercedes Padilla said in a statement.

Alexa suffered some scrapes on her arms and back. "It was four or five feet,
it was very painful. I kind of crawled out and the DEP guys came running and
helped me," Alexa said. "They were just like, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'"

Now Alexa's parents are suing. "Oh my God, it was putrid. One of her
sneakers is still down there," her mother, Kim Longueira, said.

Source: nbcnewyork.com 

Read more now.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/legal_issues/legal_updates/jesters_courtroom/tal
es.html> 

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 at cfif.org. <mailto:info at cfif.org>  


Notable Quotes: 
________________________________

Quote of the Week 

 Notable
Quotes<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/Images/update_icons/notable_quotes.jpg>
Walter E. Williams, Author, Economist and Professor of Economics, On
Cap-and-Trade Legislation:

"'Cap and trade' is first a massive indirect tax on the American people and
hence another source of revenue for Congress. More importantly 'cap and
trade' is just about the most effective tool for controlling most economic
activity short of openly declaring ourselves a communist nation and it's a
radical environmentalist's dream come true." 

Get more Notable Quotes.
<http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/notable_quotes/index.htm> 

Do you have a notable quote you'd like to share with the Center, e-mail it
to info at cfif.org. <mailto:info at cfif.org>  Be sure to provide us the source
of the quote.




________________________________

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. Donate online now.
<https://www.donation-net.net/cfif/donate.cfm?dn=1043&commID=38164160&ID=419
967>  
________________________________

Share this message with a friend now!
<http://tool.donation-net.net/cfif/friend.cfm?dn=1043&commID=38164160&ID=419
967>  
________________________________



Center for Individual Freedom
917-B King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
info at cfif.org
http://www.cfif.org 

The Center for Individual Freedom is a nonpartisan constitutional advocacy
organization with the mission to protect and defend individual freedoms and
individual rights in the legal, legislative and educational arenas. 

Don't miss any of CFIF's Lunchtime Liberty Updates or Action Alerts. Make
sure our latest news and commentary continues to reach your e-mail inbox.
Please add info at cfif.org and cfif at cfiflistmanager.org to your address book,
buddy list or accepted senders list now.

How do I discontinue my membership/subscription to this e-mail list? Do not
respond to this e-mail for any reason. To discontinue your membership
automatically, please follow the link below or e-mail us at info at cfif.org
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line. You joined this list as
Daniel Junot at the following e-mail address: danjunot at bellsouth.net . You
must use the correct e-mail address to discontinue your membership. 

If you experience any technical problems and/or do not receive confirmation
that your request has been completed online, please postal mail, phone or
fax your request using the contact information listed above. Your request
will be processed within 10 days of the receipt of your request.