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Federal Issues:
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Senate Condemns MoveOn.org for Its Attack on General Petraeus and American Troops
Learn How Your Senator Voted
While you wouldn't know it from the ongoing media drumbeat, it has been more than a week since MoveOn.org ran its now-infamous ad in the New York Times implying that General David Petraeus, America's top military leader in Iraq, is a traitor.
Most, regardless of their opinion on the war, criticized the full-page ad, apparently run by the Times at a deep discount, for what it was: A slap in the face to all of our brave men and women in uniform and their families. As Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently said on the Senate floor, "The ad was, by any standard, abhorrent. It accused a four star general who has the trust and respect of 160,000 men and women in Iraq of betraying that mission and those troops, of lying to them and to us. Who would have ever expected anybody to go after a general in the field at a time of war, launch a smear campaign against a man we've entrusted with our mission in Iraq."
Read more now.
Freedom Line:
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The Tiresome Clinton Time Warp
Like a tawdry traveling Vaudeville act, the murky Clinton troupe is again descending upon American life.
Between increasingly-frequent campaign fundraising scandals, the resurrection this week of HillaryCare, personal demonization of political enemies and looming tax increases, it's all like a collective nightmare returning to haunt America.
Read more now.
Technology:
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European Protectionism Targets American Companies, Worldwide Innovation
Unable to defeat American companies in the open marketplace, protectionist European bureaucrats are instead resorting to litigation and regulation to kneecap American companies and protect their own.
This week, the European Court of First Instance (CFI), Europe's second-highest court, upheld a €497 million ($690 million) European Commission (EC) antitrust judgment against Microsoft, which it accused of "abusing its market power." And precisely how did Microsoft abuse its power? According to the EC, by having the audacity to cater to consumer preference by including its digital media player in Windows.
Read more now.
Freedom Line:
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What Happened in Syria on September 6?
We do not know what happened in Syria on September 6. Those few who do know -- officials of Israel, Syria and possibly North Korea and/or Iran -- aren't saying. The story is, as one headline put it, "shrouded in mystery."
What is known is that an Israeli air strike inside Syria "left a big hole in the desert," unnamed sources told CNN. In fact, the broad and intentional silence makes the incident all the more important. As the Washington Post put it in an editorial this week, "like a subterranean explosion, the event is sending shock waves through the Middle East and beyond."
Read more now.
FreedomCast:
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Hillary's Unhealthy Plan
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton this week unveiled a health care plan, estimated to cost about $110 billion per year, to provide coverage for 47 million uninsured Americans through federal subsidies and tax hikes.
The Senator's proposal, which comes 13 years after her first effort at universal health care was abandoned while she was First Lady, has more than its fair share of critics.
However, surprisingly critical of Hillary Clinton, as well, is a scene in Michael Moore's new documentary, Sicko, which promotes a socialized healthcare system for the U.S. The scene exposes Hillary as the second-highest recipient of campaign donations from the healthcare industry.
Countering the alleged glories of Hillary's and Moore's vision of a government-run healthcare system is filmmaker Stuart Browning, whose short films uncover the evils of socialized medicine. Recently, Mr. Browning, who runs FreeMarketCure.com, joined CFIF's Renee Giachino to discuss Sicko and the problems with socialized medicine.
Read more and listen to the interview now.
Internet Taxation:
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CFIF Joins Coalition in Urging Extension of Internet Tax Moratorium
With the current Internet tax moratorium set to expire on November 1, 2007, the Center for Individual (CFIF) this week joined more than 35 national and state organizations, representing millions of taxpayers, in urging Congress to make permanent the Internet Tax Freedom Act.
The organizations' plea came in the form of a letter, delivered to every Member of Congress, which warned, "If the moratorium is allowed to lapse, American taxpayers could be exposed to countless new and onerous taxes from states and municipalities simply for accessing the Internet."
Read more now.
Editorial Cartoons:
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The Cartoons of Michael Ramirez
View more of Michael Ramirez's latest cartoons on CFIF's website now.
CFIF History & Civics Quiz:
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Question of the Week
Who was the first sitting U.S. President to have his photograph taken?
(a) William Henry Harrison
(b) Abraham Lincoln
(c) Martin Van Buren
(d) Ulysses S. Grant
Get the correct answer now.
Jester's Courtroom: Tales Stranger Than Fiction
Featuring bizarre and sometimes humorous real life stories from the courtroom.
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Woman Files Lawsuit over Own Mistake
A Chicago area woman is suing a repairman and auto supply store after she drank battery acid from an unlabeled container that was brought to fix her sump pump.
After a "third party" moved the bottles out of the basement, Patricia Gabrysiak drank from one. Gabrysiak was taken to the hospital with severe burns after she discovered too late that the container was filled with battery acid.
According to court documents, J. Brady McCahey, the repairman, left three liquid-filled containers in Gabrysiak's basement because he intended to return and install a sump pump the next day. One was a gallon water jug, another a liter water bottle and the third was a bottle with a ginger ale label.
Gabrysiak is suing McCahey for leaving the containers, as well Master Automotive Supply and Parts Plus Auto Store, the outlet that allegedly sold McCahey the acid in unlabeled containers.
McCahey's lawyer argues that Gabrysiak should not have been drinking from the containers when she didn't know what was in them.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Read more now.
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:
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Quote of the Week
The Subject Line of an E-Mail Sent by Presidential Candidate John Edwards to Supporters this Week:
"I'm looking for five people who care."
Get more Notable Quotes.
www.cfif.org/htdocs/flash_2.htm