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___________________________________ EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT... I’m on an early flight to Milwaukee in the morning to speak at the GOP Lawyers convention, so I’m sending this issue of News & Views out early. Just a reminder, the text of the “We the People Act” noted below is still posted on our News & Views EXTRA page at: http://www.chuckmuth.com/newsandviews/nv.cfm _____________________________________ THE AMERICAN WAY “Eight soldiers flying home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R flew in style instead of coach after first-class passengers offered to swap seats with them. . . . The June 29 seat-swap on American Airlines Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago started before boarding, when a businessman approached one of the soldiers and traded his seat. When the swapping was done, ‘the other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers,’ (flight attendant Lorrie) Gammon said.” - CNN.com, 7/16/04 PUTTING A LEASH ON THE FEDERAL COURTS “Respect for the original intent of the Constitution is low in Washington. It’s so low, it’s virtually non-existent. “Something must be done...if we expect to rein in our ever-growing and intrusive government. Instead of depending on the courts to rule favorably, when Congress and the executive branch go astray, we must curtail the courts when they overstep their authority by writing laws, rubber-stamping bad legislation, or overruling state laws. Hopefully in the future we will have a Congress more cognizant of its responsibility to legislate within the confines of the Constitution. “There is something Congress, by majority vote, can do to empower the states to deal with their First Amendment issues. It’s clear that Congress has been instructed to write no laws regarding freedom of speech, religion, or assembly. This obviously means that federal courts have no authority to do so either. Therefore, the remaining option is for Congress to specifically remove jurisdiction of all First Amendment controversies from all federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Issues dealing with prayer, the Ten Commandments, religious symbols or clothing, and songs, even the issue of abortion, are properly left as a prerogative of the states. A giant step in this direction could be achieved with the passage my proposed legislation, the We the People Act.” - Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) WHOOPI WIGS OUT Loud-mouth Whoopi Goldberg isn’t taking being canned by Slim-Fast very well. “America's heart and soul is freedom of expression without fear of reprisal," Goldberg told the New York Daily News. "The fact that I am no longer the spokesman for Slim-Fast makes me sad, but not as sad as someone trying to punish me for exercising my right as an American to speak my mind.” No. It’s without fear of GOVERNMENT reprisal. Private companies are another thing altogether. Hollywood intellectual airheads such as Goldberg don’t understand the distinction. And why does the Whoopster think SHE has the right to trash the president of the United States in whatever crude, rude manner she chooses...yet it’s somehow not OUR right to contact her sponsors and voice OUR objections to HER speech? What hypocrisy. When we hear the likes of Whoopi Goldberg whining about her freedom on speech being curtailed, we just want to tell her to go...well, you know, that thing Dick Cheney said to Pat Leahy. WHITE HOUSE & ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION Last weekend we posted a link to a Los Angeles radio interview featuring border security chief Asa Hutchinson in which Hutchinson ducked one tough question after another on enforcement of the nation’s illegal immigration laws. “John & Ken,” the radio hosts/interviewers, gave out Hutchinson’s phone number and email address to listeners...who promptly jammed the White House phone system with thousands of calls. John McCaslin reports that the White House didn’t take too kindly to the lobbying effort and “has now contacted the duo and demanded they cease and desist such antics.” So now petitioning one’s government urging it to enforce the law is considered an “antic” by the White House? Well, if the administration thought the heat was on from this local radio interview, they better batten down the hatches and buckle their seat belts. A promo ad appearing in Friday’s Washington Times reads as follows: “FREE PASS: America’s losing fight against illegals.” Uh-oh. “A million illegal immigrants slip into the country each year,” the ad reads. “All but a few have no real fear of being detained, much less deported. The reason: No one’s looking for them. Find out why in a sobering investigative series, beginning Monday in The Washington Times.” The Washington Times is the nation’s daily conservative paper of record. We have no idea what the content of the special series will include, but based on the promo it’s fair to assume that the open borders and amnesty crowd within and supporting the administration are going to HATE it. Stay tuned, Batfans... NOW...THIS COULD GET UGLY “Last week we reported about the effort by a few gay rights activists to ‘out’ high-ranking, closeted gay staffers on Capitol Hill if their bosses supported the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Now, Michael Rogers -- one the two who led the effort to ‘expose hypocrisy’ -- is turning his efforts in a new direction. “The target: married heterosexual Congressmen and US Senators who loudly decry gay marriage as endangering the sacred institution of marriage -- while they privately engage in adulterous affairs. Rogers is currently collecting money so that he can purchase ads seeking tips. He promises to investigate all leads and report upon any facts he can establish.” - Ron Gunzburger, Politics1, 7/16/04 SURVEY SAYS! Is it time for Congress to drop further efforts to pass the federal marriage amendment? * Absolutely * Never * I’m a Kerry supporter...yes AND no Cast your vote by clicking the “Survey Says!” tab at www.citizenoutreach.com REAGAN & STEM CELLS Ronald Reagan’s left-wing son will be addressing the Democrat convention to talk about stem cell research and his claim that it holds out hope for an Alzheimer’s cure. But Steve Miloy says the Gipper’s kid is full of flapdoodle and the whole notion is grounded in “junk science.” Read all about it at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,125873,00.html THE LITTLE WOMAN TO INTRO HUBBY “Well, this (Kerry’s decision to let Hillary introduce Bill Clinton at the Demo-convention) certainly will set minds at ease among the Democratic Ladies Auxiliary! It's nice to see that Kerry has found a gender-appropriate role for the current Senator. Obviously, she has no standing on her own to speak at the convention, in Kerry's mind, so it's a darned good thing her husband happens to be an ex-President. Otherwise, she'd have to go back to the Hospitality Committee and help out with the cookie-baking and cake-cutting duties, like all the other wimminfolk.” - Blogger Edward Morrissey GOLD’S GYM ON UNCLE SAM’S DIME “Obesity is now an illness and can be covered by Medicare, the federal health-insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced yesterday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would remove language in Medicare's coverage manual that states obesity is not an illness. “...The change means Medicare participants may ask for reimbursement for treating excessive weight. . . . Medicare will review the requests, which could range from joining a weight-loss or fitness club to surgeries and counseling… “…(S)everal business groups said they are worried that the swelling number of Medicare participants eligible for the coverage will increase health insurance costs. Small businesses probably would see the largest rate increases, said Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health, a Washington nonprofit for about 219 businesses and health care insurers. . . . ‘Unfortunately, regulators love to put in mandates they are not stuck paying for,’ Ms. Darling said. “Washington taxpayer advocacy group Citizens Against Government Waste called the decision ‘groundbreaking’ in its implications. ‘We can expect Medicare costs to be even more obese and out of control than they already are while the taxpayer is footing the bill,’ said Elizabeth Wright, health and science division director. “Medicare for 41.3 million beneficiaries cost $274 billion last year, according to the Congressional Budget Office. With 64 percent of the American population overweight or obese, a substantial percentage of Medicare participants probably would qualify, spelling trouble for the program, Ms. Wright said. “Trial lawyers also may use the policy change as another weapon in their arsenal against the food and restaurant industries, Ms. Wright added. Several lawyers have filed lawsuits against the industries trying to blame them for America's weight problem.” - Washington Times, 7/16/04 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Chuck Muth’s News & Views is published by Citizen Outreach, a non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The opinions and views expressed in Chuck Muth's News & Views reflect those of the writers, editors and columnists therein and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Citizen Outreach, its officers, directors or employees. 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