To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove X-ListMember: [email protected] [[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
********************************** Go Forth and e-Multiply If you know someone who might like to receive News & Views, you can sign 'em up at: http://www.chuckmuth.com. ********************************** End It, Don't Mend It "In the aftermath of the Lott affair, it's understandable that some making the political calculations at the White House would want to lessen the Republican exposure on race. A key step in any such effort would be to let Jan. 16 slip by unremarked. "That's because Jan. 16 is the deadline for the Bush administration to weigh in on a Supreme Court case challenging affirmative-action admissions policies at the University of Michigan. The case promises to bring the most definitive verdict on the constitutionality of remedial measures since 1978, and the hope among conservatives is that the Bush administration will add its considerable voice to the case and urge the Supreme Court to reject Michigan's discriminatory policies. But their fear is that the president's advisers may conclude that this is a fight the White House can do without. "While we appreciate the need to finesse sensitive political matters and understand the political expediency that comes with an occasional ideological fudge, this is not such an instance. Steel and mohair subsidies are one thing, but affirmative action - like abortion and taxes - is a core domestic issue to President Bush's conservative base. Should the White House opt to skirt the Michigan case, it may be surprised at the rigor of opposition that would arise. "Of course, this is more than just constituent politics. In opposing the Michigan admissions formulas and computations, the Bush administration can demonstrate that it opposes all forms of discrimination - remedial and otherwise. A new generation of students cannot wait another quarter-century for another chance." - Washington Times editorial, 1/7/03 [NOTE: Over 5,000 of you have already signed our online petition urging President Bush to file a brief with the Supreme Court opposing the use of racial preferences in college admissions. If you haven't joined the list yet, please go to: http://www.libertypetitions.com/petition.html?name=no_racial_preference ] *********************************** Goldwater & the Civil Rights Act In his own words, why Sen. Barry Goldwater voted against the 1964 civil rights bill. And get this, it was based on constitutional principles. What an extremist! Read all about it in the latest "Muth's Truths" column at: http://chuckmuth.com/muthstruths.htm ********************************** Our Nation's Pervasive Fear of Lawsuits "When the Senate's only surgeon, Dr. Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, came upon a fatal accident in Florida on New Year's Day, the first thought many had about the incoming Majority leader's good deed was whether the Samaritan might face potential liability." - Columnist Ann McFeatters ********************************** Slip-'n-Sliders to Kill Tort Reform in Senate " 'One other area (President Bush) will take on is limiting damages in medical malpractice suits,' (California Rep. Ed) Royce said. 'We have seen doctors pull out of practices in about a dozen states because of abuse of damage awards. He will try to reform the tort system.' But he acknowledged that the Democrats, who are supported by the trial lawyers, can stop any such move in the Senate." - Washington Times, 1/6/03 ********************************** Ka-ching Goes the Trial Lawyers "(Sen. John) Edwards does start with one big disadvantage (in his presidential quest), though. He's a trial lawyer, and while this allows him ready access to the deep pockets of his fellow trial lawyers, it causes many Americans to wrinkle their noses. Clearly, Mr. Edwards has been working on how to spin the trial lawyer handicap, and he's decided to frame it this way: His multimillion-dollar business mau-mauing companies out of large settlements is really being 'a champion for regular people.' ".(T)he great trial lawyer cash register continues to go ka-ching for thousands of lawyers and a few plaintiffs, while the rest of us pay the price. . . . John Edwards and other multimillionaire trial lawyers can attempt to style themselves defenders of the little guy against big powerful interests, but it's a tough sell. In these personal injury tort cases, the actual plaintiffs often wind up with very little. "...The tort bar has put some industries out of business, badly distorted others and constricted the freedom of all of us. Perhaps we need a class-action suit against trial lawyers. Failing that, we need tort reform, and if the Edwards candidacy reminds us of that fact, he will have served his nation very well. - Columnist Mona Charen *********************************** The Growing Lawsuit Abuse Crisis "The threat to Americans' access to medical care posed by medical malpractice lawsuits is on display again, this time in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Gov.-elect Ed Rendell headed off a possible crisis last week by appointing a special commission to tackle the problem and promising to seek malpractice premium reductions as large as 40 percent. Before Mr. Rendell's announcement, more than 20 Philadelphia-area hospitals had made preparations to shut down emergency rooms. "...In neighboring West Virginia - particularly in the northern panhandle near Wheeling - the situation is much worse. On Thursday, four hospitals transferred patients on Thursday after dozens of general surgeons, heart surgeons and orthopedists took 30-day leaves of absences to drive home the need for malpractice lawsuit relief. "...It's long past time for responsible legislators on the state and federal level to say no to the excesses of trial lawyers and yes to responsible doctors and their patients." - Washington Times editorial, 1/6/03 ********************************** Communications Lesson for GOP "There are two key communication lessons from 2002 that must be learned and re-learned every day. "First, overt partisanship is dead. Congressional Democrat leaders celebrated their partisanship the way a 16-year-old celebrates getting his drivers license - and it contributed to their downfall. The excesses of rhetoric and the deficiencies of civility did not and do not sit well with the American people. Republicans have to be careful not to engage in similar behavior. "And second, the single most important attribute of a politician today is "to say what you mean and mean what you say." It is paramount that Republicans articulate their vision and goals for the next two years and then go out and get it done." - Republican pollster Frank Luntz, Washington Times, 1/7/03 ************************************ Sometimes It's Better to Switch Than Fight Just 4.97 cents/minute (5.97 cents for some non-regional bell companies) * All state-to-state calls in the continental U.S. * Residential or commercial * 6-second billing increments after the first 18 seconds * 24 hours/day * 7 days/week * No access codes * No minimums * No activation fees * No monthly service charge unless your bill is less than $20.00 a month (then a $2.50 service charge will apply) * No need to change your local phone company * No hassles * Easy sign-up. *And a small portion of each bill goes to help continue publishing our FREE Chuck Muth's News & Views e-newsletter. go to <http://www.GOPLongDistance.com> today. ********************************* ********************************* Published by The Goldwater Club Chuck Muth Editor/Publisher P.O. Box 15307 Middle River, MD 21220 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 the sponsors, advertisers ... heck, even some of our readers. To be REMOVED, go to: http://www.chuckmuth.com/newsletter/ and complete the removal request instructions you'll find there. Or send your request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # #
