Below The Beltway

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Archive for May, 2009

The Nanny State vs. The Family, 2009 Edition

by Doug Mataconis @ Friday, May 15th, 2009. Filed under Individual Liberty

Out in Minnesota, there’s a case pending that tests the limits of individual rights, religious liberty, and the state’s role in “protecting” children.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge is expected to decide whether a family can refuse chemotherapy for a 13-year-boy’s cancer and treat him with natural medicine, even though doctors say it’s effectively a [...]

Former Mexican President Fox: It’s Time To Legalize Drugs

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Individual Liberty, War On Drugs

Former Mexican President Vincente Fox has joined the chorus of Latin American leaders calling for an end to the War on (Some) Drugs:
(CNN) — Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has joined three other ex-leaders of Latin American nations calling for the decriminalization of marijuana.
Fox, who was Mexico’s president from 2000 to 2006, said the current [...]

Big Shock Here: Miss California Gets Fox News Gig

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Celebrities

One beauty queen will be filling in for another on Fox & Friends later this month:
Miss California and Miss USA runner-up, Carrie Prejean, tossed around in the battle over gay marriage, will be a one-day guest host for Fox News Channel’s popular morning show Fox & Friends, Whispers learns. She will host the 6 a.m.-to-7 [...]

Chrysler Announces Plans To Slash It’s Dealer Network

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Auto Industry, Business, Economics, Politics

It’s going to hurt, but it’s absolutely necessary:
Chrysler said today it wants to shrink its 3,181-dealership network by roughly a quarter.
In court documents filed this morning before U.S. Bankruptcy Court here, Chrysler asked Judge Arthur Gonzalez for approval to reject dealership agreements it has with 789 dealers across the country.
Chrysler said in court documents filed [...]

New Hampshire Governor Will Sign Gay Marriage Bill With Religious Protections

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Gay Marriage, Individual Liberty, Politics

A significant development from the Granite State:
Concord – Gov. John Lynch said he will veto the same-sex marriage bill if it does not change before it gets to his desk.
He said his main concern is that the bill, HB 436, and a companion bill don’t provide enough legal protection for religious groups or institutions opposed [...]

When Did The Boy Scouts Turn Into Jack-Booted Thugs ?

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Homeland Security, War On Terror

Apparently, Scouting isn’t just about campfires anymore:
The Explorers program, a coeducational affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America that began 60 years ago, is training thousands of young people in skills used to confront terrorism, illegal immigration and escalating border violence — an intense ratcheting up of one of the group’s longtime missions to prepare [...]

Apparently, Sarah Palin Still Hasn’t Read The First Amendment

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Freedom of Speech, Individual Liberty, Politics, Sarah Palin

Back during the Presidential campaign, Sarah Palin reacted to the media microscope she had been under since August 29th by saying this:
ABC News’ Steven Portnoy reports: In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened [...]

Quote Of The Day

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Democrats, Politics, Republicans

I hear that the Republican Party plans next week to rename the Democratic Party the “Democratic Socialists” . . . And to rename themselves the “National Socialists.”
Brad DeLong

The Simpsons Do The Fountainhead

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Ayn Rand, Television, The Simpsons

In case you missed it, here’s a clip from Sunday’s show, which included a pretty funny take on an Ayn Rand classic:

This isn’t the first time the Simpsons have tweaked at Objectivism — remember The Ayn Rand School For Tots ?

Who’s Minding The Store At The Federal Reserve ?

by Doug Mataconis @ Thursday, May 14th, 2009. Filed under Credit Crisis, Economics, Politics

Apparently, nobody is:

Apologies for the badly mixed audio.

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