Supporting the Separation of Church and State
Posts Tagged ‘Free Speech’
RSS Roundup 5-15-08
Categorized: Politics
Tagged: Barack Obama, Free Speech, George W. Bush, John Edwards, LGBTQ Rights
I apologize that this is going to be really short but I am still feeling a bit under the weather. I promise that as soon as I get over whatever this bug is I will be right back to posting several good articles a day. Well, good or not I’ll post several articles a day. I’ll admit I have barely followed the news the past couple days so I only have a few things to post today. Both are from this morning while I was waiting to go to the Dr. I didn’t read the news at all yesterday.
John Edwards Is Endorsing Obama
It was really just a matter of time before Edwards endorsed someone and I honestly think that had Clinton been in the lead it would have been her. All in all Edwards gives a great speech that I strongly recommend everyone watch. (h/t Shakesville)
Keith Olbermann Special Comment
I’ll admit I never watch Olbermann anymore for a lack of time but his special comments are so good that I always make sure to catch them after words. This one is just as good. (h/t Pandagon)
The Rest of The News
- I can’t remember if I mentioned this yesterday or not but Travis Childers (D) 8 point win in MS-1 (an R+10 district) is HUGE. America is finally waking up to how badly the Republicans have screwed our nation. Come November no Republican seat is going to be safe.
- ACLU wins case against Florida school that was trying to limit free speech by forbidding rainbows. The principal apparently believes that since rainbows cause the gayness he was somehow saving teenagers souls or something. This is the same state that released a teacher for wizardry so really at this point nothing could surprise me coming out of Florida.
- Fox and Joe Leiberman apparently feel that John Hagee is a stand up guy for throwing aside his religous convictions for political purposes. Good thing John Hagee doesn’t have the moral fortitude to stand up for the beliefs that he was selling to his followers. Oh and that he’s not black.
- Democrats are now trusted more on all 10 issues that Rasmussen Reports tracks. No surprise since Republicans have run the country into the ground. (h/t DemfromCT @ Daily Kos)
- Since the Republicans can’t run on any of the issues guess what they are hoping will pull them through? Fear Mongering and pandering to ignorant people. Bush is warning that the Dem’s plan to pull out of Iraq could mean disaster. Sigh.
Video of the Day
No Video today since I posted 3 above and the John Edwards speech is pretty long. If your going to watch anything today thats the thing to watch. Instead I am going to leave you with this picture. Read the sign and if you can’t spot what is wrong with it then read about the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Anti-Bush Bridge Players Suspended
Categorized: Politics
Tagged: Free Speech
Ok, I have to admit that I know nothing about bridge so when I read this story on WIBW.com I was not only angered about the treatment these women have received, but shocked that there was an United States Bridge Federation (USBF).
Basically what happened was the US Women’s bridge team were in Shanghai for the World Bridge Championships (seriously I’m not making this up) they were eating out for their victory celebration (Go Team USA!) when they held up their menu, on the back they had written “We did not vote for Bush.”
Now, you might imagine that at any international event nowadays the anti-Bush sentiment is rampant. These women explain that it was their attempt to answer the barrage of questions that they were receiving from the other countries’ players. Questions about Iraq, torture, and other heavy political issues.
The French team has come to the defense of these women writing to the USBF’s board, “By trying to address these issues in a nonviolent, nonthreatening and lighthearted manner, you were doing only what women of the world have always tried to do when opposing the folly of men who have lost their perspective of reality.”
The USBF is not having it though. The women are facing sanctions including a year of suspension from all USBF events, a year of probation when they return, 200 hours of community service that will “further(s) the interest of organized bridge”, write an apology letter, and write statements detailing the events that led up to the horrible incident of free speech.
The federation is claiming that it is not at all a free speech issue as private organizations can have expectations of what their representatives can and cannot do or say while representing the organization. Others state that you can’t both represent the USA and curtail free speech.
I feel badly for these women who are probably not political activists and just want to play bridge. They exercised their right to free speech in a truly mild non-threatening manner and now they are being penalized. All of this going on in the world of bridge. Our nation really is in trouble.
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