On Friday, the Wisconsin Judicial Commission filed a formal ethics complaint against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser for his role in a June altercation with Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. This is a surprising development, at least for those of us outside Wisconsin. Official inquiries were launched, and it appeared the controversy was over when […]
Author Archive | Jonathan H. Adler
Senators Concerned about “Secret” Patriot Act Program
The NYT’s Charlie Savage has an interesting report that begins: For more than two years, a handful of Democrats on the Senate intelligence committee have warned that the government is secretly interpreting its surveillance powers under thePatriot Act in a way that would be alarming if the public — or even others in Congress — knew about it. On […]
In Defense of Rutherford B. Hayes
In a recent speech, President Obama attacked former President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881). As Politico reported: Speaking about the need to develop new sources of American energy in Largo, Md., Obama used our 19th president to illustrate a failure of forward-thinking leadership. “One of my predecessors, President Rutherford B. Hayes, reportedly said about the telephone: […]
Administration Proposes Contraception Compromise
Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a compromise to quell concerns about the contraception mandate. Although the intent to offer a compromise had been announced before, HHS did not outline an actual proposal and initiate a proposed rulemaking until yesterday. The proposal largely follows what the administration announced previously, with the exception […]
P.J. O’Rourke on Koch v. Cato
P.J. O’Rourke, who has been designated an H.L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute, discusses the Koch-Cato kerfuffle in The Weekly Standard. It begins: Ideological snits and quarrels are the rightful province of feckless leftists. Their neverending dissensions give them something to Occupy (as it were) their time and distract them from making mischief. Sometimes […]
Senator Santorum’s War on Porn
The Daily Caller reports on Rick Santorum’s promise to go after pornography if he is elected President. Specifically, Santorum says he will “vigorously” enforce federal laws that “prohibit distribution of hardcore (obscene) pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops and through the mail or by common carrier.” This is yet […]
Pool Closed? Blame the ADA
Just in time for spring break, hotels are scrambling to comply with new federal regulations requiring the installation of pool lifts to ensure disabled access to pools, hot tubs and spas in advance of a Thursday deadline, USA Today reports. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $55,000. From the report: Hoteliers must […]
Dershowitz v. DSK
Was the New York District Attorney’s office too quick to drop charges against IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn for his alleged sexual assault of a maid in his New York hotel? Harvard law professor (and noted defense attorney) Alan Dershowitz thinks so, according to an excerpt from John Solomon’s forthcoming book on the DSK scandal published […]
Pew Report on Politics and Social Media
The Pew Internet and American Life Project has released a new report on social networking sites and politics. Among its main findings are that most Americans use social networking sites but that liberals are more likely to use such sites than are conservatives. It also finds that many people are surprised by what they learn about […]
Ending the Conflict Over Contraception
Virginia Postrel suggests an easy way to expand access to contraception without risking any imposition on religious institutions: Make oral contraceptives available without a prescription. True, making the pill available over the counter could reduce the amount of outrage and invective available for entertaining radio audiences, spurring political fundraising and otherwise amusing the American public. […]
Koch v. Cato – Levy Responds
I had not planned to post more on the Koch-Cato kerfuffle, barring meaningful developments. This morning, however, I received notice of a statement by Cato Institute Chairman Bob Levy responding to the statement by Charles Koch released last week. It is a lengthy and powerful reply that goes far beyond his interview with Skip Oliva. […]
Is Daylight Savings a Waste of Time?
Daylight savings time began this weekend. The daylight savings period is longer than it used to be. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 made daylight savings time start a few weeks earlier and end a week later. It now starts in March and ends in November, meaning we’re on daylight savings time for over […]
Koch v. Cato – Skip Oliva’s Observations
Skip Oliva, who has been collecting links galore on his blog “Under Penalty of Catapult,” has several must-read posts for those following the Koch-Cato controversy. First, as noted below, he has an interview with Cato Chairman Bob Levy responding to Charles Koch’s public statement. This interview provides lots of detail about the steps each side […]
Koch v. Cato — A Statement from Charles Koch [Updated with link to Levy Response]
Charles G. Koch has issued the following statement about the Koch brothers lawsuit to obtain control of the Cato Institute. Here it is in its entirety: Statement by Charles G. Koch Chairman and CEO, Koch Industries, Inc. Regarding the Cato Institute March 8, 2012 In December 1976, when I co-founded and provided the seed money […]
Rev. Pat Robertson Calls for Marijuana Decriminalization
The NYT reports: “I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol,” Mr. Robertson said in an interview on Wednesday. “I’ve never used marijuana and I don’t intend to, but it’s just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn’t succeeded.” Mr. Robertson’s remarks echoed statements he […]