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I received this in an e-mail from the Republicans:
President Bush today signed into law the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 to end the abhorrent practice of partial birth abortion. The legislation signed by the President helps continue to build a culture of life in America and will reaffirm a basic standard of humanity the responsibility to defend the vulnerable and weak. As he signed this important legislation the President said, "By acting to prevent this practice, the elected branches of our government have affirmed a basic standard of humanity, the duty of the strong to protect the weak. The wide agreement amongst men and women on this issue, regardless of political party, shows that bitterness in political debate can be overcome by compassion and the power of conscience. And the executive
With the President's signature, the ban on partial birth abortion is now law, but as the President said in his remarks there are those that would like to see the courts overturn it.
How many package deals do we have here? There is the package deal about the "culture of life" and "basic standard of humanity" which ignores the right of the mother to her own body and presumes that sacrificing the life of the mother to the life of the unborn fetus is pro-life. There is the package deal about the "duty of the strong to protect the weak" which assumes that women who have abortions are vindictive attackers and that their fetuses have rights in the first place. And then their there is the package deal about "compassion and the power of conscience" which says to grant rights to potential life at the expense of existing life is a benevolent and moral act.
This is garbage. As one of those that would like to see the courts overturn the late-term abortion ban, I only hope that the courts show more respect for Constitution's protections of individual rights that the Congress and the Executive.
::: posted by Nicholas Provenzo
at 10:17 AM | link
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Antitrust News: The John Sherman Award
This DOJ antitrust division press release takes the cake:
Judge Richard A. Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Senior Lecturer in Law with the University of Chicago Law School will receive the Department of Justice John Sherman Award for his lifetime contributions to the teaching and enforcement of antitrust law and the development of antitrust policy. The award will be presented during a celebration of the Antitrust Division's 70th and 100th Anniversaries on November 6, 2003, in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice.
"Judge Posner's work has been critical to promoting a sounder understanding of antitrust law. The Antitrust Division and antitrust practitioners worldwide are tremendously grateful for the time and energy he has devoted to antitrust issues, including his valuable writings, thoughtful analyses, and dedication to providing an intellectually rigorous foundation for antitrust enforcement," said R. Hewitt Pate, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.
Created in 1994, the John Sherman Award is presented by the Department's Antitrust Division to a person or persons for their outstanding achievement in antitrust law, contributing to the protection of American consumers and to the preservation of economic liberty.
A sounder understanding of antitrust? Only by obfuscating the principle of individual rights.
::: posted by Nicholas Provenzo
at 9:52 AM | link
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Wednesday, November 05, 2003 :::
Antitrust News: Big Cans
At CAC, we keep our eyes peeled for bizarre market definitions by government antitrust enforcers. This latest one takes the cake. Apparently, there was a budding conspiracy by big frozen juice concentrate can equipment barons that has been thwarted by the Department of Justice. From the DOJ’s press release:
The nation's two largest frozen-juice can manufacturers — Sonoco Products Company and Pasco Beverages Company — agreed to abandon their proposed can-making equipment deal after the Department of Justice expressed concerns that the deal could have been anticompetitive, the Department announced today. The Department's Antitrust Division said that Pasco's proposed sale would have given Sonoco control of virtually all of the equipment used to make the spiral-wound composite cans used to package frozen juice concentrate in the United States.
At the same time, the Department said that it has closed its investigation of the proposed transaction. The Department said that the parties' decision to abandon the proposed acquisition eliminated its competitive concerns.
R. Hewitt Pate, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division said, "The decision of Sonoco and Pasco to abandon the equipment sale will preserve competition for packaging for this important consumer product."
Very important indeed. Small children can sleep easy now that the threat of big frozen juice concentrate can equipment has been checked.
::: posted by Nicholas Provenzo
at 9:50 AM | link
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Tuesday, November 04, 2003 :::
In honor of 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas
The son of friends of my family was killed in combat operations in Iraq on Sunday. 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, 30, of Genoa, Ill, was killed when the helicopter he was piloting was shot down by Iraqi guerrillas in Al Fallujah, Iraq. 14 other servicemen and women are reported dead in that attack.
I did not know Brian as an adult, but I feel confident that I can judge him by his actions. The man fulfilled a proud family tradition that its men would serve in the forces that defend our lives and our freedom. Whatever fear or reservations he may have had, he volunteered to lead the life of a citizen solider. When called upon, he answered the call.
I honor the values that make men like that possible and willing to face such labors. I honor that in the hour of Brian's testing, he held fast. It has been said that honor is self-esteem made visible in action. Brian Slavenas was a man of honor.
In my line of work, I am often required to think of the things that make human life possible and worthwhile. I think of the principle of individual rights, the rule of law, and a great nation made possible by human reason and the freedom to use it. And now, I will think of Brian. He joins the ranks of a painful, yet noble fraternity. I, for one, shall honor his memory.
Brian's family has my deepest sympathy and most profound respect. I wish them strength and peace as they face their own trials in the weeks and months ahead.
::: posted by Nicholas Provenzo
at 2:49 PM | link
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