Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. — The First Amendment

The First Amendment is beautiful in its simplicity and perspective. The Founders assumed that we all have a certain God-given rights, so they did not write the amendment to grant those rights, but to make it illegal for government to infringe on our rights. They knew that politicians would always find an excuse to limit freedom of speech for the “common good.” In an age where the primary means of protecting our rights is holding government accountable, free speech is critical.

Of course, not all politicians see it that way. John McCain authored a campaign finance “reform” bill several years ago to limit the influence of “big money” in politics. Of course, it just so happens to benefit incumbents like McCain when campaign funds are restricted. McCain-Feingold (M-F) was the primary reason I voted against the Republican nominee for President last year and instead cast my ballot for the Libertarian candidate.

(Read more after the leap)

He’s voting no on Sotomayor.

Power Line notes:

(Read more after the leap)

From the IndyStar:

Republican Sen. Richard Lugar plans to vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, calling her “clearly qualified” and “well regarded in the legal community and by her peers.”

Lugar said Friday that he listened to Sotomayor’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and reviewed her record and recommendations from Indiana constituents and from Senate colleagues.

“Judge Sotomayor is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and she has demonstrated a judicial temperament during her week-long nomination hearing,” Lugar said in a statement. “Judge Sotomayor has had a distinguished career of public service.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote to approve Sotomayor’s nomination as early as next week. The full Senate should vote before adjourning for their August recess.

Lugar was among the Republicans who voted to confirm Sotomayor to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998. Lugar generally thinks presidents of both parties should be given deference in their nominations for appointed positions.

But he did not support one of President Bill Clinton’s Supreme Court nominees. Lugar voted for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and against Stephen Breyer.

Fifty Indiana law professors recently joined more than 1,100 law professors from around the country in urging the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

Looks like Sonia Sotomayor was Obama’s true frontrunner after all.

More to come later.

(Via Obama’s Frontrunners)

With the announcement of the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter yesterday, Evan Bayh will have to find whole new ways to contort himself into a human pretzel to preserve his precious approval ratings. Fortunately, his lack of a spine should come in quite handy in this task.

Never one to spend political capital, Birch’s Boy now finds himself in an unenviable position. The switching of Arlen Specter means that Obama should be able to appoint whatever lefty judicial activist retread he wants from the hallowed lecture halls of the law school temples of American liberalism.

And, when the time comes to stand and be counted on all manner of judicial activism, Bayh will have to vote. And his vote, should the GOP choose to fight the nomination, will matter more than ever before thanks to the convenient switching of Arlen Specter.

Republicans can no longer stop the most liberal aspects of Obama’s agenda, nor can they curb the radical appointees he might find for positions like the Supreme Court. That task falls to supposed moderates like Evan Bayh.

And folks like Dan Dumezich and other Hoosier conservatives seeking to give Indiana a second senator instead of someone that wants to grow up to become vice president will be watching. Indeed, all of Indiana will be watching.

Will Birch’s boy stand up for Hoosier values, or will he kowtow to those of the far left wing and the radical special interest groups of the national Democratic Party?