Free Republic

Texas authorities have threatened to arrest international election observers, prompting a furious response from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). “The threat of criminal sanctions against [international] observers is unacceptable,” Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said in a statement. “The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.” Lawmakers from the group of 56 European and Central Asian nations have been observing U.S. elections since 2002, without incident. Their presence has become a flashpoint this year,...

RICHMOND, Va. - It's one thing to dangle fuzzy dice from a rear view mirror, but decorating a trailer hitch with a large pair of rubber testicles might be a bit much in Virginia. State Del. Lionel Spruill introduced a bill Tuesday to ban displaying replicas of human genitalia on vehicles, calling it a safety issue because it could distract other drivers. Under his measure, displaying the ornamentation on a motor vehicle would be a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $250. He said the idea came from a constituent whose young daughter spotted an example of the trail...

Reprinted from NewsMax.com Thursday Dec. 25, 2003; 10:54 p.m. ESTACLU Offers Help to Limbaugh The director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida says he wants to help number one talk radio host Rush Limbaugh keep his medical records away from the prying eyes of Democratic Party prosecutors. ''I don't know if Rush Limbaugh wants the help of the ACLU, but I intend to call his attorney on Friday,'' ACLU executive director Howard L. Simon told the Miami Herald on Thursday. Simon said he was prompted to join the case based on what looks like a blatant invasion of...