ALEC STRIKES AGAIN, WITH ARIZONA-STYLE IMMIGRATION LAWS
The Supreme Court ruled this week against key portions of Arizonaâs immigration enforcement law, and declared mandatory life-without-parole sentencing for juveniles to be an Eighth Amendment violation. The rulings represent a double defeat for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) [ alecexposed.org ], the conservative corporate-backed network that also promulgated Floridaâs notorious âstand your groundâ law.
BRENDAN FISCHER, a law fellow with the Center for Media and Democracy [ prwatch.org ], discusses the rulings, ALECâs hidden hand in bypassing Congress with cloned reactionary bills in the various state legislatures, and the cynical finances behind the industrial-legislative complex [ prwatch.org/print/10980 ];
Buffy Sainte-Marie - "Welcome, Welcome Emigrante";
SUPREMES SPLIT OVER CITIZENS UNITED
The Court also ratified corporate corruption of the electoral process, striking down a century-old Montana law that banned direct corporate spending in political campaigns. The 5-4 ruling supports the controversial âCitizens United v. FECâ decision, which effectively granted corporations âfinancial free speechâ rights.
JOHN BONIFAZ, executive director of Free Speech for People [ freespeechforpeople.org ], discusses big moneyâs impact on âdemocracy,â and describes the legislative campaign for electoral reform launched by a national coalition of public interest organizations;
Bob Malone - âMoney in Politics (Only Dead Presidents Vote)â;
NEW EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT GETS A POLITICAL MAKEOVER
A year after the âArab Springâ uprising in Cairo, Egypt now has neither a parliament nor a constitution, since the Superme Armed Forces Council usurped such authority. But there is a new âpresident,â with undefined duties and powers.
JENNIFER LOEWENSTEIN, associate director of Middle East Studies at the University of Wisconsin, discusses the cosmeticizing of Muslim Brotherhood leader and president-elect Mohamed Mursi, who now claims to have left the Islamist group whose early platform denied government roles for women and Coptic Christians. Lowenstein also considers whether the de facto military government will cooperate with Washingtonâs overthrow of Syria and escalation against Iran; and
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