The recently passed Florida law that essentially bans state academic travel to Cuba promised to escalate into a constitutional battle when Gov. Jeb Bush signed it into law last month........snip…
The American Civil Liberties Union, representing several professors from state universities, filed a lawsuit against Florida officials in federal court, claiming the travel ban is unconstitutional. The group also demands a temporary injunction to prevent the law from taking effect while the case is in court.
‘’This act is terribly misdirected,’’ Randall Marshall, legal director of the ACLU of Florida, said of the new law. “This is unconstitutional, and we hope to have this law struck down very shortly.’‘
The Florida Masochist has the right question:
Tell me Mr. Marshall where it says in the constitution that taxpayer money must be used to support travel? Anywhere in the world? I’ll await your reply but I doubt I’ll get one.
The new law prohibits spending state money on any aspect of organizing a trip to any of the five nations on the U.S. State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.Other plaintiffs named in the suit include the faculty senate of FIU; Jose Alvarez, professor emeritus at the University of Florida; Carmen Diana Deere, director and professor at the University of Florida’s Center for Latin American Studies; Houman Sadri, associate professor at the University of Central Florida; and Noel Smith, curator of Latin American and Caribbean Art at the University of South Florida.
The academics worry that the travel ban will discourage top students who have an interest in studying Cuba or other countries on the list from remaining at Florida schools.
This law is a very responsible move on the part of the state. The argument that it will discourage study in these countries and therefore diminish our security is crazy. We are at war despite the attitudes of some to recognize it. Why in the world should the state use its funds to put Americans in harms way where they could be taken hostage and a myriad of other terrible things done to them?
I will repeat my opinion from when the ACLU first announced their opposition to the law.
This law is straight up common sense, and if the ACLU were truly concerned for the security of Americans they would be applauding it. The law does not prevent anyone from actually travelling to these countries, it only prohibits taxpayer funds from paying for it. If professors and students want to travel to these dangerous countries they can do it at their own risk, and their own dime. Perhaps the ACLU are disappointed that the taxpayer will not be paying their fare to visit their clients? If so, I’m sure they have plenty enough duped supporters that would gladly donate.
Crossposted from: Stop The ACLU
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register to comment here.
3:17 pm [ Quote ]
Ian,
do you actually know who the biggest state sponsor of terrorism regarding Cuba is? Ever heard of Luis Posada Carriles? The first act of airline terrorism in the Western Hemisphere, as well as numerous bombings of hotels, restaurants and stores in Havana. And now the guy is safely on US soil seeking asylum. I suppose it’s not terrorism when we do it, right?
Regarding that law, I think the only country it makes sense for is North Korea. The law certainly would prevent the study of the countries listed and having experts on those countries would be benefitial to us whether we are at war or at peace with them.
3:38 pm [ Quote ]
The guy in the article who said that this is for political gain only is absoultely correct. For some reason, only trips to terrorist-supporting countries are banned from receiving state funding, yet others are not. I don’t know about anyone else, but I would much rather see research done on these countries specifically than on non-terrorism supporting countries.
3:39 pm [ Quote ]
Ian,
do you actually know who the biggest state sponsor of terrorism regarding Cuba is? Ever heard of Luis Posada Carriles? The first act of airline terrorism in the Western Hemisphere, as well as numerous bombings of hotels, restaurants and stores in Havana. And now the guy is safely on US soil seeking asylum. I suppose it’s not terrorism when we do it, right?
Regarding that law, I think the only country it makes sense for is North Korea. The law certainly would prevent the study of the countries listed and having experts on those countries would be benefitial to us whether we are at war or at peace with them.
I see Zim so it’s ok what Fidel does to the citizens of his country, kind of like what Sadam did to his, wow your whole idea of supporting terrorists really outstanding kind of like how Billy Jefferson Clingon did by letting Terrorists go from prison.
Say Zim why don’t you go and live in Cuba for awhile and then come back and let us know what it is like there that is if Fidel will let you come back after you have been living there for a year or two.
3:41 pm [ Quote ]
Great LtntWolfe why don’t you go and live in some of these terrorists places and do all our research for us.
3:43 pm [ Quote ]
I see Zim so it’s ok what Fidel does to the citizens of his country, kind of like what Sadam did to his, wow your whole idea of supporting terrorists really outstanding kind of like how Billy Jefferson Clingon did by letting Terrorists go from prison.
Say Zim why don’t you go and live in Cuba for awhile and then come back and let us know what it is like there that is if Fidel will let you come back after you have been living there for a year or two.
Did I say ANYWHERE that what Fidel does to his own country is good or that I agree with it? No, I didn’t but of course you go on and put words in my mouth and then proceed to “attack” me when in reality you’re only attacking yourself.
Of course I don’t like Fidel one bit and unlike you I have lived through Communism and have lost several relatives in that process (killed by the government). Of course I think the US government should do something about Fidel and should be constantly working to instill a democracy. However, I simply disagree on the point that blowing up civilian airliners, cafes, and hotels is the right way to do it. Is that so FREAKING HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTNAD?
3:47 pm [ Quote ]
I see Zim so it’s ok what Fidel does to the citizens of his country, kind of like what Sadam did to his, wow your whole idea of supporting terrorists really outstanding kind of like how Billy Jefferson Clingon did by letting Terrorists go from prison.
Say Zim why don’t you go and live in Cuba for awhile and then come back and let us know what it is like there that is if Fidel will let you come back after you have been living there for a year or two.
Did I say ANYWHERE that what Fidel does to his own country is good or that I agree with it? No, I didn’t but of course you go on and put words in my mouth and then proceed to “attack” me when in reality you’re only attacking yourself.
Of course I don’t like Fidel one bit and unlike you I have lived through Communism and have lost several relatives in that process (killed by the government). Of course I think the US government should do something about Fidel and should be constantly working to instill a democracy. However, I simply disagree on the point that blowing up civilian airliners, cafes, and hotels is the right way to do it. Is that so FREAKING HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTNAD?
I didn’t say that any attack on civilians were good but there has always been a large conflict going on there for years and to put it in the way that you did, just because he is seeking asylum here in the U.S. doesn’t give you the right to blame the U.S. for that either.
3:55 pm [ Quote ]
I didn’t say that any attack on civilians were good but there has always been a large conflict going on there for years and to put it in the way that you did, just because he is seeking asylum here in the U.S. doesn’t give you the right to blame the U.S. for that either.
Why don’t you looks up some facts before you speak. I am not blaming the “US”, I am blaming the officials which decided to train this guy on US soil (forst benning, GA, to be more precise) and then use him in their quest to destabilize the Cuban regime. Bombing civilian targets on purpose is ALWAYS wrong, regardless of whether it’s done by Zarqawi or a US sponsored and trained terrorist.
3:59 pm [ Quote ]
Great LtntWolfe why don’t you go and live in some of these terrorists places and do all our research for us.
Not without state-funding. Besides, Florida already hosts several Christian terrorists (the ones who used a WMD on that porn shop). Ooooh, that must have almost hurt as bad as newly elected 50th District Brian Bilbray just slapping conservatives in the face by voting for three pieces of solid pork!
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/blog/archives/039615.php
4:43 pm [ Quote ]
No problem folks, if you want to fly to Cuba just come over here to the UK and Virgin Atlantic will happily fly into Jose Marti International Airport.
4:50 pm [ Quote ]
Great LtntWolfe why don’t you go and live in some of these terrorists places and do all our research for us.
Not without state-funding. Besides, Florida already hosts several Christian terrorists (the ones who used a WMD on that porn shop). Ooooh, that must have almost hurt as bad as newly elected 50th District Brian Bilbray just slapping conservatives in the face by voting for three pieces of solid pork!
http://www.clubforgrowth.org/blog/archives/039615.php
It’s too bad that you LtntWolfe wasn’t in the porn shop just before it happened huh
!!
4:59 pm [ Quote ]
Here is an EXACT quote of the founder of the ACLU…just to give you all a context with which to access this organization.
“I am for Socialism, disarmament and ultimately, for the abolishing of the State itself … I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal.”
Roger Baldwin…founder ACLU.
5:11 pm [ Quote ]
Here is an EXACT quote of the founder of the ACLU…just to give you all a context with which to access this organization.
“I am for Socialism, disarmament and ultimately, for the abolishing of the State itself … I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal.”
Roger Baldwin…founder ACLU.
Did you get that from the stoptheaclu.com or some other extremist site? You do realize that Roger Baldwin renounced those views, correct? You do realize he led purges to get rid of all communists from the ACLU and wrote a book condemning communism, right? Maybe I should start quoting David Horowitz from Ramparts.
That’s a swish right there. 3 points. Score it Ian.
5:24 pm [ Quote ]
The real question: Why are we paying for travel to any foreign countries? Our taxes are astronomical; the nation has an absurd debt. Instead of sending anyone to other parts of the world, lets use those funds to lower taxes or pay down the debt. Foreign study is a luxury not a privelege. Let citizens pay their own way or apply for a private grant.
5:27 pm [ Quote ]
So it is okay for Roger Baldwin to renounce his views and we are expected to believe him, but it is not okay for Luis Posada Carriles to do the same.
Typical.
Look, nobody is preventing anybody from going to Cuba, there are just those of us who refuse to pay for the ticket. We are not about to start a travel service for present and future terrorsists, subversives and other spoiled goods.
Typical of the left, they want to bring down our government, our country, our very way of life and then demand that we subsidize their evil endeavors.
Fuck ‘em.
Little do they realize that while they are bitching and moaning about the loss of a free ticket, there are those among us who are contemplating a long rope and a short tree.
.
5:29 pm [ Quote ]
“So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we’ll be called a democracy.”
Roger Baldwin
5:33 pm [ Quote ]
So it is okay for Roger Baldwin to renounce his views and we are expected to believe him, but it is not okay for Luis Posada Carriles to do the same.
Typical.
Look, nobody is preventing anybody from going to Cuba, there are just those of us who refuse to pay for the ticket. We are not about to start a travel service for present and future terrorsists, subversives and other spoiled goods.
Typical of the left, they want to bring down our government, our country, our very way of life and then demand that we subsidize their evil endeavors.
Fuck ‘em.
Little do they realize that while they are bitching and moaning about the loss of a free ticket, there are those among us who are contemplating a long rope and a short tree.
.
Uh, that isn’t quite the same thing. James Baldwin didn’t kill anyone. Luis Posada Carriles is thought to be involved in the murder of about 75 people. You can insert “Osama Bin Laden” in your quote and then see if it sounds logical.
5:52 pm [ Quote ]
are they banned from middle eastern countries?
5:57 pm [ Quote ]
Ian where is your comment section on the Muslime CAIR Going After Marine for song, “Hadji Girl”???
I know the porKoranimals at CAIR like to sue humans but geeze, open up the comments.
6:07 pm [ Quote ]
@Icerigger click link below and your in.
Imagine a Lib having to show you how to get into a thread. 
http://www.exposetheleft.com/2006/06/14/cair-goes-after-marine-for-insensitive-song-hadji-girl/
7:06 pm [ Quote ]
The real question: Why are we paying for travel to any foreign countries?
Well, you obviosuly have never been to or worked at a state university. Plenty of travel has to go on in order for the researchers to do their jobs. Of course knowing the conservatives’ attitude towards science, I shouldn’t be surprised by statements such as this.
So it is okay for Roger Baldwin to renounce his views and we are expected to believe him, but it is not okay for Luis Posada Carriles to do the same.
So you think if a terrorist blows up an airliner, a series of cafes and hotels then all he or she has to do is “renounce” their views and that’s fine? Terrorism is terrorism, whether sponsored by Americans or Saudi Arabia – those responsible must be brought to justice.
Typical of the left, they want to bring down our government, our country, our very way of life and then demand that we subsidize their evil endeavors.
Wtf is that from? You’ve totally lost it.
7:16 pm [ Quote ]
Ian,
do you actually know who the biggest state sponsor of terrorism regarding Cuba is? Ever heard of Luis Posada Carriles? The first act of airline terrorism in the Western Hemisphere, as well as numerous bombings of hotels, restaurants and stores in Havana. And now the guy is safely on US soil seeking asylum. I suppose it’s not terrorism when we do it, right?
Regarding that law, I think the only country it makes sense for is North Korea. The law certainly would prevent the study of the countries listed and having experts on those countries would be benefitial to us whether we are at war or at peace with them.
So how exactly does what this guy did translate into the US being terrorists, hmm? He’s a suspect, but nothing has been proven. Also, he is hardly walking free, since Homeland has detained him.
Zim, I wish you and your kind would just come out and admit that you hate America. Let that be the one honest thing you do.
7:18 pm [ Quote ]
“Of course I think the US government should do something about”
Yeah sure Zim, and if the US was behind an assasination of Castro, you and your ilk would be the 1rst ones screeching about Uncle Fidel’s “rights”.
7:21 pm [ Quote ]
Hmmm…Florida law bans state academic travel to Cuba because it’s a “terrorist” nation – but Halliburton and other US companies get tax cuts for doing business in IraN – a PROVEN terrorist state. More Republican hypocrisy!
7:26 pm [ Quote ]
Yeah sure Zim, and if the US was behind an assasination of Castro, you and your ilk would be the 1rst ones screeching about Uncle Fidel’s “rights”.
Well, yes, I don’t support the method of assasination of foreign leaders in times of peace. The results would not be good either for us or for the Cubans, since any hostile military action by the US would result in a anit-US post-Castro government forming in Cuba.
Nevertheless, there are other ways to support democracy for Cuba – during the cold war, for example, the US funded many projects regarding increasing access to media such as radio or TV for people living under the iron curtain and those had a great effect on many people who has no access to what’s going on in the West other than the propaganda from the government. Covert and/or over support for pro-democracy groups is certainly a viable option. Supporting terrorist activities such as blowing up airliners, however, is just plain wrong.
7:31 pm [ Quote ]
LtntWeasel, you would know about extremists, wouldn’t you?
It doesn’t matter that Roger Baldwin claims to have renounced communism. All the better to let the evil ACLU continue pushing their secret communist agenda.
Also, your basketball analogies are idiotic, especially since you are proven wrong about everything that you come here to whine about.
I think Gov. Bush did a great thing. Why the hell should my taxes fund trips to the liberals’ Disneyland?
7:37 pm [ Quote ]
Zim,
“Of course knowing the conservatives’ attitude towards science, I shouldn’t be surprised by statements such as this.”
I see, since you couldn’t really answer the question, it’s time to sling mud. Typical liberal, no coherent argument, but plenty of hatred.
“So you think if a terrorist blows up an airliner, a series of cafes and hotels then all he or she has to do is “renounce” their views and that’s fine? Terrorism is terrorism, whether sponsored by Americans or Saudi Arabia – those responsible must be brought to justice.”
Yeah sure, unless of course the US seeks to do that very thing. That’s when the caterwauling from the left begins sbout how they aren’t terrorists, they’re freedom fighters, and let’s not forget that the savage beheaders have rights.
7:39 pm [ Quote ]
The Machine,
“Typical of the left, they want to bring down our government, our country, our very way of life and then demand that we subsidize their evil endeavors.”
You are correct sir. Right on the money. To that I would add that all the while they are viciously blaspheming our beliefs.
7:42 pm [ Quote ]
Zim,
Better yet, we could send a Delta Force team to put a bullet in the Beard’s head. Less taxes spent that way.
8:27 pm [ Quote ]
Zim, I wish you and your kind would just come out and admit that you hate America. Let that be the one honest thing you do.
So because I disapprove of our governments’ past support for a Cuban terrorist, that means I hate America? WTF?
Yeah sure, unless of course the US seeks to do that very thing. That’s when the caterwauling from the left begins sbout how they aren’t terrorists, they’re freedom fighters, and let’s not forget that the savage beheaders have rights.
Anyone who blows up civilian airliners is a terrorist, period, no matter that cause they might be following. I find it hard to believe that you know that “the left” considers such people to be freedom fighters since it doesn’t seem like you have much day to day contact with any liberals. I just wonder where you’d get the idea that liberals think terrorists are freedom fighters. Can you cite one example?
10:17 pm [ Quote ]
29Zim Said:
8:27 pm [ Quote ]
I just wonder where you’d get the idea that liberals think terrorists are freedom fighters. Can you cite one example?
Um, YOU?
We don’t have to post links to kos etc. you can google as easily as we can and surely you have. Bushitler and all that crap.
Buncha weasels, talk big shit and then deny it, every time.
Your day is comin’ and Ann Coulter is spot on about your Godless religion AFAIC.
.
.
10:41 pm [ Quote ]
“I just wonder where you’d get the idea that liberals think terrorists are freedom fighters”
*Michael Moore said it
!*
Are you really this disingenous???
“So because I disapprove of our governments’ past support for a Cuban terrorist, that means I hate America? WTF?”
No, Zim, your kind hates America because of the way your kind behaves. Mobbing military recruiters and forcing them to leave a school campus, celebrating Pat Tillman’s death, assuming the absolute worst of the very soldiers who die defending your freedom., burning our flag, considering your fellow Americans stupid for having voted for Bush, siding with the primitive savages who mean to destroy us and the list goes on and on.
This is why your kind hates America.
2:29 am [ Quote ]
‘bombing civilians on purpose is always wrong’. i guess you think usaaf & raf doing it in ww2 was terrorism, then. maybe you haven’t figured out, ‘innocent civilian’ is a myth, & has been since the 1860s. civilians produce weapons. weapons get used on the battlefield. stopping weapons production contributes to victory. therefore, civilians are legitimate military targets, which is how usaaf, raf, & al qaida treated them. the 11 september attacks were designed to destabilize the american economic system & thus undermine american ability to fight. that is a legitimate military objective. get over it.
6:43 am [ Quote ]
Can you cite one example?
Any moron at an anti-war rally wearing a Che shirt.
Well, that was easy.
Next.
8:56 am [ Quote ]
Today, I cannot conjure up the anger against Zim, the ACLU, or the rest of that gang. I’m just gonna have to admit that sometimes the laws of physics allow these types of people to exist – if for no other reason than to stimulate our intellectual systems and strengthen them. However, I live with the fear that their malignancy will spread thanks to our abysmal public education system.
9:48 am [ Quote ]
Ian I know you adore Bush and all so of course you would extend the same behavior with members of his family and party but for him to be able to ban where AMERICAN people are allowed to go? Wow that sounds alot the countries we talk about doesnt it?
1:04 pm [ Quote ]
The Leak Said:
9:48 am [ Quote ]
“Ian I know you adore Bush and all so of course you would extend the same behavior with members of his family and party but for him to be able to ban where AMERICAN people are allowed to go? Wow that sounds alot the countries we talk about doesnt it?”
Hyperbole, distraction, distortion, damn lies.
Not paying for the airline ticket is not “able to ban where AMERICAN people are allowed to go.”
Either reading comprehension is not available to you or you are just plain and simple a distorter of reality.
“The Leak” is a profound choice of handle for you, for a leak in any system is a sign of disrepair that should be addressed fortwith.
.
2:33 pm [ Quote ]
Phil,
sorry, I don’t listen to Michael Moore so I must have missed that one. If he said that terrorists are literally freedom fighters then he is a sick f**k.
You’re so silly, you’re blaming for how some looney idiots on college campuses behave? You specifically said that I hate America. I see now it has improved to “your kind”. I am not sure what’s that supposed to mean. I don’t know ANYONE in real life who thinks terrorists are freedom fighters, nor do I know anyone who has burned a US flag, or celebrated Pat Tillman’s death.
airmarshal doolittle,
I supposed I should have mentioned that bombing civilians in a time of peace is always wrong. WW2 certainly was not that case. Bombing a civilian airliner serves no military objective whatsover, other than to terrorize people and that is why it is obviously considered a terrorist act. Besides, if you’re right, than what’s the deal with everyone complaining that car bombs in Iraq and suicide bombing in Israel are killing innocent people? Perhaps in your world bombing civilians is a viable way to achieve your objectives. In my world it isn’t, especially when there is no actual war going on (as it was the case with the Cuban airliner).
3:45 pm [ Quote ]
Thanks Smoker! Got the CAIR link. Happy Death to the Pagan Piggy Goddess Allah.
5:12 pm [ Quote ]
Zim-
Have you officially protested in any rally against the military either on college campus or in some street rally?
I just wanted to get your take on such things.
AFFLYER
5:23 pm [ Quote ]
AFFLYER,
sometime before the invasion was launched, I went to one rally downtown in the city where I was studying at a university. I was there for about half an hour but it took me five minutes to realize that the rally was full of loons and some of them were openly trying to get people to chant stuff about communism, etc. In any case, there was a small minority in the rally that was hell bent on using the rally as a platform for all kinds of political agendas, which really pissed me off, since I was there to demonstrate against an upcomming invasion, not for free healthcare, free college education or any kinds of stuff like that.
Well, that pretty much summarizes the extent to which I have participated in any sort of political rallies here in the US. After that I think I was at a few candle light vigils or such on campus (it was actually tough to get away from those, they had one like every day), but those were not aimed at any particular agenda or such, just people seating silently for 10 minutes or so. But in all 4 years of college, I have never ever seen anyone come close to remotely celebrating any sort of US military casualty, nor have I seen or heard of anyone burning a US on campus.
5:08 am [ Quote ]
Why in the world should the state use its funds to put Americans in harms way where they could be taken hostage and a myriad of other terrible things done to them?
Because some Americans actually have the balls to go there rather then wet their tighty-whities about the terrifying Muslamonazi threat.