Peter Russo

Follows =/= Endorsements

[Institute for Free Speech @InstFreeSpeech]

We're proud to represent @grassroothawaii in this lawsuit to protect the right of all Hawaii residents to join together and seek change. Read the new article from @angele_latham on our challenge to Hawaii's Act 11, via @USATODAY: https://t.co/oKtfGdUruK

[Tom Garrett @TomGarrettIFS]

The unanimous decision in First Choice is outstanding news for free speech. The @InstFreeSpeech filed an amicus brief in this case, authored by Senior Attorney @brettnolan, which is available HERE: https://t.co/m8jrmOAhE5

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@michaelshermer Could have been a painting by Jon McNaughton

[Tom Garrett @TomGarrettIFS]

We've lost a giant. @CommishSmith pays tribute to Edward H. Crane—@Cato founder, @InstFreeSpeech founding board member, and passionate defender of First Amendment rights. Ed's work made the world freer. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends: https://t.co/hPglSp1DIy

[Brad Smith @CommishSmith]

A sad day for freedom, as we mark the passing of Edward H. Crane.

The Institute for Free Speech today mourns the death of our long-time member of the Board of Directors, Edward H. Crane. Ed did more important work in his career, in particular founding and nurturing the Cato Institute, but it is fair to say that Ed Crane was one of a handful of people without whom there would be no Institute for Free Speech.

Ed was also one of the handful of people without whom my own career would be radically different. Having seen first-hand how campaign finance laws stifled political change and minority views through his work with the Libertarian Party and Ed Clark’s 1980 campaign for President, Ed Crane always retained a deep interest in and passion for freeing the campaign finance system from the morass of government regulations passed in the 1970s. In fact, it is often forgotten that he was one of the original plaintiffs in the landmark campaign finance case, Buckley v. Valeo (he often expressed, with his typical sarcasm, his disappointment that the case had not been captioned “Crane v. Valeo.”)

In the fall of 1994 Ed spotted a short op-ed I had written for the Washington Times. Through his longtime associate, David Boaz, I was asked if I would write a longer piece for the Cato Institute. I did. The ideas I explored for Cato later grew into my first significant academic work in the field, Faulty Assumptions and Undemocratic Consequences of Campaign Finance Reform, which appeared in the Yale Law Journal. And it was thanks to Cato’s broad circulation of my original Cato paper that I came to the attention of lawmakers in Washington, most significantly the great Senator Mitch McConnell. That, in turn, led eventually to my appointment as a Commissioner at the Federal Election Commission. After I was confirmed by the U.S. Senate, we had a public celebration at the Cato Institute, at the close of which Senator Buckley himself administered the oath of office. It’s because of Ed that my career has had public impact, and on a personal level, through Ed that I had the honor of meeting so many luminaries of freedom, such as Milton Friedman, Bill Buckley, and so many others.

After my term on the FEC, Ed was instrumental in helping to found the Institute for Free Speech--originally called the Center for Competitive Politics, a name Ed came up with (nobody’s perfect). With a brief interlude, Ed served on the Board of IFS from its founding, promoting the Institute through Cato and personally. He provided advice and leads on raising funds, and counsel on our early organization and activities. And any time I needed some bucking up on the importance of the fight, Ed was there.

Ed Crane is a person who, in countless ways and with tireless effort, worked to make the world a freer place. I think that is about as high an honor as one can earn. Our heartfelt condolences to Kristina, and to Ed’s countless friends.

Ed Crane, R.I.P.

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@michaelshermer @TheBrancaShow

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

It's become increasingly clear to me that we need to reinvigorate global warming.

[Brad Smith @CommishSmith]

Well, this looks like a great event, reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Buckley v. Valeo, or as I call it, "The Decision that Saved American Democracy." Register! https://t.co/TFNXucpZEh

[Brad Smith @CommishSmith]

My response to the WaPo series on "How Billionaires took over American politics."
Op-Ed: Setting the record straight on campaign finance https://t.co/qc9Z1SKefL via @thecentersquare

[Interesting AF @interesting_aIl]

A small demonstration of how hard it is to find planet Earth in the middle of space

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@RaidRPG Narma

[James Lindsay, anti-Communist @ConceptualJames]

It's always a good time to remind everyone how narcissists and psychopaths respond to criticism. It's called DARVO.

Deny
Attack
Reverse roles of
Victim and
Offender

That is, they say they're not the bad guy, you are, and they're the victim now because of people like you.

[Institute for Free Speech @InstFreeSpeech]

The IRS has no role playing political speech police!

Read @CommishSmith's 2022 Senate testimony about how government agencies have been weaponized to harass political opponents: https://t.co/TbL2SCXjfW

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@RaidRPG Lasair

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@dr_duchesne No Willis Carrier? Big oversight, maybe the biggest.

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@ConceptualJames The homegrown Communists, cultural Marxists, neo-Marxists, and the Woke Marxists have not laid down their arms. What to do must be part of the question.

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@Rainmaker1973 @serpentza @ChinaUncensored Nobody owns their own house in China so why would the CCP honor the term of the lease if that is what is going on here?

[Brian Morris @Chuck_Morris]

🚨Big news out of Iowa! The Anti-SLAPP bill passed & is on the way to Gov. Reynolds desk. @InstFreeSpeech ranked Iowa as the worst of the worst. Now, Iowans like Rita will be protected when gov't officials threaten baseless lawsuits when they speak up! Huge win for free speech.

[Thomas Sowell Quotes @ThomasSowell]

Correct.

[Peter Russo @RussoAtLarge]

@ianmiles @thechinashow, @serpentza