Ron Paul is Right. Politifact Got It Wrong.

I wrote about the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. In my opinion, the Senate made a huge mistake. Politifact has decided that Ron Pauls comments regarding this legislation are mostly false.

Go ahead and read it for yourself. By page 428 you will notice that the Secretary of Defense merely need submit a waiver which states you are a national security risk. That paragraph ensures that the provision stating that this entire process doesn't apply to US Citizens is null and void.

Politifact got it wrong.

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RIP for the Bill of Rights

It's official, we the people are screwed without getting kissed. Our Senate voted 93 to 7 to pass a bill that allows you and I to be scooped up on a whim. Don't believe me. Read it for yourself on page 426 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

If you are still here, you are probably shaking your head in disbelief. This is so blatantly anti-Constitutional that the entire Senate should be taken out and beaten.

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Islamic Center Attracts Protesters on Both Sides - NYTimes.com

In a glaring headline with lurid pics, the NYTimes reports on the latest ground zero mosque info. Bah, humbug. As usual the sheep are milling about and not noticing the wolves among them.

From the NYT:

Islamic Center Attracts Protesters on Both Sides - NYTimes.com: "Two protests on Sunday morning, in the normally quiet blocks north of Ground Zero, claimed to be on the side of tolerance. One camp stood in favor of the mosque and Islamic center that has been proposed for the area; the other argued against.

Wolves among the sheep include a lady in line for the Presidency. You did know that she advocated investigating the protesters right? No one in NY that I've read about agrees with her. But, it sure smacks of some of the late great socialist nations of the former USSR. Papers Please?

Remember this. Any protests should swell from the local community. And any calls to investigate the protesters is just as unAmerican as can be. There should be no federal involvement at all in what is a state/local issue. Send an email to Madame Pelosi telling her that those remarks smack of Socialism and are not why she was sent to DC.

FTFGIMAD

Technorati Tags: socialism, big government, pelosi, protester, mosque, 9/11

Conspiracy Theories?

The House of Representatives has taken it upon themselves to openly punish political opponents via taxation. Today:

The House, responding quickly to public outrage over the bonuses after the giant insurer received up to $180 billion in U.S. aid, voted 328-93 to approve a 90 percent tax on bonuses for certain executives at companies getting government aid. -- Source

I wish I could cite the bill number, but the story didn't say. And a search of the word "bonus" in OpenCongress pulls six bills purporting to amend the tax code. AIG gets fed money and uses it to pay big bonuses. The people get pissed off. But, for some reason the people are not pissed at the fed for allowing it in the first place. And those same people cannot see the individual rotting at the root structure of the tree of liberty. Why? No one can see the tree for the forest of a congress that needs to get reelected?

Why am I pissed off? Why am I afraid that Mr. Obama and the Democrat Congress are in collusion to strip my country of the things that make us unique in the world? Why do I fear Eurofication? Please, Read on and Please Comment.

I am afraid because Mr. Obama has betrayed the special trust and confidence that should be held between the US Military & Vets and thier Commander-in-Chief. As mentioned in the previous blog post "Mr. Obama is Not My President" he is openly supportive of abrogating the US Governments moral responsibility to care for and pay for the care of her veterans with service connected disabilities.

I am afraid because HR45, Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 will impose licensing of your second amendment rights from sea to shining sea. Once that is done, what will be licensed next? Your religion? Maybe the right to peaceably assemble? Perhaps the Free Press. Pravda anyone?

I am afraid because a punishment tax is about as King George III as you can get. When the majority of the House is so afraid of voter backlash that they immediately rush to impose a tax.... So much for moral courage. Apparently the fact that such an action is unconstitutional is merely another unique Americanism to be swept away.

Don't take my word for it. Instead read what Techlaw says.

Definition: A legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.

The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 provides that: "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed."

"The Bill of Attainder Clause was intended not as a narrow, technical (and therefore soon to be outmoded) prohibition, but rather as an implementation of the separation of powers, a general safeguard against legislative exercise of the judicial function or more simply - trial by legislature." U.S. v. Brown, 381 U.S. 437, 440 (1965).

"These clauses of the Constitution are not of the broad, general nature of the Due Process Clause, but refer to rather precise legal terms which had a meaning under English law at the time the Constitution was adopted. A bill of attainder was a legislative act that singled out one or more persons and imposed punishment on them, without benefit of trial. Such actions were regarded as odious by the framers of the Constitution because it was the traditional role of a court, judging an individual case, to impose punishment." William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court, page 166.

"Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the obligations of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation. ... The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less-informed part of the community." James Madison, Federalist Number 44, 1788.

Supreme Court cases construing the Bill of Attainder clause include:

• Ex Parte Garland, 4 Wallace 333 (1866).
• Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wallace 277 (1866).
• U.S. v. Brown, 381 U.S. 437 (1965).
• Nixon v. Administrator of General Services, 433 U.S.425 (1977).
• Selective Service Administration v. Minnesota PIRG, 468 U.S. 841 (1984).

See also, SBC v. FCC.

I am afraid because suddenly, after the election of course, the congress wishes to un-term-limit the office of the president. Amazingly, according to history, the last un-term-limited President was famous for rounding up American citizens of Asian decent and placing them in interment camps guarded by the US Army on American soil. So, it can't happen here right? Sure thing President-for-Life (fill in your blank).

How many other dangers are lurking in the Congressional minefield that we don't know about?

hrj5 Obama congress hr45 taxation bill of attainder unconstitutional Conspiracy+theories Conspiracy+theory

Mr. Obama is Not My President

In the Marines you have paygrades such as E1, E2, E3 etc. Then you have ranks. An E5 for example is a Sergeant. In the Navy an E5 is a Petty Officer 2nd Class. Among Marines if you call someone an E4, you are essentially saying that the person isn't a "real" Corporal. They are drawing E4 pay but not living up to the high expectations of the rank.

Well as of today, Mr. Obama is no longer my President. He may hold the title, and he may draw the pay, but he's about as Presidential as Jane Fonda during the Vietnam War.

Mr. Obama is starting to push a plan to have private insurers reimburse the Veterans Administration for treatment accorded to service connected disabled Vets. This is dereliction of duty of the highest order for the so-called Commander In Chief. This nation has a moral obligation to provide care for these vets. This action is dishonorable on so many levels.

Mr. Obama is collaborating with Congress to reward mismanaged banks and failing auto companies with billions of dollars. But, he wants to kick our vets in the balls by telling them that their insurance has to foot the bill for their treatment. Obviously he is not overly appreciative of the sacrifices made by these men and women. Nor has he considered how many of them will be instantly uninsurable or unemployable.

He needs to learn and apply the Leadership Traits and Leadership Principles that all Marines learn. Then, maybe, just maybe, he will begin to understand why vets like me are outraged at even the proposal of this travesty.

Until such time as a public revolt against this egregious act of disrespect causes him to publicly recant..... he isn't worthy of the paycheck he's cashing. He will simply be known as Mr. Obama.

Presidential Update: Day 50

I almost titled this post "Hawaii Five Oh" since Mr. Obama is from Hawaii and he's been in office about fifty days. I am trying to remain upbeat and positive about his presidency but it is getting harder to do so.

For starters he has presided over the bailout. I know that GWB started it. But, nothing in the world requires the sitting pres to keep it going. It really seems to me that the true leader of the .gov is Nancy Pelosi. I mean, she is telling the Senate that they better not mess with certain bills.

Right now, HR45 AND HR25 are sitting in committee. I am afraid that 45 will pass and 25 will die in committee yet again. Right now we have a 410 Billion dollar Omnibus that is so pork laden that even the hogs are embarrassed. So much for draining the swamp eh?

Folks, I understand that stimulus is supposed to help. I get that the economy needs a shot in the arm. But let me ask you how you feel about saddling your kids and grandkids with debt. I would suggest that you check your congress critters closely. Our elected officials now have a free reign to tax, spend, and tax again without fear of Hawaii Five Oh's intervention. Think about that.

A Month of Sundays

The President has been in office now for over a month. So far I am not impressed. I have to say that there are some fundamental flaws in how he's doing his job.

The most egregious flaw is that he's set an absolute timetable for the withdrawal

"Let me say this as plainly as I can: By Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," Obama said, adding later, "We seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security of your country."

of troops from Iraq. Now all the enemy has to do is lie low. I sure hope the Iraqis left behind can live with our decision.

Of course, while he says he supports the second amendment, he has failed to denounce HR45. This bill was the was the topic of my last post. It's in committee now. But I promise that if any of my guys vote for this...... their contracts won't be renewed on the next mass hiring day.

Then there is the stimulus package he signed. This is a half and half scenario. Half the blame goes to Congress for a billion dollar a page boondoggle. The other half of the blame goes to him for signing it. I'd like to know to whom and how it will be disbursed? If we are simply going to continue handing big checks out to failed companies ...

Speaking of a real economic stimulus, there is tax reform. Here we are going into the tax season full tilt and Mr. Obama has not openly endorsed the Fairtax. HR25 was just reintroduced and has 44 co-sponsors. By not endorsing the bill, the President has shown that he supports politics/corruption as simply "business as usual".

So much for change I can get behind. The only change I have left is a couple of nickles I found on the street before the taxman came.

H.R.45 HR+45 H.R.25 HR+25 Gun+Control Stimulus Fairtax tax taxes congress obama

Gun Control - HR 45 Will Dilute Your Liberty

I received an email the other day that detailed a new Gun Control bill that was introduced in the House of Representatives on 6 Jan, 2009. The provisions of this bill are scary to say the least. I strongly urge any US Citizen to oppose this bill. You must call your Representative and your Senators. You must write to the President. If all else fails you must secure your weapons out of the reach of the authorities. If all else fails you must be prepared to face your friends and neighbors and hope that they think as you do. I normally am a law and order type. I normally see the benefit of most law. But in the case of H.R. 45 I cannot support it. And if it becomes law, I cannot obey it. Please read the rest of this post and see for yourself the highlights of this bill that are poised to dilute your liberty.

H.R. 45 is titled; To provide for the implementation of a system of licensing for purchasers of certain firearms and for a record of sale system for those firearms, and for other purposes.

The title alone tells me that there will be a uniform national gun license and a national tracking system. Before we get into the specifics of the bill please use your imagination to think about how your privacy must be compromised in order to create a national license and tracking system.

I hope your attention is focused now. In the table that follows, the items on the left are the allegations I read in the email sent to me. On the right are the citations from within the body of the bill itself. I found all but two. Since I am a literal reader, you may look closer and find what I missed.

The upshot of this is that the federal government will mandate what firearms they wish to regulate. The regulated arms are the most likely to be used during any form of insurrection. The regulated arms will make confiscation easy. The 2nd Amendment states "...shall not be infringed." You are now the judge.

There will be no more editorializing on my part. From here on in, it is up to you to use your own judgment to decide if this is dangerous legislation or not. Thank you for reading, and thank you for forwarding this to anyone who may care.

Relevant Point From the Email I Received	Source From HR45
You will have to carry a photo ID firearms license.	Section 102 Page 7 Line 10
A training class is required to be licensed.	Section 2 Page 4 Line 10 (implied), Section 2 Page 4 Line 18 (implied), Section 102 Page 8 Line 5
Disclosure of your storage method is required for license.	I didn't find this one. Page 8 line 9 requires that you know how to store firearms. I tend to read things literally and thus may miss what the email author caught. It might be there. Check it out.
A thumb print is required for license.	Section 102 Page 7 Line 17
Every sale recorded by the federal government.	Section 2 Page 4 Line 15 (implied), Section 402 Page 22 Line 9 (strongly implied)
If you move, and don't tell the Attorney General within 60 days, you are a criminal.	Section 304 Page 18 Line 21
If a firearm is stolen and you don't report it, you are a criminal.	Section 303 Page 18 Line 6
There will be no grandfathered firearms. If you do not obtain a license and report every firearm you currently own, you are a criminal.	I didn't find this. I find several discussion of "qualifying firearms" which are defined on page 5 line 8. Again, I read things literally. Read it for yourself and let me know.
There will be a license fee and a fee for the "services" provided at purchase time.	Page 9, Line 25
Licenses must be renewed every 5 years.	Page 11, Line 11

The 2nd Amendment and Schumer Picking on Cornyn

Have you ever had one of "those" days? Y'know the kind that just drag on and every event is designed by God Almighty himself just to personally frustrate you? So far that is my week. I bought an article bank and am working on getting it set up as a free information tool. Until the kinks are worked out (and there are quite a few) it's located here. BTW it is completely free to use, without sign ups or mailing lists, and I hope you benefit from it.

Please keep reading, it gets better... promise

Then, things at work went all crazy. And of course there is the news. I just got thru handing out Ape Hangers to the Supreme Court (Again) for the child rape decision. But, they got it right on the DC Handgun ban at least.

My friend asked if the four judges who voted against the Constitution in the hand gun case were getting Ape Hangers for their votes? Nope. The Ape Hanger goes to the guy who's actions do or will have a deleterious effect either on the peoples liberty or the several states sovereignty. So, by voting to keep the DC ban intact they were exercising their right to an opinion. Since they lost the vote they will have no effect on the Second Amendment today.

Then, in my email I get this missive from the Texas GOP. For a party that is supposed to be all about the rugged individualist, individual liberty, and against the revisionists in constitutional matters; This struck me as being pretty damn unManly if you will. Let John Cornyn face down Schumer on his own. Until I see him on the ten o'clock news lambasting Chuck; I aint gonna break a sweat. I mean, he should not need me to tell someone to shut the hell up right? If I was him I would be embarrassed to have the party try to get the rank and file to do battle in my name.

I get the GOP newsletter because a long time ago I was a registered Republican. Now I am an Independent since I cannot quite fit in with either party during polite society events. But like the rent or taxes, the newsletter arrives and is usually interesting reading.

Anyway this is what I got in my email today.

Texas G.O.P Calls On Chuck Schumer To Denounce Communications Director’s Racist, Insensitive Comments

Austin - Today the Republican Party of Texas called on The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and its Chairman Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to withdraw email and blog publications attempting to ridicule a traditional Hispanic festival in South Texas, the Republican Party of Texas said today. “Any party that claims to be sensitive to minorities should know better than to perpetuate the sort of ethnic and racial assaults represented in this week’s DSCC releases,” said G.O.P. Spokesman Hans Klingler.

The ostensible target of the DSCC attack was U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who was featured in a state GOP convention video wearing a Tamaulipeca jacket at this year’s Charro Days celebration in Brownsville, Texas. The jacket was designed in the Hispanic tradition by a local artist and businessman, Don Breeden, and was designated as the official costume of the Charro Days event.

In an email Thursday, DSCC spokesman Matt Miller denigrated the traditional Hispanic jacket, writing that it appears Senator Cornyn “raided the wardrobe closet for the Kilgore Rangerettes.” He included with his message, sent to news media, a video link to a cable show that included racially and ethnically based attempts at humor.

The comments by Miller “were out of line,” according to a Charro Days official, Diane M. Garza. In a letter to Sen. Charles Schumer, DSCC chairman, Garza urged Schumer to “repudiate the remarks of Mr. Miller, and to remind him of the need for sensitivity, integrity and inclusiveness even in the world of politics.”

The 71st annual Charro Days Grand International Parade was held this year on Mar. 1 in Brownsville.It featured dozens of floats, marching bands, and civic organizations in a celebration of Hispanic culture. Sen. Cornyn and his wife, Sandy, walked much of the parade route, shaking hands, hugging and greeting celebrants.

Film footage of the parade was included in an introductory video played at the Texas Republican Party Convention in Houston earlier this month. It has made its way to the Internet, and the video has attracted more than 75,000 views.

Earlier this week, comedian Jon Stewart on The Daily Show played sections of the video, singling out the Tamaulipeca jacket Cornyn was wearing, and adding racially-tinged comments about Sen. Cornyn’s mythical Senate opponent. The DSCC has been circulating the Stewart segment, trying to get mileage out of it.

Said Cornyn communications director Kevin McLaughlin in a statement issued today: “The Charro Days event has a long and proud history celebrating Hispanic contributions to Texas and America. It is to be expected that entertainers in Los Angeles and New York would want to take pot shots, but the DSCC should be careful in lending its name to efforts that essentially disparage an important part of our culture.”

Click here to read the letter from constituents to Senator Schumer

These guys need to read Robert Pratt's anti-wimp updates and get a clue. Schumer rates a butt kicking, but it is up to the offended party to deliver it.

Thank you for reading, I do appreciate it.

Planet of the APES

In my last posting we talked about the Democrats and an APE bill that got shot down by a Republican filibuster. Well, APE is an acronym that I invented in a moment of sheer genius while listening to Sirius Radio during a Tuesday road trip.

So here it is. In keeping with the highest traditions of Robert Pratt and his Dust Storm Award and Mike Church who points out that "Liberals Say the most Damn Dumbass Things" I have identified the APE.

APE (Anti Patriot Extremist):

Those who deliberately pursue an agenda that is obviously against the best interests of the USA as a whole, or personal liberties. These are the folks that will spout constitutional platitudes without understanding that the power is vested in the States or People respectively. APEs can be identified by a yearning to control virtually every aspect of your life via ever bigger government and ever more regulations. APE doctrine holds that taxation is something to embrace and that failure to embrace being taxed indicates that you are stupid or socially awkward.

To positivily identify an APE look for any of the following:

• A burning desire to increase taxation on the rich while investing in tax free monetary vessels.
• A fervent belief that getting ahead is only for those of the appropriate social class and standing.
• Frequent references to the appropriate college or university where they received anti-American indoctrinations.
• The absolute belief that the individual is morally required to give up what has been earned to those who didn't earn it. This believe is firmly shackled to the policy of confiscation of assets if the earners don't agree with the moral requirement.

This is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, if you like, hit the ol comment button and add your observations of APE like behavior.

Finally, beware an APE quoting the Constitution or Declaration of Independence. Just as the devil can quote Scripture, so can an APE pretend to revere the foundations of liberty in these United States.

Planet of the APEs moment for this week: Hillary Clintons abject public surrender to Barack Obama. True Americans can lose the fight. Real Americans can acknowledge the loss. But even in defeat, non-Apes won't compromise on principle and throw themselves with abandon to the other side. But this concession following such a bitter campaign merely shows that Roddy McDowell was right.